Abstract: The object is to provide a simplified but highly efficient fuel cell system, permitting to perform the flame off detection and so on without supplying the burner with additional raw fuel, even if a flame rod system flame detection means is adopted as burner for reformer. The invention concerns a fuel cell system, comprising a reformer for reforming a hydrocarbon base fuel such as natural gas into hydrogen, a CO transformer, a CO eliminator, a fuel cell for generating electricity from hydrogen, and a burner for reformer for burning hydrogen gas discharged from the fuel cell and supply the reformer with heat necessary for reforming reaction, wherein the burner for reformer is provided with a flame rod system flame detection means and, at the same time, supplied with hydrogen gas containing a flame detectable amount of fuel gas.

Abstract: The object is to provide a simplified but highly efficient fuel cell system, permitting to perform the flame off detection and so on without supplying the burner with additional raw fuel, even if a flame rod system flame detection means is adopted as burner for reformer. The invention concerns a fuel cell system, comprising a reformer for reforming a hydrocarbon base fuel such as natural gas into hydrogen, a CO transformer, a CO eliminator, a fuel cell for generating electricity from hydrogen, and a burner for reformer for burning hydrogen gas discharged from the fuel cell and supply the reformer with heat necessary for reforming reaction, wherein the burner for reformer is provided with a flame rod system flame detection means and, at the same time, supplied with hydrogen gas containing a flame detectable amount of fuel gas.

Abstract: The object is to provide a simplified but highly efficient fuel cell system, permitting to perform the flame off detection and so on without supplying the burner with additional raw fuel, even if a flame rod system flame detection means is adopted as burner for reformer. The invention concerns a fuel cell system, comprising a reformer for reforming a hydrocarbon base fuel such as natural gas into hydrogen, a CO transformer, a CO eliminator, a fuel cell for generating electricity from hydrogen, and a burner for reformer for burning hydrogen gas discharged from the fuel cell and supply the reformer with heat necessary for reforming reaction, wherein the burner for reformer is provided with a flame rod system flame detection means and, at the same time, supplied with hydrogen gas containing a flame detectable amount of fuel gas.

Abstract: A plurality of distributed power generation systems are connected via the Internet to a managing apparatus in a managing company. A power company communicates with the managing apparatus via another line. At peak times of power consumption in the midsummer and so forth, the power company requests the managing company to supply the power. The managing company controls to remotely set generation capacity of the distributed generation systems at maximum so as to reverse surplus power therefrom to a power system. A normal power rate is discounted for a user of the distributed generation system for his/her cooperation with the power company. The managing company charges the power company based on the surplus electric energy supplied to the power company.

Abstract: The object is to provide a simplified but highly efficient fuel cell system, permitting to perform the flame off detection and so on without supplying the burner with additional raw fuel, even if a flame rod system flame detection means is adopted as burner for reformer. The invention concerns a fuel cell system, comprising a reformer for reforming a hydrocarbon base fuel such as natural gas into hydrogen, a CO transformer, a CO eliminator, a fuel cell for generating electricity from hydrogen, and a burner for reformer for burning hydrogen gas discharged from the fuel cell and supply the reformer with heat necessary for reforming reaction, wherein the burner for reformer is provided with a flame rod system flame detection means and, at the same time, supplied with hydrogen gas containing a flame detectable amount of fuel gas.

Abstract: A fuel cell unit having an electrolytic layer with a catalyst layer and a gas diffusion layer arranged in the stated order on each principal surface is provided. The electrolytic layer is composed of a porous sheet and an electrolytic gel impregnated therein. The electrolytic gel is gel particles made of a proton conductive material. At least one of the catalyst layer and the gas diffusion layer has pores that are smaller than the electrolytic gel particles.

Abstract: A plurality of distributed power generation systems are connected via the Internet to a managing apparatus in a managing company. A power company communicates with the managing apparatus via another line. At peak times of power consumption in the midsummer and so forth, the power company requests the managing company to supply the power. The managing company controls to remotely set generation capacity of the distributed generation systems at maximum so as to reverse surplus power therefrom to a power system. A normal power rate is discounted for a user of the distributed generation system for his/her cooperation with the power company. The managing company charges the power company based on the surplus electric energy supplied to the power company.

Abstract: The invention provides a polymer electrolyte fuel cell device 1 comprising at least one fuel cell 10 having an anode, a cathode and a polymer electrolyte membrane provided between the anode and cathode, a combustion unit 3, a fuel gas pipe 4 for introducing therethrough the unreacted portion of a fuel gas discharged from the fuel cell 10 into the combustion unit 3, and an oxidizer gas supply manifold 2 for supplying oxidizer gas discharged from the combustion unit 3 to the cathode. By partly consuming the oxygen contained in an oxidizer gas supplied from outside, the combustion unit 3 burns the unreacted fuel gas and burns the impurities contained in the oxidizer gas. This feature prevents the polymer electrolyte membrane from drying, affords a high cell voltage without impairment and enables the device to achieve a higher overall efficiency than in the prior art.

Abstract: A process unit of an image forming machine, comprising a photoconductor unit including a photoconductor drum, and a developing unit for developing a latent electrostatic image formed on the photosensitive layer of the photoconductor drum to a toner image, the photoconductor unit and the developing unit being connected by a support shaft so as to be pivotable relative to each other; in which a pre-transfer guide plate for guiding a transfer sheet to be conveyed to a transfer zone is disposed on a photoconductor support means for supporting the photoconductor drum rotatably, and the rear surface of the pre-transfer guide plate is brought into contact with the support shaft or a development housing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a solid oxide fuel cell system comprising a stack including a layer of a number of cell units and separators alternated with each other, and characterized in that a set of cell units are placed on one surface between the separators, wherein each cell unit in the set is separately placed on the surface crossing at right angles to the layered direction, and wherein internal manifolds for fuel gas supply/exhaust and internal manifolds for oxidant gas supply/exhaust are formed around each cell unit, and all of them are formed through the separators.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell assembly comprises at least one planar fuel cell consisting of a solid oxide electrolyte sandwiched by an anode and a cathode, and at least two gas separators having gas passages for supplying anode gas and cathode gas to said anode and cathode. The at least one fuel cell and at least two separators are arranged one on the other to form a fuel cell assembly. The gas separators except for the uppermost separator are integrally provided at its periphery with an upwardly extending side wall spaced from adjacent upper gas separator to form a space surrounding the fuel cell located thereon, and the space is charged with a nonconducting high viscous melt. The fuel cell assembly may comprises a plurality of planar fuel cells and a plurality of planar separators arranged one on the another to form a fuel cell stack and may be arranged in a open-topped box-like housing charged with a nonconducting high viscous melt.

Abstract: Corrosion of metals such as silver and copper by sulfur and chlorine containing entities are substantially prevented by surrounding these materials with a suitable polymeric structure. The structure should be a polymer containing a material such as copper or aluminum that reacts readily with corrosive gases. In one advantageous embodiment a polymer bag containing approximately 35 weight percent of dispersed, powdered copper is employed to enclose a metal containing structure such as a printed circuit board. Use of this expedient substantially reduces corrosion of the printed circuit board.