Abstract: In an inverter generator controller, residual charge of a battery is detected and generated power output is detected. Then, low-load charging of the battery is implemented if the detected generated power output of the engine generator unit is equal to or greater than the detected load output demand and the detected generated power output of the engine generator unit is less than the predetermined low-load value a, when the detected residual charge of the battery is equal to or less than the first threshold value. When the detected residual charge of the battery becomes greater than the first threshold value, the low-load charging of the battery is terminated.

Abstract: The present invention provides a power supply device that supplies power to an external load, comprising: a generator configured to generate electric power by power of an engine; a housing container configured to house a battery; a state determination unit configured to determine a state of the power supply device; and a control unit configured to control charging of the battery housed in the housing container and power supply to the external load, wherein the generator includes a tank that stores fuel for the engine, and in a case where the state determination unit determines that a remaining amount of fuel in the tank is less than a threshold, the control unit automatically transitions to a control mode in which power supply to the external load is controlled by the power from the generator and the power from the battery.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electric power supply apparatus that supplies power to an external load, characterized by comprising: a generator capable of generating electric power by motive power of an engine; a container capable of housing a battery; a first detector configured to detect a remaining amount of the battery housed in the container; a determining unit configured to determine a maximum amount of electric power that can be output from the electric power supply apparatus, on the basis of a result of detection by the first detector; and a notifying unit configured to notify a user of the maximum amount of electric power determined by the determining unit.

Abstract: In an output control of a hybrid-type engine generator equipped with a load output demand detecting unit, a load output demand increase/decrease determination unit and an output control unit, a configuration is adopted whereby load output demand from (output required by) the load is detected, increase/decrease of the detected load output demand is determined, discharge power from the battery is added to generated power output of the engine generator unit when detected load output demand is determined to be increasing, and output of the engine generator unit is controlled so as to use some generated power output of the engine generator unit as charge power of the battery when detected load output demand is determined to be decreasing.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, an oxygen-containing gas flow rate control device, a reformer, a raw fuel flow rate control device, and an exhaust gas flow rate control device. In the fuel cell system, the oxygen-containing gas flow rate control device includes a start-up oxygen-containing gas flow rate regulator valve for supplying an oxygen-containing gas to the reformer to perform partial oxidation reforming from start-up of fuel cells until the temperature of the fuel cell stack is raised to a predetermined temperature. After the temperature of the fuel cell stack reaches the predetermined temperature, the exhaust gas flow rate control device supplies an exhaust gas to the reformer to perform the partial oxidation reforming and steam reforming.

Abstract: In an inverter generator controller, residual charge of a battery is detected and generated power output is detected. Then, low-load charging of the battery is implemented if the detected generated power output of the engine generator unit is equal to or greater than the detected load output demand and the detected generated power output of the engine generator unit is less than the predetermined low-load value a, when the detected residual charge of the battery is equal to or less than the first threshold value. When the detected residual charge of the battery becomes greater than the first threshold value, the low-load charging of the battery is terminated.

Abstract: In an output control of a hybrid-type engine generator equipped with a load output demand detecting unit, a load output demand increase/decrease determination unit and an output control unit, a configuration is adopted whereby load output demand from (output required by) the load is detected, increase/decrease of the detected load output demand is determined, discharge power from the battery is added to generated power output of the engine generator unit when detected load output demand is determined to be increasing, and output of the engine generator unit is controlled so as to use some generated power output of the engine generator unit as charge power of the battery when detected load output demand is determined to be decreasing.

Abstract: A reformer includes a reforming chamber having a raw fuel passage through which a raw fuel flows, the reforming chamber being filled with or carrying a reforming catalyst, a supply chamber disposed upstream of the reforming chamber, for uniformly supplying the raw fuel to the raw fuel passage, and a discharge chamber disposed downstream of the reforming chamber, for uniformly discharging the raw fuel from the raw fuel passage. The raw fuel passage has first and second reversers for reversing the direction in which the raw fuel flows. The raw fuel passage has a cross-sectional area which is smaller in a downstream portion thereof than in an upstream portion thereof.

Abstract: A raw fuel inlet pipe, an air inlet pipe, and a combustion gas exhaust pipe are provided for a casing of a start-up combustor. A raw fuel supply chamber connected to the raw fuel inlet pipe and an air supply chamber connected to the air inlet pipe form double layer structure. A chamber having a partition wall is provided for the raw fuel supply chamber, and a slit connected to the air supply chamber is formed in the partition wall. A plurality of raw fuel through holes are formed on a side surface of the partition wall with which the slit is formed.

Abstract: In a fuel cell stack constituting a fuel cell module, electrolyte/electrode assemblies and separators are alternately laminated. An electrolyte/electrode assembly is arranged on one end of the fuel cell stack in the lamination direction, while a separator is arranged on the other end of the fuel cell stack in the lamination direction. A terminal separator is arranged adjacent to the electrolyte/electrode assembly, while a load relaxation member is arranged adjacent to the separator. The terminal separator controls the supply of a fuel gas to a fuel gas channel, and the load relaxation member is configured of a laminate of a plurality of flat metal plates.

Abstract: A raw fuel inlet pipe, an air inlet pipe, and a combustion gas exhaust pipe are provided for a casing of a start-up combustor. A raw fuel supply chamber connected to the raw fuel inlet pipe and an air supply chamber connected to the air inlet pipe form double layer structure. A chamber having a partition wall is provided for the raw fuel supply chamber, and a slit connected to the air supply chamber is formed in the partition wall. A plurality of raw fuel through holes are formed on a side surface of the partition wall with which the slit is formed.

Abstract: A fuel cell is provided with a separator that supports an electrolyte/electrode assembly sandwiched therebetween. The separator is provided with: first and second fuel gas supply parts in the center of which fuel gas supply holes are formed; first and second cross-link parts connected to the first and second fuel gas supply parts; and first and second surrounding support parts connected to the first and second cross-link parts. Each first surrounding support part is provided with a set of fuel gas exhaust passages that discharge fuel gas that has gone through a fuel gas passage and been used. The cross-sectional areas of the fuel gas exhaust passages are larger on the downstream sides than on the upstream sides, in terms of the direction of fuel gas flow.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes separators-sandwiching electrolyte electrode assemblies. The separators each include first and second fuel gas supply sections through which a fuel gas supply passage extends centrally, first and second bridges extending radially outwardly from the first and second fuel gas supply sections and first and second sandwiching sections connected to the first and second bridges. A fuel gas channel and an oxygen-containing gas channel are provided in the first and second sandwiching sections. Each of the first sandwiching sections has pairs of fuel gas outlets, and a fuel gas consumed in the fuel gas channel is discharged through the fuel gas outlets.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes separators sandwiching electrolyte electrode assemblies. The separators each include first and second fuel gas supply sections through which a fuel gas supply passage extends centrally, first and second bridges extending radially outwardly from the first and second fuel gas supply sections, and first and second sandwiching sections connected to the first and second bridges. A fuel gas channel and an oxygen-containing gas channel are provided in the first and second sandwiching sections. Each of the first sandwiching sections has pairs of fuel gas outlets and a fuel gas consumed in the fuel gas channel is discharged through the fuel gas outlets.

Abstract: A fuel cell is provided with a separator that supports an electrolyte/electrode assembly sandwiched therebetween. The separator is provided with: first and second fuel gas supply parts in the center of which fuel gas supply holes are formed; first and second cross-link parts connected to the first and second fuel gas supply parts; and first and second sandwiching support parts connected to the first and second cross-link parts. Each first sandwiching support part is provided with a set of fuel gas exhaust passages that discharge fuel gas that has gone through a fuel gas passage and been used. The cross-sectional areas of the fuel gas exhaust passages are larger on the downstream sides than on the upstream sides, in terms of the direction of fuel gas flow.

Abstract: A separator of a fuel cell includes sandwiching sections for sandwiching electrolyte electrode assemblies, first bridges each having a fuel gas supply channel, and a fuel gas supply unit. A fuel gas supply passage extends through the fuel gas supply unit in a stacking direction. Each of the sandwiching sections has a fuel gas inlet for supplying a fuel gas to a fuel gas channel, a fuel gas discharge channel for discharging the fuel gas consumed in the fuel gas channel, and a circular arc wall contacting an anode, and prevents the fuel gas from flowing straight from the fuel gas inlet to the fuel gas discharge channel.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell module and a condenser apparatus. The condenser apparatus includes a first condenser using an oxygen-containing as a coolant, and a second condenser using hot water stored in a hot water tank as the coolant. Further, the fuel cell system includes a control device for controlling at least one of a flow rate of the exhaust gas supplied to the first condenser and a flow rate of the exhaust gas supplied to the second condenser based on at least any of a water level of the hot water in the hot water tank, a temperature of the hot water in the hot water tank, and a water level of the condensed water in the condenser apparatus.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, an oxygen-containing gas flow rate control device, a reformer, a raw fuel flow rate control device, and an exhaust gas flow rate control device. In the fuel cell system, the oxygen-containing gas flow rate control device includes a start-up oxygen-containing gas flow rate regulator valve for supplying an oxygen-containing gas to the reformer to perform partial oxidation reforming from start-up of fuel cells until the temperature of the fuel cell stack is raised to a predetermined temperature. After the temperature of the fuel cell stack reaches the predetermined temperature, the exhaust gas flow rate control device supplies an exhaust gas to the reformer to perform the partial oxidation reforming and steam reforming.

Abstract: A fuel cell module includes a fuel cell stack, a heat exchanger, an evaporator, a reformer, and a combustor for at least heating any of the fuel cell stack, the heat exchanger, the evaporator, and the reformer. The fuel cell module is surrounded by an inner heat insulating layer and an outer heat insulating layer. The inner heat insulating layer is used in a high temperature area, and the outer heat insulating layer is used in a low temperature area. The inner heat insulating layer contains a large amount of metal component in comparison with the outer heat insulating layer.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes separators sandwiching electrolyte electrode assemblies. Each of the separators includes a fuel gas supply passage, four first bridges extending radially outwardly from the fuel gas supply section, and sandwiching sections connected to the first bridges. A fuel gas supply passage extends through the fuel gas supply section. Each of the sandwiching sections has a fuel gas channel and an oxygen-containing gas channel. The four electrolyte electrode assemblies are arranged concentrically around the fuel gas supply section. A fuel cell stack includes such fuel cells.