Abstract: The fuel cell system has a fuel cell unit and a catalytically active reactor unit (3) for at least partial chemical transformation of an operating medium stream (1), especially a reformer, gas purifier stage and/or a combustor, in which the catalytically active reactor unit (3) has a variable catalytically active reactor volume (4) acted on by the operating medium stream. To provide the fuel cell system with a higher efficiency and good dynamic behavior the catalytically active reactor unit is provided with at least one control device (5, 8, 11, 12, 13) for controlling and/or for changing the variable catalytically active reactor volume (4) acted on by the operating medium stream (1).

Abstract: The fuel cell system has a combustion device (1, 24) with an exhaust gas line (3) for discharge of exhaust gas (7, 34), a reformer (20) for converting a fuel (6, 31) to a hydrogen-enriched fluid (35), a fuel cell unit (23) operating to produce electrical power from the hydrogen-enriched fluid (35) and air and a heat exchanger (2,WT1) arranged in the exhaust gas line (3). The heat exchanger (2, WT1) delivers heat of the exhaust gas (7, 34) to a heated fluid (32) for the reformer (20) and/or an operating substance (29, 30, 31) of the reformer (20).

Abstract: A method of stabilizing a vehicle involving the following steps is described: recording characteristic actual values that describe the driving condition of a vehicle; determining setpoint values that are at least partially assigned to the actual values; comparing actual values and setpoint values and influencing actual values based on comparison results, one of the recorded actual values being characteristic of the roll state of the vehicle, and one of the setpoint values being assigned to the recorded actual value that is characteristic of the roll state of the vehicle. A device for stabilizing a vehicle is also described.

Abstract: A device for mixing fluids, in particular a gas injection valve, nozzle valve, mixing nozzle or jet compressor, is proposed. To that end, a first fluid-carrying device (12) for carrying a first fluid and a second fluid-carrying device (13) for carrying a second fluid are provided; the fluids are mixed with one another in a mixing region (16) that is in communication with the fluid-carrying devices (12, 13). In addition, a means (20) for generating turbulence in the applicable fluid and a heater, with which the fluid can be heated before reaching the mixing region (16), disposed downstream of the means (20) for generating turbulence in terms of the flow direction of the applicable fluid are associated with at least one of the fluid-carrying devices (12, 13). The proposed device is used in particular for mixing hydrogen and saturated steam and to deliver this mixture to a fuel cell.

Abstract: A fuel cell system has a combustion device, a fuel cell unit and a reformer for transforming fuel into a reformed gas, the combustion device having at least one exhaust pipe as an outlet for exhaust gas, the use of such a fuel cell system resulting in a marked reduction in the additional energy that may be required for heating the transforming unit. This is achieved by positioning at least one heat exchanger unit at the exhaust pipe for heating a heating fluid and/or a fuel of the reformer, using the heat from the exhaust gas stream.

Abstract: The fuel cell apparatus has a fuel cell (1), a pressurized fuel tank (2) for supplying fuel at a supply pressure and a pressure-reducing unit (4) for reducing the supply pressure to an operating pressure of the fuel cell. In order to improve the overall efficiency of the unit in comparison to the art the pressure-reducing unit (4) is constructed as a cooting apparatus for cooling at least one cooling element, preferably a condenser (5).

Abstract: A method and a device for triggering a hybrid vehicle are described; the vehicle is driven by an internal combustion engine (7) and/or an electric motor (5) as specified by an operating controller (1); the percentage contribution of the electric motor drive is controlled as a function of data which pertains to the travel route and is reported to the operating controller (1), taking into account a state of charge (BL) of an energy accumulator (4) for electric power. Control which is advantageous with regard to consumption and utilization of power is achieved by the fact that this data includes altitude information, which is used as the basis for controlling the percentage contribution of the electric motor drive, and the charge of the energy accumulator (4) does not drop below a minimum state of charge level (ML) at which essential basic vehicle functions are still ensured, as defined in the operating controller (1).

Abstract: An apparatus (12) for treatment of exhaust gas of a combustion device (1) with a catalytically active converter unit (5) includes a heating device (5) for heating the converter unit (5) with a hydrogenous heating substance, which reduces substantially the system-related expenditure, and which substantially improves the cold-start behavior of the catalytic converter and therefore, substantially reduces in particular the contaminant exhaust of the combustion device (1) during its cold start phase. The combustion device (1) is formed as a supply device (1) for supplying the hydrogenous heating substance to the converter unit (5).

Abstract: A fuel cell device has a fuel cell unit, a conversion unit for converting material mixtures to a hydrogen-containing fluid stream, a separation device for separating at least one hydrogen-enriched material stream from a fluid residual stream, the separation device being formed as a mass separation device for separating different masses.

Abstract: A method of generating an error signal (F) in a motor vehicle having a brake actuating means (16) that is actuatable by the vehicle's driver, through which a brake system is activated, and detection means (16a), through which actuation of the brake actuating means (16) is detected, a gas pedal (18), a gas pedal position detector (18a), wherein a time at which the gas pedal is released (T0) is determined, a vehicle deceleration (av) is determined, which represents the longitudinal deceleration of the vehicle, a braking status (BSon/off) is determined, which represents the operating status of the brake actuating means (16a), an elapsed time since gas pedal release (Telapse) is monitored, and an error signal (F) is generated as a function of the vehicle deceleration (av), the elapsed time (Telapse), and the braking status (BSon/off).

Abstract: The fuel cell apparatus includes a fuel cell (3) for converting chemical energy into electrical energy by burning a hydrogen-enriched liquid (7), a fuel-converting unit (22) for converting hydrocarbon-containing substances (11,12) to the hydrogen-enriched fluid (7), a first tank (1) for storing a first hydrocarbon-containing mixture (11) and optionally an internal combustion engine (4) which burns the hydrocarbon-containing substance. The production of the hydrogen-enriched fluid (7) is improved, especially in the cold starting operation stage, when the fuel cell apparatus includes a device for supplying a second hydrocarbon-containing mixture (12) at least to the fuel-converting unit (22) in certain operating stages.

Abstract: A device for stabilizing a vehicle is described. For this purpose, the device includes first determination device with which at least two vehicle motion quantities describing the vehicle motion, in particular in the direction transverse to the vehicle, are determined. Furthermore, the device includes second determination device with which a characteristic quantity is determined for each of the vehicle motion quantities. The second determination includes an adjustment device with the help of which the variation over time of the characteristic quantities is adjusted to the vehicle's behavior. In addition, the device device includes a control device with which intervention quantities are determined at least as a function of the vehicle motion quantities and the characteristic quantities, which are supplied to an actuator system for performing at least brake interventions and/or engine interventions with which the vehicle is stabilized.

Abstract: In a method for determining the lateral acceleration of a motor vehicle, the lateral acceleration is calculated from signals of a wheel sensor and a load sensor. Since in many cases these sensors are already present on the vehicle, e.g., for chassis control, additional sensors are not necessary. The values for the lateral acceleration thus ascertained may then be used in further devices, such as for a vehicle dynamics controller or a device for preventing tipping. For example, usable as a load sensor in the case of a pneumatic suspension is also a pressure sensor which measures the pressure within the pressure bellows of the pneumatic suspension and supplies a signal, corresponding to the mass or the axle load, to the control. The lateral acceleration may be determined with the aid of a steering-angle sensor.

Abstract: A device and method for stabilizing a combination of a tractor vehicle and least one semitrailer or trailer, the brakes of at least one semitrailer or trailer being set automatically as a function of the yaw rate of the tractor vehicle and the setpoint yaw rate of the tractor vehicle, or as a function of the yaw rate of the tractor vehicle, the speed of the combination and the steering angle.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electric drive (10), in particular for an electric or hybrid vehicle. The electric drive (10) has an electric motor (14), with which a vehicle wheel (12) is drivable, for instance via an articulated shaft (20). The invention proposes that the electric drive (10) be embodied additionally with a mechanically actuatable wheel brake (24), which is actuatable by the electric motor (14) selectively for driving the vehicle wheel (12) via a shiftable distributor gear (16). The invention has the advantage that the electric motor (14) provided for driving the vehicle wheel (12) is simultaneously used for actuating the wheel brake (24) as well. (FIG.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and an arrangement for controlling a vehicle and for providing data to the driver as to a tire pressure loss. When a tire pressure loss is detected, a limit speed is pregiven to which the speed of the vehicle is limited. The limit speed is dependent upon the distance already traveled since occurrence of the pressure loss or the elapsed operating time. Furthermore, for a detected tire pressure loss, the maximum range or the maximum operating time of the vehicle having a tire with reduced air pressure is determined and this is displayed to the driver.

Abstract: An automatic vehicle tire pressure measurement/adjustment system for measuring and adjusting the tire pressure of a vehicle. The system includes an automatic handling unit having a pressure attachment positionable into a tire pressure measurement/adjustment position onto a valve of a tire, a tire pressure measurement device connectable to the pressure attachment for measuring the existing tire pressure, a determination device for determining a nominal tire pressure based on at least one vehicle-specific parameter, a first communication device located in the vehicle and connectable to the determination device for input of the at least one vehicle-specific parameter into the determination device, and a tire pressure adjustment device connectable to the pressure attachment and connectable to the determination device for transmitting the nominal tire pressure to establish a transmitted nominal tire pressure.

Abstract: A device and a method for stabilizing a combination of a tractor vehicle and at least one semitrailer or trailer is described, where the trailer or semitrailer is automatically braked if the semitrailer or trailer buckles with respect to the tractor vehicle at a buckling rate which is greater than a predetermined limit buckling rate.

Abstract: A method of stabilizing a motor vehicle, preferably to prevent a vehicle from rolling over about a vehicle axis oriented in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. To do so, a quantity describing the transverse dynamics of the vehicle is determined. This quantity is compared with at least one characteristic value, in particular a threshold value, for this quantity. For the case when the quantity describing the transverse dynamics of the vehicle is greater than or equal to the characteristic value, a speed of the vehicle is reduced to or maintained at a preselectable speed value at least by braking measures on at least one wheel and/or by engine measures and/or by retarder measures (SR).

Abstract: In a method for determining the lateral acceleration of a motor vehicle, the lateral acceleration is calculated from signals of a wheel sensor and a load sensor. Since in many cases these sensors are already present on the vehicle, e.g., for chassis control, additional sensors are not necessary. The values for the lateral acceleration thus ascertained may then be used in further devices, such as for a vehicle dynamics controller or a device for preventing tipping. For example, usable as a load sensor in the case of a pneumatic suspension is also a pressure sensor which measures the pressure within the pressure bellows of the pneumatic suspension and supplies a signal, corresponding to the mass or the axle load, to the control. The lateral acceleration may be determined with the aid of a steering-angle sensor.