Abstract: A high-temperature fuel cell system and a method for its operation include at least one electrical heating element for heating at least one high-temperature fuel cell block. The heating element is disposed outside the high-temperature fuel cell block. As a result, the fuel cells are neither polluted nor damaged.

Abstract: It is presently customary in a high-temperature fuel-cell system to divide the cathode waste gas, in particular, into two subflows, of which one is recirculated again to the cathode and the other is removed for heat utilization. The bifurcation is carried out at relatively high technical costs at about the operating temperature of the fuel cell at the gas outlets themselves. In order to reduce that cost, the entire cathode waste gas is fed through a heat exchanger to a bifurcation having two branch pipes. The first branch pipe opens through an air addition point and the heat exchanger into the cathode and the second branch pipe opens into a temperature-increasing device. In this way, a bifurcation of the hot cathode waste gas is avoided and the heat of the entire cathode waste gas is used to heat the cathode waste gas subflow fed back into the cathode. The invention can preferably be used, in particular, for fuel cells having operating temperatures above 600.degree. C.

Abstract: Steam generator for a solar power plant, with an evaporator heating surface having a front side exposable to focused sun rays and a rear side adjacent a chamber, and burner means for supplying at least part of the heat required by the steam generator, the burner including a sintered-block slab operating as a reformed-gas generator, a burner plate disposed downstream of the sintered-block slab in flow direction of the gas, the burner plate being disposed immediately adjacent the rear side of the evaporator heating surface, and an air-permeable further heating surface for the steam generator disposed between the sintered-block slab and the burner plate.

Abstract: Refining of crude petroleum by fractionally distilling the crude into lighter cuts and distillate bottoms constituting more than 50% of the crude. Hydrogenating the distillate bottoms at a temperature above 700.degree. C. in a tubular reactor to produce saturated hydrocarbons, some gas and a solid carbonaceous material. Separating the solid material in a cyclone and returning the hydrogenated oil to the fractionating column. Passing the solid carbonaceous material by an extruder to a second tubular reactor in contact with a mixture at a temperature above 750.degree. C. of steam, 1 and 2 carbon atom gases, and combustion products containing O.sub.2 from a third cyclone. Discharging the reaction products containing unreacted carbonaceous material together with substantially no O.sub.2, production of H.sub.2 and increased amounts of CO and CO.sub.2 into a second cyclone. Separating the gaseous products from the solid, recovering H.sub.2 and passing it to the first reactor tube.

Abstract: Coal gasification apparatus having a hydrogenation gasifier chamber for gasifying a portion of coal charge and a steam gasifier vessel for gasifying unconverted coal from the hydrogenation chamber with the chamber disposed above the vessel and a pressure lock interposed between the outlet of the chamber and the inlet of the vessel to permit unconverted coal to flow into the vessel and prevent gas generated therein from passing into the chamber. An oxygen inlet is provided at the lower end of the vessel for residual-oxidation of remaining coal. A heat exchanger is provided for heat exchange between hot gas leaving vessel and incoming steam. The chamber may be preceded by a steam-heated heating tank for preheating the coal under pressure and then suddenly decompressing the coal.