Abstract: The plant with high temperature fuel cells includes a multi component sleeve for a cell stack. Axially directed chambers for an afterburning process are arranged between the periphery of the stack and an outer region of the sleeve. A construction which fixes the chambers includes a corset-like cage, the cross-section of which perpendicular to the stack axis has essentially the shape of a regular polygon. An afterburning chamber is associated with each corner of this polygon. Radial spring forces respectively act from the corners onto the associated chamber and thereby press sealing edges of the chamber onto sealing strips between chamber and stack. The sealing edges form a closed edge of a trough-like space. The trough-like space is connected via a narrow passage with an axial collection passage for exhaust gas. This collecting passage is arranged between the trough-like space and the corner.

Abstract: A lambda probe in which a measuring point for oxygen in a sensor is connected via a diffusion gap with a reaction chamber. The reaction chamber drives oxygen along the diffusion gap. A desired oxygen partial pressure is set in the reaction chamber. The pump current, which is proportional to the strength of the stream of oxygen driven along the diffusion gap, can be used as a measurement for the partial pressure of the residual oxygen in the exhaust gas during a normal operating phase. The lambda probe can be operated for test purposes intermittently in a high or low phase, in which the oxygen partial pressure in the reaction chamber is a minimum or maximum value. While changing between the operating phases, by comparing the pump currents with empirical values, conclusions with regard to the ability of the probe to function can be derived.

Abstract: The structured body intended for use for an anode (1) in fuel cells, includes a structure formed by macro-pores and an electrode material. The macro-pores form communicating spaces which are produced by using pore forming materials. The electrode material includes skeleton-like or net-like connected structures of particles which are connected by sintering and which form two reticular systems which interengage: a first reticular system made of ceramic material and a second reticular system which contains metals to effect an electrical conductivity. The electrode material has the properties so that, with a multiple change between oxidizing and reducing conditions, substantially no major property changes occur in the ceramic reticular system, and an oxidization or reduction of the metals occurs in the second reticular system.

Abstract: The structured body intended for use for an anode (1) in fuel cells, includes a structure formed by macro-pores and an electrode material. The macro-pores form communicating spaces which are produced by using pore forming materials. The electrode material includes skeleton-like or net-like connected structures of particles which are connected by sintering and which form two reticular systems which interengage: a first reticular system made of ceramic material and a second reticular system which contains metals to effect an electrical conductivity. The electrode material has the properties so that, with a multiple change between oxidizing and reducing conditions, substantially no major property changes occur in the ceramic reticular system, and an oxidization or reduction of the metals occurs in the second reticular system.

Abstract: Please substitute the following version of the Abstract, with changes shown by strikethrough (for deletions) or underlining (for added matter). The heat exchanger (I) is provided for a heating system with integrated fuel cells (Z) for the production of electricity and with an additional burner (B). Electrical and thermal energy (E, Q) can be produced in this heating system from a gaseous fuel or from a fuel brought into the gas form by means of the fuel cells, and/or thermal energy (Q) can be produced by means of the additional burner. One part of the thermal energy present in the form of hot exhaust gases can be transferred in the heat exchanger to a liquid heat transfer medium, in particular water or an oil. The heat transfer medium is provided for heat transport for the purpose of room heating and/or process water heating. The heat exchanger forms a compact unit which is also made of a material of good thermal conductivity.

Abstract: The plant (1) with high temperature fuel cells (11) includes a multi component sleeve (4, 12, 13) for a cell stack (5). Axially directed chambers (7) for an afterburning process are arranged between the periphery of the stack (5) and an outer region of the sleeve. A construction which fixes the chambers includes a corset-like cage (40), the cross-section of which perpendicular to the stack axis has essentially the shape of a regular polygon. An afterburning chamber is associated with each corner of this polygon. Radial spring forces respectively act from the corners onto the associated chamber and thereby press sealing edges (75) of the chamber onto sealing strips (75?) between chamber and stack. The sealing edges form a closed edge of a trough-like space. The trough-like space is connected via a narrow passage (73) with an axial collection passage (72) for exhaust gas (30). This collecting passage is arranged between the trough-like space and the corner.

Abstract: The plant (1) with high-temperature fuel cells (7) includes a clamping device for a cell stack (5) and axially aligned chambers (7) for an after-burning. Clamping bars (60) of the clamping device are disposed between the afterburning chambers. Exhaust gas passages connect the after-burning chambers to a heat exchanger (20a) acting as a heat sink. A clamping element (62) of the clamping device is in heat conducting connection with the heat exchanger. Compression springs (63) are respectively mounted on the clamping bars between an end of the clamping bar and a lug (622) of the clamping element. In this arrangement they exert a clamping force onto the clamping bars. The compression springs are shielded by the clamping element from the cell stack so that, thanks to the heat sink, the compression springs are only exposed to moderate temperature at which the clamping force is maintained.

Abstract: A lambda probe (1) is used with the measuring apparatus for monitoring residual oxygen in an exhaust gas, in which a measuring point for oxygen in a sensor (2) is connected via a diffusion gap (22) with a reaction chamber (24). During operation of the probe the reaction chamber drives a stream of oxygen IO2 along the diffusion gap by means of a controllably adjustable oxygen partial pressure pi. By means of an electro-chemical, oxygen ion pump driven by an electrical pump current Ip, an oxygen partial pressure pi predetermined as a desired value is set in the reaction chamber. In this arrangement the pump current, the strength of which is proportional to the strength of the stream of oxygen driven along the diffusion gap, can be used as a measurement parameter for the partial pressure pm of the residual oxygen in the exhaust gas or its concentration. The residual oxygen can be monitored during a normal operating phase, the phase N.

Abstract: The disclosure concerns a method of preparing an ink (P) which can be used for the manufacture of a functional layer (6), in particular for the manufacture of an electrode for fuel cells, which ink contains dispersely distributed particles (101, 102) forming two solid phases, with catalytic reactions being able to be activated in the manufactured functional layer on a gas/solid interface by a combined action of the two solid phases and with gaseous reactants. In a first step (1), the solid phases are formed as fine-grain particles (P1, P2) and the particles of both solid phases are dispersed in a first liquid (L1) in a mixed and homogeneously distributed manner (2).

Abstract: The fuel cell battery (1) has an integrated heat exchanger (4) which is arranged between a heat insulating jacket (12) and a stack (10) of high temperature fuel cells (2). There is a chamber (3), preferably at least two chambers for afterburning, between a periphery (14) of the cell stack and the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is provided for a heat transfer from an exhaust gas (7) to a gaseous oxygen carrier (5). There are arranged on the stack periphery (14), outside or inside the chamber or chambers respectively, inlet points (25a) for the oxygen carrier, on the one hand, and outlet points (25b, 26b) for non-converted educts, namely a fuel gas (6) and the oxygen carrier, on the other hand. The heat exchanger (4) includes a passage system (4) through which the exhaust gas (7) and the oxygen carrier (5) flow largely in transverse planes disposed perpendicular to the axis of the cell stack (10) in one operating state of the battery.

Abstract: Anode material for a fuel cell which is to be operated at a high temperature above 700° C.

Abstract: The space heating system with fuel cells (11) has a connection to a public electrical network (50). In this system a fuel (B) can be supplied to the fuel cells in gaseous form through a main gas valve (200) for the production of thermal and electrical energy. The main gas valve has a control which, on an interruption of the current supplied, results in an automatic operating shutdown. The possibilities exist for the system to feed the electrical energy at least partly into the network and to deliver the thermal energy to a heating circuit which is operable with electrical energy from the network. An electrical inverter (4), with which direct current of the fuel cells can be converted into alternating current, can be operated in two operating states, on the one hand, for a feed into the public network, and, on the other hand, for a feed into the island network of the system.

Abstract: A fuel cell having a solid electrolyte layer (12) forms together with two electrode layers (11, 13) a plate-like multiple layer system (1). The layers are applied by means of coating procedures to an open-pored, electrically conducting carrier structure (10) in the sequence anode (11), electrolyte (12) and cathode (13). This multiple layer system (1) has an outer edge which is exposed during a current generating operation of the fuel cell to an external environment (60) which contains molecular oxygen. The material of the carrier structure assumes an oxidized or a reduced state in thermodynamic equilibrium at the operating temperature of the fuel cell depending on the environment. The outer edge (16) of the multiple layer plate is covered over with an inert material. At the operating temperature of the fuel cell this edge covering (126) forms a barrier which inhibits or prevents the transport of molecular oxygen out of the external environment (60) into the carrier structure.

Abstract: The heat exchanger (1) is provided for a heating system with integrated fuel cells (Z) for the production of electricity and with an additional burner (B). Electrical and thermal energy (E, Q) can be produced in this heating system from a gaseous fuel or from a fuel brought into the gas form by means of the fuel cells and/or thermal energy (Q) can be produced by means of the additional burner. One part of the thermal energy present in the form of hot exhaust gases can be transferred in the heat exchanger to a liquid heat transfer medium, in particular water or an oil. The heat transfer medium is provided for heat transport for the purpose of room heating and/or process water heating. The heat exchanger forms a compact unit which is also made of a material of good thermal conductivity. Two separate passages (12, 13) are arranged in the heat exchanger inside a double-walled jacket (10). The jacket has a structured inner space (11) which forms a communicating vessel.

Abstract: The high temperature fuel cell includes a fuel side carrier structure (1), which includes an anode layer (1a) and which serves as a carrier for a thin, gas-tight sintered solid material electrolyte layer (2). This carrier is formed by a heterogeneous phase (1b) in which hollow cavities in the form of macro-pores and also micro-pores are contained. The heterogeneous phase includes two part phases which penetrate each other in interlaced manner. The first part phase consists of a ceramic material and the second part phase has metal, for which a redox cycle can be carried out with a complete reduction and renewed oxidation. The first part phase is composed of large and small ceramic particles (10, 11), from which inherently stable “burr corpuscles” (12, 13) are formed as islands in the heterogeneous phase. The second part phase produces an electrically conductive connection through the carrier structure in the presence of the reduced form of the metal.

Abstract: The method for operating a fuel cell battery (1) comprises an analysis of an integrity state of the battery. This integrity state is determined by means of measurement of operating parameters and a programmed evaluation of the measurement data. The battery is controlled for the purpose of reliable operation in such a manner that the maximum electrical output power is subjected to a limitation which is dependent on the integrity state or an interruption of the operation is initiated. The integrity state can be characterized by at least two parameters, in particular a parameter pair Cj, dj. From a relationship which contains the parameters an internal electrical resistance (Ri) of the battery can be calculated on the one hand and a statement on the quality of the battery can be derived on the other hand.

Abstract: The method for the reformation of fuels, in particular of heating oil (20?) and of another liquid fuel is carried out using an oxygen containing gas (5a, 5b, 21?, 22?). The method includes the following steps: formation of a fuel/gas mixture by dispersing of the fuel in a jet of the oxygen containing gas (21?); additionally an admixture of gas of a return flow (3b) and vaporization of the dispersed fuel; generation of synthesized gas from the gas mixture by means of partial oxidation and also reformation processes by heterogeneous catalysis; branching off of the produced synthesized gas into a product flow (3a) and the return flow (3b) for a recirculation; and a regulated extraction of heat from the return flow for the setting of a predetermined temperature of a catalyst support (10) on which the heterogeneous catalysis takes place.

Abstract: A lambda probe (1) is used with the measuring apparatus for monitoring residual oxygen in an exhaust gas, in which a measuring point for oxygen in a sensor (2) is connected via a diffusion gap (22) with a reaction chamber (24). During operation of the probe the reaction chamber drives a stream of oxygen IO2 along the diffusion gap by means of a controllably adjustable oxygen partial pressure pi. By means of an electro-chemical, oxygen ion pump driven by an electrical pump current Ip, an oxygen partial pressure pi predetermined as a desired value is set in the reaction chamber. In this arrangement the pump current, the strength of which is proportional to the strength of the stream of oxygen driven along the diffusion gap, can be used as a measurement parameter for the partial pressure pm of the residual oxygen in the exhaust gas or its concentration. The residual oxygen can be monitored during a normal operating phase, the phase N.

Abstract: The plant contains high temperature fuel cells which form a battery (1) in which electrochemical reactions can be carried out with a fuel (6) and a gas (5) containing oxygen while producing an electrical current (8) and a hot exhaust gas flow (7) which transports waste heat.

Abstract: The fuel cell battery (1) has an integrated heat exchanger (4) which is arranged between a heat insulating jacket (12) and a stack (10) of high temperature fuel cells (2). There is a chamber (3), preferably at least two chambers, for afterburning, between a periphery (14) of the cell stack and the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is provided for a heat transfer from an exhaust gas (7) to a gaseous oxygen carrier (5). There are arranged on the stack periphery (14), outside or inside the chamber or chambers respectively, inlet points (25a) for the oxygen carrier, on the one hand, and outlet points (25b, 26b) for non-converted educts, namely a fuel gas (6) and the oxygen carrier, on the other hand. The heat exchanger (4) includes a passage system (4) through which the exhaust gas (7) and the oxygen carrier (5) flow largely in transverse planes disposed perpendicular to the axis of the cell stack (10) in one operating state of the battery.