| Entries |
| Document | Title | Date |
|---|
| 20080213643 | Electricity Production Installation Comprising Fuel Cells Connected in Series and Comprising Means for Isolating a Cell and Mehtod for Monitoring Such an Installation - An electric current production installation, for powering electrical members of a vehicle, including at least two fuel cells electrically connected in series via electric connection lines. Each connecting line includes a connecting switch. The installation further includes bypass lines, each bypass line including a bypass switch, so as to isolate at least one fuel cell by selectively controlling the position of the connection and bypass switches of the lines associated with the cell. A method monitors such an installation. | 09-04-2008 |
| 20080220298 | Hybrid Fuel Cell System and Voltage Conversion Control Method Thereof - To provide a hybrid fuel cell system for improving converter efficiency. In a hybrid fuel cell system ( | 09-11-2008 |
| 20080220299 | Diagnostic apparatus and diagnostic method for fuel cell - According to an aspect of the invention, a diagnostic apparatus which diagnoses a state of the fuel cell includes an operation device which is used for operating the fuel cell; an operational state detecting portion which detects a change in an operational state of the fuel cell; a device control portion which controls the operation device such that the fuel cell is operated according to at least one predetermined operation pattern; and a diagnostic portion which diagnoses the state of the fuel cell based on the change in the operational state of the fuel cell that is detected by the change in the operational state detecting portion when the fuel cell is operated by the device control portion according to the at least one predetermined operation pattern, and the at least one predetermined operation pattern. | 09-11-2008 |
| 20080226956 | COLD START COMPRESSOR CONTROL AND MECHANIZATION IN A FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system is disclosed, wherein the fuel cell system is heated by a fluid during a starting operation to mitigate against vapor condensation and ice formation in a fuel cell assembly and to decrease a warm up time of the fuel cell system. | 09-18-2008 |
| 20080226957 | Fuel cell system - The present invention provides a technology related to a fuel cell system capable of adjusting a discharge amount of an odorant discharged to an outside of a moving body according to a state of the moving body. The fuel cell system mounted to a moving body includes: a fuel cell which generates electric power by electrochemically reacting a hydrogen gas with an oxidation gas; and a adjusting portion which adjusts an amount of an odorant to be discharged to an outside of the moving body according to a state of the moving body, the odorant being included in an anode off-gas discharged from an anode side of the fuel cell. | 09-18-2008 |
| 20080233443 | Fuel Cell Control Valve - A flow control valve for a fuel cell that has particular application for controlling the flow of cathode air through a cathode flow channel of the fuel cell. The valve includes an element that controls the flow through the flow channel in response to changes in the voltage potential of the fuel cell. The valve includes a shape memory alloy wire and a flow control element secured to both ends of the shape memory alloy wire. The ends of the wire are also coupled to the anode and cathode of the fuel cell. When no current is flowing through the wire, the flow control element holds the wire in a pre-strained condition. If the voltage generated by the fuel cell increases, the current passing through the wire will heat the wire and cause it to shrink or contract which forces the flow control element into the flow path. | 09-25-2008 |
| 20080233444 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system includes: a mixing tank storing a fuel solution; a power generator comprising a membrane electrode assembly having an electrolyte membrane, an anode electrode and a cathode electrode, generating power by reaction of the fuel solution with air; a fuel circulation unit circulating the fuel solution to the anode electrode; an air supply unit supplying air to the cathode electrode; and an air supply mechanism supply air to the anode electrode so as to discharge the fuel solution from the inside of the anode electrode to the mixing tank. | 09-25-2008 |
| 20080241617 | FUEL CELL - A fuel cell includes a gas discharge passage structure which includes one end portion connected to a liquid fuel supply passage structure in an anode electrode side of an electrolytic membrane and the other end portion opened to an outer space, the one end portion configured to separate gas and liquid from each other, and a gas-liquid separation accelerating structure increasing a pressure of a liquid fuel in the liquid fuel supply passage structure in the anode side of the membrane higher than a pressure of a gas at the one end portion of the gas discharge passage structure, and discharging a gas which is produced from the fuel in the anode side of the membrane and which is not passed through the membrane, from the liquid fuel supply passage structure in the anode side of the membrane to the one end portion of the gas discharge passage structure. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080241618 | FUEL CELL - A fuel cell is provided with an assembly including an electrolytic membrane and anode and cathode electrodes on both sides of the membrane, a unit providing a path for supplying liquid fuel to the anode side of the membrane, a unit providing a path for supplying air to the cathode electrode side of the membrane, a unit providing a path for discharging gas from the anode electrode side of the membrane, and stacking members stacked in a state of sealing each other on an outer surface of the anode electrode. In this cell, the anode electrode and the stacking members configure a stacking structure, the liquid fuel supply path includes at least one through-hole passing through the stacking structure, and the gas discharge path includes at least one through-hole passing through the stacking structure independently of the at least one through-hole of the liquid fuel supply path. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080254329 | FUEL CELL OUTPUT CHARACTERISTIC ESTIMATION APPARATUS AND OUTPUT CHARACTERISTIC ESTIMATION METHOD, FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND VEHICLE HAVING THE SAME, AND FUEL CELL OUTPUT CONTROL METHOD AND DATA STORAGE MEDIUM - An output characteristic of a fuel cell is estimated by detecting an output current of the fuel cell and a voltage between terminals of the fuel cell, and then estimating the output characteristic of the fuel cell on the basis of the detected output current and the detected voltage between the terminals, and a basic output characteristic of the fuel cell. | 10-16-2008 |
| 20080280174 | Fuel Cell System - A fuel cell system which includes: a fuel cell having a fuel gas flow path and an oxidant gas flow path and generating electricity by being supplied a fuel gas to the fuel gas flow path and an oxidant gas to the oxidant gas flow path; fuel gas supplying means; a discharge valve; fuel gas exchange means for exchanging an atmosphere inside the fuel gas flow path for the fuel gas at a starting of the system; and cold start determination means for determining whether to conduct or not to conduct the cold start of the system, wherein when the cold start determination means determines to conduct the cold start, the cold start determination means increases a total discharge amount of a gas to be discharged for exchanging the atmosphere inside the fuel gas flow path for the fuel gas, and thereby increases a fuel gas concentration in the fuel gas flow path. | 11-13-2008 |
| 20080292926 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, an auxiliary unit, a sound volume acquisition unit, and a control unit. The fuel cell supplies an electric power to a sound generating device that generates a sound. The auxiliary unit allows the fuel cell to generate the electric power. The sound volume acquisition unit acquires information that is related to at least one of the volume of the sound that is generated by the sound generating device and the volume of an environmental sound. The control unit controls the operations of the auxiliary unit, based on the information acquired by the sound volume acquisition unit. | 11-27-2008 |
| 20080292927 | Humidity controllable cathode end plate and air breathing fuel cell stack the same - The present embodiments relate to a humidity controllable cathode end plate and an air breathing fuel cell stack using the same capable of preventing stack performance degradation due to the dryness of a cathode and a membrane. The air breathing fuel cell stack according the present embodiments including: a membrane electrode assembly configured of an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte membrane positioned between the anode and the cathode; a fuel supply unit coupled to the anode to supply fuel; and a cathode end plate coupled to the cathode so that the humidity of the cathode is maintained and including a first opening part for influxing ambient air and a second opening part for outfluxing the ambient air. | 11-27-2008 |
| 20080299426 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AIR-FLOW RATE THEREIN - A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell for generating electricity using a chemical reaction between hydrogen and air supplied thereto; a diluter for diluting hydrogen discharged from the fuel cell with air discharged from the fuel cell; a request load air amount calculation unit for calculating an amount of air required for generating electricity in the fuel cell which meets request load; a dilution air amount calculation unit for calculating an amount of air to be supplied to the fuel cell that provides an amount of discharged gas required for diluting hydrogen in the diluter to a specific concentration; and an air supply control unit for supplying air to the fuel cell in an amount which is the larger amount selected from between the amount of air calculated in the request load air amount calculation unit and the amount of air calculated in the dilution air amount calculation unit. | 12-04-2008 |
| 20080311449 | Fuel Cell System - A fuel cell system has an oxidizer gas flow rate adjuster that adjusts a flow rate of oxidizer gas of the fuel cell stack and a controller that determines a humidity state in the fuel cell stack. The controller has an average cell voltage calculator that calculates an average cell voltage, a minimum cell voltage calculator that calculates a minimum cell value, a voltage difference calculator that calculates a voltage difference between the average cell voltage and the minimum cell voltage, and a voltage comparator that compares the absolute voltage difference with a preset value. The flow rate of the oxidizer gas is changed based on a comparison between the absolute voltage difference and the preset value, and then the humidity state in the fuel cell stack is determined based on a change in the absolute voltage difference. | 12-18-2008 |
| 20080311450 | COOLING APPARATUS FOR FUEL CELL - To provide a cooling apparatus that restrains a rise in conductivity of a cooling medium. A cooling apparatus for a fuel cell includes cooling piping through which a cooling medium for cooling the fuel cell flows, a conductivity measuring unit measuring a conductivity of the cooling medium that flows through the cooling piping, a conductivity reducing agent supply unit supplying the cooling piping with a conductivity reducing agent for reducing the conductivity of the cooling medium, and a control unit controlling the conductivity reducing agent supply unit in accordance with a value of the measured conductivity. | 12-18-2008 |
| 20080311451 | Fuel cell system and fuel cell control method - A fuel cell system includes: a polymer electrolyte fuel cell; a resistance sensor that detects the internal resistance of the fuel cell; a dew point sensor that detects the dew point of anode off gas from the fuel cell; and a controller that executes an electrolyte membrane hydration control according to the relationship between the internal resistance and the dew point. According to this configuration, it is possible to define, based on the relationship between the internal resistance and the dew point, the conditions under which the decreased power generation performance of the cell may be quickly recovered. | 12-18-2008 |
| 20090011300 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - In a fuel cell system, mixture fuel having a certain fuel concentration is supplied to an anode, electric power is output from between the anode and the cathode due to electrochemical reaction when the cathode makes contact with air, and unreacted fuel containing unreacted fuel is discharged from the anode. A fuel circulating path for circulating the unreacted fuel to the anode is connected to the power generating unit and fuel is supplied from the fuel supplying unit to the fuel circulating path depending on a reduction in pressure of the mixture fuel. The temperature of the power generating unit is controlled according to the concentration of the mixture fuel supplied to the anode. Consequently, a fuel cell system, which can achieve reduction of the size thereof without dropping fuel usage efficiency, can be provided. | 01-08-2009 |
| 20090017349 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND TRANSPORTATION APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell which generates electric energy by an electro-chemical reaction, a water tank which stores water from the fuel cell, an intake pipe which has an inlet port for introducing moisture-containing exhaust gas from the fuel cell into the water tank and is connected with the water tank, an exhaust pipe which has an exhaust port for exhausting gas from the water tank and is connected with the water tank, and a partition member which is provided in the water tank at a position lower than the inlet port for partitioning an interior of the water tank into an upper space and the lower space. The fuel cell system is capable of collecting water from the fuel cell easily and efficiently without depending upon a large component or decreasing power generation efficiency. | 01-15-2009 |
| 20090017350 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system for a vehicle, controlling a power generation amount of a fuel cell. A required power generation amount of the fuel cell and a target operational state corresponding to required power generation amount are calculated. An operational state of the fuel cell is detected. A correction power generation amount used for correcting the required power generation amount and an allowable power generation amount that the fuel cell can stably generate based on the operational state of the fuel cell are also calculated. Further, an output power generation amount of the fuel cell is determined based on a relation between the allowable power generation amount and the power generation amount obtained by correcting the required power generation amount by the correction power generation amount. | 01-15-2009 |
| 20090029208 | ON-LINE MONITORING ASSEMBLY FOR DETECTION OF SULFUR BREAKTHROUGH IN A DESULFURIZER ASSEMBLY AND SULFUR BREAKTHROUGH DETECTION METHOD - A monitoring assembly for use in a fuel cell system for detecting sulfur-containing compounds in fuel. The monitoring assembly comprises an indicator assembly for passing the fuel therethrough, the indicator assembly including an indicator material and a housing for housing said indicator material, wherein the housing is adapted to be placed on-line in one of a main path receiving substantially all the fuel and a bypass path receiving only a portion of the fuel in the fuel cell system and the indicator material is such that when the housing is placed on-line in the fuel cell system at least one physical property of the indicator material changes when the indicator material is exposed to sulfur-containing compounds in the fuel of the fuel cell system, and the indicator assembly being additionally adapted to allow detection of the change in the physical property of the indicator material. | 01-29-2009 |
| 20090029209 | FUEL CELL APPARATUS - A fuel cell apparatus includes a fuel cell module, a pump, a mixing tank, a circulating piping, a valve, a cartridge, and a pressing element. The circulating piping having a first opening is connected to the fuel cell module, pump, and mixing tank. The valve is disposed at the first opening for optionally covering it. The mixing tank stores first fuel. The cartridge connected to a sidewall of the first opening stores second fuel. The concentration of the second fuel is higher than that of the first fuel. The pressing element presses the cartridge to deform it. When the pump is turned on, the valve is closed to cover the first opening, and the first fuel is transported to the fuel cell module. When the pump is turned off, the valve is opened to expose the first opening, and the second fuel is transported to the mixing tank. | 01-29-2009 |
| 20090035628 | FUEL CELL AND FUEL CELL APPARATUS - In a case of consuming a power generation reaction inducing gas, which causes lowering in performance and degradation of a fuel cell during suspension of operation thereof, and in a case of performing warm up at a time of activation at low temperatures, in order to automatically perform short circuiting control, there is provided a fuel cell having a structure including a switch which is switchable in accordance with a state of containing water generated in a power generation portion. | 02-05-2009 |
| 20090035629 | MULTI-CHANNEL PUMP, FUEL CELL AND CONTROL METHODS THEREFOR - A multi-channel pump includes a pump chamber, an inflow passage connected to the pump chamber, two or more outflow passages connected to the pump chamber, outflow side active valves provided so as to correspond to the outflow passages, and a movable body reciprocated to change a volumetric capacity of the pump chamber. The movable body may be a piston reciprocated within a cylinder that is connected to the pump chamber. A control method for a multi-channel pump includes an initial discharge step between a suction step and a discharge step. The multi-channel pump may be preferably utilized in a fuel cell. | 02-05-2009 |
| 20090081502 | OPEN-LOOP SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FUEL CELL STACK START-UP WITH LOW-VOLTAGE SOURCE - A fuel cell system is provided that includes a fuel cell stack and an air compressor in communication with a cathode inlet, a hydrogen source in communication with an anode inlet, and a start-up battery adapted to power the air compressor. The start-up battery is at least one of a low-voltage battery and a high-voltage battery. A power conversion module is in electrical communication with the start-up battery and the air compressor. The power conversion module is adapted to boost a voltage of the start-up battery as desired and power the air compressor at start-up. A controller is in communication with the power conversion module and is adapted to set an air compressor speed based on an available electrical energy. An open-loop method of operating the fuel cell system at start-up is also provided, wherein an anode purge is scheduled based on the available electrical energy from the battery. | 03-26-2009 |
| 20090081503 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND DRIVING METHOD THEREOF - A fuel cell system capable of exactly controlling a concentration of a fuel supplied for generation of electricity regardless of deterioration of a concentration sensor with time, and a driving method thereof include: a fuel cell stack to generate electric power through an electrochemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen; a mixing tank to supply a diluted fuel to the fuel cell stack, the diluted fuel obtained by mixing a raw fuel with water discharged from the fuel cell stack; a reference concentration tank to store a predetermined optimum concentration of a reference solution for the fuel cell stack; and a concentration sensing module to measure a concentration of either the diluted fuel or the reference solution. | 03-26-2009 |
| 20090092870 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - To provide a fuel cell system of dead end type capable of generating power with high efficiency. A fuel cell system | 04-09-2009 |
| 20090110981 | Fuel Cell System and Operating Method of Fuel Cell System - In a fuel cell system equipped with a fluid supply device, such as a pump, in a fluid supply system to fuel cells, an insufficient supply of a fluid to the fuel cells is avoided by taking into account a fluctuation in fluid supply induced by operation of the fluid supply device. A procedure of gas supply to the fuel cells makes an increasing correction to increase supply amounts of hydrogen gas and the air according to a fluctuation in gas supply induced by operations of pumps and a blower, and actually supplies the hydrogen gas and the air of the corrected supply amounts after the increasing correction. The fuel cells are under power generation control to obtain a required power generation current equivalent to a power generation demand, while receiving the hydrogen gas supply and the air supply of corrected supply amounts by increasing correction of gas supply base amounts corresponding to the required power generation current. | 04-30-2009 |
| 20090110982 | Sensing pipe and fuel cell system using the same - A fuel cell system including a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) concentration sensor, and in particular, comprising a bypass channel structure useful for installing a QCM concentration sensor to a fuel cell system. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack generating electric energy by an electrochemical reaction of a hydrogen-containing fuel and an oxidant, a fuel cell including a fuel supplying unit supplying the hydrogen-containing fuel to the fuel cell stack, a QCM concentration sensing unit for measuring the concentration of a fluid in the fuel cell, and a drive controlling unit for controlling the operation of the fuel cell according to an output of the QCM concentration sensing unit. | 04-30-2009 |
| 20090110983 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system including a correction means capable of accurately correcting a concentration sensing value according to temperature is discussed. The fuel cell system may include an electricity generating unit generating electric energy by means of the electrochemical reaction of fuel and an oxidizer, a fuel supplying unit supplying the fuel to the electricity generating unit, a main concentration sensor for measuring the concentration of the fuel, a reference cell filled with reference solution and including a reference concentration sensor for measuring the concentration of the reference solution, and/or a drive controlling unit controlling the operation of the electricity generating unit based on the concentration values measured in the main concentration sensor and the reference concentration sensor. | 04-30-2009 |
| 20090110984 | Hood interlock apparatus of industrial vehicle - A limit switch for detecting opening/closing of a hood is connected to a controller. A power supply relay is also connected to the controller. A switching contact of the relay is located on power supply line for supplying power supply from a fuel cell. When the hood is closed, the limit switch is on and the controller maintains the switching contact in a closed state so that power supply from the fuel cell to various power-consuming components is allowed. On the other hand, when the hood is opened, the limit switch is turned off. In response to this, the controller opens the switching contact so that the power supply from the fuel cell to the various power-consuming components is shut off. | 04-30-2009 |
| 20090136803 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system capable of controlling a fuel cell at a time of starting and at a time of stopping with a simple structure and capable of controlling the influence of the outside air temperature of the use environment. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell including a power generating portion including a fuel electrode and an oxidizer electrode, for performing power generation based on a fuel supplied from a fuel tank; and a switch provided between the fuel electrode and the oxidizer electrode so as to connect and disconnect a resistor between and with the fuel electrode and the oxidizer electrode. The switching of the connection and disconnection of the resistor by the switch is performed based on at least one temperature difference between two of the power generating portion of the fuel cell, the fuel tank, and outside air. | 05-28-2009 |
| 20090142632 | FUEL CELL STACK FEATURES FOR IMPROVED WATER MANAGEMENT - An electric insulator for a fuel cell stack with a plurality of fuel cell plates is provided. The electric insulator includes an insulation layer having a water management feature adapted to militate against liquid water contacting the fuel cell plates. Fuel cell stacks having the water management feature are also described. | 06-04-2009 |
| 20090142633 | Fuel Cell System and Mobile Article - A fuel cell system, which includes a fuel cell for generating electric power and which discharges externally water remaining in the fuel cell by supplying a gas to the fuel cell, includes discharge amount estimating means, for estimating, based on the state of the fuel cell (the amount of residual water or an inclination angle), the amount of water to be discharged from the fuel cell. | 06-04-2009 |
| 20090155651 | Fuel cell system and generation control device - A fuel cell system capable of accurately and precisely determining the wet condition inside a fuel cell. The fuel cell system includes a solid polymer electrolyte type fuel cell having a stack structure. The fuel cell is connected to an air supply system, a hydrogen gas supply system, an output system, and a control unit. The control unit receives flow rates of air and hydrogen gas which flow into the fuel cell, their pressures when exhausted, and a generated current measurement signal. The control unit calculates the amounts of water exhausted from the fuel cell as a gas component and as a liquid component and determines the water balance in the fuel cell. | 06-18-2009 |
| 20090155652 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A basic injection time of an injector is obtained from an FC current detected in step S | 06-18-2009 |
| 20090155653 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - The invention relates to a fuel cell system comprising a reformer and an afterburner each for reacting at least fuel and an oxidant; and a fuel feeder for supplying the reformer and the afterburner with fuel. It is provided for to particular advantage that at least one flow control valve for controlling the fuel supply is included upstream of at least the reformer or the afterburner. The invention relates furthermore to a motor vehicle having one such fuel cell system. | 06-18-2009 |
| 20090162710 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell stack for generating electric power by receiving supply of a reaction gas; an air compressor for scavenging water remaining in the fuel cell stack when power generation is stopped; a rechargeable battery for supplying electric power to the air compressor for operation thereof; and a controller for estimating an amount of water remaining in the fuel cell stack based on an alternating-current impedance of the fuel cell stack, estimating a target SOC for charging the rechargeable battery with electric power required for scavenging the amount of water, and controlling charge and discharge so that an SOC of the rechargeable battery agrees with the target SOC. | 06-25-2009 |
| 20090169934 | Fuel Cell System - A fuel cell system according to the present invention is characterized by comprising a fuel cell, measurement means for measuring impedances of the fuel cell in two kinds or more of frequency regions, and first judgment means for judging two or more parameters concerned with an internal state of the fuel cell based on measurement results of the impedances in the respective frequency regions. According to such a constitution, the impedances in the two or more types of frequency regions (a high frequency region, a low frequency region and the like) are measured to judge two or more parameters such as a wet state of an electrolytic film of the fuel cell and a supply state of a fuel gas, which are concerned with the internal state of the fuel cell based on this measurement result. Since such judgment is performed, as compared with the conventional technology, the internal state of the fuel cell can accurately be grasped, and highly efficient and highly robust control of the fuel cell system can be performed. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090176137 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - The invention relates to a fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell ( | 07-09-2009 |
| 20090197132 | FUEL-CELL STRUCTURE - A fuel-cell structure is provided. The fuel-cell structure includes a base, at least one cell unit, a first supplier, a second supplier and a third supplier. The cell unit disposed on the base includes a reaction region, a first connecting port and an outputting terminal, wherein the first connecting port and the outputting terminal are coupled to the reaction region. The first supplier provides a first fluid transmitted to the reaction region of the cell unit via the first connecting port of the cell unit. The second supplier provides a second fluid transmitted to the reaction region of the cell unit, wherein the second fluid and the first fluid are reacted with respect to the reaction region of the cell unit, so that the reaction region of the cell unit provides a first electric power outputting through the outputting terminal. The third supplier provides a third fluid transmitted to the reaction region of the cell unit via the first connecting port of the cell unit, to humidify the cell unit by the third fluid. | 08-06-2009 |
| 20090202877 | CONCENTRATION DISTRIBUTION ESTIMATION DEVICE FOR IMPURITY IN ANODE SIDE, AND FUEL CELL SYSTEM USING THE DEVICE - The standard permeation amount of an impurity substance, that is, the permeation amount per unit area of the impurity substance under a standard concentration is calculated from the gas pressures in the gas channels, the impedance, and the fuel cell temperature. The permeation index of the impurity substance at each of locations in the anode-side gas channel is calculated on the basis of the previously calculated value of the concentration distribution of the impurity substance. Then, on the basis of the standard permeation amount and the permeation index, the permeation amounts of the impurity substance at the locations in the anode-side gas channel are calculated. On the basis of a total of the permeation amounts, the amount of the impurity substance accumulated in the anode-side gas channel is calculated. Furthermore, the distribution of existence rate of the impurity substance in the anode-side gas channel is calculated on the basis of the gas pressure in the anode-side gas channel and the electric current value. | 08-13-2009 |
| 20090208793 | HYBRID TYPE POWER SUPPLYING APPARATUS - Disclosed is a hybrid-type power supplying apparatus which may use a fuel cell device as a main power supplier for a robot and a rechargeable battery as an auxiliary power supplier for the robot. In the hybrid-type power supplying apparatus, when the power consumption of the robot exceeds the selected amount of power generation of the fuel cell device, the loads of the rechargeable battery and the fuel cell stack can be managed in such a manner that power is supplied from the rechargeable battery to the robot as an auxiliary power for the robot supplementing the main power for the robot. | 08-20-2009 |
| 20090214912 | ELECTRONIC APPARATUS - A first battery includes a secondary battery which is rechargeable by a fuel cell. A second battery does not perform all the operations of an electronic apparatus but supply an electric power to enable operations of a battery residual quantity detection unit, which detects battery residual quantities of the fuel cell and the batteries, and a second display which display based on the detection result. On the basis of the detection result, the presence/absence of execution of a charging operation from the fuel cell to the first battery is determined, and a designation to supply fuel to the fuel cell and/or an operation state of the electronic apparatus is displayed on a first display. When the battery residual quantity of the fuel cell and/or the first battery is zero, an electric power is supplied from the second battery to the battery residual quantity detection unit and the second display. | 08-27-2009 |
| 20090220833 | Fuel Cell Device - A fuel cell device ( | 09-03-2009 |
| 20090233131 | POLYMER ELECTROLYTE FUEL CELL AND MANUFACTURING METHOD FOR ELECTRODE-MEMBRANE-FRAME ASSEMBLY - A MEA-frame assembly is arranged in a mold for injection molding to form a first flow passage arranged so as to extend along the outer periphery of an electrode between the outer periphery of the electrode and the inner periphery of a frame, a second flow passage arranged so as to extend along an inner elastic member between the inner periphery and outer periphery of the frame and a plurality of connecting flow passages which communicate the first flow passage with the second flow passage. An elastic resin is injected into the first flow passage to fill the first flow passage with the elastic resin and to fill the second flow passage with the elastic resin through each of the communicating flow passages, thereby an elastic member which hermetically seals the space between the MEA-frame assembly and the separator is integrally formed. | 09-17-2009 |
| 20090246579 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND FLOW CONTROL MECHANISM THEREOF - A fuel cell system and a flow control mechanism thereof are provided. The fuel cell system includes a plurality of fuel cells and the flow control mechanism. The flow control mechanism includes a distributing device and a confluence device, and the cells are stacked between the distributing device and the confluence device. The distributing device or the confluence includes at least one inlet, at least one outlet, at least one passage and at least one buffering section. The passage communicates with the inlet and the outlet. The buffering section is disposed in any position of the passage. The buffering section and the inlet are on different levels. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090253007 | Method and apparatus for anode oxidation prevention and cooling of a solid-oxide fuel cell stack - An apparatus and method for a normal system shutdown of a SOFC system implements a control strategy that utilizes existing system hardware and operating processes already used during normal operation of the SOFC system. The control strategy enables the SOFC system to generate the fluid needed for prevention of oxidation during the cooling process of the anode side of the SOFC stack by converting the conventional system fuel supply for delivery of a reducing fluid to the anode side of the SOFC stack during normal system shutdown thereby preventing subjecting the hardware to cyclic stress that typically occurs during oxidation. The control strategy further enables the SOFC system to control the temperature gradient that exists across the system hardware thereby eliminating induction of thermal stress on the hardware, hence prolonging the life of the system hardware. | 10-08-2009 |
| 20090253008 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system of the present invention includes a fuel cell, a supply channel which supplies, to the fuel cell, a fuel gas supplied from a fuel supply source, a variable gas supply device which adjusts a gas state on an upstream side of this supply channel to supply the gas to a downstream side, a control section which performs PI control of a gas supply command amount with respect to the variable gas supply device, and an abnormality judgment section to judge whether or not the variable gas supply device is abnormal. The controller uses, as a part of a correction term of the PI control, a learning term constituted by integrating an I term only in a case where an operation state of the fuel cell satisfies predetermined learning allowable conditions. The abnormality judgment section judges based on this learning term whether or not the variable gas supply device is abnormal. | 10-08-2009 |
| 20090258267 | Apparatus for solid-oxide fuel cell shutdown - An emergency shutdown apparatus for a solid-oxide fuel cell system, including a fuel cell stack, comprises a reservoir containing a reducing fluid, a valve enabling or preventing flow of the reducing fluid from the reservoir to the fuel cell stack, a timing circuit operating and controlling the valve, and a battery powering the timing circuit. The apparatus for an emergency system shutdown is able to operate independently of the main power plant and does not require any active control from the solid-oxide fuel cell system. The disclosed apparatus is entirely a stand-alone component that may be added to any conventional solid-oxide fuel cell system. The apparatus in accordance with the invention can be recharged, allowing the same hardware to be used over and over, however, a disposable unit could be used if found to be desirable. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20090258268 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM WITH FUEL CELL STACK RECEPTACLE - A fuel cell system with a fuel cell stack receptacle that encloses at least one fuel cell stack and at least one fuel cell stack peripheral, and retains the fuel cell stack(s) in a compressed state. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20090269633 | HYDROGEN GAS SUPPLY DEVICE AND FUEL CELL APPARATUS - The hydrogen gas supply device capable of detecting that the hydrogen gas storage volume of a tank has decreased to a predetermined value or less including a plurality of tanks each filled with a hydrogen storage alloy, an information obtaining device for obtaining information on the physical quantity of the plurality of tanks different from each other in hydrogen storage volume, and a signal outputting device for outputting information signal on the remaining amount of the hydrogen gas in the tanks by determining a hydrogen gas storage status of the plurality of tanks from information on the physical quantity, and detecting the decrease of the remaining amount of the hydrogen gas in all tanks in use to a predetermined value or less from the hydrogen gas storage status of the plurality of tanks. | 10-29-2009 |
| 20090280371 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A compact fuel cell system capable of preventing water from remaining in a pipe is provided. The fuel cell system | 11-12-2009 |
| 20090305099 | STARTUP RELIABILITY USING HFR MEASUREMENT - A system and method for improving fuel cell system start-up reliability. The method includes determining if the resistance of the membranes in a fuel cell stack is too high, where the reliability of system start-up will be reduced, and if so, providing one or more remedial actions to help ensure that the start-up is more reliable. In one embodiment, the system and method determine that the fuel cell membranes are to dry based on whether a high frequency measurement of the fuel cell stack exceeds a predetermined HFR threshold. If the HFR threshold has been exceeded, a special start-up procedure is used that increases the reliability that the start-up will be successful using the remedial actions, such as reducing cathode airflow and turning on stack end cell heaters. | 12-10-2009 |
| 20090305100 | FUEL CELL ASSEMBLY - The present invention relates to a fuel cell assembly having a fuel cell and an actuating element, which is activated by a control unit, for bringing residual gas out of a fuel flow of the fuel cell. The invention is provided with the control unit having an open-loop and/or closed-loop control system which takes into consideration the fuel concentration in the fuel flow. | 12-10-2009 |
| 20090317675 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - 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. | 12-24-2009 |
| 20090325010 | ADAPTIVE COMPRESSOR SURGE CONTROL IN A FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system having an adaptable compressor map and method for optimizing the adaptable compressor map is provided. The method includes the steps of establishing an initial operating setpoint for an air compressor based on the adaptable compressor map; monitoring a surge indicator; adjusting the adaptable compressor map based on the monitored surge indicator; determining a desired operating setpoint based on the adjusted adaptable compressor map; and establishing an adapted operating setpoint for the air compressor based on the adaptable compressor map following the adjustment thereof. The steps are repeated until the adaptable compressor map for the air compressor is optimized. | 12-31-2009 |
| 20090325011 | FUEL CELL - A fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly | 12-31-2009 |
| 20100003559 | HYDROGEN SUPPLYING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING HYDROGEN SUPPLYING APPARATUS - A hydrogen supply apparatus includes a hydrogen supply path by which hydrogen released from a hydrogen tank reaches a hydrogen supply target, a branching path from the hydrogen supply path, in which a part of hydrogen released from the hydrogen tank flows, addition means for adding an odorizing agent to the hydrogen flowing in the branching path, a buffer tank storing the hydrogen to which the odorizing agent is added by the addition means, and supplying means for supplying the odorizing agent treated hydrogen in the buffer tank to the hydrogen supply path. | 01-07-2010 |
| 20100003560 | FUEL CELL - A fuel cell ( | 01-07-2010 |
| 20100003561 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack for generating power and power generation control means. The fuel cell stack has at least one cell that includes a cathode to which an oxidant is supplied, an anode to which a fuel is supplied, and a polymer electrolyte membrane sandwiched between the cathode and the anode. The power generation control means has dryness degree determination means for determining the degree of dryness of the fuel cell stack based on shut-down period. When the shut-down period is shorter than a predetermined period of time, the power generation control means supplies a gas for drying to the cathode for a predetermined period of time, to remove water remaining in the cathode. When the shut-down period is equal to or longer than the predetermined period of time, such a drying operation is not performed. | 01-07-2010 |
| 20100003562 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM WITH DEVICE FOR CATHODE INLET AIR PREHEATING - The invention relates to a fuel cell system including a first heat exchanger via which cathode feed air can be supplied to a fuel cell or fuel cell stack and to which a mixture of afterburner exhaust gas of an afterburner and cathode exhaust air having materialized in the fuel cell or fuel cell stack can be supplied for heat exchange between the cathode feed air and the mixture via the first heat exchanger. In accordance with the invention it is provided for that a second heat exchanger is provided via which the cathode feed air can be supplied from the first heat exchanger to the fuel cell or fuel cell stack and via which the afterburner exhaust gas can be supplied to the first heat exchanger to form the mixture, in thus achieving a heat exchange between the afterburner exhaust gas and the cathode feed air. | 01-07-2010 |
| 20100009225 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND MOBILE BODY - A fuel cell system is provided with a fuel cell, an electric storage device, and a controller which determines a directed drive amount for a drive device. In the case where a drive request is input during a low-efficiency drive period in which power is supplied from the electric storage device, the directed drive amount after power generation by the fuel cell is begun is restrained. This arrangement allows a driving state to be smoothly changed even when power supply to the drive device is changed from power supply using the electric storage device alone to that using both the fuel cell and the electric storage device. | 01-14-2010 |
| 20100009226 | DEVICE FOR TREATING REACTION GASES IN FUEL CELLS - The invention relates to devices for operating fuel cells. According to the invention, the two functions “cooling” and “humidification” are combined in a functional unit ( | 01-14-2010 |
| 20100015482 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - There is disclosed a fuel cell system capable of appropriately performing the impedance measurement and scavenging control of a fuel cell during the stop of the fuel cell system. According to the present embodiment, in the fuel cell system including a control section which monitors and controls the state of a fuel cell, the control section stops the supply of a fuel gas to the fuel cell, then executes scavenging process to discharge, from the system, a water content in the fuel cell, and intermittently measures the impedance of the fuel cell during the scavenging process of the fuel cell, and the control section is characterized in that the fuel gas is intermittently supplied to the fuel cell during the scavenging process of the fuel cell. | 01-21-2010 |
| 20100035106 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A shutoff value provided on the entrance side and exit side of a fuel cell system has a diaphragm. A valve closing-side pressure chamber is provided on the upper face side of the diaphragm, and a valve opening-side pressure chamber is provided on the lower face side of the diaphragm. With the valve closing-side pressure chamber of the shutoff valve pressurized, the pressure in the chamber is maintained by ViS, Vic, and ViO in an electrically non-conducted state. Also, the pressure in the valve opening-side pressure chamber of the shutoff valve is maintained released. By this, force acting in the direction of closing a valving element acts on it through the diaphragm, maintaining the shutoff valve closed. | 02-11-2010 |
| 20100040920 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING A STATE OF A REFORMER IN A FUEL CELL SYSTEM - The invention relates to a method for diagnosing a condition of a reformer ( | 02-18-2010 |
| 20100040921 | FUEL CELL - Relays and the like are arranged so that any restriction is not imposed on a portion where a fastening member between end plates or the like is disposed. To realize this, a relay assembly is provided in a stack case. In this case, when the relay assembly is integrated with a service plug, cables between relays and the service plug can preferably be omitted. Moreover, the relay assembly includes a resin plate to which the relays and the service plug are attached, and these relays are electrically connected to the service plug via buses on the resin plate. | 02-18-2010 |
| 20100047642 | FUEL CELL - Provided is a flow type fuel cell including: an anode chamber flow path including a power generation area; a supply flow path connected to one end of the anode chamber flow path, through which the fuel gas is supplied; and an exhaust flow path connected to another end of the anode chamber flow path, through which the fuel gas is exhausted, wherein a variable flow rate controlling unit for changing a flow rate of the fuel gas by water generated by the power generation of the power generation area is disposed within the anode chamber flow path so that the flow rate of the fuel gas can be reduced by the variable flow rate controlling unit during the power generation and for a given period of time after stop of the power generation. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100047643 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system of the present invention includes: a fuel cell ( | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100068574 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND POWER SUPPLY CONTROL METHOD - In order to determine the air stoichiometric ratio without using multidimensional mapping, a fuel cell system of the invention computes a command current value and command voltage value in a fuel cell during low-efficiency electrical power generation based on the required electrical power, estimates a reference voltage of the fuel cell from the command voltage value and the water temperature when the command current value is taken as a reference current, determines the difference between the reference voltage thus obtained and the command voltage value as an air concentration overvoltage target value, computes the air stoichiometric ratio based on the air concentration overvoltage target value, computes the air amount during low-efficiency electrical power generation based on the air stoichiometric ratio, and controls the amount of air supplied to the fuel cell according to the air amount thus computed. At this time, by estimating the reference voltage from the command voltage value and water temperature, determining the difference between the reference voltage and the command voltage value as the air concentration overvoltage target value, and calculating the air stoichiometric ratio based on the air concentration overvoltage target value, the air stoichiometric ratio is determined without using multidimensional mapping. | 03-18-2010 |
| 20100092819 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - When a request power for a fuel cell is smaller than a predetermined value, a fuel cell system stops the supply of an oxidizing gas to the fuel cell and lowers the output voltage of the fuel cell from a use upper limit voltage to a reduction voltage to perform catalyst activation processing. When the output voltage of the fuel cell lowers to an air blow voltage because of the shortage of the oxidizing gas, the fuel cell system re-supplies the oxidizing gas to recover the output voltage of the fuel cell. | 04-15-2010 |
| 20100104905 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - The present invention is directed to a fuel cell system having fuel cells, a supply flow path for allowing a fuel gas, which is supplied from a fuel supply source, to flow to the fuel cells; a variable gas supply device for regulating a gas condition on the upstream side of the supply flow path and supplying the regulated gas to the downstream side; a first control device for driving and controlling the variable gas supply device; an off-gas flow path capable of releasing a fuel off-gas, discharged from the fuel cells, to the outside through a discharge valve; a second control device for driving and controlling the discharge valve; and a defect detection device for detecting a defect of the discharge valve. By using a gas supply command amount for the variable gas supply device, the defect detection device detects a valve opening defect that the discharge valve does not return from an open state to a closed state. | 04-29-2010 |
| 20100104906 | FUEL CELL POWER SUPPLY DEVICE - A fuel cell power supply device can include a fuel cell, a voltage boosting device with an input unit connected to the fuel cell, and an output unit connected to a first load. The boosting device can boost an output voltage and supply electric power to the first load. A storage device is connected to the input unit or the output unit, and a secondary battery can be connected to the output unit of the voltage boosting device via a voltage conversion device. An electric power supply control device controls operation of the voltage conversation device, to carry out supply of electric power to the first load from the secondary battery via the voltage conversion unit. The electric power supply control device also carries out charging of the secondary battery by the supply of electric power to the secondary battery from the voltage boosting device via the voltage conversion device. | 04-29-2010 |
| 20100112398 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system includes: an AC impedance measuring unit which measures an AC impedance of a fuel cell at a scavenging start and measures an AC impedance of the fuel cell when a predetermined time has elapsed from the scavenging start; a scavenging execution time estimation unit which estimates a scavenging execution time based on the AC impedance measured at the scavenging start, the AC impedance measured at the time when the predetermined time has elapsed from the scavenging start and the predetermined time; and a limit unit which limits the scavenging execution time to a predetermined maximum scavenging time if the scavenging execution time exceeds the maximum scavenging time. | 05-06-2010 |
| 20100112399 | BATTERY - A battery includes a battery can housing an cell that supplies electrical energy at terminals of the cell by an electro-chemical reaction with oxygen, the can including, a first member having at least one hole that is exposed to air; and a second member. The battery also includes a mechanism coupled to one of the first and second members to move the one of the first and second members such that when current is drawn from the battery, the opening in the member allows air to pass into the battery, and to move the one of the first and second members such that when current is not drawn from the battery, the opening in the member is not in registration to inhibit air to pass into the battery. The battery also includes a circuit to control the mechanism. In one embodiment the circuit monitors levels of O | 05-06-2010 |
| 20100112400 | Fuel Cell Supply Including Information Storage Device and Control System - The present invention is directed to a fuel cell system with various features for optimal operations of an electronic device, a battery charger or a fuel refilling device. The fuel cell system includes an information storage device associated with the fuel supply, pump and/or refilling device. The information storage device can be any electronic storage device including, but not limited to, an EEPROM or a PLA. The information storage device can include encrypted information. The information storage device can include software code for confirming the identification of the cartridge before operation of the electronic device and/or refilling device. The information storage device can include instructions for a hot swap operation to shut down properly when the fuel supply is ejected while the electronic device is in operation. The present invention is also directed to system architecture for a fuel cell system that utilizes information storage devices. The system architecture may have flow regulators, which include a regulating valve. | 05-06-2010 |
| 20100119898 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - Provided is a fuel cell system capable of ensuring that the fuel cell system can start next time and preventing scavenging processing from being continued for an unnecessarily long time. An impedance comparator | 05-13-2010 |
| 20100119899 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell and a process executing unit. The fuel cell includes a plurality of flow channel-defining members and a plurality of membrane-electrode assemblies. The flow channel-defining member is combined with the membrane-electrode assembly and defines a flow channel for supplying a reactant gas to the membrane-electrode assembly. The process executing unit executes a process for increasing the amount of water held in each of the plurality of flow channel-defining members, so as to reduce variation in the amount of water among each of the plurality of flow channel-defining members. In this way, the variation in the amount of water can be reduced. | 05-13-2010 |
| 20100129692 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system includes an idle stop unit, a discharger, a power-generation-state memory, and an initial-current-value setter. The idle stop unit is configured to stop a supply of the reactant gas to a fuel cell. The discharger is configured to allow the fuel cell to generate the electric power with the reactant gas remaining in the fuel cell after the idle stop unit stops the supply of the reactant gas and is configured to discharge electric current to a current receiver. The power-generation-state memory is configured to store a power-generation state of the fuel cell immediately before the idle stop unit stops the supply of the reactant gas. The initial-current-value setter is configured to set an initial current value of the fuel cell discharged by the discharger on a basis of the power-generation state of the fuel cell stored in the power-generation-state memory. | 05-27-2010 |
| 20100143756 | CONNECTING APPARATUS IN FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND FUEL CELL SYSTEM INCLUDING THE CONNECTING APPARATUS - A connecting apparatus in a fuel cell system and a fuel cell system including the connecting apparatus include a pipe module and a controller controlling the operation of the pipe module. The pipe module includes a first valve connecting a fuel processor and an anode of a stack, a second valve connecting an automatic drain and a heat exchanger, and a check valve connecting the anode of the stack and the heat exchanger. | 06-10-2010 |
| 20100143757 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell; a normally-closed first shut-off valve provided upstream from the fuel cell and opening and closing pipes c | 06-10-2010 |
