Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel cell stack comprising a base plate supporting fuel cells and a cap of an electrically insulating material, particularly of ceramics, for electrically insulating the fuel cells stacked on top of each other partially enveloping the fuel cells stacked on top of each other. According to the invention it is contemplated that a metal cap provided for guiding cathode gas envelops the cap including the fuel cells together with the base plate and that the metal cap is attached to the base plate in a sealed manner. The invention further relates to a method for producing a fuel cell stack.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel cell stack comprising a base plate supporting fuel cells and a cap of an electrically insulating material, particularly of ceramics, for electrically insulating the fuel cells stacked on top of each other partially enveloping the fuel cells stacked on top of each other. According to the invention it is contemplated that a metal cap provided for guiding cathode gas envelops the cap including the fuel cells together with the base plate and that the metal cap is attached to the base plate in a sealed manner. The invention further relates to a method for producing a fuel cell stack.

Abstract: A burner device having a burner chamber (26) filled at least partially by a porous body (28), an evaporation zone (12) upstream of the burner chamber (26) for evaporating liquid fuel supplied via a fuel inlet line (16), an igniter (30) for igniting a combustion mixture of evaporated liquid fuel and combustion air supplied via a combustion air inlet line (18) to the evaporation zone (12) as well as an exhaust discharge (38) downstream of the combustion chamber (26). A mixing zone (20) is disposed between the evaporation zone (14) and the combustion chamber (26) in which fuel gas is introduced via a fuel gas inlet line (22, 24) and is mixed with the combustion air and/or the combustion mixture. The burner device can be used as an afterburner in a fuel cell stack.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for adjusting the temperature profile of a catalyst in a reformer. In accordance with the invention it is provided for that the fuel feed rates in various media feed zones are tweaked so that a wanted temperature profile results in the reforming zone of the reformer whilst maintaining the air ratio as applicable to the overall reforming process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a reformer for converting fuel and oxidising agent into a reformate, the reformer comprising an oxidising zone to which a mixture of fuel and oxidising agent is supplyable via a first fuel supply and a first oxidising agent supply and an injection and mixture formation zone disposed downstream of the oxidising zone to which further fuel is supplyable via a second fuel supply, a second oxidising agent supply being provided via which further oxidising agent is supplyable to the injection and mixture formation zone. According to the invention it is contemplated that the second oxidising agent supply is, relative to the second fuel supply, arranged so that it generates a barrier oxidising agent cushion in the area in front of the second fuel supply to prevent a heat transfer from the mixture from the oxidising zone to the second fuel supply. The invention further relates to a method for operating such a reformer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a housing for accommodating at least one fuel cell stack comprising a housing part formed so that it is capable of at least partly accommodating the fuel cell stack. According to the invention it is envisaged that clamping means are provided by which the fuel cell stack is restrainable via at least one orifice of the housing portion. The invention further relates to a system comprising such a housing and at least one fuel cell stack accommodated therein.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device comprising a thermally insulating receptacle and, arranged in the receptacle, at least one high-temperature fuel cell system component enclosed by at least one insulating layer of a first material, a clamping means acting on the insulating layer. In accordance with the invention it is provided for that the clamping means comprises, supported by a receptacle housing and acting on the insulating layer, one or more plate-shaped elements made of a second material which is elastically deformable at a contact pressure, at which the first material is not deformable.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel cell system including a first heat exchanger via which cathode feed air can be supplied to a fuel cell or fuel cell stack and to which a mixture of afterburner exhaust gas of an afterburner and cathode exhaust air having materialized in the fuel cell or fuel cell stack can be supplied for heat exchange between the cathode feed air and the mixture via the first heat exchanger. In accordance with the invention it is provided for that a second heat exchanger is provided via which the cathode feed air can be supplied from the first heat exchanger to the fuel cell or fuel cell stack and via which the afterburner exhaust gas can be supplied to the first heat exchanger to form the mixture, in thus achieving a heat exchange between the afterburner exhaust gas and the cathode feed air.

Abstract: A reformer (10) for reacting fuel (12, 14) and oxidizer (16, 18) into reformate (20), with a plurality of reaction zones (22, 24) to which the fuel (12) and oxidizer (16) are supplied and in each which the fuel and oxidizer are reacted into reformate. The process for reacting fuel and oxidizer into reformate separately adjusting the fuel and/or oxidizer supplied to the reaction zones for varying the reformate output produced.

Abstract: The invention relates to device for emission control of an internal combustion engine (10) including an exhaust tract (12) comprising a NOx catalyst (14), and a reductant feeder (16) designed to deliver reductant to the exhaust tract (12) upstream of the NOx catalyst (14). In accordance with the invention, the reductant feeder (16) comprises a reformer (18) designed to react gas exhausted by the engine (10) and fuel into a reformate serving as reductant. In addition, the invention relates to a method for emission control of an internal combustion engine (10) wherein a NOx catalyst (14) provided in the exhaust tract (12) is supplied with reductant. In this arrangement use is made of reformate generated by a reformer (18) as the reductant, the reformer (18) generating the reformate from the engine (10) exhaust gas and fuel.

Abstract: A fuel cell system (10) having a reformer (12) having a burner (14) and a catalyst (16) and provided for reacting fuel and oxidant into a reformate, and having a fuel cell (24), particularly a high-temperature fuel cell which, on the basis of reformate generated by the reformer, generates electric energy and thereby liberates anode exhaust gas (26). The system is provided with a blower (28) and injector (30) oxidant feed arrangement with which, all of the anode exhaust gas is delivered to the burner. A method for operating the fuel cell system for reacting fuel (18) and oxidant (20) into a reformate (22) involves aspirating the anode exhaust gas into the oxidant feed arrangement, feeding it to the burner together with fuel and with the burner exhaust being delivered with additional fuel to the catalyst to produce reformate that is delivered to the fuel cell.

Abstract: A system for reacting fuel and air into reformate, with a reformer (10) which has a reaction space (12), a nozzle (14) which at least in part is formed as a Venturi nozzle for supply of a fuel/air mixture to the reaction space (12), the Venturi nozzle part has a small diameter area (16) from which a diffuser extends to the reaction space. A first gas supply means (20) is provided on the side of the small diameter area which side faces away from the diffuser, and second gas supply means (26, 28) are provide at the small diameter area. A fuel supply (22) is also provided for supplying fuel to the nozzle and it preferably extends along the longitudinal axis of the nozzle.

Abstract: A mixture formation means for the reformer of a fuel cell system or for a heater. The fuel feed includes a pressure impulse injection means and the mixture formation area is a swirl chamber having a discharge nozzle connected to the pressure impulse injection device. Also included is a fuel heater for preheating the fuel before injection in order to achieve complete vaporization of the fuel, such as diesel fuel.