Abstract: A cooling arrangement for cooling a fuel cell in a fuel cell system is disclosed. The cooling arrangement has at least two fluidically connected cooling circuits in which a liquid coolant medium flows, The first cooling circuit includes a first coolant pump, a fuel cell heat exchanger, a heating unit, and a charge air cooler, which is in heat-exchanging contact with compressed supply air flowing to the fuel cell. The second cooling circuit includes a cooling heat exchanger for cooling the liquid coolant medium. The cooling arrangement includes at least one further coolant pump.

Abstract: A cooling arrangement for cooling a fuel cell in a fuel cell system is disclosed. The cooling arrangement has at least two fluidically connected cooling circuits in which a liquid coolant medium flows, The first cooling circuit includes a first coolant pump, a fuel cell heat exchanger, a heating unit, and a charge air cooler, which is in heat-exchanging contact with compressed supply air flowing to the fuel cell. The second cooling circuit includes a cooling heat exchanger for cooling the liquid coolant medium. The cooling arrangement includes at least one further coolant pump.

Abstract: The operational availability of a motor vehicle with a fuel cell is increased by providing that a defined quantity of the output power of the fuel cell system is consumed by a power consumption component in the heating-up phase and/or in the warm-up phase and that the consumed quantity of the output power is converted into power loss by impressing a suitable current into at least one winding of an electric motor which is to be energized.

Abstract: The operational availability of a motor vehicle with a fuel cell is increased by providing that a defined quantity of the output power of the fuel cell system is consumed by a power consumption component in the heating-up phase and/or in the warm-up phase and that the consumed quantity of the output power is converted into power loss by impressing a suitable current into at least one winding of an electric motor which is to be energized.

Abstract: A reactor for autothermal reforming of hydrocarbons that allows a reduction of excess-air factor ? during the reforming without resulting in a reduced conversion of the hydrocarbons in an end region of the reaction zone. The reactor includes at least one reaction zone in which is arranged at least one catalyst structure for the reformation so that the educts involved in the reformation are converted while flowing through the reaction zone. A heating device is included for heating the end region of the reaction zone to accelerate the conversion of the hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A method for starting a gas generating system serving to generate a hydrogenous gas used for operating a fuel cell. The gas generating system includes: devices for converting starting materials into the hydrogenous gas; devices for conditioning at least a portion of the starting materials; devices for purifying the hydrogenous gas by removing unwanted gas constituents, and; a starting burner. According to the method, in a first method step, at least one fuel is combusted inside the starting burner. The hot waste gases resulting from this combustion firstly heat the devices provided for conditioning at least a portion of the starting materials, and the residual heat of these waste gases subsequently heats at least one additional component. In parallel thereto, the devices for converting the starting materials are heated by an electric heating.

Abstract: A radio network comprises a first device (2) with a transmitter (3), whereby a second device (4) is to be protected from electromagnetic radiation of the transmitter (3) and at least one of the devices (2, 4) is mobile. One of the devices (2, 4) has a wireless interrogation system (6) that interacts with a reflecting device (5) of the other device (4, 2), and one of the devices (2, 4) can be switched according to the distance from the other device, this distance being detected by means of the interrogation system (6) and the reflecting device (5), between a normal operating mode (N2, N4) and a special operating mode (S2, S4) provided for comparatively short distances. The operating mode of the device comprising the transmitter (3) is variable. Optionally, the transmitter (3) can have a transmit power that is dependent on the operating mode.

Abstract: A method and a system for resistance seam welding of a foil and at least one foil support of a fuel cell system. During welding, the thin foil, together with the thicker foil support, is moved relative to the roller electrode while resting on a flat support element. In a suitable welding system, a counter-electrode is designed as a flat support element, such as a welding strip, that is displaceable relative to the roller electrode, the roller electrode being in rolling contact with the foil support, but not with the foil. Depending on whether one foil is to be welded to one or two foil frames, the support element may be designed having a high or a low specific electric resistance.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for starting a gas generating system (1) serving to generate a hydrogenous gas used for operating a fuel cell. The gas generating system comprises: devices for converting starting materials into the hydrogenous gas; devices for conditioning at least a portion of the starting materials; devices for purifying the hydrogenous gas by removing unwanted gas constituents, and; a starting burner (11). The invention provides that, in a first method step, at least one fuel is combusted inside the starting burner. The hot waste gases resulting from this combustion firstly heat the devices provided for conditioning at least a portion of the starting materials, and the residual heat of these waste gases subsequently heats at least one additional component. In parallel thereto, the devices for converting the starting materials are heated by an electric heating.

Abstract: A method and a system for resistance seam welding of a foil and at least one foil support of a fuel cell system. During welding, the thin foil, together with the thicker foil support, is moved relative to the roller electrode while resting on a flat support element. In a suitable welding system, a counter-electrode is designed as a flat support element, such as a welding strip, that is displaceable relative to the roller electrode, the roller electrode being in rolling contact with the foil support, but not with the foil. Depending on whether one foil is to be welded to one or two foil frames, the support element may be designed having a high or a low specific electric resistance.

Abstract: An exhaust gas purification device in a vehicle, wherein a reforming reactor is provided for extraction of hydrogen from fuel and the hydrogen is supplied to an exhaust gas stream of an internal combustion engine upstream of the exhaust gas catalytic converter, wherein the reforming reactor includes a supply device for oxygen and/or water, wherein the reforming reactor is connected with a side branch of the exhaust gas conduit and wherein oxygen and water for reforming are supplied in the form of an exhaust gas partial stream via the side branch.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for reforming educts containing hydrocarbons, having a radiation burner and a reforming reactor, which contains, at least in part, metal honeycomb bodies having a catalyst coating, and which can in particular be used to produce hydrogen from fossil energy carriers. The invention should thereby be able to convert educts containing hydrocarbons into synthesis gases with high efficiency, in particular in a low-power range. For this purpose, a radiation burner is used that heats a two-part reforming reactor by radiation and convection. The radiation burner and the two parts of the reforming reactor are thereby arranged and constructed in such a way that the radiation burner surrounds the two parts of the reforming reactor, and the educt gas and smoke gas can be conducted in counter-current between the two parts of the reforming reactor.

Abstract: A reactor for autothermal reforming of hydrocarbons that allows a reduction of excess-air factor &phgr; during the reforming without resulting in a reduced conversion of the hydrocarbons in an end region of the reaction zone. The reactor includes at least one reaction zone in which is arranged at least one catalyst structure for the reformation so that the educts involved in the reformation are converted while flowing through the reaction zone. A heating device is included for heating the end region of the reaction zone to accelerate the conversion of the hydrocarbons.

Abstract: An exhaust gas purification device in a vehicle, wherein a reforming reactor is provided for extraction of hydrogen from fuel and the hydrogen is supplied to an exhaust gas stream of an internal combustion engine upstream of the exhaust gas catalytic converter, wherein the reforming reactor includes a supply device for oxygen and/or water, wherein the reforming reactor is connected with a side branch of the exhaust gas conduit and wherein oxygen and water for reforming are supplied in the form of an exhaust gas partial stream via the side branch.