Abstract: The invention relates to a device for reforming educts containing hydrocarbons, having a radiation burner and a reforming reactor, which contains, at least in part, metal honeycomb bodies having a catalyst coating, and which can in particular be used to produce hydrogen from fossil energy carriers. The invention should thereby be able to convert educts containing hydrocarbons into synthesis gases with high efficiency, in particular in a low-power range. For this purpose, a radiation burner is used that heats a two-part reforming reactor by radiation and convection. The radiation burner and the two parts of the reforming reactor are thereby arranged and constructed in such a way that the radiation burner surrounds the two parts of the reforming reactor, and the educt gas and smoke gas can be conducted in counter-current between the two parts of the reforming reactor.

Abstract: In order to produce a polymer electrolyte membrane from sulfonated, aromatic polyether ketone, an aromatic polyether ketone of the formula (I) in which Ar is a phenylene ring having p- and/or m-bonds, Ar′ is a phenylene, naphthylene, biphenylene, anthrylene or another divalent aromatic unit, X, N and M, independently of one another are 0 or 1, Y is 0, 1, 2 or 3, P is 1, 2, 3 or 4, is sulfonated and the sulfonic acid is isolated. At least 5% of the sulfonic groups in the sulfonic acid are converted into sulfonyl chloride groups, and these are reacted with an amine containing at least one crosslinkable substituent or a further functional group, and unreacted sulfonyl chloride groups are subsequently hydrolyzed. The resultant aromatic sulfonamide is isolated and dissolved in an organic solvent, the solution is converted into a film, and the crosslinkable substituents in the film are then crosslinked.

Abstract: The invention relates to a PEM fuel cell comprising at least one strip membrane (17) consisting of at least two, maximally 10,000 planar individual cells, each composed of an electrode layer (11, 16) applied on both sides of a membrane of a polymeric solid electrolyte, with the individual cells series-connected and with plates assembled on both sides to said strip membrane (17) and featuring conductive regions (20) and nonconductive regions (21), said regions being configured such that a short circuit between the individual electrodes of one membrane side is avoided.

Abstract: The invention relates to an assembly of flat single cells consisting of a lid polymer electrolyte and electrode areas applied to both sides thereof into a diaphragm electrode unit in which 2 to 10,000 single cells are connected in series through the stepwise overlapping of the electrode areas (4, 5, 6) of one single cell with the opposite electrode area (7, 8, 9) of the next cell, thus forming a one-dimensional diaphragm electrode unit (1), and a shunt conductive structure of electronically conductive material is placed at least between the overlapping electrode areas.

Abstract: The invention relates to a PEM fuel cell comprising at least one strip meane (8) which itself comprises at least 2, and a maximum of 10,000-surfaced individual cells each comprising an electrode layer (10-12, 13-15) applied on both sides of a membrane made of a polymeric solid electrolyte, the individual cells being incorporated in series and being made of plates (21, 22) of non-conductive material, which serve as heat exchangers and as fuel gas supply device, which are contacted on both sides on the strip membrane (8, 16) and separate outwardly-directed conductive structures (23, 24) for voltage derivation.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell has at least one membrane strip that forms a central area and at least two, maximum 10,000 flat individual cells. The individual cells consist each of an electrode layer applied on both sides of a membrane made of a polymer solid electrolyte and of a corresponding number of flat electronically conductive areas. The individual cells are connected in series and the central area is provided with an appropriate periphery in the cell.

Abstract: The invention concerns a two-stage catalytic burner (1) with at least one feed (3) for a hydrogen or hydrocarbon-containing fuel gas and at least one feed (17) for a combustion gas such as oxygen or air, two combustion stages (15, 16), the second (16) of which is a monolithic burner through which the mixture of gases leaving the first stage (15) passes, and a heat exchanger (8) connected to the burner (1). The first combustion stage (15) is a diffusion burner in which a chamber (6) containing fuel gas is separated from the chamber (7) containing combustion gas by a catalytic layer (burner element 4) which is permeable to the fuel gas. The burner element (4) is made of highly porous catalytically active material with a porosity of >50% and pore size of 0.001 to 100 .mu.m and has a thickness of 0.05 to 10 mm. The fuel gas is fed into chamber (6) and the combustion gas into chamber (7).

Abstract: In order to produce a polymer electrolyte membrane from sulfonated, aromatic polyether ketone, an aromatic polyether ketone of the formula (I) ##STR1## in which Ar is a phenylene ring having p- and/or m-bonds,Ar' is a phenylene, naphthylene, biphenylene, anthrylene or another divalent aromatic unit,X, N and M, independently of one another are 0 or 1,Y is 0, 1, 2 or 3,P is 1, 2, 3 or 4,is sulfonated and the sulfonic acid is isolated. At least 5% of the sulfonic groups in the sulfonic acid are converted into sulfonyl chloride groups, and these are reacted with an amine containing at least one crosslinkable substituent or a further functional group, and unreacted sulfonyl chloride groups are subsequently hydrolyzed. The resultant aromatic sulfonamide is isolated and dissolved in an organic solvent, the solution is converted into a film, and the crosslinkable substituents in the film are then crosslinked.In specific cases, the crosslinkable substituents can be omitted.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel cell with a current collector, polymeric solid electrolyte in the form of membranes, gas distributor rings and currents distributor as components, all components being made from a thermoplastic basic polymer soluble in a solvent, and in that this basic polymer is so modified for the individual components that the current collectors (1) are electrically conductive, the membranes (4) are ion-conductive, the current distributors (3) are gas-permeable and electrically conductive, and the gas distributor rings (2) are made of unmodified and/or electrically conductive basic polymer, and in that the components are combined by a bonding process without seals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to electrode membranes which comprise an ion-exchange material forming a core zone, with electrodes bonded thereto on both sides, the ion exchange material being formed from homopolymers soluble in solvents, or copolymers or mixtures thereof. The polymers must have at least one residue dissociable in ions. The electrode material is connected on either side of the core zone to the ion-exchange material to form an intimate contact between the electrode and the ion exchange materials, while the external sides of the electrode are pure electrode material. The electrode membranes are useful for forming fuel cells or electrolyzers.

Abstract: A hot water heater has an inlet for liquid fuels, a plurality of inlets for resh air, an inlet for a fluid to be heated, at least two combustion stages traversed by the fuel-air mixture with catalytic combustion chambers surrounded at least partially by at least one fluid chamber filled with fluid and with an offgas heat exchanger for fluid to be heated. The heat exchanger is traversed by the offgas escaping from the combustion chambers. The first combustion stage has an evaporation chamber that has on its outside surface, at least a partial catalyst layer.

Abstract: In order to produce a polymer electrolyte membrane from sulfonated, aromatic polyether ketone, an aromatic polyether ketone of the formula (I) ##STR1## in which Ar is a phenylene ring having p- and/or m-bonds,Ar' is a phenylene, naphthylene, biphenylene, anthrylene or another divalent aromatic unit,X, N and M, independently of one another are 0 or 1,Y is 0, 1, 2 or 3,P is 1, 2, 3 or 4,is sulfonated and the sulfonic acid is isolated. At least 5% of the sulfonic groups in the sulfonic acid are converted into sulfonyl chloride groups, and these are reacted with an amine containing at least one crosslinkable substituent or a further functional group, and unreacted sulfonyl chloride groups are subsequently hydrolyzed. The resultant aromatic sulfonamide is isolated and dissolved in an organic solvent, the solution is converted into a film, and the crosslinkable substituents in the film are then crosslinked.In specific cases, the crosslinkable substituents can be omitted.

Abstract: A water heater has a gas inlet (8) for a mixture of gas and air and an in for a fluid (2) to be heated. The gas-air mixture passes through a combustion chamber (11,18) which is at least partly surrounded by at least one fluid chamber (4,7) filled with the fluid (2). The exhaust gas leaving the combustion chamber(s) (11,18) passes through an exhaust gas heat exchanger together with the fluid (2). Here there are two combustion stages, the first (16) being a catalytic gap burner (11) and the second being a monolithic burner (18,19). Owing to the two-stage arrangement, about 80% of the combustion gas is burned in the combustion stage (16) while the remainder is consumed even at the low partial pressures in the second combustion stage (20) virtually without any residue, and especially without emission of NO.sub.x.

Abstract: In order to produce a polymer electrolyte membrane from sulfonated, aromatic polyether ketone, an aromatic polyether ketone of the formula (I) ##STR1## in which Ar is a phenylene ring having p- and/or m-bonds,Ar' is a phenylene, naphthylene, biphenylene, anthrylene or another divalent aromatic unit,X, N and M, independently of one another are 0 or 1,Y is 0, 1, 2 or 3,P is 1, 2, 3 or 4,is sulfonated and the sulfonic acid is isolated. At least 5% of the sulfonic groups in the sulfonic acid are converted into sulfonyl chloride groups, and these are reacted with an amine containing at least one crosslinkable substituent or a further functional group, and unreacted sulfonyl chloride groups are subsequently hydrolyzed. The resultant aromatic sulfonamide is isolated and dissolved in an organic solvent, the solution is converted into a film, and the crosslinkable substituents in the film are then crosslinked.In specific cases, the crosslinkable substituents can be omitted.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for the storage and the conversion of energy hng a H.sub.2 /O.sub.2 /H.sub.2 O system by switching the mode of operation electrolytic/fuel cell reaction, with a cell being utilized which is composed of an anode compartment, a cathode compartment and an ion exchange membrane as the electrolyte. Bifunctional oxidation electrodes are utilized as electrodes in the anode compartment so that during electrolytic operation oxygen is formed and during fuel cell operation hydrogen is oxidized and with a bifunctional reduction electrode also being utilized in the cathode compartment so that during electrolytic operation hydrogen is formed and during fuel cell operation oxygen is reduced.

Abstract: The invention provides a rebalance cell for a Cr/Fe redox storage system. The rebalance cell has a catalyst for the reduction of Fe.sup.3+ ions by means of hydrogen. The catalyst separates a gas chamber of the rebalance cell (holding hydrogen) and a liquid chamber of the rebalance cell (holding Fe.sup.3+ electrolyte). The catalyst is in the form of an activated charcoal made hydrophobic and coated with a platinum metal, gold or silver. The catalyst can also be in the form of tungsten carbide made hydrophobic.

Abstract: A recombination device including a gas-tight enclosure connected to receive he discharge gases from a rechargeable storage battery. Catalytic material for the recombination of hydrogen and oxygen to form water is supported within the enclosure. The enclosure is sealed from the atmosphere by a liquid seal including two vertical chambers interconnected with an inverted U-shaped overflow tube. The first chamber is connected at its upper portion to the enclosure and the second chamber communicates at its upper portion with the atmosphere. If the pressure within the enclosure differs as overpressure or vacuum by more than the liquid level, the liquid is forced into one of the two chambers and the overpressure is vented or the vacuum is relieved. The recombination device also includes means for returning recombined liquid to the battery and for absorbing metal hydrides.

Abstract: A closure device for lead-acid batteries includes a filter of granulated activated carbon treated to be hydrophobic combined with means for preventing explosion of emitted hydrogen and oxygen gas. The explosion prevention means includes a vertical open-end tube within the closure housing for maintaining a liquid level above side wall openings in an adjacent closed end tube. Gases vent from the battery through a nozzle directed inside the closed end tube against an impingement surface to remove acid droplets. The gases then flow through the side wall openings and the liquid level to quench any possible ignition prior to entering the activated carbon filter. A wick in the activated carbon filter conducts condensed liquid back to the closure housing to replenish the liquid level limited by the open-end tube.

Abstract: A recombination system for catalytic oxidation of hydrogen in storage battery gases includes a gas supply duct which makes it possible for the combustible gas flowing through it to aspirate from the ambient the necessary combustion air, following the principle of a Bunsen burner, and to entrain it to the recombination catalyst. In case of over-supply of gas, an acid separator positioned in the gas supply pipe counteracts the gas aspiration by means of its flow impedance and thereby makes the recombination system safe from overload. It can also be connected following a conventional recombiner, thereby increasing its effectiveness, by receiving the excess hydrogen from same and reacting it with the aid of the air aspiration.