PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an evaluation device for a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) that allows operation tests on a plurality of DMFCs to be performed simultaneously in a small space with stability, at low cost and conveniently. SOLUTION: The evaluation device 10 is provided for performing operation tests on a plurality of DMFCs 11 simultaneously, each of the DMFCs 11 comprising a liquid inlet 14 for letting in a mixture of methanol and water, a liquid outlet 16 for letting out the mixture after the reaction, an air inlet 22, an air outlet 25, and an output terminal 19 for outputting electric power generated. The evaluation device 10 comprises: a thermostatic chamber 12 for placing a plurality of the DMFCs 11 in a side-by-side arrangement therein; a quantified liquid supply means 15 for supplying water and methanol in a predetermined ratio to the liquid inlet 14 of each of the DMFCs 11; a liquid discharge means 17 connected to the liquid outlet 16 of each of the DMFCs 11; a humidified air supply means 18 for supplying humidified air to each of the DMFCs 11 placed in the thermostatic chamber 12; a gas discharge means 56a connected to the air outlet 25 of each of the DMFCs 11; and an electronic load 20 coupled to the output terminal 19 of each of the DMFCs 11. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Evaluation device for direct methanol fuel cell

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a gas supply control device and a gas supply control method by which the state of supplied gas given to a fuel cell can be controlled effectively. SOLUTION: The gas supply control device is provided with a gas supply part which is a supply source of a certain amount of a fuel gas and an oxidizer gas necessary for power generation of a fuel cell, a gas flow-rate control part which controls the dry gas flow-rate of the fuel gas and oxidizer gas, a gas flow-rate control part which controls the wet gas flow-rate of the fuel gas and oxidizer gas, a humidifying part which humidifies the gas transferred from the wet gas flow-rate control part, a mixing part which mixes the gas transferred from the dry gas flow-rate control part and the gas transferred from the humidifying part, a dew point measuring part which measures the dew point of the gas transferred from the humidifying part to the mixing part, and a humidifying temperature control part which controls water temperatures of the humidifying part based on the measurement result by the dew point measuring part. Since the production ratio of the dry gas and wet gas is controlled by the gas flow-rate control part and the another gas flow-rate control part, the dew point temperature of the supplied gas can be controlled appropriately without fluctuating the supply quantity of the supplied gas. COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Gas supply control device and gas supply control method

A fuel-cell evaluation equipment includes a gas passageway for supplying gas to a fuel cell and a thermostat adapted to accommodate the fuel cell, wherein the gas passageway includes a first temperature regulator adapted to regulate the temperature of gas and a humidity regulator adapted to regulate the humidity of the gas. A thermostatic chamber of the thermostat regulates an inner temperature in the chamber according to a test condition. The thermostatic chamber is provided with a second temperature regulator into which gas flowing in the gas passageway flows. The gas flowing in the gas passageway is supplied to the fuel cell after heat exchange by the second temperature regulator.

Fuel-cell evaluation equipment

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a humidifier which can detect a possibility that a heating means is damaged or failed in accordance with scale deposition or the like before it happens, a gas supplier, and a fuel cell evaluation testing apparatus. SOLUTION: An FC evaluation testing apparatus has a humidifier 23 on the way of a gas passage placed for supplying a gas. A control means for the FC evaluation testing apparatus confirms if an overload rating exceeds a predetermined threshold value, where the overload rating is introduced on the basis of a theoretical output which a water temperature detection sensor 42 and a vapor temperature detection sensor 44 determine uniquely, and a real output which is necessary to humidify the gas to a predetermined dew temperature with the humidifier 23. If the control means for the FC evaluation testing apparatus detects a fact that the overload rating exceeds the predetermined threshold value, the control means decides that a heater 41 is overloaded, and outputs an alarm signal. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Humidifier, gas supplier, and fuel cell evaluation testing apparatus

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a dew point controller and a dew point control method for humidifying gas for controlling a dew point of humidifying gas continuously and quickly. SOLUTION: This dew point controller 10 for humidifying gas is provided with a heat exchanger 40 provided on the downstream side of an evaporation part 15 for manufacturing humidifying gas to control a dew point of humidifying gas. The heat exchanger 40 has a quick adjusting means 49 for mixing mist into gas being a heat medium. In this dew point control method for humidifying gas by use of the dew point controller 10 for humidifying gas, rise of temperature of passing humidifying gas is detected to mix mist into gas being the heat medium. When temperature of humidifying gas rises temporarily, mist is mixed into gas to reduce temperature of humidifying gas instantaneously and control a dew point continuously and quickly. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Dew point controller and dew point control method for humidifying gas

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable to realize stable moisture control and a quick response and to operate with little energy. SOLUTION: As for the gas feeder for an evaluation test of a fuel cell with a humidification device, a dew point of gas to be supplied to the fuel cell can be altered arbitrarily. A flow amount control valve (3), a gas heater (4), a mixer (5), and a supply gas temperature adjusting device are arranged at a gas supply path (1) to the fuel cell in that order. An superheated steam generator (7) is communicated with and connected to the mixer (5) via a steam flow amount control valve (8). COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Yoshioka Tamotsu

Papers

Gas feeder for evaluation testing of fuel cell