Abstract: A fuel supplied to a fuel cell is allowed to flow into an orifice channel in an orifice chip having a temperature control module such as a ceramic heater or a Peltier element. The temperature control module controls the temperature of the orifice channel to regulate the flow rate of a fuel passing through the orifice channel.

Abstract: A hydrogen generating device comprises a first plate having plural first grooves, plural first walls which define the first grooves, an alumina layer formed by anodic oxidation at least in part of the surface of the first walls, and a first catalyst layer containing heteropolyacid to be carried on the alumina layer, and a second plate arranged oppositely to the first plate, the second plate having plural second grooves formed to correspond to the first grooves one by one, plural second walls which define the second grooves, and a second catalyst layer formed at least in part of the surface of the second walls. The first walls are inserted into the second grooves, and the second walls are inserted into the first grooves, whereby the first and second walls are located opposite to each other and apart from each other by not larger than 500 ?m, respectively.

Abstract: An analyzer includes a reforming unit which reforms fuel containing an organic compound which contains carbon and hydrogen into a reformed gas containing hydrogen, a flame ionization detector which is connected to the reforming unit, and detects an ion generated by combusting the reformed gas supplied from the reforming unit and a sample gas, or ionizing a sample gas by reaction with the reformed gas supplied from the reforming unit, and outputs an output signal representing the ionic amount, and an analysis controller which analyzes the output signal from the flame ionization detector, and provides data capable of identifying a component contained in the sample gas.

Abstract: A hydrogen generating apparatus and a fuel cell system, which can be reduced in size, are provided. The hydrogen generating apparatus and the fuel cell system each has a CO removing portion. A catalyst portion formed by aluminum is provided on the surface of a CO removing portion for accelerating the methanation reaction of a part of carbon monoxide contained in a reformed gas. The catalyst portion includes a catalyst layer having ruthenium supported on ?-alumina formed by the anodization of the surface thereof. Heating is effected such that the temperature of the catalyst portion reaches 250° C. or more.

Abstract: A fuel cell system is provided with: a container having a double wall and an opening at an end of the double wall, the double wall including an inner wall, an outer wall and a sealed space defined by the inner wall and the outer wall, the sealed space being evacuated; a fuel supplier supplying a fuel including an organic compound; a reformer reforming the fuel into a reformed gas including hydrogen, the reformer being enclosed in the container; a fuel supply path linking the fuel supplier to the reformer; a heat absorber being in contact with the inner wall and disposed between the reformer and the opening; and a fuel cell receiving and using the reformed gas to generate electricity.

Abstract: A fuel cell system is provided with: a fuel supplier supplying a fuel including dimethyl ether; a reforming catalyst causing a reforming reaction of the fuel into a reformed gas including hydrogen; a shift catalyst causing a shift reaction of the reformed gas; a methanation catalyst causing a methanation catalyst of the reformed gas; a hydrogenation catalyst causing a hydrogenation catalyst of the reformed gas; and a fuel cell using hydrogen formed the reforming reaction and the shift reaction from the fuel and oxygen included in an atmospheric air to generate electricity.

Abstract: A fuel cell system including a fuel supplying unit configured to supply a fuel containing dimethyl ether; a reforming portion including a conduit through which the fuel can be passed; a first catalyst provided on a surface within the conduit and configured to accelerate a reforming reaction by which the fuel is reformed to a gas containing hydrogen; a second catalyst provided on a surface within the conduit and configured to accelerate a shift reaction by which carbon monoxide and water produced during the reforming reaction are converted to hydrogen and carbon dioxide; a CO removing portion configured to remove carbon monoxide left unreacted after the shift reaction; and a fuel cell unit configured to generate electricity from oxygen and the hydrogen produced by the reforming reaction and shift reaction.

Abstract: Disclosed is a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery comprises a sealing unit including a conductive support plate, wherein the conductive support plate contains at least one kind of a conductive material selected from the group consisting of a metal, an alloy and a composite metallic material, each of the metal, the alloy and the composite metallic material has a modulus of elasticity (Young's modulus) at 25° C. that falls within a range from 1×1011 Pa to 3.27×1011 Pa, and the conductive support plate has an area resistance value RS at 20° C. falling within a range from 0.032 (??·cm2) to 1.24 (??·cm2).

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel section storing fuel; a vaporizer vaporizing the fuel; a reformer reforming the fuel into reformed gas containing hydrogen; a CO remover configured to reduce or remove carbon monoxide from reformed gas; a fuel cell body having an anode configured to introduce the reformed gas from the CO remover and emit exhaust gas containing hydrogen and a cathode configured to introduce oxygen to react with hydrogen; and a circulation path configured to circulate exhaust gas configured to circulate the exhaust gas to the reformer.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel tank storing a fuel comprising an ether, water, and an alcohol; a vaporizer vaporizing the fuel; a reformer reforming the vaporized fuel into a hydrogen rich gas; a CO gas removal apparatus configured to remove CO gas in the hydrogen rich gas; and a fuel cell unit configured to generate electricity by electrochemical reaction of the hydrogen rich gas and oxygen.

Abstract: A sample solution measuring device for detecting dissolved substances in a sample solution by measuring a potential difference between the sample solution and a reference solution, the sample solution measuring device, including: a sample solution container; a reference solution container; a substrate thin film is located between the sample solution container and the reference solution container and having a hole in which a bilayer lipid membrane is formed, where the sample solution and the reference solution come into contact with each other; a mechanism which forms the bilayer lipid membrane by ejecting a lipid solution; and, a mechanism which ejects a cleaning fluid to the substrate thin film.

Abstract: Disclosed is a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery comprises a sealing unit including a conductive support plate, wherein the conductive support plate contains at least one kind of a conductive material selected from the group consisting of a metal, an alloy and a composite metallic material, each of the metal, the alloy and the composite metallic material has a modulus of elasticity (Young's modulus) at 25° C. that falls within a range from 1×1011 Pa to 3.27×1011 Pa, and the conductive support plate has an area resistance value RS at 20° C. falling within a range from 0.032 (&mgr;&OHgr;·cm2) to 1.24 (&mgr;&OHgr;·cm2).

Abstract: A hydrogen-absorbing alloy for battery according to the present invention comprises an alloy having the composition represented by a general formula A Ni.sub.a Mn.sub.b M.sub.c ?where, A is at least one kind of element selected from rare earth elements including Y (yttrium), M is a metal mainly composed of at least one kind of element selected from Co, Al, Fe, Si, Cr, Cu, Ti, Zr, Zn, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Mo, W, Ag, Pd, B, Ga, In, Ge and Sn, 3.5.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.5, 0.1.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.1, 0.ltoreq.c.ltoreq.1, 4.5.ltoreq.a+b+c.ltoreq.6!, wherein the alloy has columnar structures in which the area ratio of the columnar structures having the ratio of a minor diameter to a major diameter (aspect ratio) of 1:2 or higher is 50% or more. Further, an average minor diameter of the columnar structures is set to 30 microns or less.

Abstract: A hydrogen-absorbing alloy for battery according to the present invention comprises an alloy having the composition represented by a general formula A Ni.sub.a Mn.sub.b M.sub.c [where, A is at least one kind of element selected from rare earth elements including Y (yttrium), M is a metal mainly composed of at least one kind of element selected from Co, Al, Fe, Si, Cr, Cu, Ti, Zr, Zn, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Mo, W, Ag, Pd, B, Ga, In, Ge and Sn, 3.5.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.5, 0.1.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.1, 0.ltoreq.c.ltoreq.1, 4.5.ltoreq.a+b+c.ltoreq.6], wherein the alloy has columnar structures in which the area ratio of the columnar structures having the ratio of a minor diameter to a major diameter (aspect ratio) of 1:2 or higher is 50% or more. Further, an average minor diameter of the columnar structures is set to 30 microns or less.