Abstract: A technique for controlling the relative humidity of a cathode airflow to a fuel cell stack that includes compensating for valve non-linearities. The cathode input air flows through a water vapor transfer unit where it is humidified. The humidified cathode exhaust from the fuel cell stack is output to the water vapor transfer unit to provide the water vapor for humidifying the cathode input airflow. A first control valve controls the flow of the cathode exhaust through the water vapor transfer unit and a second control valve controls the flow of the cathode exhaust that by-passes the water vapor transfer unit to control both the relative humidity of the cathode input airflow and the pressure within the stack. By compensating for the non-linearity, the first and second valves control the relative humidity of the cathode airflow without changing the cathode output resistance.

Abstract: A high-precision gas leak judgment comparable to that when the fuel cell is operating normally is achieved even when a fuel cell is restarted. A gas leak judgment unit (for example ECU 13) for judging gas leak in a closed space formed in a fuel gas system refers to a gas leak judgment value based on pressure change in the closed space detected by a pressure sensor to judge gas leak and, in addition, varies the fuel gas leak judgment level in response to nitrogen concentration in a fuel electrode. The varying of gas leak judgment level in response to the nitrogen concentration takes into account a temporary rise in the nitrogen concentration in the fuel electrode that occurs when a fuel cell stack is restarted and, in this case, it is preferable that the gas judgment value be altered in response to the nitrogen concentration.

Abstract: A fuel cell system including a fuel cell, a gas-liquid separator, a tank, an outlet pipe, and an inlet pipe is disclosed. The gas-liquid separator separates off-gas discharged from the fuel cell into water and gas. The tank is capable of containing water separated by the gas-liquid separator. The outlet pipe discharges gas, which is separated by the gas-liquid separator, from the gas-liquid separator. The outlet pipe has a venturi. The inlet pipe draws the water contained in the tank into the venturi. The water contained in the tank is drawn through the inlet pipe into the venturi to be atomized and discharged as atomized water from the outlet pipe.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel cell system capable of stabilizing the power generation state of a fuel cell for a period of transition from a power generation stop state during an intermittent operation or the like to a usual operation. The fuel cell system supplies a fuel gas from a fuel supply source to a fuel cell to generate a power, and comprises output limit means for limiting the output of the fuel cell after shift from the power generation stop state of the fuel cell to a power generation state.

Abstract: A fuel cell system (10, 200) includes an intake pipe (45, 46) that admits an introduction of oxidizing gas upstream of an oxidizing gas supply source that supplies the oxidizing gas to a fuel cell (20), and an exhaust pipe (51, 52, 221, 222) that discharges exhaust gas which contains a vapor generated at an oxygen electrode side through an operation of the fuel cell (20). The fuel cell system (10, 200) is provided with a circulating pipe (61, 62, 220) that connects the intake pipe and the exhaust pipe (51, 52, 221, 222), a circulating valve (60) that is provided in the circulating pipe and operated to adjust a flow rate of the exhaust gas supplied from the exhaust pipe (51, 52, 221, 222) to the intake pipe, and a pressure generating member that is provided in the exhaust pipe (51, 52, 221, 222) at a position at which the circulating pipe and the exhaust pipe (51, 52, 221, 222) are joined and generates a pressure that is higher than at least an atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A power generation control system for a fuel cell, which includes: a unit (102) for computing a target output power of the fuel cell; a unit (104) for taking output power from the fuel cell based on the computed target output power; a unit (101) for computing an output parameter for controlling supply of reactant gas to the fuel cell as a signal preceding in time the target output power; and a unit (103) for controlling an operating point for the supply of reactant gas based on the computed output parameter.

Abstract: A fluid regulating microvalve assembly for use to control fluid flow to a fluid consuming electrode, such as an oxygen reduction electrode, in an electrochemical cell. The microvalve assembly includes a stationary valve body having an aperture and a microactuator movable from a first position where the microvalve body aperture is closed to fluid flow to at least a second position where fluid is able to pass through the microvalve body aperture. The fluid regulating microvalve assembly can utilize cell potential or a separate source to open and close the microvalve. The fluid regulating microvalve assembly can be located outside the cell housing or inside the cell housing, for example between one or more fluid inlet apertures and the fluid consuming electrode. The invention includes a method of making a multilayer microvalve assembly, particularly one for use in a fluid depolarized battery, using a printing process to deposit at least one of the layers.

Abstract: The amount of a reactant gas supplied to a fuel cell is properly maintained even in the case where a failure of reactant gas supply takes place in the middle of a drive cycle of a valve device. Provided is a fuel cell system including: a fuel cell; a gas supply flow path for supplying the reactant gas to the fuel cell; a valve device which is provided in the gas supply flow path and driven at a predetermined drive cycle; a controller which controls the drive of the valve device such that the reactant gas supplied to the fuel cell reaches a target gas state; and a sensor which measures the gas state of the reactant gas on a downstream side of the valve device, wherein the controller drives the valve device independently of the predetermined drive cycle in the case where the controller detects that the difference between the target gas state and a gas state measured by the sensor has exceeded a predetermined value.

Abstract: Provided is a fuel cell including an electrolyte membrane, a first separator in which a fuel path through which a fuel flows is formed so as to face one surface of the electrolyte membrane and which has thereinside a fuel supply amount adjuster for adjusting the supply amount of the fuel, and a second separator in which an oxidizer path through which an oxidizer flows is formed so as to face the other surface of the electrolyte membrane.

Abstract: A fuel cell system wherein a plurality of fuel cells are arranged in a series of stages, the number of fuel cells decreasing in number in each stage from anode gas inlet to the anode gas outlet. The system allows for parallel flow to all of the cells in a given stage and series flow between the various stages. A similar configuration is present on a cathode side of the system. However, the direction of flow is reversed, providing a greater number of cells in the stage nearest the cathode outlet and a fewer number of cells in the stage near the cathode gas inlet. The invention further provides for the various stages to be configured such that the direction of flow of the anode gas of a given stage is generally opposite the direction of flow of the cathode gas of a given stage.

Abstract: A Personal Area Network (PAN) (100) including multiple communication devices (104, 106, 108) is provided. The communication devices are capable of communicating with each other and a connection point. The communication devices derive energy from multiple fuel cells (110, 112, 114). The PAN is capable of distributing fuel to the multiple fuel cells from a common fuel container (116), if the communication devices are attached to the connection point.

Abstract: A fuel cell system including a fuel cell stack having a plurality of fuel cells is provided. An anode supply manifold and an anode exhaust manifold are in fluid communication with the anodes of the plurality of fuel cells. A first valve is in fluid communication with the anode supply manifold and a second valve is in fluid communication with the anode exhaust manifold. A pressure sensor is adapted to measure an anode pressure. In operation, the first valve and the second valve are controlled in response to the anode pressure, thereby militating against an undesired exhausting of an anode supply stream.

Abstract: While the operation of a fuel cell is stopped, a pressure decrease caused by a current sweep is suppressed from being misjudged as being the occurrence of a hydrogen leak or a cross leak, and the judgment accuracy of the hydrogen leak, etc. is improved. In order to realize this feature, during an intermittent operation, in which, when a load on the fuel cell system is low, electrical power is supplied from a power storage unit in the fuel cell system to a power-consuming apparatus and power generation of a fuel cell is temporarily stopped, in the situation where a current sweep for suppressing a degradation of the fuel cell is performed, a hydrogen pressure in an anode of the fuel cell is corrected based on hydrogen consumed by the current sweep, and a hydrogen leak judgment based on a pressure decrease or a cross leak judgment based on a pressure decrease is performed on the basis of the corrected hydrogen pressure.

Abstract: A fuel cell with which deterioration of an anode electrode is able to be inhibited by an inexpensive means while generated carbon dioxide is removed, a fuel cell system including the same, and an electronic device including the same are provided. The fuel cell includes: a power generation section having an electrolyte between a cathode electrode and an anode electrode; an anode side platy member provided on the anode electrode side of the power generation section; a fuel vaporization chamber; a through hole that is formed in the anode platy member and gives passage between the anode electrode and the fuel vaporization chamber; a carbon dioxide exhaust section that guides carbon dioxide generated in the power generation section to each side face of the anode platy member or the fuel vaporization chamber; and a valve provided in the carbon dioxide exhaust section.

Abstract: There is provided a fuel cell unit and a fuel cell stack including a flow rate controlling member provided in an anode flow path on the side of an exhaust flow path so as to be in contact with an anode gas diffusion layer wherein the flow rate controlling member generates pressure difference between an upstream side of the fuel flow path from a portion at which the flow rate controlling member is provided and a downstream side of the fuel flow path from the portion at which the flow rate controlling member is provided. The fuel cell unit and the fuel cell stack can uniformly supply a fuel and can prevent backflow of the fuel containing an impurity gas from a downstream side.

Abstract: A fuel cell system having an on-off valve disposed in a fuel supply flow path implements highly accurate control of the on-off valve by properly correcting a detected pressure value of a fuel gas on an upstream side of the on-off valve. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a fuel supply flow path for supplying a fuel gas to be supplied from a fuel supply source to the fuel cell, an on-off valve which adjusts the state of a gas on an upstream side of the fuel supply flow path and supplies the gas to a downstream side, a pressure sensor which detects the pressure value of the fuel gas on the upstream side of the on-off valve of the fuel supply flow path, and a control means which controls the on-off valve on the basis of the pressure value detected by the pressure sensor. The fuel cell system further includes a pressure correcting means which corrects a pressure value detected by the pressure sensor on the basis of a fuel consumption amount of the fuel cell and a drive cycle of the on-off valve.

Abstract: Even when the atmospheric pressure is lowered, a sufficient amount of oxidant gas is supplied to a fuel cell without causing any failure in a compressor. A control unit judges whether or not both the following conditions are satisfied: the accelerator opening degree detected by an accelerator opening degree sensor is equal to or larger than a predetermined opening degree; and the state where the atmospheric pressure detected by a pressure sensor is equal to or lower than a predetermined pressure value has been maintained for a predetermined time period or longer. If the judgment result is positive, the control unit changes the maximum rotation speed permitted in the compressor from a normal maximum rotation speed to an increased maximum rotation speed.

Abstract: A fuel cell system according to the present invention includes a fuel cell; a fuel supply system for supplying a fuel gas to the fuel cell; an injector which drives a valve body with an electromagnetic driving force in a predetermined driving period to detach the valve body from a valve seat, whereby a gas state on the upstream side of the fuel supply system is adjusted to jet the gas to a downstream side; and a control device which controls the operation of the injector. The control device allows the injector to jet the gas with a jet flow rate of a predetermined jet flow rate or less in a case where the demanded amount of a power to be generated with respect to the fuel cell is the predetermined amount of the power to be generated or less, and the control device sets the driving frequency of the injector in accordance with the jet flow rate and the demanded amount of the power to be generated.

Abstract: The invention relates to an aircraft, in particular to an airplane, having at least one fuel cell, having at least one supply line which connects the fuel cell to a fuel supply, having at least one outlet line by means of which fuel supplied by the supply line and not consumed in the fuel cell is drained off and having means for the influencing of the fuel flow through the fuel cell as well as having means for the influencing of the fuel flow through the fuel cell, with the means for the influencing of the fuel flow having a pressure regulator located in the at least one supply line and a restrictor member located in the at least one outlet line, with the pressure regulator regulating the pressure of the fuel supply to the operating pressure of the fuel cell and with the restrictor member reducing the flow of the fuel flowing through the outlet line.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a cell stack body formed by stacking fuel cells on top of each other, end plates arranged at ends in the cell stacking direction of the cell stack body, and a fluid regulation device mounted in a flow path connected to the cell stack body and regulating conditions of fluid flowing in the flow path. The fluid regulation device is fixed to an end plate only at either of a fluid entrance portion and a fluid exit portion of the fluid regulation device.

Abstract: The invention detects quickly and with high precision abnormalities in fuel cells. In a method of detecting abnormalities in a fuel cell 1 comprising a plurality of unit cells that generate power by supplying hydrogen gas to an anode and supplying air to a cathode of each unit cell, the abnormality in the fuel cell 1 is detected based on the speed of the decrease in the cell voltages after stopping the fuel cell, i.e., after stopping the supply of the reacting gases to the fuel cell.

Abstract: A pressure regulating valve comprises a first pressure deformation part (120) receiving the pressure on the fuel demand side and deformable and a second pressure deformation part (130) so installed as to face the first pressure deformation part (120), receiving a predetermined pressure, and deformable. A first flow passage (140), a second flow passage (150), and a communication passage (160) allowing the first and second flow passages (140, 150) to communicate with each other are formed in the space between the first and second pressure deformation parts (120, 130). The pressure regulating valve further comprises a valve member (170) having a valve element (172) which has a connection part (171) extending through the communication passage (160) and connecting the first pressure deformation part (120) to the second pressure deformation part (130), installed in the connection part (171), and closing the communication passage (160) when moved to the second pressure deformation part (130) side.

Abstract: In a fuel cell system, it is possible to suppress fixation of a fluid circulating device arranged in a fluid passage connected to a fuel cell main body. The fuel cell system is provided with a fuel cell stack, a system main body having respective elements for supplying a fuel gas and respective elements for supplying an oxidizing gas, and a control device. The control device includes a fluid circulating device drive processing unit having a function to forcibly drive the fluid circulating device after determining, based on a judgment related to one or more of a non-use time, an operation state of the system main body, a membrane impedance state of a fuel cell, a temperature of the fuel cell stack, and a background noise, whether or not forced driving to suppress sticking of the fluid circulating device is preferable at that time.

Abstract: A humidifier assembly for humidifying fuel for use in a fuel cell system, comprising a water heater adapted to receive recycled water and to generate heated water using cathode exhaust, and a fuel saturator adapted to receive deaerated cleansed water, at least a portion of the deaerated cleansed water comprising the heated water, and fuel and to humidify the fuel with a first portion of the deaerated cleansed water, the fuel saturator tower outputting humidified fuel for use in the fuel cell system and a second portion of the deaerated cleansed water for use as recycled water in the water heater.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell and a controller that controls a hydrocarbon fuel supply to an anode side and a cathode side of the fuel cell. The controller controls an oxidant supply to the anode and cathode sides to exothermically react with the hydrocarbon fuel when a temperature of the fuel cell is below a threshold temperature. When the temperature is greater than the threshold temperature, the controller terminates supply of the hydrocarbon fuel and the oxidant to the anode side. The controller terminates supply of the hydrocarbon fuel to the cathode side, and supplies a hydrogen-containing feed to the anode side.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack utilizes flow shifting of the anode reactant within the individual fuel cells of the fuel cell stack. The anode side of the fuel cells are separated into two or more flow fields. Anode reactant is supplied in varying quantities to the two flow fields so that anode reactant flowing through one of the flow fields is allowed to back flow into the other flow field and vice versa. The back flowing of anode reactant between the flow fields distributes nitrogen more evenly between the multiple flow fields in each of the fuel cells.

Abstract: The amount of a reactant gas to be supplied can be controlled efficiently with a reduction in the effort required. A control unit judges whether or not the state where an atmospheric pressure detection value detected by an atmospheric pressure sensor does not fall within the range of 0.6 V to 4.48 V has continued for or longer than 50 ms. If the state has not continued for or longer than 50 ms, the control unit outputs an atmospheric pressure correction value by converting the atmospheric pressure detection value into an atmospheric pressure value and then passing the atmospheric pressure value through a low-pass filter. On the other hand, if the state has continued for or longer than 50 ms, the control unit outputs 101.3 kPa.abs which serves as a substitute value for the atmospheric pressure correction value.

Abstract: A fuel supply system for a fuel cell supplies fuel to a fuel cell of an electronic equipment. The fuel supply system includes a pressure regulator for regulating primary pressure to secondary pressure, and a pair of cylindrical fuel cartridges which are connected to a pair of inlets on a primary pressure side. The inlets being provided to both sides of the pressure regulator are arranged in mutually opposite directions. Fuel having primary pressure is took in from the inlets into the pressure regulator. The fuel cartridges are placed to both sides of the pressure regulator along a substantially straight-outer edge of the electronic equipment.

Abstract: A fuel cell system that employs surge prevention by electronically mapping the compressor for discharge pressure versus mass airflow. In one embodiment, the fuel cell system employs a mass flow meter that measures the airflow to the compressor. A controller receives a signal from the mass flow meter indicative of the flow rate of the charge airflow to the compressor, and determines the outlet pressure and temperature of the compressor from the compressor speed and the measured airflow. This gives the compressor map location at which the compressor is operating. In another embodiment, the fuel cell system employs a pressure sensor that measures the output pressure of the compressor, and provides a pressure signal to the controller. The controller determines the mass airflow to the compressor to determine the compressor map location.

Abstract: A cartridge includes a first housing, a second housing within the first housing, and a colorant. The first housing has an interior surface and an exterior surface, and the second housing contains an alcohol fuel or a hydrocarbon fuel and has an interior surface and an exterior surface. The colorant is supported by at least a portion of the interior surface of the first housing.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a power generator configured to generate electricity through supply of an oxidant gas and a fuel composed of a compound containing a carbon atom; a concentration detector configured to detect a concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2); and a controller configured to operate so as to allow the power generator to generate electricity when the concentration of carbon dioxide detected by the concentration detector is lower than a predetermined threshold concentration and so as to stop a generating operation of the power generator when the concentration of carbon dioxide detected is higher than or equal to the threshold concentration.

Abstract: A safety system for reducing the explosion risk of a fuel tank comprises a protective gas generating device and a delivery device for delivering the protective gas generated by the protective gas generating device into the fuel tank. The protective gas generating device (24) comprises a fuel cell system (26) having a fuel cell (28) and is configured so as to provide the delivery device (14) with a protective gas generated by the fuel cell (28) during operation of the fuel cell system (26).

Abstract: In a stack of non-circulating-type fuel cells 20 where a supply of a fuel gas is not recirculated, a control circuit 50 sets a changeover valve assembly 41 in a disconnected state from both high-pressure hydrogen tanks 30 and outside of a cell stack body 21, while setting residual changeover valve assemblies 40, 42, and 43 in a connecting state to connect inside of the cell stack body 21 with the high-pressure hydrogen tanks 30. The supply of the fuel gas is accordingly fed into the stack of fuel cells 20 via the changeover valve assemblies 40, 42, and 43 and goes through electrochemical reactions. An impurity-containing gas after the electrochemical reactions is accumulated in the vicinity of a connection port 22. The control circuit 50 then sets the changeover valve assembly 41 in a connecting state to connect the inside of the fuel cells 20 with the outside and discharge the impurity-containing gas to the outside of the fuel cells 20.

Abstract: The current invention is a fuel cell controller that includes a first control loop, where the first control loop is disposed to adjust a fuel cell current to regulate a hydrogen output pressure from the fuel cell to a pressure target valve, and further includes a second control loop disposed to adjust a hydrogen flow rate from a hydrogen generator to match a DC/DC power output to a power target value.

Abstract: Fuel oxidation facilitators for use in electrochemical devices are described, as well as devices incorporating facilitators and methods of their use. Exemplary facilitators separate a liquid anode of a fuel cell from fuel supplied to the fuel cell, and facilitate oxidation of the fuel.

Abstract: A fuel cell circuit of a fuel cell system includes a fuel cell unit having an input on the anode side for feeding fuel from a storage tank to the fuel cell unit, and an output on the anode side for discharging fuel cell waste gas on the anode side from the fuel cell unit. A recirculation circuit is provided, to return the fuel cell waste gas on the anode side to the input on the anode side. The recirculation circuit is connected to an intake line of an ejector unit, and fuel can be fed from the storage tank directly into the recirculation circuit.