Abstract: A fuel cell system and associated method allows for continuous operation of the fuel cell system with fuel recirculation, without the necessity for periodic purging. A portion of the anode exhaust is not recirculated but is continuously bled from the anode exhaust line. Preferably, less than 5% by volume of the anode exhaust is allowed to bleed continuously from the anode exhaust. The bleed line may be connected to a catalytic reactor which combusts the unused fuel. The cathode exhaust may be used as the oxidant for the catalytic reactor. The flow of exhaust to the catalytic reactor may be controlled to ensure that the concentration of hydrogen in the catalytic reactor is no higher than 50% of the lower limit of inflammability for hydrogen.

Abstract: A system for the determination of quantities relating to the circulatory system of a patient comprises a device for the non-invasive measurement of the qualitative variation over time of the local concentration of an indicator injected into the blood circulation system at a first position, the measurement taking place at a second position of the blood circulation system. Furthermore, an evaluating unit is provided which comprises an input interface for reading in an input value of the cardiac output COe of the patient, and in which there is implemented an evaluating algorithm which transforms the qualitative variation over time of the local concentration of the indicator injected into the blood circulation system into a quantitative variation over time of the local concentration of the indicator injected into the blood circulation system.

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 transdermal therapeutic system containing the active substance scopolamine base and comprising a flexible, active substance-impermeable backing layer, an active substance-containing reservoir layer, a control membrane, a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer for attaching the system onto the skin, as well as a protective film or sheet which is likewise active substance-impermeable and is to be removed prior to application, is characterized in that the reservoir layer as well as the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer are made up of a self-adhesive amino-resistant silicone polymer as base polymer, the control membrane is made up of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, and that part of the scopolamine base is present, at least in the reservoir layer, in crystalline form.

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 computer system (104) is connected to an injection means (107) to inject at a first place (101 ) a bolus warmer or colder than patient's blood. The travelling temperature deviation thus introduced to the patient's vascular system (103) passes the pulmonary circulation (111), where an extravascular thermovolume (112) may be present. When the temperature deviation reaches the second place (102), where blood temperature is measured by a sensor device (117) connected to the computer system (104), it is recorded as Thermodilution Curve (15), from which the computer system (104) determines an extravascular thermovolume estimate. Depending on that result the computer system (104) calculates a new amount of bolus to be injected by the injection means (107). The higher the extravascular thermovolume estimate, the higher the new amount of bolus.

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: 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: Switch for flat, flexible mail items in a mail item sorting machine, wherein the mail items are transported off while clamped between two conveyor belts. According to the invention, the deflection element consists of two rigid partial deflection elements (1, 2) with a joint pivoting axis (3), which elements are positioned side-by-side in conveying direction and are fixedly connected outside of the letter flow. The joint pivoting axis (3) is located in the frontal part of the switch region, as seen in conveying direction, and away from the conveying belts (4, 5) that continue on diverging paths in the switch region. Depending on the switch position, the respective mail item, is guided in the chosen direction between one of the two partial deflection elements (1, 2) and the respective outer conveying belt (4, 5). The other partial deflection element (1, 2) in that case is completely located outside of the conveying belts (4, 5) that diverge in the switch region.

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 active substance-containing patch for controlled release of estradiol or its pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives, alone or in combination with gestagens, to the human or animal skin, consisting of a backing layer, an active substance-containing reservoir connected thereto which is suitable for combined active substance release and which has been produced using pressure-sensitive adhesives, and a detachable protective layer, is characterized in that the pressure-sensitive adhesive contains wool wax or components thereof and zinc oxide.

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: In an off-line, free standing, parts-orienting and feeding device, selected parts are fed by a hopper to and oriented in a centrifugal or vibratory parts feeder unit, and then discharged to a programmed transferring arrangement. The latter includes a slide shuttle unit for alternately receiving discharged parts in a plurality or passages and aligning the part receiving passages with one or more pressurized air passages to blow the parts through selected transfer tubes to pick and placement devices which serve to place the parts continually one at a time on packaging materials being processed on one or more packaging machines. Limit devices on each transfer tube signal the slide shuttle unit to realign the parts receiving passages with the pressurized air passages to provide parts as required by each machine.

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: The invention relates to a packaging for planiform objects/products such as susceptors, wafers, chewing gum, TTS, TDDS, TDS, stamps, microchips or like. Said packaging consists of a support card (1) with one or more cavities (2) for receiving the object(s). The upper side of said support card is covered by a cover film (3) which occludes the cavities and which is sealed with th support card at sealing lines (4) at least in the marginal area around the cavities in such a manner that sad film can be torn open. Said sealing lines are surrounded by a weakened line (c) the cover film which merges into the contour of a tab (3a) for grasping and manually tearing open the cover film above the respective cavity.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to improve the efficiency of a turbomachine blade provided with a reinforced hole for accommodating a damping element. To this end, the raised end faces (12, 13) of the marginal region (11), reinforced toward the hole (10), of the blade body (4) are formed with an acute angle (&agr;) open toward the leading edge (5) of the blade body (4) and/or with an acute angle (&bgr;) open toward the blade tip (9).

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.