Abstract:
A fuel cell system includes a windshield washer container 1 storing windshield washer fluid, a permeable membrane unit 2 provided inside the windshield washer container 1, and a fuel cell 11. The permeable membrane unit 2 has the capability of extracting methanol from the windshield washer fluid. The extracted methanol is directly used as the fuel for the fuel cell 11. The windshield washer container 1 has the size comparable with or less than that of a conventional windshield washer container.
Abstract:
A fuel cell system includes a windshield washer container 1 storing windshield washer fluid, a permeable membrane unit 2 provided inside the windshield washer container 1, and a fuel cell 11. The permeable membrane unit 2 has the capability of extracting methanol from the windshield washer fluid. The extracted methanol is directly used as the fuel for the fuel cell 11. The windshield washer container 1 has the size comparable with or less than that of a conventional windshield washer container.
Abstract:
A fuel cell system includes a heat-generation amount detection device for detecting a heat generation amount in a fuel cell, and an evaporation amount controller for controlling an evaporation amount of water in the fuel cell based on the detected heat generation amount. The heat generation amount is detected based on an output electric power of the fuel cell, an output current thereof or a temperature thereof. The evaporation amount of water in the fuel cell is controlled by adjusting at least one humidification amount of hydrogen and oxygen to be supplied to the fuel cell, or by adjusting at least one flow amount of hydrogen and oxygen to be supplied to the fuel cell.
Abstract:
A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell (FC stack), an inflow passage valve provided in a hydrogen inflow passage through which hydrogen is supplied to the FC stack, and a discharge passage valve provided in a hydrogen discharge passage through which hydrogen containing gas is discharged from the FC stack as exhaust gas. In the fuel cell, hydrogen is supplied to the FC stack intermittently in accordance with an amount of hydrogen consumed in the FC stack, by controlling opening and closing of the inflow passage valve and the hydrogen discharge valve.
Abstract:
A heat exchanger comprises an elongated plate folded in corrugated fashion and defining a stack of a number of laminated air passages defined by spacer parallel plane heat transfer faces or plates connected alternately along opposite side edges by narrow partition plates. In alternate air passages, spacer plates are disposed having such a wavy or corrugated configuration as to conduct a first current of air flowing into such alternate passages from one open end thereof to flow out from an open side portion thereof opposite the corresponding partition plate. In the remainder of the air passages are disposed spacer plates having such a wavy or corrugated configuration as to conduct a second current of air flowing into such passages from the open ends thereof, opposite those into which the first air current flows, to flow out from open side portions thereof opposite those out from which the first current flows.
Abstract:
Portable storage cases comprising a base and a lid which is automatically movable by a damped, spring-biased lid mechanism. Upon actuation of a release, the lid automatically moves from a closed position to an open position. A display support is pivotally movable with respect to the base and is moved during at least part of the time that the lid is moving from the closed to the open position. The display support is adapted to releasably support at least one item and, if desired, supports a plurality of items. In preferred embodiments, movement of the display support only commences after the lid has moved for some predetermined time, distance or angle.
Abstract:
A measuring method first calculates the conductivity of an electrolyte membrane based on measured output voltage and output current of a fuel cell. The water content of an oxidant channel as an index of present water content (PWC) of the fuel cell is calculated based on the calculated conductivity and the other measured physical quantities of the fuel cell. Further the method calculates the water content of the oxidant channel after the inside of the fuel cell reaches a steady state as an index of future water content (FWC) using the measured physical quantities. The PWC index and FWC index are compared, and it is finally determined, based on the result of the comparison and the difference between the previous and present values of the conductivity, whether the water content of the fuel cell is short or excessive at the present time.