Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publications (KOKAI)

[Announcement]
“Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publications (KOKAI)”:
Provisional English translation of the KOKAI has been presented on my site (A1-KOHO)
The translation is under progress, and the translated KOKAI will be accumulatively added upon completion of its translation.
* Keyword: includes solid oxide fuel cell
* Int.Cl.:
* Searched: from 2011 to
* Gathered from JPO's database
* Contents of Table:
1) Title
2) Int.Cl.
3) Object (to provide)
4) Means to Achieve the Object
5) Related Drawing
You can read the JPO’s formal translation of the same after about 3 months from the date of the publication of the KOKAI.

JPO = Japanese Patent Office

Two Technical News：1) SOFC Electrolyte Operable at < 300 degrees C、2) Precise Doping Process

1) SOFC Electrolyte Operable at < 300 degrees C
In the oxide artificial superlattice having a multilayer structure consisting of atomic layers, those layers are selectively reduced and oxidized at lower than 300 degrees C.
The oxide artificial superlattice may be used also as a new oxygen storage material.
2) Precise Doping Process. The process is capable of controlling, as desired, the chemical compositions and the structure of the oxide nanosheet of 1 nm thick.
To read more, visit here.

Succeeds in manufacturing low-temp SOFC modules using micro-tube SOFC cells

The left photo is credited by AIST (Advanced Industrial Science And Technology).


Announcement
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SOFC module prototypes using micro-tube SOFC cells were successfully developed. Those SOFC modules operate at 650 degrees of centigrade or lower. A number of miro-tube SOFC cells were integrated into an SOFC unit (Fig. 2). Two SOFC units were combined to form an SOFC module. A total number of micro-tube SOFC cells used for the SOFC module was 90. The output power of the SOFC module was 50 watts or higher. The power generation efficiency was 40% or higher. The power generation density was 2 W/cm3.
Another SOFC module of 200 W output power was also manufactured using eight SOFC units (Fig. 3). The SOFC module, which consists of eight SOFC units, is considerably complex in structure. In this study, the gas manifolds and the current collecting electrodes were further assembled into such a complex integration structure.
Thus, the micro-tube SOFC cell high-density packaging technique for SOFC modules and its evaluation technique were successfully established.
The co-developer has a plan to apply the SOFC module of 200 W output power to APUs (auxiliary power units), small cogeneration systems, etc., and to evaluate the resultants. The results of this study will be presented in The Eleventh International Symposium on Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC-XI)、in Vienna, Austria from October 4-9, 2009

Co-developed by:
AIST (Advanced Industrial Science And Technology)
FCRA (fine ceramics research association)
NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd
TOHO Gas Co., Ltd.

SOFC is usually used for the large-scale power plant since its operation temperature is high (800-1000 degrees of centigrade). The SOFC has many advantages, for example, of high power generation efficiency, simple structure, and easy maintenance. With those advantages, there is a strong demand for development of small SOFC power generators. The SOFC modules using micro-tube SOFC cells developed this time will for sure satisfy the demand.
[Copyright by FuelCell japan]
The technical development for realizing small SOFC power generation systems is under progress. The SOFC modules, developed this time, are one of the development results and　may indicate the present level of the SOFC development. This technology is one of the watchful technologies
Source: AIST’s Press release issued on September 10, 2009

FC Chargers, Now Commercially Available from Aquafairy, and Micro SOFCs

Fuel cell chargers are now commercially available from Aquafairy Corporation in Japan. The chargers came on the market this April. The charger is one of the really commercialized fuel cell products, not many, and is the hot product.

Many medias have reported the FC charger. For its details, refer to the medias. The company’s website also presents the details of the product.

The product name of the charger is AF-M3000. The fuel cell used is of PEFC type. The output power of the charger is 3 W. The price is a little lower than 400 USD. Hydrogen as the fuel is generated in a simple manner that a cartridge containing hydrogen generating agent is set to the charger body and then water is injected into a water port of the charger body. The hydrogen generating agent is calcium hydride. In use, AF-M3000 as the charger is applied to a rechargeable-battery contained device, such as smart phones, mobile phones, mobile game machines, to charge the battery.

With regard to the hydrogen supplying system to the fuel cell system, the company has many useful technologies that have already been developed and are now being developed. Some of those technologies have been incorporated into the product, and other technologies will be incorporated into the same. Some important features are:
1) to on/off control the supply of hydrogen.
2) to control an amount of hydrogen to be produced in accordance with an amount of electric power used. In other words, the Aquafairy’s hydrogen supply control system is capable of controlling the power supply to a device (e.g., note PC) of which the load largely varies, while following up a large load variation. The control function will be incorporated into the charger next Spring.
3) To continuously supply hydrogen fuel to such a device that is operable at low power consumption for a long time. Necessity of the fuel replenishing operation and the recharging operation are completely removed, as a matter of course.

Development of micro SOFC (solid oxide fuel cell) is being actively made worldwide. This tendency is part of movement to replace PEFC with SOFC. The major reason for this is to use the SOFC having many advantages for the power sources of small devices such as mobile phones, note PCs, APU and residential CHP systems. As known, the SOFC is superior to the PEFC in that the power generation efficiency is high, the structure is simple, the durability is high, and a variety of fuels may be used for the fuel.

A company (Germany) has reached a stage where the micro SOFC is successfully assembled into the mobile phone. The SOFC unit used consists of an integration of ceramic tubular SOFC elements each being 3 mm in diameter and 4 to 5 cm in length. The output power of the SOFC unit is 1 W. The primary fuel of the micro SOFC is camping or lighter gas. At least two points are unknown to me. The first is the startup time of the SOFC unit. The second is how to technically deal with the considerably high temperature. The micro SOFC that is assembled into the mobile phone, when it is operating, must be at considerably high temperature.
[Copyright by FuelCell japan]

In Japan, the prototype of the micro SOFC was manufactured at the time of 2006. The prototype was at relatively high levels of performances and reached the stage of mass production. Tubular SOFC elements are integrated into a micro SOFC unit. Each tubular element is about 1 cm in length and 1.6 mm in diameter. The output power of the prototype was 0.17 to 1 W/cm2 at 450 to 570 degrees C. Ceria ceramics was used for the electrodes as well as the electrolyte. At this time, a micro SOFC prototype using tubular elements having 0.8 mm diameter was also manufactured successfully.

The technology levels of the micro SOFCs in Japan seems to be high enough when comparing with those in other countries, so far as I know. The micro SOFCs referred to here is the one developed in an initial stage of the development and had reached a mass production stage. In addition to the micro SOFCs referred to here, there are many other excellent micro-SOFC technologies, which had been developed up to mass production levels. I have never heard that those micro SOFCs have been practically used, however. I don’t understand the reason why any action has been taken to apply those developed SOFCs to practical devices, such as mobile phones and smart phones.

I wrote the blog in light of recent small fuel cells, although it was a casual idea popped up to my mind. I have a plan to write recent micro SOFCs mainly of Japan in the form of report. I am gathering materials for writing the report. The writing work isn’t going as well as I would like. I'm planning to go writing the report in English. I feel that a fewer number of publications on recent micro SOFC technologies in Japan have been presented to general pubic.
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I have recently formed the sub-site of Aquafairy Corporation in my website, FuelCell japan. If interested, please visit my website FuelCell japan.
In my website, please click “Companies & Products” on the top page, and then find “Aquafairy Corporation”.
I introduced the company in my blog FuelCell japan-1 about two years ago.

Titanium Oxide Solidified Body Absorbs and Stably Confines a Large Amount of Cesium

NIMS successfully created a new material being capable of absorbing high concentrations of cesium and stably confining the absorbed one for a long time.
A titanium dioxide （TiO2）was used as a solidified body to absorb cesium. The titanium oxide of 1 cm3 is capable of absorbing the amount of cesium contained in a cesium aqueous solution of 100 tons, which contains 10 ppb of cesium, and stably confining the same therein. The titanium oxide solidified body is throughout prepared under normal pressure.
This leads to size reduction and construction simplification of the disposal equipment when the titanium oxide solidified body is applied to the radioactive cesium disposal. Fukushima nuclear reactor accident still continues but the radiation leak is almost stopped. Cesium 137: Radioisotope of cesium, around 30 years as its half-life, emitting radiation, and high chance of suffering from cancer when it enters the body.
[Copyright by FuelCell japan: http://www.fcpat-japan.com/]
To learn more, visit HERE.

Micro SOFC Now in Japan

Development efforts are focused mainly on PEFC and SOFC now in Japan.
SOFC is superior to PEFC in that it is high in energy conversion efficiency, simple in construction, and high in durability, and further that it is operable with relatively many types of fuels.

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To learn more in English, feel free to contact at newene02"abc" fcpat-japan.com
Please replace "abc" with "@".
We don't accept free-mail addresses.
Please understand that our special circumstances cause us to do so.
FuelCell japan: http://www.fcpat-japan.com/

Photovoltaic/Storage Cell

Photovoltaic cell, it generates electricity responsive to sunlight, … in clean manner. The most serious drawback of the solar cell is that it can produce zero output power when light to the cell is zero or weak, … well, for example, at night, in rainy and cloudy days.

The output power drops to zero.
And the zero output power state continues for a long time.
I don’t want to use the word “variation” to express the power level changes.
I have felt for a long time that the solar cell device has been used quite luxuriously.

There are many ways to level the output power of the solar cell.
Its examples are combinations with secondary battery, fuel cell or the like.

A bold scheme is present to make full use of the solar cell.
A solar power generation station is located at such a place in the universe as to allow the station to constantly receive sunlight. Electric power from the station is transmitted to the earth by space propagation medium, e.g., microwave.
This is really an ideal power leveling approach.
I know that the United States has a plan to demonstration test the scheme in around 2015. This is a grand experiment.
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[Copyright by FuelCell japan: http://www.fcpat-japan.com/]
To learn more in English, feel free to contact at newene02"abc" fcpat-japan.com
Please replace "abc" with "@".
We don't accept free-mail addresses.
Please understand that our special circumstances cause us to do so.
FuelCell japan: http://www.fcpat-japan.com/