Abstract: A method for cleaning a reformer gas in a fuel cell installation includes the step of passing the reformer gas through at least one fuel cell and electrochemically oxidizing CO in the at least one fuel cell to form CO2. A fuel cell installation with an integrated gas cleaning is also provided.

Abstract: The fuel cell installation is operated at temperatures between 80° C. and 300° C. and ensures that the efficiency is optimized, since the waste heat from the fuel cell stack is utilized at least in some other way. For the purpose, there is provided an evaporator upstream of the fuel cell stack. At least one line is connected to the fuel cell stack for rendering available a heat content from at least a part of the fuel cell stack to be utilized in one or more further units of the installation.

Abstract: An HTM fuel cell with reduced flushing-out of electrolyte, an HTM fuel cell battery, and a method for starting an HTM fuel cell includes an electrolyte membrane, the electrolyte having two sides each with an electrode coating adjoined by a gas diffusion layer and a pole plate. The new fuel cell configuration allows the electrolyte to be flushed out and collected and returned to the HTM fuel cell. The method for starting the HTM fuel cell allows the electrolyte, which has been flushed out, to be returned to the cell during normal operation.

Abstract: A fuel cell battery is described with a heater and an improved cold-start performance, and to a method for cold-starting of a battery of this type. The heater, such as for example a reformer, is started first, and the operating heat from the heater is utilized to heat the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: A method for operating an HTM fuel cell and to a fuel cell battery. An electrolyte of the fuel cell contains phosphoric acid, a normal freezing point of which is 42° C. The freezing point is reduced by adding at least water as an additive to such an extent that the start/stop operation of the fuel cell, as is required, for example, in mobile fuel cell applications, can be achieved.

Abstract: The invention relates to a PEM or PAFC fuel cell battery with heater element and improved cold-starting performance, and to a method for cold-starting such a battery, in which the heater element initially heats up a minimal area of a fuel cell unit, from which autothermal heating-up of the entire battery then becomes possible.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly for a self-humidifying fuel cell, a method of its production, and a self-humidifying fuel cell battery include a membrane electrode assembly with a membrane electrolyte, into which at least one catalyst layer is laminated, so that water can be generated in a controlled manner within the membrane by recombination of the reaction gases H2 and O2.

Abstract: A fuel cell battery having an improved cold-starting performance and a method for cold-starting a fuel cell battery, use reaction heat of an oxyhydrogen gas reaction in the fuel cell for heating. Reaction gas is simply supplied as required into the reaction chamber during starting, so that an electrode of the fuel cell unit acts as a catalytic burner.

Abstract: A screen-printing paste as a starting material for fabricating a gas diffusion electrode through screen-printing includes at least one polymer, at least one metallic catalyst, and a high-boiling solvent. The polymer is a binder including poly(butyl acrylate)-polymethacrylate copolymer, a poly(vinyl alcohol), and a poly(ethylene oxide). The polymer can be two polymers, a first being used for hydrophobicization and present in an amount of between 0 to 10% by weight based on a content of the metallic-catalyst, and a second being a binder. A screen-printing method of fabricating the electrode for a fuel cell includes forming a screen-printing layer having a thickness between 3 and 40 &mgr;m by applying the screen-printing paste to a base. The solvent and the polymer serve as a screen-printing medium. The screen-printing layer is baked to allow only residues of the solvent and the polymer to remain, which do not interfere with using the electrode in a fuel cell.

Abstract: Discharging the reaction water from the novel PEM fuel cells does not require humidification of the reaction gases or an increase in the gas pressure. This is attained in that a hydrophobic layer on the cathode side is used which has a smaller pore size than the layer on the anode side. The reaction water is removed via the anode during the operation of the fuel cell.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a battery with liquid cooling composed of at least two fuel cells that respectively comprise a negative pole plate, a membrane electrode unit and a positive pole plate that are connected to one another mechanically rigidly, gas-tight and electronically insulating by a frame element, whereby the battery is immersed into a coolant bath.

Abstract: A fuel cell is provided which includes iron-based alloys for the construction of the solid parts of the fuel cell. The fuel cell includes a membrane electrode unit and solid constructive parts which may include current collectors, a cell frame and a bipolar plate. At least one of these solid constructive parts is made from an iron-based material that preferably has an effective weight percent of iron of greater than or equal to 26.9 percent.

Abstract: A gas diffusion electrode for a PEM fuel cell includes a metallic catalyst, and an electrocatalyst layer having a polymer A for hydrophobicizing the electrocatalyst layer and a uniform thickness of between 3 to 40 &mgr;m. The polymer A content is less than 10% by weight based on the metallic catalyst content. A method of producing a gas diffusion electrode for a PEM fuel cell and a method of hydrophobicizing a gas diffusion electrode include screen printing a paste onto a carrier and removing the screen-printing medium by heating. The paste includes at least one metallic catalyst with a content of polymer A up to at most 10% by weight, and a screen-printing medium. The electrocatalyst layer of the electrode has a significantly lower content of the catalyst inhibitor TEFLON® because it is not added only to the screen-printing paste but is subsequently applied, with the same surface-specific effect, by dipping the finished electrocatalyst layer in a solution containing TEFLON®.

Abstract: Solid electrolyte capacitors are produced in such a way that a formed metallic anode body which has pores passing through it is arranged on a working electrode, and a conductive polymer is deposited in the pores of the anode body by electochemical polymerization of a monomer in the liquid phase, in the presence of a conducting salt. The polymer is provided with a contact point.