Abstract: A method for shortening the cold starting time of a CO oxidation catalytic converter in a vehicle with an integrated fuel cell system. According to the invention, gas components which delay the start are removed from the reformate gas of the gas-generating system using an adsorber during the cooling-down phase after the vehicle has been switched off.

Abstract: An evaporator stack, in particular for a double evaporator, includes foils for converting a liquid medium into a gaseous medium. The foil stack has at least one foil through which a medium flows and at least one additional foil. The foil stack has an inlet region for the liquid medium and a discharge region for the gaseous medium. The discharge region is designed such that a pressure gradient in the medium over the at least approximately entire width of the discharge region is smaller than a pressure gradient in the medium over the at least approximately entire length of the media foil through which flow occurs.

Abstract: A container for receiving an operating medium for the operation of fuel cells has an inlet for a medium, a first outlet and a second outlet. The container is divided by at least one permeable component into at least an inlet-side interior space, and an interior space which is remote from the inlet. The first outlet is arranged in the inlet-side interior space and the second outlet is arranged in the interior space which is remote from the inlet.

Abstract: A device for selective oxidation of a substance stream comprises a selectively active catalyst. For improving the cold-starting characteristics, the device also has an oxidation catalyst that possesses high activity at low temperatures. The selectively active catalyst is applied as a coating onto one or more surfaces of interior walls of the device. A layer of oxidation catalyst is provided in at least the inlet region where the substance stream enters the device, between the layer of selectively active catalyst and the interior walls of the device.

Abstract: A device for generating electrical energy, having a fuel cell. A unit includes two rigidly coupled synchronous machines to drive compressors and other additional units. During the starting phase, the idling synchronous machine is energized and, at the end of the starting phase, is changed over to motor operation, to thereby drive the compressors and other additional units and the first synchronous machine, which is set to generator operation.

Abstract: A plate-type selective oxidation device, for the selective oxidation of constituents of a process stream, contains a media chamber located between two plates of the device. Each media chamber contains fins or ridges for the input or dissipation of thermal energy and/or to selectively direct the process stream. In partial areas of each media chamber, the fins or ridges are thermally decoupled from the plates that border the respective media chamber, to facilitate cold start-up of the device.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the voltage of a plurality of voltage sources mounted in a stack includes a plurality of contact units, each having a plurality of electrical contacts mounted therein, for voltage tapping of the voltage sources. The contact units are held in a support module, arranged side by side along a longitudinal axis. An evaluation unit is coupled in communication with the contacts contained in the contact units, either directly, or via an intermediate unit that includes addressing and processing capability. The number of contact units that are arranged in the support module is variable in accordance with the number of voltage sources contained in the stack, and the contact units themselves are movable longitudinally within the support module to accommodate spacing of the voltage sources in the stack.

Abstract: A fuel cell installation containing a gas generation system, for the production of a hydrogen-containing gas, and a fuel cell system, which comprises a fuel cell, a compressor, an expander that is coupled with the compressor and a burner, the exhaust gases of which are directed to the expander. The gas generation system and the fuel cell system are designed as independent modules with respect to the supply of energy and process streams. Energy storage and energy conversion devices are arranged between the expander and the compressor in the fuel cell system.

Abstract: A flame colorant additive for methanol for the operation of a fuel cell system includes at least one of (1) NaCl; (2) an organic compound of an element of the first principal group or of the second principal group of the periodic table of elements; and/or (3) an organic compound of an element of the third secondary group or of the ninth secondary group of the periodic table of elements.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing hydrogen from hydrocarbons or alcohol, particularly methanol, by feeding a reaction mixture comprising a hydrocarbon or alcohol and water onto a catalyst. The catalyst is formed by compressing at least one catalyst powder into a compressed layer to form a shaped body. The reaction mixture flows under pressure through the catalyst layer while the pressure drops. Furthermore, the apparatus is suitable for a use in a hydrogen shift phases for reducing carbon monoxide, in carbon monoxide oxidizers and catalytic burners. A process for producing the catalyst is also disclosed.

Abstract: A vehicle comprising a combustion engine capable of delivering mechanical power for driving at least one wheel drive shaft with driving wheels, auxiliary vehicular electric loads, an alternator powered by the combustion engine for generating electricity, an electric storage device for storing alternator generated electricity, and at least one auxiliary electric power supply for supplying electrical energy to said electric loads. The auxiliary electric power supply includes a fuel cell system with an anode fuel input and a cathode fuel input, and an electrolyzer which is capable of generating hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen production side of said electrolyzer is in fluid connection with the at least one anode fuel supply.

Abstract: A plurality of catalyst disks pressed from porous catalyst material are stacked one on the other and together sintered with the application of pressure to make a stacked reactor for hydrogen production from hydrocarbons. To form especially tight seams the catalyst disks have projections formed in the area of contact with an adjacent catalyst disk. Hollow spaces formed in the catalyst disk or formed by two adjacent catalyst disks have a system for supporting the hollow spaces, as for example a cooper grid placed in the hollow space, which can be covered at least partially by a metal sheet or supporting bars pressed onto the catalyst disk.

Abstract: A device for the production of hydrogen-containing gas for a fuel cell system, in particular in a motor vehicle, is disclosed. Suitable feed materials are water and at least one hydrocarbon-containing starting material, in particular a hydrocarbon derivative, such as methanol or ethanol. The device comprises an evaporator to evaporate the feed material; a superheater to superheat the feed material vapor; a high temperature reformer in which steam reforming of the superheated feed material is carried out; a burner which provides the thermal energy required for the steam reforming by burning a gas stream that contains fuel and oxygen; a water gas shift stage to reduce the carbon monoxide content of the reformate stream produced in the steam reforming; and a cooler to reduce the temperature of the reformate stream between the point where the reformate stream is discharged out of the high temperature reformer and the point where the reformate stream enters into the water gas shift stage.

Abstract: A heat exchanger has a plurality of fluidically parallel first layers which define first heat exchanger ducts through which a first medium is capable of flowing, and in each case has a second layer between the two first layers. The respective second layer is in thermal contact with the two adjacent first layers and defines at least one second heat exchanger duct through which a second medium is capable of flowing in parallel. The respective second layer comprises two fluidically parallel layer plies. A controllable supply of the second medium to the one and/or the other layer ply in each case is provided. Such a heat exchanger can be used, in particular, as an evaporator with an integrated starting and main evaporator part, and particularly as an evaporator in a reforming plant of a fuel-cell vehicle.

Abstract: A pressure regulator for a fuel cell unit includes a membrane that separates the pressure regulator into an anode-side region and a cathode-side region. The membrane is acted in the anode-side region by the pressure of the anode side of the fuel cell unit and in the cathode-side region by the pressure of the cathode side of the fuel cell unit. The pressure regulator further includes an actuator connected to the membrane, wherein the actuator sets a predetermined pressure on at least one of the anode and cathode sides.

Abstract: Method for manufacturing a metal foil consisting of several metals in which at least one galvanic bath of several different bath types is prepared. Each bath type contains an electrolyte solution suitable for the deposition of one of the metals involved. A layer stack is then formed for the metal foil by successive alternate galvanic deposition of one layer at a time of the metals contained in the various bath types, on the circumference of a rotating deposition roller which is wired as a cathode in the corresponding galvanic bath. This step is followed by a tempering process that converts the layer stack is converted into a homogeneous alloy of the metals. Thereby, a metal membrane foil is produced for hydrogen separation from a process gas of a methanol reformation system in a fuel-cell-operated motor vehicle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing a catalytic component on a metallic or ceramic support for a fuel cell system, in which the catalytic component is applied to the metallic or ceramic support in at least one layer. This at least one layer contains at least one hydrophobic material component, which is applied together or alternately with at least one catalytically active material component in one process step. The invention also relates to a catalytic component, which is applied to a metallic or ceramic support, for a chemical reactor in a fuel cell system, and to methods of using the catalytic component.

Abstract: A process for producing a compact catalytic reactor, in which reaction spaces or heat-transfer spaces are formed by stacking at least partially structured plates alternately one on top of the other, a catalyst is introduced into the reaction spaces, and the plates are provided with a layer of solder at least in the edge region, but not in the region provided with catalyst material, and, after stacking them one on top of the other, are soldered to form a reactor. In addition, the plates may be provided with a bent-up edge region a for easy positioning and for increasing the leak tightness. Finally, an unstructured intermediate plate may also be respectively provided between the structured plates.

Abstract: In a method of producing microstructured metal sheets, microstructures are made in a metal sheet surface in a continuous embossing step on one side of the metal sheet, while the surface structure of the other side is essentially not changed. The embossing step is carried out by means of an embossing roller which has a negative of the microstructure to be embossed. The flanks of the microstructure form an angle of at least 5° with respect to the perpendicular line, and the negative contains compensating structures in the regions surrounding the microstructure for rendering the forming uniform along the roller slit.

Abstract: A system is used for cooling a fuel cell arrangement, particularly a fuel cell arrangement with a gas generating system in a motor vehicle. A coolant circuit for the system is connected to a cooler, a coolant delivery device, a fuel cell and at least another component to be cooled. The coolant circuit has at least two valve devices which are each assigned to the fuel cell and the at least another component to be cooled. By means of the valve devices, a flow rate of the coolant through the fuel cell or the another component to be cooled can be influenced as a function of the temperature in the region associated with the fuel cell or the another component.