Patents Issued in March 14, 2013
  • Publication number: 20130065112
    Abstract: Disclosed is an alkaline primary battery including: a bottomed cylindrical battery case; a cylindrical positive electrode having a hollow, being in contact with an inner wall of the battery case, and including manganese dioxide; a gel negative electrode being in the hollow of the positive electrode, and including zinc or a zinc alloy; a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode; and an alkaline electrolyte. The positive electrode has an electric capacity C1 and a height L1, the negative electrode has an electric capacity C2 and a height L2, the electric capacity C1 and the electric capacity C2 satisfy the relational expression (1): 1.05?C2/C1?1.25 ??(1), and the height L1 and the height L2 satisfy the relational expression (2): 0.85?L2/L1?f(C2/C1) ??(2), where f(C2/C1)=?0.3058×C2/C1+1.3153.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shunsuke Uzuka, Shinichi Sumiyama, Yasuhiko Syoji
  • Publication number: 20130065113
    Abstract: A lithium secondary battery includes an electrode assembly having at least one tab which projects from one side of the electrode assembly, an external finishing material surrounding and sealing the tab except a distal end portion thereof and the electrode assembly, and polymer films interposed between the external finishing material and the tab to improve adhesion therebetween. When the tab has a thickness no less than a predetermined thickness, the tab is formed to have a sectional shape which ensures that an inside angle defined by one of upper and lower surfaces of the tab and an adjacent side surface of the tab becomes an obtuse angle, and the polymer films are formed to have protuberances on the inner surfaces thereof, so as to improve bondability between the tab and the polymer films.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: SK INNOVATION CO., LTD.
    Inventor: SK Innovation Co., LTD.
  • Publication number: 20130065114
    Abstract: A polymer electrolyte includes a fluorine-containing structure having an alicyclic 1,3-disulfonimide in a principal chain or side chain of the polymer. A battery includes the polymer electrolyte. An imide monomer is able to introduce a fluorine-containing structure having an alicyclic 1,3-disulfonimide into a principal chain or side chain of a polymer through a polymerization reaction or a combination of a polymerization reaction and a fluorination reaction. A manufacturing method for a polymer electrolyte includes a polymerization step of polymerizing a raw material that includes one or two or more types of imide monomers that are able to introduce a fluorine-containing structure having an alicyclic 1,3-disulfonimide into a principal chain or side chain of a polymer through a polymerization reaction or a combination of a polymerization reaction and a fluorination reaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akihiro Shinohara, Naoki Hasegawa, Masaya Kawasumi, Masayoshi Takami, Toshihiko Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20130065115
    Abstract: An electrolyte solution comprising an additive wherein the additive is not substantially consumed during charge and discharge cycles of the electrochemical cell. Additives include Lewis acids, electron-rich transition metal complexes, and electron deficient pi-conjugated systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: WILDCAT DISCOVERY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Steven Kaye, Cory O'Neill, Wei Tong
  • Publication number: 20130065116
    Abstract: Disclosed is a lithium ion secondary battery having a positive electrode, a negative electrode and a non-aqueous electrolyte composition (electrolytic solution), characterized in that: the positive electrode includes a positive electrode active material represented by: aLi[Li1/3M12/3]O2.(1?a)LiM2O2 (where M1 represents at least one kind of metal element selected from the group consisting of Mn, Ti, Zr and V; M2 represents at least one kind of metal element selected from the group consisting of Ni, Co, Mn, Al, Cr, Fe, V. Mg and Zn; and a represents a composition ratio and satisfies a relationship of 0<a<1); the negative electrode includes a negative electrode active material containing silicon; and the non-aqueous electrolyte composition includes a lithium salt (CnF2n+1SO2)(CmF2m+1SO2)NLi (where in and n each independently represent an integer of 2 or more as a support electrolyte. This lithium ion secondary battery attains a high capacity and good cycle characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventors: Wataru Ogihara, Atsushi Itou, Tomokazu Yamane, Fumihiro Haga
  • Publication number: 20130065117
    Abstract: Disclosed are a novel compound, a method for preparing the same, and a lithium secondary battery comprising the same. More specifically, disclosed are a compound in which five MO6 octahedrons are bonded to one another around one MO6 octahedron such that the MO6 octahedrons share a vertex, to form hollows and Li cations substituted instead of Na cations using an ion substitution method are present in the hollows, and a crystal structure thereof is not varied even upon intercalation and deintercalation of Li cations, a method for preparing the same, and a lithium secondary battery comprising the same as a cathode active material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: YoungHwa Jung, Youngsun Choi, Seung-Tae Hong
  • Publication number: 20130065118
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a cathode active material for a secondary battery, which includes a combination of one or more selected from compounds represented by Formula 1, one or more selected from compounds represented by Formula 2, and one or more selected from compounds represented by Formula 3, (1-s-t)[Li(LiaMn(i-a-x-y)NixCoy)O2]*s[Li2CO3]*t[LiOH]??(1) Li(LibMn2-b)O4 ??(2) (1-u)LiFePO4*uC ??(3) In these formulae, 0<a<0.3; 0<x<0.8; 0<y<0.6; 0<s<0.05; 0<t<0.05; 0<b<0.3; and 0.01<u<0.1, wherein a, b, x and y denote mole ratios, and s, t and u denote weight ratios. The disclosed cathode active material has long lifespan and storage characteristics at room temperature and/or high temperature and excellent safety, and is effectively used to fabricate a non-aqueous electrolyte type high power lithium secondary battery having excellent rate properties and power characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Sung kyun CHANG, Hong-Kyu PARK, Sunkyu KIM, Sinyoung PARK, Young Hwa JUNG, Geun-Chang CHUNG, Keun Wan AN, Soo Min PARK, Ji Eun LEE
  • Publication number: 20130065119
    Abstract: A separator-type lithium ion secondary battery having large capacity and charge-discharge performance not destroying the separator, even with an active material layer having concavo-convex structure of high aspect ratio. The battery comprises a first electrode comprising a first current collector, and a first active material layer formed by plural convex first active material parts provided on the first current collector, a second electrode comprising a second current collector, and a second active material layer formed by plural convex second active material parts provided on the second current collector, and a separator provided between the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are integrated so that the convex first active material part is faced between the adjacent convex second active material parts, and the convex first active material part does not enter between the convex second active material parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventor: Masakazu SANADA
  • Publication number: 20130065120
    Abstract: Occlusion and release of lithium ion are likely to one-dimensionally occur in the b-axis direction of a crystal in a lithium-containing composite oxide having an olivine structure. Thus, a positive electrode in which the b-axes of lithium-containing composite oxide single crystals are oriented vertically to a surface of a positive electrode current collector is provided. The lithium-containing composite oxide particles are mixed with graphene oxide and then pressure is applied thereto, whereby the rectangular parallelepiped or substantially rectangular parallelepiped particles are likely to slip. In addition, in the case where the rectangular parallelepiped or substantially rectangular parallelepiped particles whose length in the b-axis direction is shorter than those in the a-axis direction and the c-axis direction are used, when pressure is applied in one direction, the b-axes can be oriented in the one direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takuya MIWA, Nobuhiro INOUE, Kuniharu NOMOTO, Junpei MOMO
  • Publication number: 20130065121
    Abstract: A grid for a battery having a plurality of spaced apart vertically extending and horizontally extending grid wire elements with each grid wire element having opposed ends joined to one of a plurality of nodes to define a plurality of open spaces and with selected ones of the grid wire elements being joined at one of their ends to frame elements. Oppositely facing sides of the grid wire elements define first and second planes that are parallel to each other. Selected ones of the frame elements have an undulating cross section across the width thereof with an apex of the undulation on one side of the grid being tangential to or terminating at a third plane that is separate from and parallel to the first and second planes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventors: Brian HARKER, Kent LANCASTER
  • Publication number: 20130065122
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes an anode, a semi-solid cathode, and a separator disposed therebetween. The semi-solid cathode includes a porous current collector and a suspension of an active material and a conductive material disposed in a non-aqueous liquid electrolyte. The porous current collector is at least partially disposed within the suspension such that the suspension substantially encapsulates the porous current collector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: 24M Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yet-Ming Chiang, William Craig Carter, James C. Cross, III, Ricardo Bazzarella, Naoki Ota
  • Publication number: 20130065123
    Abstract: A solid electrolyte layer and electrode layers are formed within an electrically insulating frame part, and current collecting plates are held by the electrically insulating frame part. Since the current collecting plates are held by the frame part, the shifting or coming-apart of the current collecting plates can be restrained. In order to cause the current collecting plates to be held by the frame part, a powder of material of the electrode layer is filled in between the frame part and the current collecting plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasushi TSUCHIDA
  • Publication number: 20130065124
    Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes an electrode body including a positive electrode and a negative electrode superimposed upon each other with a separator interposed therebetween. The negative electrode is superimposed upon the positive electrode in a state where a negative electrode active material layer, except the part on a proximal end part of a negative electrode tab, is positioned inside an outer edge of a positive electrode active material layer of the positive electrode. A width H1 of the negative electrode active material layer including the part on the proximal end part of the negative electrode tab, width H2 of the negative electrode active material layer or negative electrode current collector at a part other than the negative electrode tab, and width H3 of the positive electrode active material layer are formed to satisfy the relationships of H2<H3, and (H1?H2)?(H3?H2)÷2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventors: Hideaki MORISHIMA, Takashi KOBAYASHI, Seiichi HIKATA, Yoshikazu KOBAYASHI, Takahisa OHSAKI, Natsuki TOYOTA, Haruchika ISHII
  • Publication number: 20130065125
    Abstract: The electrode for a lithium ion secondary battery of the present invention has an electrode mixture layer containing carbon nanotubes as a conductive auxiliary agent and deoxyribonucleic acid as a dispersant for the carbon nanotubes, and the content of the carbon nanotubes in the electrode mixture layer is 0.001 to 5 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of active material particles. The lithium ion secondary battery of the present invention has the electrode of the invention as its positive electrode and/or negative electrode. The electrode of the invention can be produced by a producing method of the invention of forming the electrode mixture layer from an electrode mixture-containing composition prepared using a dispersion including carbon nanotubes and deoxyribonucleic acid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventors: Yuko Sawaki, Mitsuhiro Kishimi
  • Publication number: 20130065126
    Abstract: An electrode for an electrochemical cell including an active electrode material and an intrinsically conductive coating wherein the coating is applied to the active electrode material by heating the mixture for a time and at a temperature that limits degradation of the cathode active material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: WILDCAT DISCOVERY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Marissa Caldwell, Steven Kaye, Cory O'Neill, Wei Tong
  • Publication number: 20130065127
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to sulfur cathodes for use in an electric current producing cells or rechargeable batteries. The sulfur cathode comprises an electroactive sulfur containing material, an electrically conductive filler and a non-electroactive component. The invention further pertains to rechargeable batteries comprising said sulfur cathode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventors: Linda Faye Nazar, Xiulei (David) Ji
  • Publication number: 20130065128
    Abstract: A battery includes an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte disposed between the anode and the cathode. The cathode includes a hollow structure defining an internal volume and a sulfur-based material disposed within the internal volume. A characteristic dimension of the internal volume is at least 20 nm, and the sulfur-based material occupies less than 100% of the internal volume to define a void.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventors: Weiyang Li, Yi Cui, Zhi Wei Seh, Guangyuan Zheng, Yuan Yang
  • Publication number: 20130065129
    Abstract: Provided is a positive electrode for a rechargeable lithium battery including a positive active material including a lithium phosphate compound particle and fiber-type carbon attached inside the lithium phosphate compound particle, a method of preparing the same, and a rechargeable lithium battery including the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jay-Hyok SONG, Sang-In PARK, Han-Eol PARK, Ji-Hyun KIM, Ki-Hyun KIM, Yong-Chan YOU, Ha-Young Lee
  • Publication number: 20130065130
    Abstract: An electrode (110) is provided that may be used in an electrochemical device (100) such as an energy storage/discharge device, e.g., a lithium-ion battery, or an electrochromic device, e.g., a smart window. Hydrothermal techniques and vacuum filtration methods were applied to fabricate the electrode (110). The electrode (110) includes an active portion (140) that is made up of electrochemically active nanoparticles, with one embodiment utilizing 3d-transition metal oxides to provide the electrochemical capacity of the electrode (110). The active material (140) may include other electrochemical materials, such as silicon, tin, lithium manganese oxide, and lithium iron phosphate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: ALLIANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, LLC
    Inventor: ALLIANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, LLC
  • Publication number: 20130065131
    Abstract: A negative active material for a rechargeable lithium battery includes: a crystalline carbon core including pores; an amorphous carbon shell positioned on the core surface; metal nanoparticles dispersed inside the pores; and amorphous carbon inside the pores, wherein a first particle diameter difference (D50?D10) of the nanoparticles is from about 70 to about 150 nm and the second particle diameter difference (D90?D50) of the nanoparticles is from about 440 to about 520 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
  • Publication number: 20130065132
    Abstract: A ceramic microporous polyolefin battery separator membrane, high in air permeability, low in shrinkage and improved temperature resistance addresses the safety requirements of lithium ion batteries. The separators made by the current invention consists of one or more polyolefin polymers and kaolin fillers comprised of aluminum oxide and silicon oxide. The membranes of current invention have a thickness of 5-200 microns, air permeability of 1-200 sec/10 cc (Gurley seconds), and average pore diameter of less than 1 micron.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: ADVANCED MEMBRANE SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Advanced Membrance Systems, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130065133
    Abstract: Disclosed is a highly safe battery separator, in particular a separator for a lithium ion secondary battery, which reduces internal resistance, achieves good ionic conductivity, prevents passing of electrode active materials, and also prevents electrical short circuit by controlling deposition of lithium metal (dendrite). Also disclosed is a means for stably producing the battery separator with high productivity. Specifically disclosed are: a battery separator which is composed of a porous polyolefin sheet that is formed from a group of polyolefin nanofilaments that have an average filament diameter of less than 1 ?m and a filament size distribution of 0.2 or less; and a means for producing the battery separator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicants: JX NIPPON OIL & ENERGY CORPORATION, UNIVERSITY OF YAMANASHI
    Inventors: Akihiro Suzuki, Takehiro Toyooka, Akira Matsuo, Takeshi Nishizawa, Atsuo Omaru
  • Publication number: 20130065134
    Abstract: Provided are a Li-ion battery (nonaqueous-electrolyte battery) 100 that includes a positive-electrode active-material layer 12, a negative-electrode active-material layer 22, and a sulfide-solid-electrolyte layer 40 disposed between the active-material layers 12 and 22. The sulfide-solid-electrolyte layer 40 includes a sulfur-added layer 43 in an intermediate portion in the thickness direction of the sulfide-solid-electrolyte layer 40. The sulfur-added layer 43 has a higher content of elemental sulfur than any other portion of the sulfide-solid-electrolyte layer 40. The sulfur-added layer 43 substantially does not have any pin holes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuyasu Ogawa, Kentaro Yoshida, Nobuhiro Ota, Kazuhiro Goto
  • Publication number: 20130065135
    Abstract: An Object of the invention is to obtain an all solid lithium battery having an excellent output performance. To achieve the object, a sulfide based solid electrolyte is used as an electrolyte; an oxide containing lithium, a metal element that acts as a redox couple, and a metal element that forms an electron-insulating oxide is used as a cathode active material; and the concentration of the metal element that forms the electron-insulating oxide on the surface of the cathode active material (oxide) that is in contact with the sulfide solid electrolyte is made high.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR MATERIALS SCIENCE
    Inventors: Kazunori Takada, Xiaoxiong Xu, Tsuyoshi Ohnishi, Isao Sakaguchi, Ken Watanabe, Yasushi Tsuchida, Yukiyoshi Ueno, Koji Kawamoto
  • Publication number: 20130065136
    Abstract: A lithium ion secondary battery which meets the requirement [1] of satisfying the formulae (a) to (c) or the requirement [2] of satisfying the formulae (b), (d), and (e): (a) 5?A?25, (b) 10?B?60, (c) 40?2A+B?90, (d) 0.2?C?1.2, and (e) ?80 200C<3B?150, wherein A (?m) represents an average particle size of a positive electrode active material; B (vol. %) represents a volume concentration of a fluorinated ether in a nonaqueous electrolyte solution; and C (m2/g) represents a specific surface area of the positive electrode active material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: NEC ENERGY DEVICES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hideaki Sasaki, Takehiro Noguchi, Shinako Kaneko
  • Publication number: 20130065137
    Abstract: A cathode material suitable for use in non-aqueous electrochemical cells that includes copper manganese vanadium oxide and, optionally, fluorinated carbon. A non-aqueous electrochemical cell comprising such a cathode material, and a non-aqueous electrochemical cell that additionally includes a lithium anode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: EAGLEPICHER TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Ernest NDZEBET, Joshua DEAN, Mario DESTEPHEN, Umamaheswari JANAKIRAMAN, Gregory MILLER, Min Qi YANG
  • Publication number: 20130065138
    Abstract: Provided is a method for negative electrode active material evaluation useful for steady production of batteries having a prescribed performance level. This evaluation method comprises: (A) running microscopic Raman analysis at a wavelength of 532 nm n times on a sample of a composite carbon comprising a low-crystalline carbon material at least partially on surfaces of particles of a high-crystalline carbonaceous substance (wherein n is 20 or more); (B) with respect to a Raman spectrum obtained in each microscopic Raman analysis run, determining the ratio of its D-band intensity ID to its G-band intensity IG, R (ID/IG); (C) determining the number of analysis runs, m, where the R value was 0.2 or greater, and (D) determining the ratio of m to n, the total number of analysis runs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventors: Koji Takahata, Kaoru Inoue
  • Publication number: 20130065139
    Abstract: A fuel cell that can have a higher battery capacity without degradation of cathode characteristics is provided. In a biofuel cell that includes one or more battery cell units (1) in which an oxidoreductase exists on the surface of an anode (2) and/or a cathode (3), and the cathode (3) is in contact with both a liquid phase and a gas phase, a selective transmission film (6) that restrains permeation of at least the fuel component is provided between an anode solution unit (4) provided around the anode (2) and a cathode solution unit (5) provided around the cathode (3). The fuel component concentration in the solution in contact with the anode (2) is higher than that in the solution in contact with the cathode (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takaaki Nakagawa, Tsunetoshi Samukawa, Hiroki Mita, Taiki Sugiyama, Ryuhei Matsumoto, Hideki Sakai
  • Publication number: 20130065140
    Abstract: Disclosed is a membrane humidifier for a fuel cell, which uniformly humidifies entire hollow fiber membranes from an outer side to a central portion of an interior of the membrane humidifier to improve the distribution of wet air and dry air, thereby improving a humidification performance. The membrane humidifier for the fuel cell includes a hollow upper case including first wet air inlet apertures and first wet air outlet apertures and a membrane module assembly including a plurality of unit membrane modules received lengthwise within the upper case along the flow direction of dry air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicants: KIA MOTORS CORPORATION, HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Hyun Yoo Kim, Hyuck Roul Kwon
  • Publication number: 20130065141
    Abstract: The fuel cell device is provided with: an electricity-generating unit having a fuel electrode (102), an air electrode (103), and an electrolyte film (101) sandwiched between the fuel electrode (102) and the air electrode (103); a hydrogen-generating member (104) that, by means of an oxidation reaction with water, generates hydrogen for supplying to the fuel electrode (102) of the aforementioned electricity-generating unit; a heater (105) that heats the hydrogen-generating member (104); a temperature sensor (106) that detects the temperature of the hydrogen-generating member (104); and a temperature control unit (20) that controls the temperature of the hydrogen-generating member (104) in response to the detection results of the temperature sensor (106). The temperature control unit (20) stops the passage of electricity through the heater (105) when it has been determined that the temperature of the hydrogen-generating member (104) is at least a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventors: Shoichi Uratani, Shigeru Wada, Masayuki Ueyama, Nobuhisa Ishida
  • Publication number: 20130065142
    Abstract: A system adapted to generate hydrogen and oxygen for use in hydrogen-based fuel cells is described. The system includes a power source, a first conducting element connected to a positive terminal of the power source, a second conducting element connect to a negative terminal of the power source, and a conducting medium adapted to electrically connect the first conducting element to the second conducting element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventor: Jeffrey Hines
  • Publication number: 20130065143
    Abstract: The present invention relates, in particular, to a process for generating energy, which comprises the following steps: provision or production of a propylene glycol/water mixture having a propylene glycol content of from 30% by volume to 94% by volume; production of hydrogen from the propylene glycol/water mixture, in particular by means of reforming; and conversion of the hydrogen into energy, in particular electric and/or heat energy, in particular by means of a converter by oxidation of the hydrogen, in particular in an electrochemical element, in particular a fuel cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: DIEHL AEROSPACE GMBH
    Inventors: Ronny Knepple, Bernd Speth, Franz Tichy
  • Publication number: 20130065144
    Abstract: A hydrogen production apparatus includes a preferential oxidation unit that preferentially oxidizes carbon monoxide in a reformed gas containing hydrogen, a vaporization flow path that passes water to generate steam, and a gas flow path through which the reformed gas passes. The gas flow path is arranged between the preferential oxidation unit and the vaporization flow path. The reformed gas passes through the gas flow path and thereafter flows into the preferential oxidation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: JX NIPPON OIL & ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasushi Hashimoto, Akira Goto, Emi Imaki
  • Publication number: 20130065145
    Abstract: A hydrogen production apparatus includes a burner, a combustion tube provided so as to surround flame of the burner a reforming unit provided as to surround the tube, an exhaust gas flow path provided so as to pass through between the tube and the unit, fold back at the other side of the unit, and extend through outside of the unit on a predetermined side, a low temperature shift unit provided on one of inside and outside of an extending portion of the flow path that extends on the predetermined side so as to extend along the extending portion, and a preferential oxidation unit provided on the other of the inside and the outside of the extending portion so as to extend along the extending portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: JX NIPPON OIL & ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Goto, Toshiyuki Unno
  • Publication number: 20130065146
    Abstract: A gas measuring system includes a measuring element being in contact with a gas and a heating element producing heat, a measuring unit measuring a value for an electric signal from the temperature measuring element and a value for an electric signal from the heating element. The system also includes an equation storage device storing an equation including independent variables that represent electric signals from the temperature measuring element and the heating element, and a dependent variable that represents the sum of the products of the respective numbers of atoms forming the molecules in the gas, the atomic weights, and the volumetric ratios of the respective molecules. The system further includes a calculator calculating a value that represents the sum of the products of the respective numbers of the atoms, the atomic weights, and the volumetric ratios of the respective molecules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: AZBIL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasuharu Ooishi
  • Publication number: 20130065147
    Abstract: A method for operating a fuel cell system for supplying at least one electrical consumer with electric energy is provided. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell and an accessory for supplying the fuel cell. The efficiency of the fuel cell system is determined and the fuel cell is switched off temporarily when the efficiency of the fuel cell system falls below a switch-limit efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: DAIMLER AG
    Inventor: Rainer Autenrieth
  • Publication number: 20130065148
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cooling system for a fuel cell vehicle which employs a single integrated radiator disposed on a front side of the vehicle and configured to cool cooling fluid by exchanging heat using exterior air to integrally manage a fuel cell stack and an electrical power apparatus. More specifically, the integrated radiator is divided into a first high temperature region and a second low temperature region according to a flow requirements so that the fuel cell stack is cooled with cooling fluid flowing through the high temperature region and the electrical power apparatus is cooled with cooling fluid flowing through the low temperature region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicants: KIA MOTORS CORPORATION, HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Hag Se Kim, Kil Woo Lee
  • Publication number: 20130065149
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell having an anode and a cathode; an oxidant gas flowpath supplying the oxidant gas to the fuel cell and discharging the oxidant gas from the fuel cell; a first shut-off valve disposed upstream from the fuel cell and having a first valve body; a second shut-off valve disposed downstream from the fuel cell and having a second valve body; a cathode control unit for sealing the cathode; and a scavenging unit for scavenging the anode by supplying the oxidant gas to the anode, wherein the cathode control unit, before scavenging the anode by using the scavenging unit, unseals the cathode by opening the first shut-off valve and the second shut-off valve. The fuel cell system is capable of preventing the valve bodies pressed against seat sections from being frozen even below the freezing temperature, and capable of avoiding a situation unable to restart a turned-off state of the fuel cell system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD
    Inventor: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD
  • Publication number: 20130065150
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a storage device, a fuel cell, a power circuit, a controller, and a memory. The memory stores a favorable combination range in which the combination of a water distribution condition of the fuel cell and the state of charge of the storage device is suitable for the required power of the vehicle, and the controller includes a water distribution condition estimating and acquiring unit that acquires the water distribution condition of the fuel cell, a state-of-charge acquiring unit that acquires the state of charge of the storage device, a combination status determining unit that determines whether the combination of the acquired water distribution condition and the acquired state of charge is within the favorable combination range, and a combination status improving unit that improves the water distribution condition of the fuel cell when the combination is not within the favorable combination range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masaaki Matsusue
  • Publication number: 20130065151
    Abstract: In one example embodiment, an electronic device uses a fuel cell which reduces thickness of the overall fuel cell while reducing electrical resistance. In one example embodiment, a flow path that distributes an electrolyte is included between a fuel electrode and an oxygen electrode. In one example embodiment, a current collector on the fuel electrode side has a pair of current collector terminals in opposing-corner positions. Similarly, a current collector on the oxygen electrode side has a pair of current collector terminals in opposing-corner positions. The current collector terminals project outside the fuel cell. Thereby, connection of unit cells within the battery is facilitated, a monopolar plate structure becomes easier to use as the current collector, and distance of flowing current is shortened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Kengo Makita
  • Publication number: 20130065152
    Abstract: A channel plate assembly of a stack for a fuel cell and a method of manufacturing the channel plate assembly. The channel plate assembly of a stack for a fuel cell includes a bridge piece disposed on a channel plate to entirely surround a manifold, and a gasket disposed on the channel plate to cover the bridge piece, wherein the channel plate assembly is manufactured in an integrated fashion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joon-hee KIM, Hye-jung CHO, Kyoung-hwan CHOI
  • Publication number: 20130065153
    Abstract: Provided is a flat tubular solid oxide fuel cell stack, and more particularly, a flat tubular solid oxide fuel cell stack in which a connection member is interposed between a plurality of fuel cells to smoothly supply air and increase a contact area, in order to enable a stable electrical contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: KOREA ADVANCED INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Joong Myeon Bae, Joon Guen Park
  • Publication number: 20130065154
    Abstract: The present invention provides a hydrocarbon composite electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell, which is formed of an inexpensive hydrocarbon electrolyte membrane to ensure mechanical and thermochemical stability. The present invention provides a hydrocarbon composite electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell, the hydrocarbon composite electrolyte membrane including at least one composite electrolyte membrane layer having a structure in which graphene nanostructures are impregnated into a hydrocarbon electrolyte membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicants: Kia Motors Corporation, Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Hoon Hui Lee
  • Publication number: 20130065155
    Abstract: A catalyst layer material, a method for fabricating the same, and a fuel cell are provided. The catalyst layer material utilized for the fuel cell includes a catalyst support and a catalyst distributed on the catalyst support. The catalyst support contains TixM1-xO2, wherein M is selected from the group consisting of a Group IB metal, a Group IIA metal, a Group IIB metal, a Group IIIA, a Group VB metal, a Group VIB metal, a Group VIIB metal and a Group VIIIB metal, and 0<X?0.9. By applying the non-carbonaceous catalyst support containing high conductivity metal elements to the fuel cell, stability and performance of the cell can be effectively enhanced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: National Taiwan University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Van Thi Thanh Ho, Chun-Jern Pan, Wei-Nien Su, Bing-Joe Hwang
  • Publication number: 20130065156
    Abstract: A separator for a fuel cell includes a flow field plate and a main body plate. The flow field plate has a porous plate structure and is bonded to an outer surface of a gas diffusion layer to form a reaction gas flow field. The main body plate is bonded to an outer surface of the flow field plate to seal the reaction gas flow field. The flow field plate has protrusions that protrude from both surfaces of the flow field plate in a repetitive pattern, forming an uneven structure. The flow filed plate has a land portion bonded to the gas diffusion layer at a sharp tip of a protrusion thereof protruding from one surface of the flow field plate and a bonding portion bonded to the main body plate at an opposite sharp tip of a protrusion thereof protruding from the other surface of the flow field plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Hee Seok Jeong
  • Publication number: 20130065157
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an end plate for a fuel cell including a sandwich insert, in which a metal insert has a sandwich insert structure including a plurality of stacked plates, thereby securing strength and achieving a lightweight structure. The sandwich insert is manufactured by staking two or more plates, each having a specific shape, followed by injection molding the sandwich insert with a plastic injection molded body, thereby securing strength and also achieving a lightweight structure, contrary to a conventional integral metal insert.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicants: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, DAEWON KANG UP CO., LTD., KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jung Do Suh, Sae Hoon Kim, Byung Ki Ahn, Jin Yong Park, Ji Yong Kim
  • Publication number: 20130065158
    Abstract: Provided is a gasket which can improve a handling property of the gasket by enhancing a rigidity of a carrier, can secure a space saving without increasing a thickness of the gasket, and can improve a yield ratio of a resin material, in the gasket of a type that a gasket body is integrated with the resin carrier. A planar gasket used by being pinched between two members superposed with each other has a gasket body achieving a seal action, and a carrier retaining the gasket body, the carrier is formed as a predetermined planar shape by a metal mold with a resin material, and is formed as a stepped shape by setting a partial portion which is superposed with the gasket body on a plane to a thin portion, and setting the other portion which is not superposed with the gasket body on the plane to a thick portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: NOK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeshi Masaka, Yoshihiro Kurano, Shotaro Koga
  • Publication number: 20130065159
    Abstract: A process for producing a color holographic optical element in a real-time interactive multi-channel auto-stereoscopic color image display system, including producing light comprising at least three different monochromatic parts of the optical spectrum from one or more lasers and illuminating a holographic plate with the light from different directions and recorded on a panchromatic light sensitive recording material coated on a suitable substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: INTREPID WORLD COMMUNICATION CORP.
    Inventors: Hans I. Bjelkhagen, Jim Fischbach
  • Publication number: 20130065160
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a pellicle includes first and second frame members that are selectively removable from one another. The second frame member has an annular shape similar to and is physically coupled to an outer periphery of a transparent membrane. The second frame member configured to be selectively coupled to the first frame member from a engaged position adjacent to the first frame member to a disengaged position in which the second frame member is separated from the first frame member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicants: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Samsung Austin Semiconductor, L.P.
    Inventor: Keith Lao
  • Publication number: 20130065161
    Abstract: A wave-shaped mask for fabricating a nano-scale structure is disclosed. The wave-shaped mask comprises an elastomeric transparent substrate having an upper surface and a lower surface, and a light-penetrable thin film layer disposed on the upper surface of the elastomeric transparent substrate. The upper surface of the elastomeric transparent substrate and the light-penetrable thin film layer are in a periodic wave shape, and the lower surface of the elastomeric transparent substrate is in a plate shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: NATIONAL TAIWAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Si-Chen Lee, Fang-Tzu Chuang, Yu-Wei Jiang