Nissan Motor Company Limited

Ford Motor Company Limited

Daimler Ag

Nhk Spring Co., Ltd.

Yosuke Fukuyama

Takeshi Shiomi

Keita Iritsuki

Norihiro Tajima

Richard Fellows

Yusuke Terada

Michael Procter

Kazuyuki Sato

Motoki Yaginuma

Mari Kawabuchi

Atsushi Miyazawa

Nobuo Kino

Motoharu Obika

Kenji Kanamori

Hiroshi Miyaoka

Dong Song

Haruhiko Shibayama

Laura Iwan

Koshi Takata

Shiomi Takeshi

An attachment structure for a deformation absorption member of a fuel-cell-stack includes a first raised piece raised from one surface of a base material in a grid pattern, and having an extension portion extending from a proximal end, the extension portion abutting at least one of the cathode side separator or the anode side separator, a second raised piece having a proximal end, and a joint portion formed by partially joining a location between the proximal end of the first raised piece and the proximal end of the second raised piece, proximal end of the first raised piece being adjacent the proximal end of the second raised piece in a second direction that intersects a first direction taken from the proximal end of the first raised piece to an extension portion side, to the at least one of the anode side separator and the cathode side separator.

Attachment structure for deformation absorption member and attachment method

A solid oxide fuel cell includes a metal support cell, in which an anode layer containing nickel, an electrolyte layer and a cathode layer are stacked on a metal support portion. In the method for activating the anode layer in the solid oxide fuel cell, first, an oxygen-containing gas is introduced into the anode layer to oxidize the nickel. Next, a hydrogen-containing gas HG is introduced into the anode layer to reduce the nickel oxide formed by oxidizing the nickel, and to increase conduction paths of the nickel that electrically connect the electrolyte layer to the metal support part in the anode layer.

Anode layer activation method for solid oxide fuel cell, and solid oxide fuel cell system

A cell unit CU includes a cell structure, a metal support platedisposed on one side surface of the cell structure, and a frameholding an outer peripheral part of the support plate. The cell structurehas a lamination of an anode electrode layer, an electrolyte layer, and a cathode electrode layer, in this order. The frameincludes a displacement guideat least on one side surface of the frame. The displacement guidehas a coefficient of thermal expansion that is different from that of the frameand is configured to make the framecurve so that the cell structureis concaved in accompany with thermal expansion. In the cell unit CU, a risk of concentration of tensile stress on the electrolyte layerat the time of thermal expansion during operation is removed without reducing the strength of the frame, whereby occurrence of a crack and the like in the electrolyte layercan be prevented beforehand.

Cell unit

A control method for a fuel cell system that includes a solid oxide fuel cell configured to generate power upon receipt of supply of an anode gas and a cathode gas includes an anode protection execution determination process of performing execution determination of an anode protection process of applying a predetermined protection current to the fuel cell in order to restrain catalyst oxidation in an anode of the fuel cell. In the anode protection execution determination process, an internal impedance of the fuel cell at an anode response frequency at which an anode reaction resistance of the fuel cell is detectable is acquired, and based on the internal impedance at the anode response frequency, whether the anode protection process is to be executed or not is determined.

Control method for fuel cell system, and fuel cell system

Methods are disclosed for starting up a fuel cell system from starting temperatures below 0&#xb0; C. The methods apply to systems comprising a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack whose cathodes comprise an oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalyst and whose anodes comprise both a hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) catalyst and an oxidation evolution reaction (OER) catalyst. In the methods, from the beginning of starting up until the fuel cell temperature reaches 0&#xb0; C., the fuel cell stack current is kept sufficiently low such that the current density drawn does not exceed the stack's capability for the oxidation evolution and the oxygen reduction reactions to occur at the anode and cathode respectively (i.e. current density drawn is less than the stack's maximum OER/ORR current density).

Below freezing start-up method for fuel cell system

The manufacturing method of the present invention is to manufacture a fuel cell stack by heating a stack of fuel cell single cells each of which includes organic substance-containing inorganic sealing members, a separator, an anode electrode, an electrolyte and a cathode electrode. The organic substance in the organic substance-containing inorganic sealing members is removed by heating the stack while supplying an oxygen-containing gas to fuel channels on the anode electrode side and externally applying an electric current so as to migrate charges from the anode electrode to the cathode electrode.

Method for manufacturing fuel cell stack

A fuel cell stack has a stacked plurality of single cells. Each of the single cells has a membrane electrode assembly, and a pair of separators sandwiching the membrane electrode assembly therebetween. A cooling fluid channel where a cooling fluid flows is formed between adjacent single cells. The fuel cell stack further comprises a displacement absorbing member disposed in the cooling fluid channel to absorb a displacement between the single cells. The displacement absorbing member comprises a channel flow resistance reduction structure that reduces a channel flow resistance of the cooling fluid channel against the cooling fluid.

Fuel cell stack having a displacement absorbing member disposed in a cooling fluid channel

Improved methods are disclosed for shutting down and storing a fuel cell system, particularly for below freezing temperature conditions. The methods comprise stopping power production from the fuel cell stack, monitoring its temperature, and repeatedly performing a predetermined warming operation if the stack temperature falls to a normal threshold temperature. In the improved methods, either an initial threshold temperature and/or an initial warming operation are used that differ from the respective normal threshold temperature and the predetermined warming operation.

Shutdown and storage method for fuel cell system at below freezing temperatures

A deformation absorption member for a fuel-cell-stack disposed between an anode side separator and a cathode side separator. The deformation absorption member includes a thin-board-like base material, and a plurality of raised pieces in which extension portions extended from proximal ends are arranged in a grid pattern. Each raised piece of the plurality of raised pieces is formed in a non-rectangular shape in which the width of the extension portion is shorter than the width of the proximal end, and plurality of raised pieces are configured so that the directions of the extension portions of mutually adjacent raised pieces are alternately arranged, and positions of the proximal ends of the mutually adjacent raised pieces are arranged in at least overlapping positions.

Deformation absorption member and fuel cell

Methods and systems are provided for cold-start of fuel cell stack in fuel cell vehicles. In one example, a method may include in response to cold-start of fuel cell vehicle, limiting the load drawn from the fuel cell stack. In addition, a coolant pump may be operated at a higher rate through a bypass loop to get heat quickly to the fuel cell stack to increase the solubility of water in the fuel cell stack to prevent ice formation. The net effect is that the fuel cell stack is then operated within the ice capacity of the membrane, and start-up at lower temperatures is possible without experiencing an intermittent performance drop due to active area freezing. Once the fuel cell stack is sufficiently warmed up, the coolant pump rate and fuel cell stack may be adjusted according to the demand.

Method for cold-start of fuel cell stack

Improved methods are disclosed for shutting down and storing a fuel cell system, particularly for below freezing temperature conditions. The methods comprise stopping power production from the fuel cell stack, monitoring the amount of energy remaining in an energy supply, monitoring the stack temperature, and repeatedly performing a predetermined warming operation if the stack temperature falls to a normal threshold temperature and if the amount of energy remaining exceeds a certain minimum amount. In the improved methods, when the amount of remaining energy is less than or equal to the minimum amount, a final warming operation is performed that differs from the predetermined warming operation.

A fuel-cell-stack manufacturing method, includes arranging an extension portion extended from a proximal end of a raised piece on one surface of a base material disposed so as to abut at least one of a cathode side separator and the anode side separator, and setting an interval between the anode side separator and the cathode side separator along a lamination direction so that deformation of the raised piece exceeds an elastic deformation region and enters a plastic deformation region, and is also in a region in which the proximal end moved due to the deformation does not come in contact with the cathode side separator or the anode side separator.

Fuel-cell-stack manufacturing method and fuel-cell-stack

A fuel cell stack is formed by stacking unit cells and each unit cell is formed by sandwiching a membrane electrode assembly between a pair of separators having depression parts and protrusion parts. A cooling liquid flow space is formed between the unit cells, and a displacement absorption member which absorbs displacement between the unit cells C is disposed in the flow space. The displacement absorption member includes a spring function part having a free end and a fixed end, and an intrusion prevention means which prevents the free end of the spring function part from intruding into the depression part. A displacement absorption function between the unit cells is well maintained, while size reduction of the fuel cell stack is achieved.

Fuel cell stack

A single fuel cell, a plurality of which are to be stacked to form a fuel cell stack, includes a membrane electrode assembly having a structure including paired electrode layers and an electrolyte membrane held between the paired electrode layers, paired separators each forming a gas passage between the separator and the membrane electrode assembly, and a displacement absorber having a conductive property and interposed between one separator of the single fuel cell and an adjacent-side separator of another single fuel cell to be stacked adjacent to the single fuel cell. The displacement absorber is connected to at least any one of the separators.

Single fuel cell, fuel cell stack, and method of manufacturing fuel cell stack

A fuel cell stack has a plurality of laminated cell units, with each of the cell units including a membrane electrode assembly sandwiched between two separators, and cooling fluid passage channels are formed between each adjacent cell units for flowing cooling fluid. Displacement absorbing members have a plurality of displacement absorbing projections that absorb displacement along a laminated direction of the cell unit and are provided in the cooling fluid passage channels. The displacement absorbing projections of the displacement absorbing members are disposed so as to cancel out any bending moments generated on the cell unit.

Growing community of inventors

Kanagawa, Japan

Yosuke Fukuyama