Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydrogen fed power system comprising: a high-pressure hydrogen container (150), at least one hydrogen driven energy converter such as a fuel cell (159) connecting to the hydrogen container (150), pressure converter (158) for hydrogen gas, located between the high-pressure hydrogen container (150) and the lower pressure energy converter (159). The invention also relates to a vehicle as well as to a stand-alone electric power unit provided with such an hydrogen fed power system. Furthermore the present invention relates a method for use of the hydrogen fed power system and to a method for filling up the high-pressure hydrogen container of the hydrogen fed power system.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a high differential pressure electrochemical cell which encompasses a high pressure chamber and a low pressure chamber, said chambers being separated by a membrane, the membrane being ion-conductive, in particular proton-conductive, and electrically insulating, the membrane having a first surface in the high pressure chamber and a second surface in the low pressure chamber, the first surface being provided with a first electrode, and the second surface being provided with a second electrode, the first and second electrodes being electroconductively connected to each other via an electric circuit, wherein the membrane comprises at least two ion-conductive layers, wherein at least one of said ion-conductive layers is electrically insulating and at least one of said ion-conductive layers is electrically conductive. The high differential pressure electrochemical cell preferably is an ionic gas compressor, an ionic gas decompressor, or a high pressure electrolyser.

Abstract: The invention relates to a power plant for generating electric power by means of fuel cells. The power plant is characterized by a nominal power amounting to less than 50% of the peak power, and preferably even less than 25% of the peak power. The power plant preferably comprises several hundred fuel cell stacks.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a solar cell unit comprising a back electrode, a photovoltaic (PV) layer, and, optionally, a front electrode, with part of the surface of the solar cell unit not generating any energy, characterised in that on at least a portion of the part of the solar cell unit which does not generate any energy a colouring layer is present, while at least a portion of the energy generating part of the solar cell unit is free of a colouring layer. Preferably at least 50%, more preferably, at least 85%, more preferably still, at least 90% of the energy generating part of the solar cell unit is free of a colouring layer. The solar cell unit may be either a wafer-based solar cell unit or a thin film solar cell unit. The colouring layer may be applied on, e.g., the optionally present grid and/or in the case of thin film solar cell units on the part of the surface of the solar cell unit which does not generate any energy as a result of the connection in series.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a method of manufacturing a photovoltaic foil comprising a TCO layer, a photovoltaic layer, and a back electrode, which method comprises the following steps: providing a conductive temporary substrate; applying a TCO layer on the temporary substrate; applying a photovoltaic layer on the TCO by means of electrodeposition, with the current during the electrodeposition being supplied at least through the temporary substrate; applying a back electrode; if so desired, applying a permanent substrate; removing the temporary substrate. The crux of the invention is that the unit of the conductive temporary substrate and the TCO functions as electrode during the electrodeposition of the photovoltaic layer. Because of this, the rate of deposition of the photovoltaic layer can be increased compared with that of the prior art. Furthermore, a photovoltaic layer with a more homogenous layer thickness is obtained.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a process for manufacturing a solar cell unit comprising the steps of (a.) providing an etchable conductive temporary substrate (b.) applying a layer of a transparent conductive oxide (TCO) onto the temporary substrate (c.) applying a photovoltaic layer onto the TCO layer (d.) applying a back electrode layer (e.) applying a permanent carrier (f.) in any one of the preceding steps providing an etch resist on the temporary substrate in a pattern suitable to form a current collection grid after removal of the portion of the temporary substrate which is not covered with etch resist (g.) selectively removing the temporary substrate where it is not covered with etch resist. The process of the present invention makes it possible to provide a solar cell unit comprising a highly conductive current collection grid by way of a simple process. If so desired, the current collection grid may be provided with a color layer.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a photovoltaic roofing panel comprising a carrier and a solar cell unit, the solar cell unit being divided into individual solar cells with at least two solar cells being connected in series, wherein at least one solar cell is connected in series to a non-adjacent solar cell. Preferably, each cell in n connection in series will supply essentially the same amount of current. More preferably, the invention pertains to photovoltaic roofing panel comprising a carrier and a solar cell unit, with the carrier having a recurrent profile with a recurrent pattern length l and a length of the profile k, with the length of the profile k being the length of the profile in the recurrent pattern length l, with the carrier being provided with a solar cell unit which perpendicular to the recurrent pattern length l is divided up into solar cells c1 . . . cn having a width w1 . . . wn, with the sum of w1 . . . wn being equal to the length of the profile k, and with at least one cell c1 . . .

Abstract: The method according to the invention is a fabrication method for cell plates that can be used in polymer electrolyte fuel cells, and in polymer electrolyte fuel cell stacks. The plates according to the invention have a conductive area of the cell and preferably a non-conducting polymer edge around this conducting area. Cell plates according to the invention can be welded to other cell plates or can be welded to MEA's.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a solar cell unit comprising a back electrode, a photovoltaic (PV) layer, and, optionally, a front electrode, with part of the surface of the solar cell unit not generating energy, wherein at least part of the non-energy-generating part of the solar cell unit is provided with a coloring material, while at least part of the energy-generating part of the solar cell unit is free of a coloring material, the color of the coloring material being different from that of the solar cell unit. If so desired, part of the non-energy-generating part of the solar cell unit may be provided with a camouflage material. The present invention makes it possible to select the color impression of the solar cell unit and/or decorate the solar cell unit while the electrical output of the solar cell unit is not affected.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a method of making a photovoltaic cell at least comprising the following layers in the following order: a first electrode layer, a transparent wide band gap semiconductor layer provided with a layer of a photosensitising dye or pigment which in combination with the semiconductor layer has the ability to spatially separate photogenerated electrons from their positive countercharges, a layer of an electrolyte, a catalyst layer, and a second electrode layer. The method is characterized in that the first electrode layer and the semiconductor layer and/or the second electrode layer and the catalyst layer are deposited on a flexible temporary substrate that is removed later on. The electrode or electrodes, which are deposited on the temporary substrate, are transparent. The invention allows the roll-to-roll manufacture of said photovoltaic cell while providing great freedom in selecting the processing conditions.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a method of manufacturing a photovoltaic foil comprising a TCO layer, a photovoltaic layer, and a back electrode, which method comprises the following steps: providing a conductive temporary substrate; applying a TCO layer on the temporary substrate; applying a photovoltaic layer on the TCO by means of electrodeposition, with the current during the electrodeposition being supplied at least through the temporary substrate; applying a back electrode; if so desired, applying a permanent substrate; removing the temporary substrate. The crux of the invention is that the unit of the conductive temporary substrate and the TCO functions as electrode during the electrodeposition of the photovoltaic layer. Because of this, the rate of deposition of the photovoltaic layer can be increased compared with that of the prior art. Furthermore, a photovoltaic layer with a more homogenous layer thickness is obtained.

Abstract: The invention is related to a method for the production of sheet like material that can be used in applications where polymer based material has to conduct electric current at low impedance, especially for application in electrodes, like the electrodes of polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells, the sheet material being electrically conductive composite material comprising a non conductive polymer binder and electrically conductive compounds. The method according to this invention has as its objective to provide a method for large-scale production of electrical conductive sheet like material in which the disadvantages of the prior art are avoided.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for the conversion of hydrocarbons to hydrogen, and to the conversion process. Fuel processors, or reformers are often used for large-scale conversion of natural gas to hydrogen containing mixtures. Although large fuel processors perform well, small reformers still have some major drawbacks. The object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for the conversion of hydrocarbons to hydrogen rich gas mixtures, that operates at a relatively low temperature, uses air instead of pure oxygen, can be operated at atmospheric pressure, has a low pressure drop, is compact, has low thermal mass and having high thermal efficiency.

Abstract: The invention is aimed at providing a heat and power generating apparatus comprising a polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack, and a fuel processing system that converts a hydrocarbon into a hydrogen rich mixture, the apparatus according to the invention has a high electrical as well as thermal efficiency. The high efficiency is realized according to the invention by operating the system at atmospheric pressure, low-pressure drop, and by using an efficient inverter.

Abstract: A hybrid roof covering element, which suitable for simultaneously heating a medium and generating electricity, and which comprises a single or multiple transparent layer, a flexible thin film solar cell sheet with a heat capacity of less than 3.5 kJ/m2K and a thermally insulating material, and a medium to be heated. The flexible thin film solar cell sheet comprises a carrier, a back electrode, a photovoltaic layer, and a transparent conductive front electrode and has a heat capacity of less than 3.5 kJ/m2K. This hybrid roof covering element has a response speed of more than 5.7·10−4 K/J if the medium to be heated is air and a response speed of more than 1·10−4 K/J if the medium to be heated is water.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a process for manufacturing a thin film solar cell sheet provided with a plurality of solar cells connected in series which comprises the following steps:

Abstract: The invention pertains to a method of manufacturing a photovoltaic foil supported by a carrier and comprising a plurality of photovoltaic layers which together have the ability of generating electric current from incident light, a back-electrode layer on one side adjacent and parallel to the photovoltaic layers, and a transparent conductor layer on the other side of, and adjacent and parallel to the photovoltaic layers, which method comprises the following subsequent steps: providing a temporary substrate, applying the transparent conductor layer, applying the photovoltaic layers, applying the back-electrode layer, applying the carrier, removing the temporary substrate, and, preferably, applying a top coat on the side of the transparent conductor layer.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a multi-layer printed wire board, also referred to as a multilayer, comprising at least two electrically insulating substrates with electrically conductive traces or layers provided on at least three surfaces thereof, in which process, by means of lamination under pressure, a cured basic substrate based on a UD-reinforced synthetic material, provided on either side with traces, is combined with and bonded to a back-up substrate, wherein during the laminating process the back-up substrate is added to the basic substrate, the base substrate and the back-up substrate comprising a UD-reinforced cured core layer, the base substrate having been provided at least on the side facing the back-up substrate with a still plastically deformable (flowable) adhesive layer, and such a pressure is exerted on the laminate as to bring said back-up substrate into contact or practically into contact with the conducting traces of the basic substrate, and the space between these traces is filled with the

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of making a composite laminate comprising the steps of providing unidirectionally oriented parallel fibres (UD filaments) (3) with a resin matrix to form a composite UD layer and laminating a plurality of UD layers to form a UD crossply laminate (18). In the method of the invention, the UD filaments are impregnated with a melt of a resin which in the uncured form solidifies below a certain temperature (Tm). Thereupon the UD filaments-containing resin is cooled to a temperature below Tm to produce the composite UD layer. The produced composite UD layer is irreversibly cured before or after lamination. Notably latent curing resins are suitable. The impregnation is preferably conducted by coating a process belt (8) with solid resin (6), laying the UD filaments onto the resin, and heating the resin so as to form the resin melt. The heating of the resin is preferably conducted by means of IR irradiation (11).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a composite laminate, preferably a cross-ply laminate, in which process unidirectionally oriented (UD) fibres (3) are provided with matrix material (7) and, together with a pre-formed non-flowing UD composite or cross-ply laminate, passed through a laminating zone (13) in layers of at least two different orientational directions. More particularly, the invention relates to the manufacture of composite material which is pre-eminently suited to be used as a supporting substrate for printed wire boards. The method according to the invention is directed in particular to the utilisation of a double belt press, both for making the preformed non-flowing UD composite and for the manufacture of the final laminate. The invention also comprises printed wire board (PWBs) and multilayer PWBs.