Abstract: A fuel cell activation apparatus including: a storage battery; a first current sensor detecting a current outputted by the storage battery; a first switch switching between supplying the current outputted by the storage battery and supplying a current provided from the system power supply; a second switch switching between transmitting a result of detecting by the first current sensor and transmitting a result of detecting by a second current sensor which detects the current provided from the system power supply; and a control unit switching between a normal mode for activating, based on the result of detection performed by the second current sensor, the fuel cell using the current provided from the system power supply and a self-sustained mode for activating, based on the result of detection performed by the first current sensor, the fuel cell using the current outputted by the storage battery.

Abstract: In a fuel cell system of the present invention, a reformed gas generated in a reformer (R1) being activated is supplied to a fuel cell stack (F1), and an off-gas discharged from the fuel cell stack (F1) is supplied to a heat supply device (B2) provided for a reformer (R2) being deactivated. By activating at least one reformer (Rn), all of a plurality of reformers (Rn) can be warmed-up. Therefore, energy consumption in a standby state can be suppressed, and the fuel cell system can be started-up quickly in emergencies. The reformed gas may be supplied to the heat supply device (B2) instead of the off-gas.

Abstract: A fuel cell activation apparatus including: a storage battery; a first current sensor detecting a current outputted by the storage battery; a first switch switching between supplying the current outputted by the storage battery and supplying a current provided from the system power supply; a second switch switching between transmitting a result of detecting by the first current sensor and transmitting a result of detecting by a second current sensor which detects the current provided from the system power supply; and a control unit switching between a normal mode for activating, based on the result of detection performed by the second current sensor, the fuel cell using the current provided from the system power supply and a self-sustained mode for activating, based on the result of detection performed by the first current sensor, the fuel cell using the current outputted by the storage battery.

Abstract: In a fuel cell system of the present invention, a reformed gas generated in a reformer (R1) being activated is supplied to a fuel cell stack (F1), and an off-gas discharged from the fuel cell stack (F1) is supplied to a heat supply device (B2) provided for a reformer (R2) being deactivated. By activating at least one reformer (Rn), all of a plurality of reformers (Rn) can be warmed-up. Therefore, energy consumption in a standby state can be suppressed, and the fuel cell system can be started-up quickly in emergencies. The reformed gas may be supplied to the heat supply device (B2) instead of the off-gas.

Abstract: A fuel cell separator having a turn portion of a serpentine-shaped reaction gas passage region. In the turn portion, a recessed portion is defined by an outer end of the turn portion and oblique boundaries between the recessed portion and a pair of passage groove group. In the turn portion, a plurality of protrusions, which vertically extend from a bottom face of the recessed portion and are arranged in an island form, are disposed such that one or more protrusions form a plurality of columns lined up and spaced apart from each other with a gap in a direction in which the outer end extends and one or more protrusions form a plurality of rows lined up and spaced apart from each other with a gap in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the outer end extends.

Abstract: A fuel cell separator and a fuel cell are provided that can improve uniformity in reaction gas flow rate and can prevent flooding due to excessive condensed water in passage grooves appropriately. A reaction gas passage region (101) of a separator (2) has a flow splitting region (21) having a passage groove group where the reaction gas is split, and one or more flow merge regions (22) having a recessed portion in which the reaction gas is mixed and connecting a plurality of flow splitting regions so that the passage groove group of the adjacent flow splitting regions (21) are connected to the recessed portion, and protrusions (27) vertically extend from a bottom face of the recessed portion and arranged in an island form. A pair of passage groove groups connected to the recessed portion of the flow merge region (22) is formed so as to have a greater number of grooves in the upstream passage groove group than the number of grooves of grooves in the downstream passage groove group.

Abstract: Even when a reaction gas flows into a gap formed between a gasket and a membrane electrode assembly, the flowing of the reaction gas to the outside without flowing through an electrode is prevented and thus a decrease in power generation efficiency is prevented. In order to allow the water vapor contained in the reaction gas that flows into an anode-side gap 10a formed between an anode-side gasket 9a and a membrane electrode assembly 5 to condense in at least a part of the gap 10a, and to allow the condensed water to fill the gap 10a, the upstream portion of a cooling fluid channel 8a of an anode-side separator 6a is formed such that it includes a region corresponding to the gap 10a, and the upstream portion is formed such that it includes a region corresponding to a middle stream portion and subsequent portion of a fuel gas channel 7a.

Abstract: A membrane-membrane reinforcing member assembly includes: a polymer electrolyte membrane (1) having a substantially square shape; a pair of membrane-like first membrane reinforcing members (10a) disposed on one main surface of the polymer electrolyte membrane (1) so as to extend along a pair of opposed sides, respectively, of four sides of said one main surface; and a pair of membrane-like second membrane reinforcing members (10b) disposed on another main surface of the polymer electrolyte membrane (1) so as to extend along a pair of opposed sides, respectively, of four sides of said another main surface, wherein: portions of the polymer electrolyte membrane (1) at which portions the first membrane reinforcing members (10a, 10a) and the second membrane reinforcing members (10b, 10b) are disposed are concave; and the first membrane reinforcing members (10a, 10a) and the second membrane reinforcing members (10b, 10b) are disposed such that main surfaces thereof are exposed, and the first membrane reinforcing me

Abstract: A method of operating a fuel cell capable of suppressing degradation of a fuel cell caused by starting and stopping of the fuel cell, including carrying out a restoring operation by decreasing a voltage of the cathode following termination of the fuel cell.

Abstract: A membrane-membrane reinforcing member assembly includes: a polymer electrolyte membrane (1) having a substantially square shape; a pair of membrane-like first membrane reinforcing members (10a) disposed on one main surface of the polymer electrolyte membrane (1) so as to extend along a pair of opposed sides, respectively, of four sides of said one main surface; and a pair of membrane-like second membrane reinforcing members (10b) disposed on another main surface of the polymer electrolyte membrane (1) so as to extend along a pair of opposed sides, respectively, of four sides of said another main surface, wherein: portions of the polymer electrolyte membrane (1) at which portions the first membrane reinforcing members (10a, 10a) and the second membrane reinforcing members (10b, 10b) are disposed are concave; and the first membrane reinforcing members (10a, 10a) and the second membrane reinforcing members (10b, 10b) are disposed such that main surfaces thereof are exposed, and the first membrane reinforcing me

Abstract: A fuel cell separator and a fuel cell are provided that can improve uniformity in reaction gas flow rate and can prevent flooding due to excessive condensed water in passage grooves appropriately. A reaction gas passage region (101) of a separator (2) has a flow splitting region (21) having a passage groove group where the reaction gas is split, and one or more flow merge regions (22) having a recessed portion in which the reaction gas is mixed and connecting a plurality of flow splitting regions so that the passage groove group of the adjacent flow splitting regions (21) are connected to the recessed portion, and protrusions (27) vertically extend from a bottom face of the recessed portion and arranged in an island form. A pair of passage groove groups connected to the recessed portion of the flow merge region (22) is formed so as to have a greater number of grooves in the upstream passage groove group than the number of grooves of grooves in the downstream passage groove group.

Abstract: A fuel cell separator (2) of the present invention has a turn portion of a serpentine-shaped reaction gas passage region (101). In the turn portion, a recessed portion (28) is defined by an outer end (28a) of the turn portion and oblique boundaries between the recessed portion (28) and a pair of passage groove group.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to enable efficient assembly of a fuel cell stack without causing any damage to the conductive separator. In a fuel cell including an anode, a cathode, an electrolyte membrane interposed between the anode and the cathode, and conductive separators each having manifold apertures 12 and a flow channel 16 for supplying a gas to the anode or the cathode, manifold aperture connecting portions 15 are formed at an inlet-side end and an outlet-side end of the flow channel 16, respectively. Each of the manifold aperture connecting portions 15 is recessed below the upper surface of the conductive separator 11. Cover plates are fitted and fixed to the recessed portions, respectively.

Abstract: The present invention provides an organic ultra-thin film firmly fixed to a substrate with the film thickness ranging from tens of nm to hundreds of nm. The organic ultra-thin film comprises polymers fixed on a substrate by M2—O—A— bond in which A represents an Si, Ge, Ti, Sn or Zr atom in the polymer, and M2 represents an atom in the substrate) or by a coordinate bond, the polymers are combined with each other by —A1—O—A1?— bond in which A1 and A1? are Si, Ge, Ti, Sn, Zr or S or by a coordinate bond.

Abstract: A membrane-electrode assembly (1) of the present invention comprises: a quadrate polymer electrolyte membrane (2); a pair of catalyst layers provided to sandwich the polymer electrolyte membrane except for a peripheral portion of the polymer electrolyte membrane; and a pair of gas diffusion layers (3) provided respectively on the pair of the catalyst layers, the membrane-electrode assembly (1) being incorporated into a fuel cell by being sandwiched between a pair of separators on each of which a reaction gas passage (A) or (C) is concavely formed in a gas diffusion layer contacting region of an inner surface thereof, the gas diffusion layer contacting region being a region contacting the gas diffusion layer, wherein: each of the reaction gas passages (A) and (C) in the gas diffusion layer contacting region is formed to have a serpentine shape which extends from upstream to downstream in a direction from a first side (2a) of the polymer electrolyte membrane 1 to a third side (2c) facing the first side along a

Abstract: Even when a reaction gas flows into a gap formed between a gasket and a membrane electrode assembly, the flowing of the reaction gas to the outside without flowing through an electrode is prevented and thus a decrease in power generation efficiency is prevented. In order to allow the water vapor contained in the reaction gas that flows into an anode-side gap 10a formed between an anode-side gasket 9a and a membrane electrode assembly 5 to condense in at least a part of the gap 10a, and to allow the condensed water to fill the gap 10a, the upstream portion of a cooling fluid channel 8a of an anode-side separator 6a is formed such that it includes a region corresponding to the gap 10a, and the upstream portion is formed such that it includes a region corresponding to a middle stream portion and subsequent portion of a fuel gas channel 7a.

Abstract: The present invention provides ink for forming a catalyst layer containing at least a cation conductive polymer electrolyte, catalyst-supporting particles including conductive carbon particles and an electrode catalyst supported thereon, and a dispersion medium, wherein the polymer electrolyte has a mean inertia radius of 150 to 300 nm. A catalyst layer made of the catalyst layer ink improves in gas diffusion property and increases cell voltage, which allows providing a proton conductive polymer electrolyte fuel cell capable of maintaining the high cell voltage for a long time.

Abstract: An air purifying apparatus for a fuel cell is provided on a flow route of air supplied to the fuel cell. The air purifying apparatus includes a first pollutant-removing means that oxidizes a pollutant in the air and a second pollutant-removing means that adsorbs and removes the pollutant. The first pollutant-removing means includes a catalyst that oxidizes the pollutant by means of oxygen in the air, and the catalyst has an oxidizing activity with respect to at least one selected from the group consisting of organic substances, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and carbon monoxide. The first pollutant-removing means may include an ozone generator. The second pollutant-removing means adsorbs and removes the pollutant by means of a porous material carrying at least one selected from the group consisting of permanganates, alkali salts, alkaline hydroxides, and alkaline oxides.

Abstract: The temperature of cooling fluid in an inlet side manifold is increased during power generation by influence of the temperature of heat generation sections of cells. This causes variation in temperature among unit cells in a fuel cell stack, causing flooding and variation in output voltage. The invention provides a fuel cell in which an increase in temperature of cooling fluid in an inlet side manifold is suppressed, and that has an excellent durability and a stable output voltage. The fuel cell has flow paths for cooling fluid in cathode side separator plates and anode side separator plates, the flow paths connecting an inlet side manifold and an outlet side manifold for cooling fluid. Each of the flow paths for cooling fluid includes a first cooling section for cooling a heat generation section, that is, an area corresponding to a cathode or an anode, and a second cooling section located between the first cooling section and the inlet side manifold for cooling fluid.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel cell system which is capable of appropriately removing nonionic sulfur compound contained in recovered water in a water recovery device, which is used for generating a hydrogen-containing gas in a hydrogen generator, and a method for operating the fuel cell system.