Abstract: A system includes a stack module box, within which is accommodated a fuel cell stack and which stack module box has at least one fuel cell, the fuel cell being in connection with a plurality of media guides leading to the stack module box and from which media can be delivered to the stack module box or received from the stack module box, wherein at least two of the media guides have electrically conductive regions for discharge of current from the fuel cell stack, and/or the wall of the stack module box is electrically conductive in the regions laying opposite to the media guides, and wherein connection lines are led away from the fuel cell stack to the electrically conductive regions and away therefrom. A fuel cell device and a fuel cell vehicle including such a stack module box are also provided.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack comprises at least one fuel cell which is accommodated in a stack module box, a plurality of media channels, having media guides which are arranged on the outside of the stack module box and are in flow connection with the media channels, and a tensioning system which is guided around the stack module box and the tensioning device of which is guided around the media guides, which are designed with a spring function. A related fuel cell device and a fuel cell vehicle are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel metering device for regulating the delivery rate of a high-pressure fuel pump of a fuel injection device for an internal combustion engine. The fuel metering device has a control valve actuated by an electromagnet and having a valve member. The electromagnet has an armature and an armature rod and the armature rod is axially movably supported in at least one bushing. The at least one bushing is designed as a solid, one-piece metal component. The bushing is preferably made of steel and the bearing surface thereof, in which the armature rod is supported, has a nitrocarburized and polished surface layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel cell system and method comprising a reformer with a thermal starting device, at least one gas processing stage downstream of the reformer, at least one fuel cell disposed downstream of the gas processing stage and a plurality of bipolar plates, the fuel cell having an inner region of a reaction with anode, cathode and electrolyte, and an outer region with at least one cooling channel permitting a coolant to flow through the cooling channel, wherein the outer region is not in fluid connection with the inner region. Upstream of the fuel cell, the fuel cell system has a switching device, which is switchable between a start-up position and an operating position, wherein in the operating position the product gases from the reformer and/or the thermal starting device are guided to the inner region of the fuel cell.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel metering device for regulating the delivery rate of a high-pressure fuel pump of a fuel injection device for an internal combustion engine. The fuel metering device has a control valve actuated by an electromagnet and having a valve member. The electromagnet has an armature and an armature rod and the armature rod is axially movably supported in at least one bushing. The at least one bushing is designed as a solid, one-piece metal component. The bushing is preferably made of steel and the bearing surface thereof, in which the armature rod is supported, has a nitrocarburized and polished surface layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel cell system and method comprising a reformer with a thermal starting device, at least one gas processing stage downstream of the reformer, at least one fuel cell disposed downstream of the gas processing stage and a plurality of bipolar plates, the fuel cell having an inner region of a reaction with anode, cathode and electrolyte, and an outer region with at least one cooling channel permitting a coolant to flow through the cooling channel, wherein the outer region is not in fluid connection with the inner region. Upstream of the fuel cell, the fuel cell system has a switching device, which is switchable between a start-up position and an operating position, wherein in the operating position the product gases from the reformer and/or the thermal starting device are guided to the inner region of the fuel cell.

Abstract: A reformer supply synthesis gas to a fuel cell and startup and shutdown of the system are controlled so that air is supplied initially to the catalyst body to flush the latter before heating builds up the temperature to support the production of the synthetic gas. The shutdown is effected with air flow after the fuel supply is interrupted to burn off soot deposits and dry the catalyst body.

Abstract: A system for the water vapor reforming of a hydrocarbon includes a modular reactor unit of the plate stack and/or tube bundle type that, in an integrated manner, contains an evaporator, a prereforming unit, a main reformer, a CO removal unit and a catalytic burner unit. The evaporator and the main reformer are in a thermal contact with the catalytic burner unit and, the prereforming unit is in a thermal contact with the CO removal unit.

Abstract: A fuel cell system has at least one fuel cell and a hydrogen generating arrangement for feeding the fuel cell anode with a hydrogen-containing product gas from a conversion reaction of a hydrocarbon starting substance or hydrocarbon derivative with of water fed supplied by way of a water feeding system. Water recovery devices are provided for condensing water out of the process gas supplied by the hydrogen generating arrangement, and/or out of the cathode waste gas carried away from the fuel cell cathode, and returning the condensed-out water into the water feeding system.

Abstract: A reactor for the catalytic chemical reaction of a gaseous or liquid reaction starting product to a reaction end product that contains a gaseous or liquid reaction constituent which can be selectively separated by means of a membrane diffusion includes a reaction space into which the reaction starting product flows and which contains a suitable catalyst material. Porous hollow fibers are placed in the reaction space as membranes for the selective separation of the reaction constituent from the residual reaction end product.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes at least one fuel cell which contains an anode space with an inlet-side anode feed and an outlet-side anode discharge; a cathode space with an inlet-side cathode feed and an outlet-side cathode discharge; and water separating devices arranged in the cathode discharge. According to the invention, the water separating devices contain a water separating membrane unit with a mixture space situated in the cathode discharge and a water collecting space separated therefrom by a water separating membrane.

Abstract: A method for the extraction of a liquid by condensation from a gas stream, wherein the gas stream contains the liquid mainly as fluid steam, includes expanding the gas stream in an expansion device and condensing at least a portion of the liquid downstream from the expansion device. The gas stream is then recompressed by at least one compressing device.

Abstract: A fuel-cell system controls the thermal and electrical outputs to the load points of the thermal and/or electrical load exclusively by turning on and off individual fuel cells or fuel-cell stacks.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying pressure to at least one reactant for delivery from a storage tank to a gas generating system has at least one pump. An operating medium for applying pressure to the reactants is delivered from the pump to the storage tank via a pipe system. The operating medium itself may also be delivered to a reaction chamber as a reactant of the gas generating system.

Abstract: A membrane module for selective gas separation includes one or more separation units stacked one on the other, and at least one of interposed frame plates or stack-end frame plates. Each separation unit includes a support plate with a separation gas receiving structure and at least one corresponding gas separating membrane. The frame plates having a gas mixture flow chamber structure. Each separating unit and the frame plates contain (1) gas-mixture connecting channel structures in a first and a second side area formed by overlapping openings in the plates and extending in a stacking direction, which are in fluid connection with the gas mixture flow chamber structures; and (2) separation gas connection channel structures in a third and fourth side area, which are in fluid connection with the separation gas receiving structure or structures.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for operating a system for the water vapor reforming of a hydrocarbon. The system includes a reactor which is suitable for POX operation as well as for a reforming operation, an evaporator, a hydrogen separating stage, and a catalytic burner device. A first part of the catalytic burner device is in thermal contact with the reforming reactor, and a second part of the burner device is in thermal contact with the evaporator. An air/hydrocarbon intermediate feeding pipe for the reactor and a pressure maintaining valve are provided for changing the reactor between the POX operation and the reforming operation. According to the process, during cold start of the system, a heating operation is carried out during which the reactor is first used in the POX operation at a lower pressure and subsequently is used for the reforming operation and simultaneously the pressure is increased to the normal operating pressure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for operating a system for the water vapor reforming of a hydrocarbon, having an evaporator, a reforming reactor, a membrane module connected behind, and a catalytic burner device. According to the invention, a first part of the catalytic burner device is in thermal contact with the reforming reactor, and a second part of the burner device is in thermal contact with the evaporator. According to the process, a heating operation is carried out during the cold start of the system, in which, in a first operating phase, at least the evaporator and the reforming reactor are heated by the catalytic burner device, and in a second operating phase, a hydrocarbon/water vapor mixture is prepared in the evaporator at a water/hydrocarbon ratio which is higher than in the normal operation and is fed to the reactor, the substance mixture emerging from the reactor being fed by way of the membrane module to the catalytic burner device.

Abstract: A membrane for separating hydrogen from a gas mixture is provided on at least one side with a catalyst layer for a specific catalytic combustion process. A methanol reformation system so equipped can be brought rapidly to operating temperature, with the hydrogen-separating membrane being heated directly by performing the catalytic combustion process.

Abstract: A reactor unit includes a monolithic block with several parallel reaction chamber lengthwise channels into which a reaction starting product can flow, which contain a suitable reaction catalyst material, and which are delimited externally by membrane walls for the selective separation of a desired reaction component from the reaction end product. A catalytic burner is accommodated in at least some of the lengthwise channels.

Abstract: A system for the water vapor reforming of a hydrocarbon includes an evaporator, a prereforming unit, a main reformer, a CO removal unit and at least one catalytic burner unit. A first burner unit is in a thermal contact with the evaporator and a second burner unit is in a thermal contact with the main reformer, and the prereforming unit is in a thermal contact with the CO removal unit by way of one heat conducting separating medium. In addition, the outlet of the CO removal unit is connected with the inlet of the at least one burner unit. During a cold start, a heating-up operation is carried out during which first the two burner units are activated with an external feeding of hydrogen or hydrocarbon, and the reforming operation is started with a hydrocarbon fraction that is lower than in the normal operation. The resulting reformate gas, instead of the externally fed hydrogen or hydrocarbon, is introduced as fuel into the burner units.