Abstract: An electrochemical device is provided that includes a stack of a plurality of electrochemical units that succeed one another in a stacking direction and each include an electrochemically active membrane electrode assembly, at least one gas diffusion layer and a bipolar plate having at least one flow field, in which at least one flow field is sealed off simply and reliably and the occurrence of parasitic flows is prevented, wherein at least one bipolar plate has at least one edge web, which borders a flow field of the bipolar plate and is in contact with a gas diffusion layer adjacent to the bipolar plate, and wherein the electrochemical device further includes at least one flow field seal element that seals off the flow field bordered by the edge web and is in contact with the edge web and in contact with the gas diffusion layer.

Abstract: In order to provide an electrochemically active unit for an electrochemical device including a membrane electrode assembly, at least one gas diffusion layer and a seal that is linked to at least one of the at least one gas diffusion layers, in the manufacture whereof as even as possible a construction of the penetration region in which the gas diffusion layer of the electrochemically active unit is penetrated by the sealing material of the seal over the periphery of the gas diffusion layer is achievable, the seal includes a linking region, a distribution region and a connection region that connects the linking region and the distribution region to one another, wherein the connection region has a minimum height that is less than a quarter of the maximum height of the distribution region and less than a quarter of the maximum height of the linking region.

Abstract: A fuel cell device is provided, including a fuel cell stack, which includes a plurality of fuel cell units following each other in a stacking direction, and two end plates, between which the fuel cell stack is arranged. With the fuel cell device, harmful effects from hydrogen exiting the fuel cell units are avoided without making access to the fuel cell units impossible or causing a disproportionately large maintenance expenditure. The fuel cell device includes an enclosure which surrounds the fuel cell stack and the end plates, wherein the free remaining volume that remains within the enclosure between the enclosure, the fuel cell stack, and the end plates is less than 20% of the internal volume of the enclosure.

Abstract: A fuel cell device is provided, including a media system for supplying fluid media to electrochemical units of the fuel cell device and/or for discharging fluid media from the electrochemical units of the fuel cell device, wherein the media system includes at least one valve to which, in a standard operating state of the fuel cell device, an electrical standard input power is suppliable in order to maintain the valve in a desired valve state. The fuel cell device is able to be reliably started with as little effort as possible, even under frost conditions. The fuel cell device is switchable into a heating operating state in which an electrical heating input power that is greater than the electrical standard input power is suppliable to the at least one valve.

Abstract: A bipolar plate for an electrochemical device, including a first bipolar plate layer and a second bipolar plate layer joined by a weld seam arrangement, wherein the first bipolar plate layer has a first and a second medium passage opening. The weld seam arrangement includes a first and a second medium channel weld seam, and a connecting weld seam which crosses the first and the second medium channel weld seams. Either a) the connecting weld seam is produced by a welding energy source which the first bipolar plate layer faced during the welding process, and the weld seam end of the connecting weld seam lies within the medium-conducting region of the bipolar plate which is surrounded by the first medium channel weld seam, and/or b) the connecting weld seam crosses the first medium channel weld seam and/or the second medium channel weld seam at least twice in each case.

Abstract: In order to provide a fuel cell device which can be produced simply and cost-effectively, it is proposed that the fuel cell device comprises the following: a plurality of fuel cell elements which are stacked one on top of another along a stacking direction and form a fuel cell stack; a clamping device for securing the fuel cell elements; a fluid guide unit for supplying fuel and/or oxidizer and/or coolant to the fuel cell elements and/or for removing fuel and/or oxidizer and/or exhaust gas and/or coolant from the fuel cell elements, wherein the clamping device comprises two or more crossmembers which extend at least approximately perpendicularly to the stacking direction, wherein in each case at least one crossmember is arranged at each end of the fuel cell stack, wherein the crossmembers can be drawn towards one another by means of clamping elements and the fuel cell stack can thereby be clamped between the crossmembers.

Abstract: In order to provide a flow element by means of which a fluid can be guided and/or distributed over a surface as uniformly as possible, it is proposed that the flow element comprises a plate-like main body, which has a channel structure, wherein the channel structure comprises two or more paths, which connect an inlet side of the channel structure to an outlet side of the channel structure, wherein the two or more channel paths each have one or more meandering segments, wherein meandering segments of channel paths different from each other are nested in each other.

Abstract: An electrochemical device is provided that includes a stack of a plurality of electrochemical units that succeed one another in a stacking direction and each include an electrochemically active membrane electrode assembly, at least one gas diffusion layer and a bipolar plate having at least one flow field, in which at least one flow field is sealed off simply and reliably and the occurrence of parasitic flows is prevented, wherein at least one bipolar plate has at least one edge web, which borders a flow field of the bipolar plate and is in contact with a gas diffusion layer adjacent to the bipolar plate, and wherein the electrochemical device further includes at least one flow field seal element that seals off the flow field bordered by the edge web and is in contact with the edge web and in contact with the gas diffusion layer.

Abstract: In order to produce an electro-chemical unit for a fuel cell stack in which a plurality of electro-chemical units follow one another along a stacking direction wherein the electro-chemical unit includes a membrane electrode unit having an anode-side electro-chemically active surface which has an outer border that is defined by an anode-side bordering element and wherein the electro-chemical unit also includes a cathode-side electro-chemically active surface which has an outer border that is defined by a cathode-side bordering element in such a way as to prevent enhanced aging of the membrane electrode unit due to regions of the membrane electrode unit only being supplied with an oxidizing agent, it is proposed that the outer border of the anode-side electro-chemically active surface be displaced outwardly at least in sections thereof with respect to the outer border of the cathode-side electro-chemically active surface in a direction running perpendicularly to the stacking direction.

Abstract: To provide a flow element which in particular is used as a component of a bipolar plate in electrochemical devices, which is stable and permits efficient flow guiding, it is proposed that the flow element comprises a plate-like main body that is formed as a shaped sheet metal product and has a channel structure, wherein the channel structure comprises a plurality of channels which are formed by recesses in the main body and are separated from one another by raised portions of the main body, wherein there is provided at least one region with normal level difference that defines, with respect to a height direction running perpendicular to two main directions of extent of the main body, a height difference between a recess and an adjoining raised portion, wherein there is provided at least one region with reduced level difference, in which a height difference between a recess and an adjoining raised portion is less than the normal level difference, wherein the at least one region with reduced level difference co

Abstract: In order to provide a flow element by means of which a fluid can be guided and/or distributed over a surface as uniformly as possible, it is proposed that the flow element comprises a plate-like main body, which has a channel structure, wherein the channel structure comprises two or more paths, which connect an inlet side of the channel structure to an outlet side of the channel structure, wherein the two or more channel paths each have one or more meandering segments, wherein meandering segments of channel paths different from each other are nested in each other.

Abstract: An electrochemical device comprises a stack consisting of a plurality of electrochemical units which succeed one another along a stack direction and which each include a membrane electrode arrangement, a bipolar plate and at least one sealing element, at least one medium channel which extends along the stack direction, a flow field through which a medium can flow from the medium channel to another medium channel, and a connection channel through which the flow field and the medium channel are in fluid connection with one another, wherein the sealing arrangement includes a connection channel region in which the sealing arrangement crosses the connection channel, and at least one neighboring region which is located in front of or behind the connection channel region in the longitudinal direction of the sealing arrangement, wherein the sealing arrangement has a lower average height in the connection channel region than in the neighboring region.

Abstract: A transporting apparatus for transporting loads to storage places, in particular in a high-bay warehouse, with a crane trolley and with a load-picking-up means which is suspended on the crane trolley, has mechanical damping means for damping pendulum oscillations of the load-picking-up means while the crane trolley is at a standstill.

Abstract: An endoscopic instrument includes a first instrument part adapted for introduction into a cavity of a human body and having an introduction channel therein for passage of gas therethrough, and a second instrument part having a connection channel therein adapted to be connected to the first instrument part introduction channel. The second instrument part is adapted for connection to a gas source to provide gas, at a flow rate suitable for insufflation of a human body cavity, from the gas source through the connection channel to the introduction channel for introduction into the human body. A heating device heats the gas in the introduction channel to substantially the temperature of the human body.

Abstract: Disclosed is an instrument that can be inserted into the human body, this instrument being provided with at least one channel for a fluid and, in particular, a gas which is introduced into the inside of the body. The present invention is distinguished by the instrument being provided with a heating means.

Abstract: A device for insufflating gas into a corporeal cavity of a human or animal body has a connection for a gas source, a measuring unit provided with sensors for the fill gas pressure and the fill gas flow, which are disposed outside said corporeal cavity, and a control unit, to which the output signal of the sensors are applied, and which triggers a pressure regulator which reduces the fill pressure of the gas source to a pre-set insufflation pressure, and a flow regulator which regulates the fill gas flow to a pre-set desired gas flow value in accordance with first a square function, and then, after reaching the preset flow rate, in accordance with a linear function.

Abstract: A pulsed insulation system for administering an insufflation procedure includes a controller programmed to have a multi-mode operation. The controller switches the insufflation system to adjust an insufflation pressure to a nominal value in a first mode of operation of the controller. Upon encountering an obstruction by a Veress needle, the controller switches the insufflation system in a second mode, so as to adjust the insufflation pressure to a maximum target value and to have an interruption phase of pulse controllably increased. The interruption phase of pulse in the second mode is extended so as to enable a pressurized fluid accumulated at an upstream end of the Veress needle to dissipate therethrough before a measurement of the intracavity pressure is made.

Abstract: A medical gear pump is used for suction and irrigation, in particular for endoscopy or the laboratory, and it has two meshing gears as conveying elements, one of which is joined to a drive mechanism. The gears are received in non-journal-mounted fashion in openings, and are each equipped with a helical tooth set. It is proposed to configure the helical tooth set such that, when viewed along a surface line of said gears, at least two tooth tip/root contact points of said meshing gears are present, and a contour of tooth spaces of the one gear is matched to the teeth of the other gear in such a way that when a tooth has completely penetrated into the tooth space, its tooth tip almost completely fills up the tooth space radially inside the pitch circle.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for insufflating gas into a corporal cavity of a human or animal body having a connection for a gas source, a measuring unit provided with sensors for the fill gas pressure and the fill gas flow, which are disposed outside said corporal cavity, and a control unit, to which the output signal of the sensors are applied, and which triggers a pressure regulator which reduces or regulates the fill pressure of the gas source to an insufflation pressure (desired gas pressure), which can be set, and a flow regulator which regulates the fill gas flow to a value (desired gas flow), which can be set.

Abstract: The steam turbine has an exhaust steam housing and a turbine rotor mounted in an end bearing. The turbine installation is intended to have a high stability with respect to movements of the exhaust steam housing, with a particularly high rigidity of the end bearing. For this purpose, the end bearing is held by a support guided through the exhaust steam housing and supported on a foundation block. In a steam turbine installation having a steam turbine of this type, a condenser assigned to the steam turbine is detachably but rigidly connected to the exhaust steam housing.