Abstract: A fuel cell comprising a reaction chamber; a plurality of capillary tubes configured to permit a fuel component to flow there through, the capillary tubes being arranged in bundles in adjacent segments within the reaction chamber; a plurality of electrodes, at least one of the plurality of electrodes passing through each of the plurality of capillary tubes, being against each of the plurality of capillary tubes, or passing through and being against each of the plurality of capillary tubes; and a plurality of counter-electrodes, Each electrode extends beyond ends of its respective capillary tube, and electrodes associated with capillary tubes of a segment are electrically connected to one another at each end at substantially the same electrical potential. Each segment has a wall section to which is attached at least one of the counter-electrodes or wherein the wall section at least partially forms at least one of the counter-electrodes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a head plate, fixing the end of a tube bundle with a number of, in particular, porous tubes with a membrane in sealing manner. The head plate is made from a metal or a metal alloy with a melting point lower than the lowest failure temperature for a tube material and/or the membrane.

Abstract: A feed stream is fed to a first distillation stage comprising at least one distillation column (stripper) and the distillate from the first distillation stage is fed to a second distillation column (rectifier). The feed stream is sub-divided into two streams and fed to two distillation columns, in such a way that the rectifier maintains a predefined energy balance.

Abstract: A fuel cell comprising a reaction chamber; a plurality of capillary tubes configured to permit a fuel component to flow there through, the capillary tubes being arranged in bundles in adjacent segments within the reaction chamber; a plurality of electrodes, at least one of the plurality of electrodes passing through each of the plurality of capillary tubes, being against each of the plurality of capillary tubes, or passing through and being against each of the plurality of capillary tubes; and a plurality of counter-electrodes, Each electrode extends beyond ends of its respective capillary tube, and electrodes associated with capillary tubes of a segment are electrically connected to one another at each end at substantially the same electrical potential. Each segment has a wall section to which is attached at least one of the counter-electrodes or wherein the wall section at least partially forms at least one of the counter-electrodes.