Abstract: A system (0) includes an electrical load system (54) with a load network battery (82), and a fuel cell system (1). Operation is simplified, especially during start of the fuel cell system (1) if the fuel cell system (1) has a system battery (56). A system voltage across the system battery (56) can be supplied to electrical system loads (80) of the fuel cell system (1) and, via a load voltage converter (77) and at least one additional voltage converter (86), to the load system (54) and secondary electrical loads (84, 85).

Abstract: A vehicle heater includes a first housing arrangement (12), a second housing arrangement (14) connected with the first housing arrangement (12) in an adjoining area (32), and at least one sensor (54) with a holding area (62). The holding area (62) is held in the adjoining area (32) in a support path between the first housing arrangement (12) and the second housing arrangement (14).

Abstract: A heat exchanger arrangement, especially for a vehicle heater, includes a pot-like heat exchanger housing (12) extending in the direction of a longitudinal axis (L) of the housing. The heat exchanger housing includes an outer housing part (14) with the outer circumferential wall (18) and with an outer bottom wall (20) as well as an inner housing part (16) with the inner circumferential wall (22) and with an inner bottom wall (24). A heat carrier medium flow connecting piece (50, 52), open towards the heat carrier medium flow space, is provided at an axial end area (44) of the outer circumferential wall of the outer housing part, the end area being located at a distance from the outer bottom wall. A waste gas flow connecting piece (30) is open towards an interior space (26) of the heat exchanger housing, which interior space is enclosed by the inner wall.

Abstract: A blower, especially combustion air blower for a vehicle heater, includes a blower housing (10) with a housing bottom (14) and with a circumferential wall (16) adjoining the housing bottom (14) and defining a housing interior space (20). A partition (18) divides the housing interior space (20) into a motor mounting space (22) and a sound insulation space (24).

Abstract: A heat exchanger arrangement, especially for a fuel-operated vehicle heater, has a pot-shaped heat exchanger housing (12) elongated in the direction of a longitudinal axis (L) with a circumferential wall area (14) and, in an end area (18), a bottom wall area (16). A flow space (30) for heat carrier medium is formed in the heat exchanger housing (12) with a circumferential flow space (32) and with a bottom flow space (34) that is in connection with the circumferential flow space. The heat exchanger housing (12) includes a first housing part (36) and a second housing part (38). The first housing part includes an outer circumferential wall (40), an inner circumferential wall (42) and an inner bottom wall (46) adjoining the inner circumferential wall. The second housing part includes an outer bottom wall (62), which is or can be connected to the outer circumferential wall (40) in one end area.

Abstract: A control device for a vehicle heater includes a circuit assembly unit (12) with a plurality of external contacts (24), an external receptacle (30) for receiving an external plug (42) for establishing an electrical contact with the external contacts (24) for connecting the control device (10) to a vehicle wiring system, as well as a circuit assembly unit housing (18) surrounding the circuit assembly unit (12) with an external receptacle tunnel (52) surrounding at least partially the external receptacle (30).

Abstract: A heat transfer medium assembly unit, especially for a heat exchanger arrangement of a vehicle heater, includes a housing part (16) with at least one opening (22, 24) for receiving a connecting branch. At least one flexible fixing element is associated with the at least one opening (22, 24) for receiving a connecting branch. The at least one flexible fixing element is provided for fixing a connecting branch (12, 14) mounted in the opening (22, 24) for receiving a connecting branch for providing a connecting branch/housing part preassembled assembly unit (76).

Abstract: A side channel blower for a vehicle heater includes a blower housing area (14) with a delivery channel (18), which extends in a ring-shaped pattern around a central axis (A) and is open on an axial side (16). A motor housing area (26) integral with the blower housing area (14) accommodates an electric drive motor (30) with a drive shaft (36). A first delivery wheel covers the delivery channel on a first axial side of the blower housing area and is carried at a first end of the drive shaft. A control device housing area is integral with the blower housing area or/and the motor housing area and is provided with a circumferential wall and with a bottom wall and with an opening located opposite the bottom wall. A partial area of the bottom wall of the control device housing area is formed by the motor housing area.

Abstract: An evaporator assembly unit, especially for a vehicle heater, includes an evaporator medium carrier (12) with a bottom wall (14), a porous evaporator medium (18) provided on one side of the bottom wall (14) and an electrically excitable ignition element (34). The ignition element is embedded in the material of which the bottom wall (14) is made.

Abstract: A vehicle heater includes a burner arrangement (12) with a flame tube (16), a heat exchanger housing (18) with a circumferential wall (20), which surrounds the flame tube and thus defines a waste gas backflow space (26) and has a waste gas outlet (38) from the waste gas backflow space. A flow cross section provided between the flame tube and the circumferential wall in a first axial area (33) of the waste gas backflow space is smaller in an outlet area (48) than in an opposite area (50) located opposite the outlet and the flow cross section in the outlet area increases in an expansion area following the first axial area. The flow cross section in a second axial area (35) following the expansion area (52), corresponds essentially to the flow cross section in the opposite area and/or the flow cross section has a stepped increase in the expansion area.

Abstract: A process for operating a fuel cell system (2), which is arranged in a vehicle (1) having a tachograph (6) and an internal combustion engine (3), and used for power supply of at least one electrical component (10) of the vehicle (1) with the internal combustion engine (3) switched off. With the fuel cell system (2) switched off, the control device (4) receives from the tachograph (6) a foreseeable break start time of an operating break following a drive mode, which is legally prescribed and/or planned by the driver of the vehicle (1), at which the internal combustion engine (3) is switched off. The control device (4) determines a start time such that a start procedure of the fuel cell system (2) ends at the break start time and the fuel cell system (2) is ready for operation, when the fuel cell system (2) is started at the start time.

Abstract: A fuel cell system (1) with a fuel cell unit (2) including at least one fuel cell (3), as well as an anode gas feed (11) including a reformer (12). A reduced deposit of hydrocarbons on an anode (5) of the fuel cell (3), especially in case of a cold start of the fuel cell system (1), is achieved when the anode gas feed (11) has a reduction device (14), which is arranged between the reformer (12) and the anode (5).

Abstract: A fuel cell system (1) has a fuel cell (2) and a reformer (33). A careful operation of the fuel cell system (1), in particular during a start-up of the fuel cell system (1), is obtained when the fuel cell system (1) is equipped with a reformer heating burner (additional burner) (11). The heat of reformer heating burner waste gas of the reformer heating burner (11) is fed to the reformer (9).

Abstract: A combustion chamber assembly, especially for a vehicle heater, includes a combustion chamber housing (12) with a housing wall (16) surrounding a combustion chamber. At least one ignition element opening (28) is provided in the area of the housing wall (16) and an ignition element (30) is fixed in a fastening area (44) in at least one ignition element opening (28). The at least one ignition element opening (28) is designed with a circular wedge inner profile (54) and the fastening area of the ignition element fastened in this opening is designed with a circular wedge outer profile and fasteningly meshes with the circular wedge inner profile (54).

Abstract: A fuel cell system with a reformer for generating hydrogen-containing synthesis gas and a fuel cell of the fuel cell system. The fuel cell is arranged downstream of the reformer. The fuel cell system is heated up conventionally in a first heat-up phase by combusting a superstoichiometric fuel/air mixture. The first heat-up phase is stopped by stopping the combustion of the fuel/air mixture in the mixing chamber of the reformer. In a second heat-up phase, in which the reformer catalyst is operated in the catalytic combustion operation with a superstoichiometric fuel/air mixture, the entire heat-up process can be significantly shortened by a change in stoichiometry at the end of the second heat-up phase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a residual gas burner (13) for a fuel cell system (1) having to educt gas feeds (11, 12) for feeding an educt gas each to a combustion chamber (14) of the residual gas burner (13). An improved operation of the residual gas burner (13) is obtained when the educt gas feeds (11, 12) each comprise outlet openings (22, 27), wherein the outlet openings (22, 27) face the combustion chamber (14) and the outlet openings (22, 27) of one of the educt gas feeds (11, 12) face a first bottom surface (29) of the other educt gas feed (11, 12). In addition, the invention relates to a fuel cell system (1) having such a residual gas burner (13).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for operating a fuel cell system, wherein the fuel cell system comprises at least one reformer for generating a reformate gas and at least one fuel cell for generating an electric current. An increased lifespan for the anode is achieved when with said anode an anode state value is continuously determined which correlates to a current degree of loading with carbon of the anode of the at least one fuel cell and when depending on the anode state value an oxygen-carbon ratio is varied in the reformate gas which is fed to the anode of the respective fuel cell.

Abstract: A system (0) includes an electrical load system (54) with a load network battery (82), and a fuel cell system (1). Operation is simplified, especially during start of the fuel cell system (1) if the fuel cell system (1) has a system battery (56). A system voltage across the system battery (56) can be supplied to electrical system loads (80) of the fuel cell system (1) and, via a load voltage converter (77) and at least one additional voltage converter (86), to the load system (54) and secondary electrical loads (84, 85).

Abstract: An air discharge assembly unit, especially for routing air (L) into the interior space (70) of a vehicle, includes an air routing duct (28) for routing primary air (H) from a primary air inlet area (18) to an air outlet area (40). A flow cross-sectional area of the air routing duct (28) decreases, at least in some areas away from the primary air inlet area (18), in the direction of the air outlet area (40) up to a duct area (30) with minimal flow cross-sectional area. A secondary air inlet area (41) is provided for the inlet of secondary air (N) into the air routing duct (28), in the area of the duct area (30), with minimal flow cross-sectional area.

Abstract: A fuel cell system (1), especially in a motor vehicle, is provided with at least one fuel cell (18) for generating electric current from anode gas and cathode gas, with at least one reformer (22) for generating anode gas from oxidant gas and fuel. At least one residual gas burner (26) is provided for burning anode waste gas with cathode waste gas. A recycling device (48) is provided for recycling burner waste gas to the reformer (22).