Abstract: In a fuel cell system, for example HTPEM fuel cells. a valve system is employed by selectively guiding exhaust gas from the burner either to the reformer for heating the reformer, especially during normal operation, or to by-pass the reformer in startup situations in order to heat the fuel cell stack before starting heating the reformer. Optionally, a compact burner/reformer unit is provided.

Abstract: A method for increasing safety in the surroundings of an electric vehicle having a fuel cell system and batteries, wherein the vehicle is configured for charging the batteries by power from the fuel cell system and e.g. produces CO2 during this operation, even when the vehicle is turned-off and in a parked situation, wherein the method includes the steps of providing a sensor system having a gas intake and configured for warning against elevated CO2 levels in the surroundings of the vehicle, mounting the sensor system on the vehicle with the gas intake outside the vehicle's cabin, providing an alarm when the sensor system evaluates that the CO2 levels in the surroundings of the vehicle are elevated and surpass a predetermined threshold level.

Abstract: An indicator is provided in a vehicle for indicating necessity of change of a fuel vapor absorber in a venting line of a vehicle tank, especially a methanol tank for fuel cell vehicles.

Abstract: An electrically driven automobile with a power pack and retrofit thereof. An electric power pack in an electrically powered automobile is provided for retrofit where part of the batteries are substituted by a fuel cell system in order to extend the travelling range of the automobile.

Abstract: An indicator is provided in a vehicle for indicating necessity of change of a fuel vapor absorber in a venting line of a vehicle tank, especially a methanol tank for fuel cell vehicles.

Abstract: A method for increasing safety in the surroundings of an electric vehicle having a fuel cell system and batteries, wherein the vehicle is configured for charging the batteries by power from the fuel cell system and e.g. produces CO2 during this operation, even when the vehicle is turned-off and in a parked situation, wherein the method includes the steps of providing a sensor system having a gas intake and configured for warning against elevated CO2 levels in the surroundings of the vehicle, mounting the sensor system on the vehicle with the gas intake outside the vehicle's cabin, providing an alarm when the sensor system evaluates that the CO2 levels in the surroundings of the vehicle are elevated and surpass a predetermined threshold level.

Abstract: An electrically driven automobile with a power pack and retrofit thereof. An electric power pack in an electrically powered automobile is provided for retrofit where part of the batteries are substituted by a fuel cell system in order to extend the travelling range of the automobile.

Abstract: A fuel cell system (1) comprising a fuel cell (2), a liquid fuel supply (3) for providing liquid fuel, an evaporator (6) for evaporating the liquid fuel to fuel vapor, a reformer (7) for catalytic conversion of the fuel vapor to syngas for the fuel cell and a burner (8) for heating the reformer (7). The burner (8) comprises a catalytic monolith (21) down-stream of a mixing chamber (31) in which air is mixed with evaporated fuel or rest gas prior to entering the monolith (21). The mixing chamber (31) is surrounded by a sleeve (23), which comprises a plurality of openings (29A, 29B) around the mixing chamber (31) for supply of fuel vapor through the openings (29A, 29B) in the startup phase and for supply of rest gas through the openings (29A, 29B) during normal operation. Optionally, a heat exchanger (17) is provided between the burner (8) and the reformer (7) for reducing the temperature of the exhaust gas from the burner (8) before it reaches the reformer (7).

Abstract: In a fuel cell system, for example HTPEM fuel cells. a valve system is employed by selectively guiding exhaust gas from the burner either to the reformer for heating the reformer, especially during normal operation, or to by-pass the reformer in startup situations in order to heat the fuel cell stack before starting heating the reformer. Optionally, a compact burner/reformer unit is provided.

Abstract: A fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell stack, an evaporator for evaporating a mixture of methanol and water to be forwarded through a catalytic reformer for producing portions of free hydrogen. The fuel cell stack being composed of a number of proton exchange membrane fuel cells each featuring electrodes in form of an anode and a cathode for delivering an electric current. The system provides an enhanced system for evaporating the liquid fuel using a pre-evaporator, which partly evaporates the fuel, followed by a nozzle, which atomizes the fuel into a fine mist, before being passed to the final evaporation zone. This configuration ensures minimal fuel accumulation in the system and fast load transition's.

Abstract: A fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell stack, an evaporator for evaporating a mixture of methanol and water to be forwarded through a catalytic reformer for producing portions of free hydrogen. The fuel cell stack being composed of a number of proton exchange membrane fuel cells each featuring electrodes in form of an anode and a cathode for delivering an electric current. The liquid fuel using a. pre-evaporator, which. partly evaporates the fuel, followed by a. nozzle, which atomizes the fuel into a fine mist, before being passed to the final evaporation zone. This configuration ensures that liquid fuel for producing thermal, neat is converted into a form that facilitates a burner to achieve a quick heating up of the fuel, cell system into production mode.

Abstract: The invention relates to a portable heating system that in a first instance provides heat and in a second instance provides a source of electrical current from thermo electric modules where the produced electrical energy is intended to be forwarded to a rechargeable battery. The rechargeable battery serves as a current source for the portable heating system e.g. for driving the fuel pump and air fans. When the rechargeable battery is replenished with electrical energy a control is configured to switch the by the thermo electrical modules generated electrical energy to selected power consumers arranged with the portable heating system in order to facilitate the thermo electrical modules to keep the intended quality serving as a heat pump for transferring the produced heat from a burner to a transportation media for releasing the heat in the designated intended area.

Abstract: A fuel cell system (1) comprising a fuel cell (2), a liquid fuel supply (3) for providing liquid fuel, an evaporator (6) for evaporating the liquid fuel to fuel vapor, a reformer (7) for catalytic conversion of the fuel vapor to syngas for the fuel cell and a burner (8) for heating the reformer (7). The burner (8) comprises a catalytic monolith (21) down-stream of a mixing chamber (31) in which air is mixed with evaporated fuel or rest gas prior to entering the monolith (21). The mixing chamber (31) is surrounded by a sleeve (23), which comprises a plurality of openings (29A, 29B) around the mixing chamber (31) for supply of fuel vapor through the openings (29A, 29B) in the startup phase and for supply of rest gas through the openings (29A, 29B) during normal operation. Optionally, a heat exchanger (17) is provided between the burner (8) and the reformer (7) for reducing the temperature of the exhaust gas from the burner (8) before it reaches the reformer (7).

Abstract: A fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell stack, an evaporator for evaporating a mixture of methanol and water to be forwarded through a catalytic reformer for producing portions of free hydrogen. The fuel cell stack being composed of a number of proton exchange membrane fuel cells each featuring electrodes in form of an anode and a cathode for delivering an electric current. The system provides an enhanced catalytic reformer for a fuel cell system, which enables a compact design of the reformer for integration into a flat, rack mountable system.

Abstract: A fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell stack, an evaporator for evaporating a mixture of methanol and water to be forwarded through a catalytic reformer for producing portions of free hydrogen. The fuel cell stack being composed of a number of proton exchange membrane fuel cells each featuring electrodes in form of an anode and a cathode for delivering an electric current. The system provides an enhanced system for evaporating the liquid fuel using a pre-evaporator, which partly evaporates the fuel, followed by a nozzle, which atomizes the fuel into a fine mist, before being passed to the final evaporation zone. This configuration ensures minimal fuel accumulation in the system and fast load transition's.

Abstract: A fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell stack, an evaporator for evaporating a mixture of methanol and water to be forwarded through a catalytic reformer for producing portions of free hydrogen. The fuel cell stack being composed of a number of proton exchange membrane fuel cells each featuring electrodes in form of an anode and a cathode for delivering an electric current. The liquid fuel using a. pre-evaporator, which. partly evaporates the fuel, followed by a. nozzle, which atomizes the fuel into a fine mist, before being passed to the final evaporation zone. This configuration ensures that liquid fuel for producing thermal, neat is converted into a form that facilitates a burner to achieve a quick heating up of the fuel, cell system into production mode.

Abstract: A fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell stack, an evaporator for evaporating a mixture of methanol and water to be forwarded through a catalytic reformer for producing portions of free hydrogen. The fuel cell stack being composed of a number of proton exchange membrane fuel cells each featuring electrodes in form of an anode and a cathode for delivering an electric current. The system provides an enhanced catalytic reformer for a fuel cell system, which enables a compact design of the reformer for integration into a flat, rack mountable system.

Abstract: A bipolar plate for a fuel cell is provided. The bipolar plate having flow channels for oxidant gas; said flow channels for oxidant gas comprising one or more grooves each representing a serpentine path; wherein each said serpentine path independently comprises N consecutive legs L1, L2, . . . LN; connected to each other by N?1 consecutive turn sections, T1, T2, . . . TN-1; wherein each leg L1, L2, . . . LN-1 being lengthwise separated from its consecutive leg L2, L3, . . . LN by a wall section, W1, W2, . . . WN-1; wherein each turn section representing a 180° change of flow direction of oxidant gas; wherein N is an odd integer of 3 or more; and wherein one or more of the wall sections W1, W2, . . . WN-1 independently comprise one or more by-pass channels for allowing oxidant gas to flow via a short cut from one leg Lx to its consecutive leg Lx+1; 1?x?N?1; thereby by passing a part of the leg Lx and a part of the leg Lx+1. Furthermore, a cooling plate having a similar design is provided.

Abstract: A bipolar plate (1) in combination with a sealant (50, 70) for a PEM fuel cell, wherein the bipolar plate (1) has an anode side with first flow channels (20) for transport of a proton-donating fuel or a cathode side with second flow channels (12) for transport of proton-accepting fluid, or both, wherein a sealant (50, 70) is provided parallel with the bipolar plate (1) for sealing the bipolar plate against an adjacent electrolytic membrane (40). The sealant (50, 70) has fluid channels (54a, 54b, 74a, 74b) across the sealant (50, 70) for transport of proton-donating fuel or proton-accepting fluid, respectively, across the sealant and along the bipolar plate.

Abstract: A bipolar plate (1) in combination with a sealant (50, 70) for a PEM fuel cell, wherein the bipolar plate (1) has an anode side with first flow channels (20) for transport of a proton-donating fuel or a cathode side with second flow channels (12) for transport of proton-accepting fluid, or both, wherein a sealant (50, 70) is provided parallel with the bipolar plate (1) for sealing the bipolar plate against an adjacent electrolytic membrane (40). The sealant (50, 70) has fluid channels (54a, 54b, 74a, 74b) across the sealant (50, 70) for transport of proton-donating fuel or proton-accepting fluid, respectively, across the sealant and along the bipolar plate.