Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel cell system comprising an insulation means for thermally insulating a first portion from a second portion, the first portion during operation of the fuel cell system generally being at a higher temperature level than the second portion and the insulation means comprising at least one leadthrough portion interfacing the first portion and second portion through which at least one component of the fuel cell system is led during operation of the fuel cell system in thus coming into thermal contact with the first portion and the second portion. In accordance with the invention it is provided for that at least part of the component is made of a material featuring a lower thermal conductivity than that of adjacent parts resulting in an insulation part and that the insulation part is sited at least partly within the leadthrough portion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel cells system (10) which comprises at least one heat-generating component (12 to 32) and at least one component (12, 14, 16) that uses process air. The invention is characterized in that ambient air (34) can be supplied to the heat-generating component, said air being heatable by the heat-generating component (12 to 32), and the air heated in said manner being supplied to the component (12, 14, 16) that uses process air. The invention also relates to a method for influencing the thermal balance of the fuel cell system according to the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel cell system (10) which comprises a reformer (12) having an oxidation zone (48) to which stored fuel can be supplied by means of a fuel supply device (50) for reaction with an oxidant; and an afterburner (36) having an oxidation zone (60) to which stored fuel can be supplied by means of a fuel supply device (62) for reaction with an oxidant. The invention is characterized in that the fuel supply device (50) of the reformer (12) and the fuel supply device (62) of the afterburner (36) are adapted to supply fuel in such a manner that the fuel supplied by the fuel supply device (50) of the reformer differs from the fuel supplied by the fuel supply device (62) of the afterburner (36) with respect to the type of fuel and/or its state of aggregation and/or the temperature at which it is supplied. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising said fuel cell system and to a method for operating said fuel cell system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a reformer (12) for a fuel cell system (10). Said reformer comprises an oxidation zone (48) to which stored fuel can be supplied by means of a primary fuel supply device (50; 62) for reaction with an oxidant; and a mixing zone (54), arranged downstream of the oxidation zone (48), to which stored fuel can be supplied by means of a secondary fuel supply device (56; 64) for mixing with substances originating from the oxidation zone (48). The invention is characterized in that the primary fuel supply device (50; 62) and the secondary fuel supply device (56; 64) are adapted to supply fuel in such a manner that the fuel supplied by the primary fuel supply device (50; 62) differs from the fuel supplied by the secondary fuel supply device (56; 64) with respect to the type of fuel and/or its state of aggregation and/or the pressure and/or the temperature at which it is supplied.

Abstract: The invention relates to a reformer system for generating a hydrogen-rich reformate comprising a reformer to which fuel and an oxidising agent can be supplied. According to the invention it is contemplated that the fuel supplied to the reformer is at least partly coolable by a fluid having other functions in addition to the function of cooling the fuel in the reformer system or a parent system into which the reformer system is integrated. The invention further relates to a method for generating a hydrogen-rich reformate as well as a fuel cell system comprising a reformer system according to the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to a SOFC stack with bipolar plates (5) for connecting the electrodes (3, 4) of two neighboring fuel cells having a ceramic electrolyte, where the bipolar plates (5) have one base plate (6) each, and connected to it, one or more contact elements (7) on one on both sides of the base plate (6). The bipolar plates are characterized in that the base plate (6) is rigid and gas-tight and the contact elements (7) are elastically or plastically deformable, and are arranged or implemented in such a way that they are permeable to gas perpendicularly to the plane of the base plate (6). The bipolar plates (5) mechanically stabilize the SOFC stack and ensure the reliable contacting of the electrodes (3, 4), wherein manufacturing tolerances of the electrodes (3, 4) and relative movements between the components of the stack are compensated by thermal expansion or creep processes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for determining the lambda value (?actual) of reformate provided for supply to a fuel cell stack, in which the no-load voltage across at least one fuel cell element is detected and evaluated for determining the lambda value (?actual). In accordance with the invention it is provided for that the at least one fuel cell element is a terminal fuel cell element of the fuel cell stack exclusively provided for sensing, and the voltage provided for at least one consumer can be picked off across the remaining fuel cell elements of the fuel cell stack. The invention relates furthermore to a process for lambda control of a reformer, a device for determining the lambda value, as well as to a system comprising a reformer for reacting at least fuel and air into reformate, and a fuel cell stack which is connected with the reformer for receiving reformate therefrom, the reformer being lambda-controlled.

Abstract: The invention relates to a reformer for a fuel cell system for generating a reformate comprising a plurality of function units for treating the fuel, at least one function unit being adapted to a first type of fuel. In this arrangement the invention is characterized to advantage in that the function unit adapted to the first type of fuel can be releasably coupled to the reformer as a module by means of an interface which is also designed to couple a replacement function unit instead of the function unit adapted to the first type of fuel, the replacement function unit being adapted to a second type of fuel different from the first type of fuel. The invention relates furthermore to a function unit for such a reformer, to a fuel cell system having such a reformer and to a motor vehicle having such a fuel cell system.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus (12 to 26) for supplying media to a fuel cell arrangement (28) in a fuel cell system (10), which apparatus at least partly consists of a chromium-containing metal alloy. According to the invention a surface (30) of the apparatus coming into contact with supply media is at least partly coated with a metal oxide ceramics (32).

Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel cell system comprising a reformer and an afterburner each for reacting at least fuel and an oxidant; and a fuel feeder for supplying the reformer and the afterburner with fuel. It is provided for to particular advantage that at least one flow control valve for controlling the fuel supply is included upstream of at least the reformer or the afterburner. The invention relates furthermore to a motor vehicle having one such fuel cell system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a high temperature fuel cell stack (10) retained by a temporary retaining device. According to the invention it is contemplated that the temporary retaining device (12-22) consists of a plastic material burning at a temperature which is lower than the operating temperature of the high temperature fuel cell stack (10). The invention also relates to a method for temporarily retaining a high temperature fuel cell stack (10) and a method for removing a temporary retaining device (12-22) of a high temperature fuel cell stack (10). The invention further relates to the use of per se known plastic elements (12-22) as a temporary retaining device for a high temperature fuel cell stack (10).