Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha

Kyoto University

W.l. Gore & Associates, Co., Ltd.

Tatsuya Kawahara

Toshiaki Ozaki

Seiji Mizuno

Katsuhiko Kinoshita

Hisao Kato

Narimasa Watanabe

Masayoshi Taki

Hiroshi Kato

Takeyuki Suzuki

Tatsuro Hori

Ryosuke Nakanishi

Katsuya Takanashi

Takahiko Asaoka

Yu Morimoto

Hideki Yamada

Masashi Murate

Masanori Aimu

Kazuo Kawahara

Yasuhiro Akita

Yoshimasa Negishi

Shoichiro Nitta

Takeshi Nagasawa

Tohru Oda

Yoshitaka Kino

Yoshifumi Kaji

Toyohiro Matsuura

Morimichi Miura

Satoshi Kadotani

A voice interaction apparatus incudes voice recognition means for recognizing a voice of a user, response-sentence generation means for generating a response sentence to the voice of the user based on the recognized voice, filler generation means for generating a filler word to be inserted in a conversation, output means for outputting the generated response sentence and the generated filler word, and classification means for classifying the generated response sentence into one of predetermined speech patterns indicating predefined speech types. When the output means outputs, after the user utters a voice subsequent to the first response sentence, the filler word and outputs a second response sentence, the classification means classifies the first response sentence into one of the speech patterns, and the filler generation means generates the filler word based on the speech pattern into which the first response sentence has been classified.

Voice interaction apparatus, its processing method, and program

Provided is a voice interaction apparatus including an estimation unit configured to estimate whether to wait a next user's speech or to execute an output of an output speech by the voice interaction apparatus based on a user's speech input by an input unit; and the response control unit configured to, when the estimation unit could not estimate whether to wait for the user's next speech or to execute the output of the output speech by the voice interaction apparatus, respond by executing at least one of a filler output and a nodding action, the filler output being an output of a filler, i.e., a connecting utterance irrelevant to an interaction content, from the output unit, and the nodding action being an action of swinging a pseudo head part back and forth.

Voice interaction apparatus and automatic interaction method using voice interaction apparatus

A durability test device that examines durability of a membrane electrode assembly used for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell includes: a voltage application device that applies a voltage from one surface of the membrane electrode assembly to the other surface thereof; a current measurement device that measures a current flowing from the one surface to the other surface by the application of the voltage; and a control section that controls the voltage application device to apply the voltage to the membrane electrode assembly while sweeping the voltage over a plurality of consecutive voltage regions in such a manner that a first sweep rate of the voltage to be applied in the first voltage region in which a measured current value includes a peak caused due to carbon oxidation is set lower than that in the second voltage region that does not include the first voltage region.

Durability test device of membrane electrode assembly and durability test method thereof

It is an object of the present invention to provide a fuel cell electrolyte membrane reinforced with a porous substrate which has excellent durability and in which the amount of cross leakage as a result of chemical deterioration of electrolyte membrane components due to the presence of peroxide and/or radicals is particularly reduced. The present invention relates to an electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell comprising a polyelectrolyte, which contains a porous substrate and a radical scavenger dispersed in the polyelectrolyte.

Reinforced electrolyte membrane for fuel cell, membrane-electrode assembly for fuel cell, and polymer electrolyte fuel cell comprising the same

In an apparatus A in which electrode powderis allowed to adhere via the electrostatic force to an electrolyte membrane that serves as a substrateso as to form a catalyst layer, a screenis held in a state of non-contact with the substrateand a voltage is applied therebetween. The electrode powderis allowed to adhere to an elastic feed rollerand the feed rolleris allowed to rotate in contact with the screenby pressure. The electrode powderis dispersed toward the substrateso as to stably adhere thereto via both the electrostatic force and the extruding force of the elastic body. Variation of thickness and collapse of the outline are extremely reduced on the catalyst layer to be transferred and formed on the substrate (electrolyte membrane) via the electrostatic force using a conventionally used mesh-like screen so as to obtain a membrane electrode assembly with a high product manufacturing accuracy.

Method and apparatus for forming catalyst layer on substrate constituting membrane electrode assembly

A polymer electrolyte fuel cell includes an electrode including a catalyst layer and a diffusion layer. The catalyst layer is divided into a plurality of portions including an upstream portion and a downstream portion along a reactant gas flow direction. The upstream portion of the catalyst layer has a structure for preventing a drying-up of the cell, and the downstream portion of the catalyst layer has a structure for preventing a flooding of the cell. A structure of the diffusion layer also may differ between at the upstream portion and at the downstream portion.

Fuel cell

A device and a method for simply and accurately evaluating-performance of fuel cells have been provided. Hydrogen gas and carbon monoxide gas are caused to flow into a sample holder where an electrode catalyst sample is laid, and the amount of carbon monoxide gas discharged therefrom is detected. The amount of carbon monoxide gas adsorbed by the electrode catalyst sample is calculated based on the amount of supplied carbon monoxide gas and the amount of detected carbon monoxide gas. The output voltage of a fuel cell is calculated based on a correlation between calculated amounts of carbon monoxide gas adsorbed by the electrode catalyst and output voltages of the fuel cell.

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR EVALUATING PERFORMANCE OF FUEL CELLS, DEVICE AND METHOD FOR EVALUATING SPECIFIC SURFACE AREA OF FUEL-CELL ELECTRODE CATALYSTS, FUEL-CELL ELECTRODE CATALYST, AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME

The present invention is directed to a fuel reformer device that produces a hydrogen rich gas from a hydrocarbon and steam. The steam reforming reaction that produces the hydrogen rich gas from the hydrocarbon and steam is endothermic. A known technique supplies heat required for the steam reforming reaction by an exothermic oxidation reaction proceeding in parallel with the steam reforming reaction. This known technique may, however, cause an excessive temperature rise in an area of the vigorous oxidation reaction in the fuel reformer device. A reformer unitincluding a Cu&#x2014;Zn catalyst receives a supply of a crude fuel gas containing the air flown through a second fuel supply conduit. The crude fuel gas is subjected to the steam reforming reaction and the oxidation reaction proceeding inside the reformer unit. A resulting hydrogen rich gaseous fuel is discharged to a third fuel supply conduit. The reformer unitincludes an upper stream reaction unitand a lower stream reaction unit. Both the reaction unitsandhave honeycomb structures, wherein the total sectional area of the flow path in the upper stream reaction unitis made smaller than the total sectional area of the flow path in the lower stream reaction unit. This arrangement causes the gas flowing through the reformer unitto have the higher flow velocity on the upstream side than on the downstream side. The higher flow velocity on the upstream side extends the area of the vigorous oxidation reaction to the lower stream portion and enables the heat generated on the upstream side to be effectively transmitted to the lower stream portion. This arrangement thus effectively prevents an excessive temperature rise on the upstream side.

Fuel reformer device

A fuel-cell electrode and a method of manufacturing the fuel-cell electrode achieves a high catalyst utilization ratio and makes it possible to obtain higher output characteristics with a smaller amount of catalyst. The fuel-cell electrode includes a catalytic layer composed of an ion conductive substance, an electron conductive substance and catalytic activation substances. The catalytic activation substances are electrolytically deposited on the electron conductive substance.

Fuel-cell electrode and method of manufacturing the fuel-cell electrode

A polymer electrolyte fuel cell includes a high-temperature portion and a low-temperature portion in a cell plane. The fuel cell includes an oxidant gas passage where an oxidant gas flows. An oxidant gas flow is directed from the high-temperature portion to the low-temperature portion of the cell so that water generated during operation recirculates in the oxidant gas passage to permit self-humidification of the fuel cell.

A device and a method for simply and accurately evaluating performance of fuel cells have been provided. Hydrogen gas and carbon monoxide gas are caused to flow into a sample holder where an electrode catalyst sample is laid, and the amount of carbon monoxide gas discharged therefrom is detected. The amount of carbon monoxide gas adsorbed by the electrode catalyst sample is calculated based on the amount of supplied carbon monoxide gas and the amount of detected carbon monoxide gas. The output voltage of a fuel cell is calculated based on a correlation between calculated amounts of carbon monoxide gas adsorbed by the electrode catalyst and output voltages of the fuel cell.

A paste-like ink is prepared by dissolving camphor in an alcoholic solvent and dispersing fine carbon particles with a catalyst carried thereon in the solvent (step S ). A sheet-like electrode-forming member is formed on an electrolyte membrane by screen printing the paste-like ink thus obtained (step S ). The electrode-forming member is dried at 80&deg; C. for one hour, in order to deposit camphor included in the electrode-forming member as a pore-forming agent (step S ). The electrode-forming member and the electrolyte membrane are joined with each other by hot pressing (step S ). The joint body of the electrode-forming member and the electrolyte membrane is dried under vacuum at 80&deg; C. for three hours, in order to sublimate and remove camphor depositing in the electrode-forming member (step S ). This gives an electricity-generating layer that is a joint body of an electrode having a plurality of pores and the electrolyte membrane. The manufacturing process of the invention thus gives a joint body of an electrode having sufficient gas permeability and electrical conductivity and an electrolyte membrane.

Method of manufacturing electrode or electrode-electrolyte membrane joint body for fuel cell and electrode for fuel cell

The invention improves operability in forming a catalyst electrode, and improves performance of a fuel cell. A catalyst-loaded carbon is dispersed in a mixed solution of an azeotropic solvent and ion exchanged water. An electrolyte solution is added to the dispersed solution. A solvent, such as ethanol or the like, is added to adjust the viscosity and the water content of the solution, thereby providing an electrode catalyst solution. The use of the obtained solution as an ink for forming a catalyst layer through printing improves printing characteristic and drying characteristic.

Fuel cell electrode catalyst solution and production method therefor

Two electrodes contact an electrolyte membrane on both sides of the electrolyte membrane and each electrode contacts each separator on the other side of the electrode. An electrochemical fuel cell comprises a plurality of unit cells which comprise the electrolyte membrane, the electrode, and the separator. The electrode comprises a catalyst layer and a gas diffusion layer. The gas diffusion layer comprises an inner layer and an outer layer. The catalyst layer contacts the electrolyte membrane. The inner layer is interposed between the catalyst layer and the outer layer. The outer layer of the gas diffusion layer contacts the inner layer on the inner side and the separator on the outer side. Since the gas diffusion layer is formed as a double-layer structure which includes the inner layer having low electric resistance and close and fine structure made of carbon powder and the porous outer layer having a high water repellency, a gas diffusion ability, a water repellency, an electric collection ability of the electrode can be improved.

Electrode for fuel cell and a method for producing the electrode

A fuel-cells system 20 is equipped with an oxygen enrichment unit 34 and supplies air whose oxygen partial pressure has been increased by the oxygen enrichment unit 34 to fuel cells 40 as oxidizing gas. The oxygen enrichment unit 34 is a magnetic oxygen enrichment device that effects oxygen enrichment utilizing the fact that the oxygen molecule is paramagnetic and when magnetized migrates toward a magnetic pole side. Specifically, a magnetic field is generated inside the oxygen enrichment unit 34 by an electromagnet, air compressed by a compressor unit 32 is supplied to the oxygen enrichment unit 34, and compressed oxygen-enriched air is discharged from the vicinity of the magnetic poles in the oxygen enrichment unit 34 and supplied to the fuel cells 40.

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Toyota, Japan

Tatsuya Kawahara