Abstract: An apparatus for converting and storing energy, which includes a plurality of various energy converters for converting energy, which is present in various forms of energy, to electrical energy. The apparatus further includes an energy store for storing the electrical energy and an interface for outputting the energy to a consumer.

Abstract: This invention relates to a fuel cell system with a polyelectrolyte membrane fuel cell and a method by which the pressure inside the fuel cell can be regulated by means of the quantity of fuel introduced. This regulation is accomplished by means of pressure sensors which are controlled by means of an electronic control unit.

Abstract: A planar fuel cell system comprising at least two fuel cells which are electrically connected in series in a plane via horizontally overlapping connecting lugs and comprise an anode current collector on the anode side and comprise a cathode current collector on the cathode side is provided. The current collectors are electrically connected to the connecting lugs and a polymer electrolyte membrane, wherein the current path is led around the polymer electrolyte membrane. The fuel cell system is designed with a printed circuit board technique and as a composite of a first, anode-side printed circuit board and a second, cathode-side printed circuit board, and the current collectors and connecting lugs are designed as strip conductors of these printed circuit boards. Methods of manufacturing the fuel cell system are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of fuel cell technology, more specifically to a device and a method for supplying fuel to the anode of a direct alcohol fuel cell. Said device comprises a fuel accumulator in which the fuel is stored, and a flow-through device provided with a wall at least partially consisting of a membrane that is permeable to the fuel. Said flow-through device is used to guide a mixture of a carrier constituent and the fuel through the fuel accumulator, and the concentration of fuel in the mixture is increased by the diffusion of fuel through the permeable membrane.

Abstract: The invention relates to a planar fuel cell system comprising at least two fuel cells which are electrically mounted in series by means of horizontally overlapping connecting lugs (8 and 8?, 18 and 18?) and/or strip conductors (40), and a polymer electrolyte membrane (3). According to the invention, the current path is guided around the polymer electrolyte membrane, the fuel cell system is embodied as an arrangement of two printed circuit boards, according to printed circuit board technique, and the current collectors and connecting lugs arc embodied as strip conductors of said printed circuit boards.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a micro cell system (1) with a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) (2) which in each case is covered on the cathode-side and anode-side with a current collector foil (3, 4). The current collector foils in each case comprise at least one gas-permeable opening (5, 6). On at least one of the current collector foils (3, 4) on a side facing the MEA (2) there are arranged diffusion channels (7, 8) These replace e.g. porous or fleece-like gas diffusion layers and thus alone ensure the micro-diffusion of gas on the MEA (2) The diffusion channels for this are connected to the gas-permeable opening (5, 6) for leading through gas, and the webs (9, 10) of the diffusion channels are provided with an electrically conductive surface (11, 12) for contacting the MEA.

Abstract: This invention relates to a fuel cell system with a polyelectrolyte membrane fuel cell and a method by which the pressure inside the fuel cell can be regulated by means of the quantity of fuel introduced. This regulation is accomplished by means of pressure sensors which are controlled by means of an electronic control unit.