Abstract: Rapid response to a fuel cell system of the type including a reformer (32) in response to a change in load is achieved in a system that includes a fuel tank (24), a water tank (20) and a source (42) of a fluid at an elevated temperature. A heat exchanger (28) is provided for vaporizing fuel and water and delivering the resulting vapor to the system reformer (32) and includes an inlet (64) and an outlet (66) for the fluid. It includes a plurality of fluid flow paths (100), (102), (104) extending between the inlet (64) and outlet (66) as well as a fuel inlet (56) and a fuel outlet (58) spaced therefrom. The fuel inlet (56) and outlet (58) are connected by a plurality of fuel flow paths (52) that are in heat exchange relation with the fluid flow paths (100), (102), (104) and the fuel water inlet (56) is located adjacent the upstream ends of the fluid flow paths (100), (102), (104).

Abstract: A chemical reactor for a fuel cell system includes a reaction chamber containing at least two reaction partial chambers arranged parallel to one another. The effective reaction chamber cross section on the input side is adjustable by opening or closing the reaction partial chambers. A first reaction partial chamber type is open when the system is started is warmed up more rapidly under comparable operating conditions than the second reaction partial chamber.

Abstract: A lamina stack for a two-pass evaporator composed of laminae for converting two media mass streams from a liquid state into a gaseous state, comprises at least two laminae. Structures comprising recesses and raised regions on a first media lamina form a first media chamber perfused by one of the media mass streams. The structures on a second media lamina form a second media chamber perfused by the other one of the media mass streams. The at least two of the laminae can be supplied with thermal energy. Both media laminae have comparable structures, with at least a majority of the recesses in the one of the media laminae being disposed above or below the raised regions of the respective other media lamina.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a catalyst body for generating hydrogen having at least one thin, large-surface catalyst layer, through which the reaction mixture can be passed includes steps of pressing a copper powder (particularly dendritic copper) to form a thin and highly compressed layer which forms a formed body, sintering, the formed body in a reducing atmosphere so that a net-type carrier structure made of copper is formed, and activating a surface layer of the formed body.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus produce current values dependent on the position of the accelerator pedal controlling the power of one or more electric drives for moving a mobile device that is energised by a fuel cell. The time required by the drive or drives to respond to a change in the desired current value produced as a function of the position of the accelerator pedal is kept as small as possible by producing a current value—convertible into a desired torque value—which is held continuously at a value sufficient to ensure that the output voltage of the fuel cell just avoids undershooting a critical limit.

Abstract: A vehicle has an internal-combustion engine drive and a fuel cell drive system. Liquid fuel is used to supply energy to the internal-combustion engine drive and the fuel cell system. The internal-combustion engine drive is used for starting the vehicle and for permitting its immediate movement after starting of the internal-combustion engine, as well as for heating the fuel cell system to a working temperature. After the working temperature is reached, the fuel cell is started. Subsequently, an electric driving motor, which is fed by the fuel cell system, alone or together with the internal-combustion engine drive, drives the movement of the vehicle.

Abstract: A process for generating a high-hydrogen, low-carbon monoxide gas comprises generating a product gas in a gas generating device. The product gas contains hydrogen and carbon monoxide that are generated from catalytic water vapor reforming of a water/fuel mixture and/or from partial oxidation of an oxygen/fuel mixture. In a gas purification stage, the carbon monoxide fraction in the product gas is reduced by selective CO oxidation on an oxidation catalyst. During a starting phase, oxygen is admixed to the supplied fuel and the flow direction is reversed such that the flow first takes place through the gas purification stage and only then through the gas generating device.

Abstract: A methanol reforming reactor includes a reforming reaction space into which a methanol reforming catalyst is charged. The methanol reforming catalyst is present at the start of the reforming reaction operation in a pre-aged state in the reforming reaction space. A process for pre-aging the methanol reforming catalyst comprises heating at a temperature of between approximately 240° C. and approximately 350° C. and at a load of between approximately 0.5 m3H2/h and approximately 50 m3H2/h per liter of catalyst material in a methanol/water atmosphere. The reactor may be used in fuel-cell-operated motor vehicles for generating hydrogen for the fuel cells by means of the water vapor reforming of methanol.