A redox flow battery includes a cell stack formed by stacking a plurality of battery cells, a positive electrolyte circulation mechanism configured to circulate a positive electrolyte in the cell stack, and a negative electrolyte circulation mechanism configure l to circulate a negative electrolyte in the cell stack. The redox flow battery includes a pressure difference forming mechanism that makes one of a pressure loss in a positive pipeline included in the positive electrolyte circulation mechanism and a pressure loss in a negative pipeline included in the negative electrolyte circulation mechanism greater than the other so that, when the positive electrolyte and the negative electrolyte are circulated in the cell stack, a pressure difference state is created where there is a difference between the pressures of the positive and negative electrolytes acting on a separation membrane included in each battery cell.

The present invention relates to a sensor device (10) for a fuel cell system (100) for determining a purging parameter (SP) for controlling a purging process of the fuel cell system (100), comprising a first flow channel (20) for arranging in an anode feed section (122) of an anode section (120) of a fuel cell stack (110) and a second flow channel (130) for arranging in a recirculation section (126) of the anode section (120) of the fuel cell stack (110), which are separated from each other, at least in sections, by means of a gas-tight membrane (40), wherein the membrane (40) is designed to be permeable for protons and has an electrode section (42, 44) on both sides, as well as comprising a measuring device (50) for determining a fuel concentration difference between the first flow channel (20) and the second flow channel (30) as a purging parameter (SP) based on an electrical voltage between the two electrode sections (42, 44).

The present invention relates to a sensor device (10) for a fuel cell system (100) for determining a purging parameter (SP) for controlling a purging process of the fuel cell system (100), comprising a first flow channel (20) for arranging in an anode feed section (122) of an anode section (120) of a fuel cell stack (110) and a second flow channel (130) for arranging in a recirculation section (126) of the anode section (120) of the fuel cell stack (110), which are separated from each other, at least in sections, by means of a gas-tight membrane (40), wherein the membrane (40) is designed to be permeable for protons and has an electrode section (42, 44) on both sides, as well as comprising a measuring device (50) for determining a fuel concentration difference between the first flow channel (20) and the second flow channel (30) as a purging parameter (SP) based on an electrical voltage between the two electrode sections (42, 44).

A fuel cell module includes a stack including a plurality of fuel cells stacked together, at least one dummy cell in contact with the stack at an end portion of the stack in a stacking direction, a reactant gas supply path configured to supply a reactant gas that is either a fuel gas or an oxidant gas to the fuel cells and the dummy cell, and a reactant gas discharge path in communication with the fuel cells and the dummy cell. The fuel cells and the dummy cell each include a reactant gas flow path configured to cause the reactant gas from the reactant gas supply path to flow toward the reactant gas discharge path. Pressure loss of the reactant gas flow path of the dummy cell is smaller than pressure loss of the reactant gas flow path of the fuel cells.

Provided is a catalyst for electrode that has excellent catalytic activity and that is capable of contributing toward lower PEFC costs. This catalyst for electrode includes: a hollow carbon support having nanopores with a pore diameter of 1 to 20 nm; and a plurality of catalyst particles supported on the support. The catalyst particles are supported both inside and outside the nanopores of the support, are composed of (zerovalent) Pt, and when analysis of the particle size distribution of the catalyst particles is performed using three-dimensional, reconstructed images obtained through STEM-based electron tomography measurement, the percentage of catalyst particles supported inside the nanopores is 50% or more.

Provided is a catalyst for electrode that has excellent catalytic activity and that is capable of contributing toward lower PEFC costs. This catalyst for electrode includes: a hollow carbon support having nanopores with a pore diameter of 1 to 20 nm; and a plurality of catalyst particles supported on the support. The catalyst particles are supported both inside and outside the nanopores of the support, are composed of (zerovalent) Pt, and when analysis of the particle size distribution of the catalyst particles is performed using three-dimensional, reconstructed images obtained through STEM-based electron tomography measurement, the percentage of catalyst particles supported inside the nanopores is 50% or more.

A fuel cell device has a mounting plate on which a fuel cell unit having a predefined number of fuel cells is arranged, the mounting plate and the fuel cell unit comprising media connections for guiding media, in particular for guiding a coolant and for guiding reactants, and electrical contact points for electrically connecting the fuel cell unit to the mounting plate. Further media connections and further electrical contact points are designed or arranged on the fuel cell unit in such a way that the fuel cell unit can be connected or is connected to a second fuel cell unit with a mechanical fluid connection for further guidance of the media and electrical connection for power uptake.

A fuel cell includes a cell stacked body and a manifold. The cell stacked body has elements stacked, each element having: a fuel electrode and an oxidant electrode between which the electrolyte membrane is interposed; a fuel electrode flow channel plate; and an oxidant electrode flow channel plate. The manifold is provided on a lateral surface, of the cell stacked body, along a stacking direction of the cell stacked body and feeds a reaction gas to the fuel electrode flow channel plate or the oxidant electrode flow channel plate. The manifold includes a gas flow channel part that is provided between a plurality of the cell stacked bodies arranged to line up in a first direction perpendicular to the stacking direction and that allows communication between the cell stacked bodies such that the reaction gas passes through.

A cell stack device includes cells, a metal member containing chromium, a covering layer, and a bonding material. The cells include a first cell and the cells includes respective element portions. The covering layer covers the metal member. The bonding material is positioned between the first cell and the covering layer. The cell stack device satisfies any one of (1) The covering layer includes at least two portions having different thicknesses or different surface roughnesses at different positions. (2) A surface roughness of the covering layer is different from that of the metal member. (3) At least one element selected from the group consisting of Mn, Ti, Ca, and Al is positioned at the interface between the metal member and the covering layer, and the content ratio of the at least one element at the interface is different from that of the metal member or the covering layer.

A proton exchange membrane fuel cell includes an anode catalyst layer, a cathode catalyst layer, a proton exchange membrane separating the anode catalyst layer from the cathode catalyst layer, an oxygen inlet configured to supply oxygen to the cathode catalyst layer, and a hydrogen inlet separate from the oxygen inlet and configured to supply hydrogen to the anode catalyst layer. The fuel cell is operable to convert the hydrogen from the hydrogen inlet to hydrogen ions at the anode catalyst layer and to produce an H2O byproduct at the cathode catalyst layer where the oxygen reacts with the hydrogen ions. The fuel cell includes a water outlet for the H2O byproduct that is separate from the oxygen inlet.