Abstract: A method for producing electrical energy in a combined energy generation plant which comprises an air treatment unit and a power station unit is proposed. In a first operating mode, air is liquefied to form an air liquefaction product and, in a second operating mode, an air liquefaction product is converted into a gaseous or supercritical state, in which said product is introduced into the power station unit and is used for producing electrical energy. In a third operating mode, air is condensed in the air treatment unit and used in the power station unit directly for producing electrical energy. It is envisaged that, in the first operating mode, the air is cooled to several temperature levels by two liquid coolants and the air liquefaction product is correspondingly heated. In addition, in the first operating mode, the air is condensed stepwise over several pressure levels.

Abstract: A furnace for steam reforming a feed stream containing hydrocarbon, preferably methane, having: a combustion chamber, a plurality of reactor tubes arranged in the combustion chamber for accommodating a catalyst and for passing the feed stream through the reactor tubes, and at least one burner which is configured to burn a combustion fuel in the combustion chamber to heat the reactor tubes. In addition at least one voltage source is provided which is connected to the plurality of reactor tubes in such a manner that in each case an electric current which heats the reactor tubes to heat the feedstock is generable in the reactor tubes.

Abstract: A method and device for generating electrical energy in a combined system of power plant, cold storage system and air compression system. The air compression system has a primary air compressor for generating a primary compressed air flow at a first pressure level. The power plant has a combustion unit which operates at a second pressure level and generates a combustion gas from which electrical energy is generated. The cold storage system has means for generating cold from compressed air, means for storing cold thus produced and means for generating a compressed air flow at the second pressure level using the stored cold. In a first operating mode (charging mode), a first compressed air flow is introduced from the air compression system into the cold storage system to charge the cold reservoir.

Abstract: A method and installation for storing and recovering energy, according to which a condensed air product is formed in an energy storage period, and in an energy recovery period, a pressure flow is formed and is expanded to produce energy using at least part of the condensed air product. For the formation of the condensed air product: the compression of air in an air conditioning unit, at least by means of at least one isothermally operated compressor device and the adsorptive cleaning of the air by means of at least one adsorptive cleaning device at a hyperbaric pressure level.

Abstract: A furnace for steam reforming a feed stream containing hydrocarbon, preferably methane, having: a combustion chamber, a plurality of reactor tubes arranged in the combustion chamber for accommodating a catalyst and for passing the feed stream through the reactor tubes, and at least one burner which is configured to burn a combustion fuel in the combustion chamber to heat the reactor tubes. In addition at least one voltage source is provided which is connected to the plurality of reactor tubes in such a manner that in each case an electric current which heats the reactor tubes to heat the feedstock is generable in the reactor tubes.

Abstract: A method for producing electrical energy in a combined energy generation plant which comprises an air treatment unit and a power station unit is proposed. In a first operating mode, air is liquefied to form an air liquefaction product (LAIR) and, in a second operating mode, an air liquefaction product is converted into a gaseous or supercritical state, in which said product is introduced into the power station unit and is used for producing electrical energy. In a third operating mode, air is condensed in the air treatment unit and used in the power station unit directly for producing electrical energy. It is envisaged that, in the first operating mode, the air is cooled to severa temperature levels by two liquid coolants and the air liquefaction product is correspondingy heated. In addition, in the first operating mode, the air is condensed stepwise over several pressure levels.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and plant for storage and recovery of energy using a combined plant that comprises a gas treatment unit and an energy generation unit, wherein in a first operating mode, a low-temperature gas liquefaction product is generated from compressed feed gas that is cooled in a heat-exchange system, and using the gas liquefaction product, a storage liquid is provided, and in a second operating mode, using the stored liquid, a low-temperature process liquid is provided that is warmed in the heat-exchange system, obtaining a pressurized fluid that is work-producingly expanded in the energy generation unit.

Abstract: A method and device for generating electrical energy in a combined system of power plant, cold storage system and air compression system. The air compression system has a primary air compressor for generating a primary compressed air flow at a first pressure level. The power plant has a combustion unit which operates at a second pressure level and generates a combustion gas from which electrical energy is generated. The cold storage system has means for generating cold from compressed air, means for storing cold thus produced and means for generating a compressed air flow at the second pressure level using the stored cold. In a first operating mode (charging mode), a first compressed air flow is introduced from the air compression system into the cold storage system to charge the cold reservoir.

Abstract: Method and device for manipulating at least one parameter of a vehicle and used to improve active and passive occupant safety. The vicinity of a vehicle being monitored for the occurrence of at least one relevant event. A vehicle interior being monitored for the actual position of at least one person (vehicle occupant). Signals corresponding to the event or the actual position being supplied to an evaluation unit upon the occurrence of the at least one relevant event and/or on detecting the actual position. The evaluation unit activating at least one active and/or passive safety system of the vehicle as a function of the at least one detected relevant event and the detected actual position of the at least one person.

Abstract: A device for detecting objects, persons or the like, including, for example, in the surroundings of a vehicle, has a stereo-sensitive image recording unit which includes at least two image sensors and an evaluation unit to evaluate the signals, supplied by the image sensors, using which, in a simple manner, a three-dimensional geometry of the surroundings of a vehicle is variably recordable at a desired operating range and at a desired viewing angle, and in which the optical axes of the image sensors are changeably alignable relative to each other and/or relative to vehicle.

Abstract: A device for detecting objects, persons or the like, including, for example, in the surroundings of a vehicle, has a stereo-sensitive image recording unit which includes at least two image sensors and an evaluation unit to evaluate the signals, supplied by the image sensors, using which, in a simple manner, a three-dimensional geometry of the surroundings of a vehicle is variably recordable at a desired operating range and at a desired viewing angle, and in which the optical axes of the image sensors are changeably alignable relative to each other and/or relative to vehicle.

Abstract: A method and a device for detecting an actual position of a person within a specifiable area are provided, which make it possible to improve the reliability, particularly in dynamic situations. The specifiable area is monitored using an image-recording device, and the recorded images are processed by an evaluation device. If a person is detected in the monitored area, at least one significant feature of the person is determined, the further analysis then being limited to this at least one significant feature, and if there is a relative change in position of this at least one significant feature beyond a specifiable minimum, an event signal is generated.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a sensor system which is used to detect and analyze objects in the path of a vehicle is described. In this method, characteristic data of the objects is detected with the sensor system, and data interpreted as stationary or quasi-stationary objects, taking into account the vehicle's own motion, is sent to a calibration unit. In the calibration unit, the deviation of the instantaneously measured data from data of a model of the objects is determined as the error vector and used for correcting the data of the model for the purpose of minimizing the deviation.

Abstract: Method and device for manipulating at least one parameter of a vehicle and used to improve active and passive occupant safety in a simple manner, the vicinity of a vehicle being monitored for the occurrence of at least one relevant event; a vehicle interior being monitored for the actual position of at least one person (vehicle occupant); signals corresponding to the event or the actual position being supplied to an evaluation unit (22) upon the occurrence of the at least one relevant event and/or on detecting the actual position; and the evaluation unit (22) activating at least one active and/or passive safety system of the vehicle (10) as a function of the at least one detected relevant event and the detected actual position of the at least one person.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a sensor system which is used to detect and analyze objects in the path of a vehicle is described. In this method, characteristic data of the objects is detected with the sensor system, and data interpreted as stationary or quasi-stationary objects, taking into account the vehicle's own motion, is sent to a calibration unit. In the calibration unit, the deviation of the instantaneously measured data from data of a model of the objects is determined as the error vector and used for correcting the data of the model for the purpose of minimizing the deviation.