A fuel cell system installed in a vehicle includes: a fuel cell; a secondary battery; a load including a drive motor and an air compressor; a fuel cell converter; a secondary battery converter; a failure detection unit; a first state determination unit; a reverse rotation detection unit; and a control unit. The control unit performs a limp-home traveling control that supplies electric power from the secondary battery to the drive motor when the secondary battery converter fails. When the vehicle is not in the first state, the control unit prohibits regeneration of the drive motor. When the vehicle is in the first state, the control unit supplies a reaction current to the air compressor. When the reaction current is applied and a reverse rotation of the air compressor is detected, the control unit does not apply the reaction current thereafter.

A power generation control system includes a plurality of fuel cell systems mounted in an electric device that operates using electric power, a battery mounted in the electric device, and a control device configured to control each of the plurality of fuel cell systems on the basis of states of the plurality of fuel cell systems, a state of the battery, and required power of the plurality of fuel cell systems.

A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell; a target operating point determination unit that determines a warm-up target operating point based on a required electric power amount during warm-up and a required heat generation amount during warm-up; an operation control unit; and a failure state identification unit that identifies whether an electric power consumption device that operates by consuming generated electric power generated by the fuel cell has failed. When a failure of the electric power consumption device is identified, the target operating point determination unit determines an operating point that satisfies a required electric power amount during a failure that is set to be smaller than the required electric power amount during the warm-up and a required heat generation amount during the failure that is set to be smaller than the required heat generation amount during the warm-up as a target operating point during the failure.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for the localized capture, storage and specialized use of power generated from natural sources, such as solar power or hydropower. The apparatus can be used, for example, or in or near commercial or residential buildings, vehicles, marine vessels, a wind farm turbine tower, or in a solar park or photovoltaic power station, or anywhere there is a requirement for localized power generation, localized storage and wider distribution of power.

A device for converting biomass into a redox mediator in reduced form, including an assembly of microbial fuel cells including a first compartment including an anode and fermentative microorganisms and electroactive microorganisms, and a second compartment including a cathode and a solution including the mediator, and an external resistor connecting the cathode and the anode. The value of the external resistance of at least one microbial fuel cell is distinct from that of at least one other microbial fuel cell. The device thus makes it possible to induce segregation of fermentative microorganisms and electroactive microorganisms along the assembly.

This specification describes a system and method for controlling the voltage produced by a fuel cell. The system involves providing a bypass line between an air exhaust from the fuel cell and an air inlet of the fuel cell. At least one controllable device is configured to allow the flow rate through the bypass line to be altered. A controller is provided to control the controllable device. The method involves varying the rate of recirculation of air exhaust to air inlet so as to provide a desired change in fuel cell voltage.

Disclosed is an apparatus and method for generating hydrogen from water and recycled soft metals (e.g., used empty aluminum beverage cans). The generated hydrogen can be used as an energy source, for example to power hydrogen fuel cell powered automobiles or to generate electricity for an electrical power grid. The apparatus has a size and weight allowing it to be used where the recycled metal cans are generated, and is suitable for use as a home appliance.

Disclosed is an apparatus and method for generating hydrogen from water and recycled soft metals (e.g., used empty aluminum beverage cans). The generated hydrogen can be used as an energy source, for example to power hydrogen fuel cell powered automobiles or to generate electricity for an electrical power grid. The apparatus has a size and weight allowing it to be used where the recycled metal cans are generated, and is suitable for use as a home appliance.

Battery systems, methods of in-situ grid-scale battery construction, and in-situ battery regeneration methods are disclosed. The battery system features controllable capacity regeneration for grid-scale energy storage. The battery system includes a battery comprising a plurality of cells. Each cell includes a cathode comprising cathode electrode materials disposed on a first current collector, an anode comprising anode electrode materials disposed on a second current collector, a separator or spacer disposed between the cathode and the anode an electrolyte to fill the battery in the spaces between electrodes. The battery system includes a battery system controller, wherein the battery system controller is configured to selectively charge and discharge the battery at a normal cutoff voltage and wherein the battery system controller is further configured to selectively charge and discharge the battery at a capacity regeneration voltage as part of a healing reaction to generate active electrode materials.

A carbon monoxide (CO) tolerant membrane electrode assembly (MEA) includes an ionically-conductive proton exchange membrane, an anode contacting a first side of the membrane and including a hydrophobic bonding agent, an ionomer bonding agent, first catalyst particles, second catalyst particles, and an anode gas diffusion layer (GDL), a cathode contacting a second side of the membrane and including a cathode GDL. The first catalyst particles are configured to preferentially catalyze oxidation of CO, and the second catalyst particles are configured to preferentially catalyze generation of hydrogen ions.