Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a fuel cell system that is capable of sensing unintended gas leakage from a discharge control means based on odor. A fuel cell system is provided with a bypass passage 32 connecting a fuel offgas passage 30 at inlet of a odorant removal unit 40 to the fuel offgas passage 30 in the vicinity of outlet of the odorant removal unit 40, and the fuel cell system facilitates the removal of odor from the discharged fuel offgas, by closing a bypass valve 33 in conjunction with opening a purge valve 31, and suppresses the removal of odor, by opening the bypass valve 33 in conjunction with stop of discharge of fuel offgas caused by closing the purge valve 31.

Abstract: A unit cell of a fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly and an anode side metal separator and a cathode side metal separator sandwiching the membrane electrode assembly. A plurality of first supply holes and a plurality of second supply holes extend through a channel unit of the anode side metal separator, and the channel unit connects a fuel gas supply passage and a fuel gas flow field. A fuel gas from the fuel gas supply passage flows into the first supply holes, and flows through an inlet connection channel. The fuel gas flows into the second supply holes connected to an end of the inlet connection channel. The fuel gas flows toward the side of the membrane electrode assembly, and then, the fuel gas is supplied to an anode.

Abstract: A fuel cell system including a PEFC stack in an inner space of a housing includes a sheathed heater, arranged in the inner space, for heating the inner space; the sheathed heater is placed on a bottom face side of the inner space of the housing, while a gap is provided between the bottom face and the sheathed heater; a mounting plate for mounting an inner device including the PEFC stack is provided in the inner space of the housing; and the sheathed heater is arranged between the mounting plate and the bottom face of the inner space of the housing.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for operation of a fuel cell arrangement having a plurality of fuel cells which are combined to form a stack and have a common cathode input and cathode output, as well as a common anode input and anode output, and having first components which supply the fuel cells with reactants and second components which process the reaction products of the fuel cells. First and second components are surrounded by separate housings or by a common housing. Exhaust air containing hydrogen is passed directly from all of the housings into a combined exhaust air line in which the hydrogen content of the combined exhaust air is determined.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack formed by stacking two or more fuel cell layers each constituted of one or more unit cell and a fuel cell system including the same are provided. Any two fuel cell layers adjacent to each other each have one or more gap region. At least a part of the gap region in one fuel cell layer of any two fuel cell layers adjacent to each other is in contact with a unit cell constituting the other fuel cell layer. The gap region in one fuel cell layer and the gap region in the other fuel cell layer communicate with each other. The fuel cell stack is excellent in fuel or oxidizing agent supply performance and it realizes high power density.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell device assembly comprising: (i) at least one solid oxide fuel cell device including one electrolyte sheet sandwiched between at least one pair of electrodes; and (ii) a non-steel frame fixedly attached to said at least one fuel cell device without a seal located therebetween.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell stack for generating electrical energy by reacting oxidant and mixed fuel, and for discharging non-reacted fuel, oxidant, moisture, and carbon dioxide; a mixer for preparing the mixed fuel by mixing at least a portion of the non-reacted fuel, oxidant and moisture with concentrated fuel and for supplying the mixed fuel to the fuel cell stack; a fuel supply unit for supplying the concentrated fuel to the mixer; an oxidant supply unit for supplying the oxidant to the fuel cell stack; a first heat exchanger between an outlet of the fuel cell stack and the mixer; and a second heat exchanger between the mixer and an inlet of the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack including a housing for holding fuel cells is disclosed. Each fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly with a proton exchange membrane disposed between carbon bases, a connector for engaging metalized collectors to form an electrical circuit for operating the fuel cell stack, and a sealable two-part housing for supporting an oxidant manifold and a fuel manifold that support the membrane electrode assembly and flexible plenums of each fuel cell. The fuel cell stack includes fuel cell connectors for connecting an anode from one fuel cell with a cathode from an adjacent fuel cell, a fuel intake in communication with a fuel source and an oxidant intake in communication with an oxidant source for providing fuel and oxidant into the fuel cell stack, a controller for monitoring and regulating fuel and oxidant, and a fuel manifold engaging fuel intakes and an oxidant manifold engaging oxidant intakes.

Abstract: A reformer for a fuel cell system includes a leading segment and a trailing segment. The leading segment includes less reactive catalyst and/or more stabilizing catalyst than the trailing segment. The reformer may be used for reformation of high and low hydrocarbon fuels.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell comprises a porous anode electrode, a dense non-porous electrolyte and a porous cathode electrode. The anode electrode comprises a first member and a plurality of parallel plate members extending from the first member. The cathode electrode comprises a second member and a plurality of parallel plate members extending from the second member. The plate members of the cathode electrode inter-digitate with the plate members of the anode electrode and the electrolyte fills the spaces between the first and second members and the parallel plate members of the anode electrode and the cathode electrode.

Abstract: An SOFC stack module including an integral individual stack manifold containing all of the gas pathways necessary for supply and exhaust of fuel gas and cathode air to and from the stack chimneys. The stack is mounted and hermetically joined directly to the manifold without an intermediate base plate. Flanges at the inlet and outlet ports couple to system distributary manifolds via high temperature sealing joints. The manifold preferably is fabricated of a ferritic stainless steel, and may be formed in a one-piece casting, a combination of multiple castings and stamped plates metallurgically joined (brazed or welded together), or stamped from sheet metal stock. Preferably, the manifold includes fin structures extending into adjacent fuel gas and cathode air chambers to enhance balancing of temperatures by heat exchange therebetween. Heat exchange may be further improved by configuring the manifold to have a plurality of interleaved anode and cathode gas supply chambers.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell comprising a fuel cell unit which comprises an anode layer made of an electrically conducting mesh and an anode-forming material carried by this mesh, a cathode layer made of an electrically conducting mesh and a cathode-forming material carried by this mesh, and a solid electrolytic layer in the form of a thin film arranged between and supported by the anode layer and the cathode layer.

Abstract: A fuel cell using metal separators in which reactive gas leakage is reliably suppressed without requiring excessive fastening force, while employing a simple structure. The present invention is a solid polymer unit fuel cell having a frame holding an MEA and metal separators, in which 1) the central part of a separator faces an electrode and has linear a channel formed therein, and the peripheral part of a separator is a flat structure having a manifold hole; 2) the frame holding an MEA has a sealant that is provided around the respective electrodes, is in contact with a rib at the boundary of the central part and peripheral part of a separator, and regulates the flow of reactive gas; and 3) contact surfaces of the sealant provided around an electrode and ribs at the boundary between the central part and peripheral part of a separator, are respectively inclined with respect to the stacking direction from the frame toward the separator.

Abstract: A dense ceramic electrolyte membrane supported by symmetrical porous ceramic electrolyte layers. The thin (t<100 microns) electrolyte layer is sandwiched between two fugitive-containing electrolyte support layers that become highly porous after firing. The heat treated fugitive-containing support layers form a skeletal structure of strongly adhered electrolyte with an interpenetrating network of pores that extends well always from the electrolyte surface. The porous layers can be infiltrated with a range of electrode materials or precursors to form a solid oxide fuel cell or other electrochemical cell as well as electrochemical cell stacks. The supported ceramic membrane provides electrochemical performance advantages and reduces warpage during sintering compared to conventional structures.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell has a stack structure in which sheet bodies and support members are stacked in alternating layers. A space through which a fuel gas or air flows is formed between the adjacent sheet body and support member. Partitions are provided on the support member in such a manner as to stand in the space, thereby forming a “first flow F1” of gas according to the flow control effected by the partitions. Gaps are formed at the projecting ends of the partitions, thereby forming a “second flow F2” of gas which flows over the partitions and through the gaps. The ratio “gap/space height” is set to 2% to 50% inclusive.

Abstract: Provided is a stacked-type secondary battery comprising a battery cell formed by stacking a plurality of full cells having a structure of cathode/separator/anode or bicells having a structure of cathode(anode)/separator/anode(cathode)/separator/cathode(anode), as a unit electrode assembly, wherein a cathode active material and/or an anode active material in two or more unit electrode assemblies are configured to have a different composition to induce a voltage difference and separate electrode terminals are installed in a battery case according to the voltage difference to thereby simultaneously provide two or more voltages by a single battery.

Abstract: An end plate of a fuel cell stack is directly fixed to a humidifier. A resin pipe is attached to an oxygen-containing gas outlet of an end plate through a resin coupling pipe. The resin pipe includes one end having a large diameter and the other end having a small diameter. The other end is provided at an off gas supply channel of the humidifier. The off gas supply channel includes an inclined channel. The other end extends up to an end of the inclined channel where inclination of the inclined channel is started. An off gas ejection port is formed at the other end. The off gas ejection port is opened to the end of the inclined channel where inclination is started. Condensed water returned along the inclined channel flows from the off gas ejection port into the resin pipe.

Abstract: A fuel cell (100) includes: a fuel electrode (10) that is tubular in form and is made of a hydrogen permeable metal; a solid electrolyte membrane (20) that has proton conductivity and is formed on the fuel electrode; and an oxygen electrode (40) that is provided on the solid electrolyte membrane (20), and that is disposed opposite to the fuel electrode (10) across the solid electrolyte membrane (20).

Abstract: A fuel cell system in which a low open circuit voltage (OCV) is maintained in a start-up mode and in a shut-down mode, and a method of operating the same, the method including: supplying an anode off-gas and air to the cathode in an open circuit voltage state in a start-up mode and cutting off supply of the fuel gas to the cathode in a normal operating mode; and supplying the fuel gas and air to the cathode in a shut-down mode, and if a load is cut off, purging the cathode and the anode in the OCV state.

Abstract: According to at least one aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for enhancing formability and manufacturability of a thin metal sheet/foil. In at least one embodiment, the method includes texturing a thin metal sheet/foil to accumulate additional metal materials in the areas to be formed, and providing a textured thin metal sheet/foil with a wavy topography of various peak-to-valley amplitudes and peak-to-peak wave lengths, depending on part design complexity and forming difficulties.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack configured to input raw fuel from a fuel source to produce electrical energy includes a fuel cell comprising an anode, an electrolyte, and a cathode. The anode defines an anode chamber, and a hydrogen separation member is disposed within the anode chamber. The hydrogen separation member has a first side and a second side. The first side of the hydrogen separation member defines a raw fuel chamber. The hydrogen separation member transfer hydrogen between the first side and the second side to provide hydrogen fuel to the anode of the fuel cell, while inhibiting the transportation of gas molecules between the first side and the second side.

Abstract: A fuel delivery apparatus for a direct liquid feed fuel cell is provided. The fuel delivery apparatus includes a plate stack formed by a one or more double-sided plates positioned between opposing end plates. Both sides of the one or more double-sided plates, and the interior side of each end plate, may include one or more microchannels that extend between, and link, an inlet port with an outlet port. The length of the microchannels is chosen to be less than the height of a predetermined meniscus so that liquid fuel propelled by capillary force forms a meniscus that stands proximate the interface between the ends of the microchannels and the outlet port. A heater may be located at the upper ends of the microchannels around the plate stack, to vaporize the liquid fuel at the meniscus.

Abstract: A cell of a flat plate solid oxide fuel cell has a first electrode member of porous material having pores through which all of a fuel gas or air passes. An electrolyte film is on either a front or a back surface of the first electrode member. A second electrode member is on the electrolyte film and a separator film is on the other surface of the first electrode member. The first electrode member is either a fuel electrode or an air electrode and the second electrode member is the other. Part of the electrolyte film and/or part of the separator film form seal portions which cover side surfaces between the electrolyte film and the separator film and function as gas seal films.

Abstract: A bipolar plate which can be produced particularly economically for a fuel cell, with which a high degree of efficiency is guaranteed over a long service life. The bipolar plate has a core layer consisting of a steel material, the surfaces of said core layer, which are associated with the respective electrolyte carriers of the fuel cell, having a corrosion protection layer, protecting the core layer against corrosion. The corrosion protection layers consist of a metal material and extend on both sides over the whole surface of the core layer. At the same time the corrosion protection layers are in turn coated over the whole surface with an electrically conductive functional coating, which is essentially entirely impermeable for the metal ions emerging from the core layer and/or the corrosion protection layers. The invention likewise relates to at least one fuel cell comprising a bipolar plate according to the invention.

Abstract: There are described various techniques used to optimize end cell performance of a fuel cell stack, such as varying the thickness of a membrane throughout the stack, varying the material of the membrane throughout the stack, varying the size of the active area throughout the stack, and varying the catalyst loading throughout the stack.

Abstract: A fuel cell (1) has a plate (2) produced by powder metallurgy which comprises in one piece a porous substrate area (4) to which the electrochemically active cell layers (6) are applied, and a gastight edge area (5) which is provided with gas passages (17, 18).

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a substrate layer, a first electrode, a second electrode, a first chamber layer and a second chamber layer, and all of which are integrally formed by co-firing. The substrate layer includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to the second surface, and the first electrode, the second electrode are formed on the first and second surfaces, respectively. The first chamber layer, disposed on the first electrode, includes a first flow passage and a first fuel chamber connected thereto, and a first gas passes the first flow passage, enters the first fuel chamber and contacts the first electrode. The second chamber, disposed on the second electrode, includes a second flow passage and a second fuel chamber connected thereto, and a second gas passes the second flow passage, enters the second fuel chamber and contacts the second electrode.

Abstract: A separator comprises a first and second metal plates laid over each other. A cooling medium flow passage is integrally provided between the first and second metal plates. The cooling medium flow passage has inlet buffer portions communicating with a cooling medium inlet communication hole, outlet buffer portions communicating with a cooling medium outlet communication hole, and linear flow passage grooves linearly extending in the direction of arrow B and that of arrow C.

Abstract: A fuel system including a fuel cell including a plurality of unit cells supplied with a prescribed gas to generate electricity, a stoichiometric ratio calculating apparatus calculating the stoichiometric ratio of the prescribed gas for each unit cell, and a gas flow increasing apparatus increasing the supply of the prescribed gas when the stoichiometric ratio falls below a prescribed value.

Abstract: A stack for use in a flow battery, the stack comprising an odd number of interior elements positioned between two end elements, the two end elements each including an electrode, and the odd number of interior elements including membrane elements alternating with electrode elements, wherein the membrane elements include an interior frame and a membrane, the electrode elements include the interior frame and an electrode, wherein the interior frame is rotated by 180° from the frame of the membrane elements.