Abstract: A device used to provide hot exhaust gases for driving a turbine. The device includes a burner, the combustion zone of which is directly mounted on or integrated into the gas inlet (turbine housing) of the turbine. The burner is supplied with at least one combustible gas or gas mixture. The combustion zone includes a porous material with a large specific surface area.

Abstract: A catalytic burner includes a catalyst body and a line element for the supply of a gas mixture to the catalyst body. The catalytic burner also includes a transitional region between the line element and the catalyst body. A swirl element is arranged in the flow region upstream of the catalyst body in the direction of flow.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel cell stack (10) of a fuel cell system that is to be hermetically sealed off from the environment after operation is ended so that only a finite amount of air oxygen remains in the fuel cells, thus preventing the fuel cells from excessively aging. According to the invention, locking means (26, 28; 32, 34) are provided that are disposed on or in an end plate (14) or distributor plate of the fuel cell stack (10). The locking means (26, 28; 32, 34) are therefore thermally coupled to the end plate (14) and may freeze up at cold ambient temperatures. In a preferred embodiment, the locking means (26, 28; 32, 34) comprise an elastomer body (32, 34) able to cover and uncover a channel (44, 46) in the plate (14).

Abstract: A fuel cell system has at least one fuel cell, a hydrogen storage tank in which hydrogen is stored at a pressure above atmospheric and which communicates via a hydrogen supply line with an anode chamber of the fuel cell. An anode circuit, via which unreacted hydrogen is able to be recirculated from a region downstream of the anode chamber into the hydrogen supply line, is provided. At least one pumping device is provided between the outlet of the anode chamber and its inlet in the anode circuit and/or the hydrogen supply line. Between the hydrogen storage tank and the anode chamber, a turbine is provided, which supplies at least a portion of the power required for driving the pumping device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel cell stack (10) of a fuel cell system that is to be hermetically sealed off from the environment after operation is ended so that only a finite amount of air oxygen remains in the fuel cells, thus preventing the fuel cells from excessively aging. According to the invention, locking means (26, 28; 32, 34) are provided that are disposed on or in an end plate (14) or distributor plate of the fuel cell stack (10). The locking means (26, 28; 32, 34) are therefore thermally coupled to the end plate (14) and may freeze up at cold ambient temperatures. In a preferred embodiment, the locking means (26, 28; 32, 34) comprise an elastomer body (32, 34) able to cover and uncover a channel (44, 46) in the plate (14).

Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel cell drive for a motor vehicle, in particular a utility vehicle, with a fuel cell assembly (1) as an energy source and a fuel cell cooling assembly (2) for adjustably cooling the fuel cell assembly (1) in dependence on the load. The fuel cell assembly (1) comprises at least two fuel cell units (3.1, 3.2) that can be controlled independently from each with a number of fuel cells that are connected in series. The fuel cell cooling assembly (2) comprises, for each of said fuel cell units (3.1, 3.2), an individual fuel cell cooling unit (4.1, 4.2) by means of which the fuel cells of the respective fuel cell unit (3.1, 3.2) can be cooled in dependence on at least one control variable.

Abstract: A device is used for supplying fuel to a burner in a fuel cell system with a reformer. The fuel comprises a materials flow of a reformate gas, which materials flow is depleted of hydrogen, and a materials flow of a compound which comprises carbon and hydrogen. According to the invention, the device comprises at least one nozzle means in which the two materials flows can be mixed together. At least one of the materials flows is controllable as far as its through-flow is concerned.

Abstract: A moisture exchange module includes a bundle of moisture-permeable hollow fiber membranes. It is provided with a feedline for supplying a gas stream that flows through the hollow fiber membranes in an inner flow. According to the present invention, a separating device for separating out liquid particles from the gas flow are provided in the region between the feedline and the bundle of hollow fiber membranes. The separating device may have the form of a groove and are arranged in such a way that the gas flow is guided in such a manner that the centrifugal force assists movement of the liquid particles towards the separating device. The moisture exchange module preferably forms part of a fuel cell system to humidify feed air for the fuel cell system.

Abstract: A moisture exchange module includes a bundle of moisture-permeable hollow fiber membranes through which a first gas stream can flow. The bundle of hollow fiber membranes is arranged in a housing, the housing being provided with line elements for supplying and discharging a second gas stream, which flows around the hollow fiber membranes. Between the bundle of hollow fiber membranes and the housing there is at least one flow space, which extends over at least approximately the entire length of that region of the bundle of hollow fiber membranes through which the first gas stream can flow. The at least one flow space surrounds only a small part of the circumference of the bundle of hollow fiber membranes, so that ultimately a moisture exchange operated in cross-current mode is formed. This can preferably be used for the humidification of feed air for fuel cell systems.

Abstract: A moisture exchange module has a bundle of moisture-permeable hollow fiber membranes and at least one line element for supplying a gas stream that flows through the hollow fibers in an inner flow. The at least one line element opens out into an inflow region, which is of at least approximately the same cross section as the bundle of hollow fiber membranes. According to the present invention, the at least one line element opens out into the inflow region at an angle of from 60° to 120° with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bundle of hollow fiber membranes without the longitudinal axes of the one line element and of the bundle of hollow fiber membranes intersecting one another. An annular diverter means for diverting the gas flow are provided between the cross section of the line elements through which gas can flow and the inflow region.

Abstract: A fuel cell system has at least one fuel cell, a hydrogen storage tank in which hydrogen is stored at a pressure above atmospheric and which communicates via a hydrogen supply line with an anode chamber of the fuel cell. An anode circuit, via which unreacted hydrogen is able to be recirculated from a region downstream of the anode chamber into the hydrogen supply line, is provided. At least one pumping device is provided between the outlet of the anode chamber and its inlet in the anode circuit and/or the hydrogen supply line. Between the hydrogen storage tank and the anode chamber, a turbine is provided, which supplies at least a portion of the power required for driving the pumping device.

Abstract: A moisture exchange module has a bundle of moisture-permeable hollow fibre membranes and at least one line element for supplying a gas stream that flows through the hollow fibres in an inner flow. The at least one line element opens out into an inflow region, which is of at least approximately the same cross section as the bundle of hollow fibre membranes. According to the present invention, the at least one line element opens out into the inflow region at an angle of from 60° to 120° with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bundle of hollow fibre membranes without the longitudinal axes of the one line element and of the bundle of hollow fibre membranes intersecting one another. An annular diverter means for diverting the gas flow are provided between the cross section of the line elements through which gas can flow and the inflow region.

Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a moisture exchange module comprises a moisture-permeable hollow fiber membrane shell space with a bundle of moisture-permeable hollow fiber membranes being arranged in the shell space for receiving a first gas stream. A conduit member is coupled to the shell space for supplying a second gas stream for flow around the hollow fibers. Pursuant to a feature of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a mechanism is arranged and configured in the conduit member to produce a swirling motion in the second gas stream.

Abstract: A moisture exchange module includes a bundle of moisture-permeable hollow fibre membranes. It is provided with a feedline for supplying a gas stream that flows through the hollow fibre membranes in an inner flow. According to the present invention, a separating device for separating out liquid particles from the gas flow are provided in the region between the feedline and the bundle of hollow fibre membranes. The separating device may have the form of a groove and are arranged in such a way that the gas flow is guided in such a manner that the centrifugal force assists movement of the liquid particles towards the separating device. The moisture exchange module preferably forms part of a fuel cell system to humidify feed air for the fuel cell system.

Abstract: A moisture exchange module includes a bundle of moisture-permeable hollow fibre membranes through which a first gas stream can flow. The bundle of hollow fibre membranes is arranged in a housing, the housing being provided with line elements for supplying and discharging a second gas stream, which flows around the hollow fibre membranes. Between the bundle of hollow fibre membranes and the housing there is at least one flow space, which extends over at least approximately the entire length of that region of the bundle of hollow fibre membranes through which the first gas stream can flow. The at least one flow space surrounds only a small part of the circumference of the bundle of hollow fibre membranes, so that ultimately a moisture exchange operated in cross-current mode is formed. This can preferably be used for the humidification of feed air for fuel cell systems.

Abstract: A device is used for supplying fuel to a burner in a fuel cell system with a reformer. The fuel comprises a materials flow of a reformate gas, which materials flow is depleted of hydrogen, and a materials flow of a compound which comprises carbon and hydrogen. According to the invention, the device comprises at least one nozzle means in which the two materials flows can be mixed together. At least one of the materials flows is controllable as far as its through-flow is concerned.

Abstract: The air supplied to a fuel cell module is pumped with a compressor that has a moisturizing function in order to provide sufficiently moisturized oxidant. The compressor operates at very low pressure and the moisturization corresponds approximately to the dew point at the cooling water outlet temperature. If adequate moisturizing of the oxidant is no longer occurring at the defined low pressure, the input pressure is increased and the oxidant output is choked in a regulated manner. A corresponding fuel cell assembly with a polymer electrolyte membrane, i.e., a PEM fuel cell system includes the corresponding pump compressor and a controlled throttle valve at the exit side.