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AssigneeHitachi, Ltd.
InventorsKen Takahashi, Mitsugu Nakabaru, Akira Tanaka, Osamu Kubota, Shinsuke Andoh
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The present invention aims at providing a fuel cell and a fuel cartridge in which a fuel contained in the fuel cartridge is determined to be appropriate for the fuel cell or not, and when it is appropriate, the connection of the fuel cartridge is mechanically made possible. A fuel cartridge for a fuel cell is provided with a specific member for distinguishing the methanol concentration of a contained methanol solution fuel according to the methanol concentration. Further, a fuel cell is provided with a concentration recognizing member for determining whether the member for distinguishing the fuel concentration provided at the fuel cartridge is the one for a desired concentration.
A fuel cartridge for a fuel cell to be mounted on a methanol type fuel cell, which comprises a container for containing methanol solution fuel and a concentration distinguishing member for distinguishing a methanol concentration of the methanol solution fuel, the member being provided at an outer face of the fuel cartridge.
A methanol type fuel cell to be equipped with a fuel cartridge containing a methanol solution fuel, which is provided at an outer face of the cartridge with a concentration distinguishing member for distinguishing a methanol concentration in the cartridge, wherein the fuel cell is provided with a concentration recognizing member for determining whether a fuel is accepted or not by recognizing the concentration distinguishing member.
A fuel cell power system comprising:
A method of mounting a fuel cartridge on a fuel cell wherein a fuel cartridge containing a methanol solution fuel is mounted on a methanol type fuel cell, wherein a concentration distinguishing member for distinguishing a methanol concentration of a methanol solution fuel contained in the fuel cartridge and a positioning member for positioning upon mounting to a fuel cell are provided at an outer face of the fuel cartridge, and a position fixing member for causing the positioning member to be mounted on a predetermined position and a concentration recognizing member for determining that the fuel supply is allowable when the methanol concentration of the methanol fuel solution is within a predetermined concentration range are provided at the fuel cartridge, wherein, when the fuel cartridge is mounted on the fuel cell, the concentration recognizing member recognizes the concentration distinguish member, whereby the fuel is supplied from the fuel cartridge to the fuel cell.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.