Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a cell stack comprising a plurality of power generation cells, each including a first flow channel plate, a second flow channel plate, and a membrane electrode assembly; a first current collector configured to collect a current; a second current collector configured to collect a current; a third current collector configured to collect a current; a fourth current collector configured to collect a current from a downstream region in the second plate; and a controller.

Abstract: In a power generation unit incorporated in a fuel cell system, a mixture fuel with a certain concentration is supplied to an anode, power is generated by electrochemical reaction between the anode and a cathode exposed to air, and a discharge liquid containing an unreacted mixture fuel is discharged from the anode. The power generation unit is connected to a fuel circulation path for circulating the discharge liquid to the anode. If a mixture fuel is low in pressure, a fuel supply unit supplies fuel to the fuel circulation path. The temperature of the power generation unit is controlled in accordance with the concentration of the mixture fuel supplied to the anode.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a power generation unit, a fuel supply source, gas-liquid separator, and a circulating circuit. The gas-liquid separator includes a lyophobic tube, a lyophilic tube which communicates with the lyophobic tube, and a lyophilic member provided to clog a passage of the lyophobic tube or a lyophobic member provided to clog a passage of the lyophilic tube.

Abstract: A fuel reforming apparatus includes a heat insulating container, a reformer, a CO treatment unit, a reformer heating unit, a heat insulating member and a catalyst unit. The heat insulating container has an opening. The reformer is provided in the heat insulating container and reforms a fuel to obtain a reforming gas containing H2 and CO. The CO treatment unit reduces CO in the reforming gas. The reformer heating unit comprises a first catalyst for a combustion reaction of hydrogen, and is configured to heat the reformer using the combustion reaction. The heat insulating member covers the opening of the heat insulating container. The catalyst unit is provided in the heat insulating container and includes a second catalyst for an combustion reaction of a flammable gas.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel tank configured to store a fuel at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure; a vaporizer configured to vaporize the fuel; a reformer configured to reform 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 cell unit configured to generate electricity by allowing the hydrogen rich gas to react with oxygen.

Abstract: Silicon nitride film is formed on substrate (112) by feeding trisilylamine and ammonia into a CVD reaction chamber (11) that contains a substrate (112). The ammonia gas/trisilylamine gas flow rate ratio is set to a value of at least about 10 and/or the thermal CVD reaction is run at a temperature no greater than about 600° C. Silicon oxynitride is obtained by introducing an oxygen source gas into the CVD reaction chamber (11). This method avoids the production of ammonium chloride and/or the incorporation of carbonaceous contaminants which are detrimental to the quality of the deposited film.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel tank configured to store a fuel at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure; a vaporizer configured to vaporize the fuel; a reformer configured to reform 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 cell unit configured to generate electricity by allowing the hydrogen rich gas to react to oxygen.

Abstract: A direct oxidation fuel cell anode system includes an anode; a circulation loop in fluid communication with the anode and including a circulation pump, the circulation pump being configured to circulate a circulating liquid in the circulation loop; a fuel cartridge; and a fuel pump in fluid communication with the circulation loop and the fuel cartridge, the fuel pump being configured to inject a fuel from the fuel cartridge into the circulating liquid, wherein the anode system is configured to accept no water from a cathode exhaust.

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: A fuel cell includes a fuel electrode, an oxidant electrode, a fuel supply port, and a porous material layer for transferring a liquid fuel from the fuel supply port to the fuel electrode. The porous material layer has different values of at least one of a porosity, a permeability and a tortuosity factor depending on the distance of a site of the porous material layer from at least one of the fuel supply port and the fuel electrode.

Abstract: There is disclosed a chemical reaction device which distributes reaction fluid through a microchannels having convex and concave portions. The chemical reaction device includes an anodized film for supporting a catalyst, convex and concave portions covered with the anodized film to define microchannel wall members, a curved convex corner disposed in the convex portion, and a curved concave corner disposed in the concave portion.

Abstract: Provided is a fuel cell including a container having at least two openings, a power generating unit contained in the container, the power generating unit having a membrane electrode assembly, an anode and a cathode channel plates, and a fan to supply oxygen into the membrane electrode assembly from one of the openings of the container. The cathode channel plate has a clearance against the container, and the cathode channel plate has the openings communicating with a space formed between the fan and the membrane electrode assembly on the face different from the opposite face, and the clearance.

Abstract: Silicon nitride film is formed on substrate by feeding trisilylamine and ammonia into a CVD reaction chamber that contains a substrate. The ammonia gas/trisilylamine gas flow rate ratio is set to a value of at least about 10 and/or the thermal CVD reaction is run at a temperature no greater than about 600° C. Silicon oxynitride is obtained by introducing an oxygen source gas into the CVD reaction chamber. This method avoids the production of ammonium chloride and/or the incorporation of carbonaceous contaminants which are detrimental to the quality of the deposited film.

Abstract: A flow path structure is provided with: a first flow path member having a plurality of through grooves, the through grooves being disposed adjacent to each other; a second flow path member having a fitting portion, in the fitting portion the first flow path member being fitted; a third flow path member covering the fitting portion so as to be sealed, the third flow path member being provided on the second flow path member; an inflow port to receive a fluid; an outflow port to exhaust an exhaust fluid; and a flow path formed in the fitting portion along the first flow path member, the flow path linking the inflow port and the outflow port and running through the through grooves.

Abstract: A fuel cell is provided with: a membrane electrode assembly including an anode, a cathode and a proton-permeation membrane provided between the anode and the cathode; and a fuel supply path to supply a fuel including any of water-soluble organic matters to the anode, the fuel supply path including a back-diffusion barrier to prevent water from diffusion in a direction reverse to supply of the fuel.

Abstract: A cartridge applied to a fuel cell is provided with: a fuel including at least two selected from the group of an organic compound having an ether linkage, an organic compound having an O—H linkage, and water; and a container to house the fuel, the container including one selected from the group of a casing of a resin including naphthalate system polyester and a casing of a metal having an inner coating of a resin including naphthalate system polyester.

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: Methods for the production of silicon nitride films by vapor-phase growth. A hydrazine gas and at least one precursor gas are fed into a reaction chamber containing a substrate. The precursor gas is either a trisilylamine gas or a silylhydrazine gas. A silicone nitride film is formed through the reaction of the hydrazine gas and the precursor gas.

Abstract: A fuel cell system is provided with a reactor. The reactor is provided with a first member including plural first projections; a second member including plural second projections, the second projections being so dimensioned as to at least partly enter into gaps between the respective first projections; a catalyst supported on at least apart of surfaces of the first projections and the second projections; and a case to house the first member and the second member, the case including an inflow port and an outflow port.

Abstract: A direct methanol fuel cell unit is provided with a fuel cell including an anode, a cathode with a hydrophobic microporous layer, an electrolyte membrane put in-between, and a fuel supply path supplying fuel to the anode. The fuel supply path is provided with an upwind water barrier preventing back-diffusion of water and a gas flow path channeling gas generated at the anode and disposed between the barrier and the anode. A water-rich zone is formed between the water barrier and the cathode microporous layer. Water loss from either side of this zone is eliminated or minimized, thereby permitting direct use of highly concentrated methanol in the fuel flow path with good fuel efficiency and power performance. The cell unit can be applied equally well to both an active circulating air cathode and an air-breathing cathode.