Abstract: A method for inerting and protecting the anodes of fuel cells, especially high-temperature fuel cells, and a fuel cell system, in which, during a shutdown, when the supply of fuel gas to the anodes is interrupted, during emergency shutdown or standby operation, water vapor is supplied to the anodes, and an external voltage is applied to the fuel cells to produce a reducing atmosphere at the anodes by electrolysis. This makes it possible to inert the anodes of the fuel cells without having to maintain a supply of a flushing or protective gas expressly for this purpose.

Abstract: A fuel cell system and method in which the fuel cell system receives and an input oxidant gas and an input fuel gas, and in which a fuel processing assembly is provided and is adapted to at least humidify the input fuel gas which is to be supplied to the anode of the fuel cell of the system whose cathode receives the oxidant input gas via an anode oxidizing assembly which is adapted to couple the output of the anode of the fuel cell to the inlet of the cathode of the fuel cell during normal operation, shutdown and restart of the fuel cell system, and in which a control assembly is further provided and is adapted to respond to shutdown of the fuel cell system during which input fuel gas and input oxidant gas cease to be received by the fuel cell system, the control assembly being further adapted to, when the fuel cell system is shut down: control the fuel cell system so as to enable a purging gas to be able to flow through the fuel processing assembly to remove humidified fuel gas from the processing assembly

Abstract: Disclosed are an electrolyte matrix, particularly for a molten carbonate fuel cell, comprising a matrix material which contains one or several lithium compounds, aluminum oxide, and a carbide, and a method for the production thereof. The inventive matrix material contains a combination of lithium carbonate, aluminum oxide, and titanium carbide. Said matrix material can be produced in a simple manner from inexpensive materials that are available at the required degree of fineness, has a high degree of solidity in both the green state and the sintered state, and has good storage properties in the green state.

Abstract: A fuel cell, in particular a molten carbonate fuel cell and a method for production thereof are disclosed. The anode (1) and the cathode (2) are each provided on current collectors (4a, 4b), which electrically contact with the relevant electrode (1, 2) and form gas flow paths (17, 18) for a fuel gas or a cathode gas, whereby the anode-side current collector (4a) together with the anode (1) and the cathode-side current collector (4b) together with the cathode (2) form an anode half cell (11) and a cathode half cell (12) respectively. According to the invention, the electrolyte matrix (3) or electrolyte layer is applied to one of the half cells (11, 12) and sealing elements (21, 22) are provided on the sides of the current collectors (4a, 4b) laterally surrounding the above in a sealing manner, whereby an insulating layer (31) electrically insulates each sealing element (21, 22) of a half cell (11) with respect to the other half cell (12).

Abstract: A fuel cell assembly including a number of fuel cells (12) arranged in a stack (10). Each fuel cell contains an anode (1), a cathode (2) and a porous electrolyte matrix (3) arranged therebetween. An electrolyte reservoir (11), which compensates the electrolyte losses from the fuel cells (12) is provided at the end, or in the vicinity of the end of the fuel cell stack (10). The electrolyte is transported to the individual fuel cells (12) by electrical forces within the fuel cell stack (10). The electrolyte reservoir (11) is configured as a supporting structure which forms hollow chambers that contain porous bodies for absorbing the electrolyte in their pores.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electronically conductive reformer catalyst for a fuel cell, in particular a molten carbonate fuel cell, containing particles of a water-adsorbent substrate material (6) and particles of a catalyst material (7) located on said substrate material (6). According to the invention, the substrate material (6) itself is electronically conductive. The specific conductivity of the reformer catalyst (4) preferably exceeds 1 S/cm under operating conditions.

Abstract: A fuel cell assembly has fuel cells, each containing an anode and a cathode. A fresh-air feed is used for feeding fresh air to the cathode input. Between the anode output and the cathode input, by way of an anode waste gas return pipe, a burner device is provided for afterburning of combustible residual constituents contained in the spent fuel gas leaving the anode output, optionally together with fresh air fed by way of the fresh-air feed. The fresh-air feed contains a first fresh-air feed pipe connected to the burner device, for optional feeding of fresh air together with the spent fuel gas to the burner device, as well as a second fresh-air feed pipe for feeding fresh air to the cathode input while bypassing the burner device. The amount of the fresh air fed to the burner device by way of the first fresh-air feed pipe is preferably adjusted such that a temperature of between 750° C. and 1,400° C., preferably between 850° C. and 1,250° C., occurs in the burner device.