Abstract: Described are systems and methods for implementing and operating a Device Abstraction Proxy (DAP). In one embodiment, the DAP includes a communications interface to connect the DAP to one or more access aggregation devices, each having a plurality of physical ports to provide Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) communication services to a plurality of remote DSL terminals via the plurality of physical ports. The DAP may further include a memory and processor to execute a virtual access aggregation device, in which a subset of the plurality of physical ports are allocated and linked to corresponding logical ports. The DAP may further include a global rule-set module to define operational constraints for the DSL communication services, and a management interface to allow at least one broadband access management system to manage the subset of physical ports allocated to the virtual access aggregation device subject to the operational constraints.

Abstract: Described is a method performed by a downloadable agent, the method comprising: collecting WAN performance infor-mation, wherein the downloadable agent is executable on a computing device coupled to a LAN of a broadband subscriber, wherein the LAN is coupled by another device to a WAN; and transmitting the WAN performance information to a machine; wherein the machine is operable to: store and analyze the performance information to generate an analysis result; and report the analysis result to at least one of the broadband subscriber and its service provider. Described is a corresponding system which comprises a database; and a server coupled to the database, the server operable to: receive WAN performance information from a downloadable agent; store the information in the database, analyze the information to generate an analysis result; and report the analysis result to at least one of the broadband subscriber and the broadband subscriber's service provider.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrode for a molten carbonate fuel cell, having an electrode framework and an active layer comprising pores which is applied to the electrode framework. According to the invention, the active layer contains at least one structure stabilizer. The invention also relates to a method for producing said type of electrode.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for the production of an anode for a molten carbonate fuel cell, wherein a mixture is created, containing at least one base metal and at least one auxiliary agent, and wherein the mixture is applied onto a carrier structure. The disclosure provides that a mixture is used, which contains at least one auxiliary agent in the form of a metal oxide and/or metal hydroxide, and which contains at least one alkali metal compound. The disclosure further relates to an anode that can be produced according to said method.

Abstract: A method for inerting and protecting the anodes of fuel cells, especially high-temperature fuel cells, and a fuel cell system, in which, during a shutdown, when the supply of fuel gas to the anodes is interrupted, during emergency shutdown or standby operation, water vapor is supplied to the anodes, and an external voltage is applied to the fuel cells to produce a reducing atmosphere at the anodes by electrolysis. This makes it possible to inert the anodes of the fuel cells without having to maintain a supply of a flushing or protective gas expressly for this purpose.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrode for a molten carbonate fuel cell, with an electrochemically active electrode layer (10, 20), which is provided with cavities (12, 22). The invention provides that the cavities (12, 22) are surrounded and delimited by particles (13, 23) resulting from at least one imaging material. The present invention also relates to a process for producing such an electrode.

Abstract: A fuel cell arrangement having fuel cells situated in the form of a fuel cell stack, which each contain an anode and a cathode and an electrolyte matrix situated between them, having an anode intake, which is provided on one side of the fuel cell stack, for the supply of fresh combustion gas to the anodes and an anode outlet for the discharge of consumed combustion gas from the anodes, the combustion gas being guided inside the fuel cells in a predetermined main flow direction past the anodes, having reformer units for converting a fuel supplied to the reformer units at a fuel inlet into reformer fuel, which is discharged from the reformer units at a reformer fuel outlet, the reformer units being situated between adjacent fuel cells in thermal contact therewith, and the reformer fuel outlet of the reformer units opening on the side of the fuel cell stack, on which the anode intake of the fuel cells is located, and having a fuel discharge system for distributing the fuel to be reformed to the individual reform

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the environmentally sound disposal of air/solvent mixtures which are made of combustible gaseous vaporous or liquid waste products, using a fuel cell system for the recycling of the air/solvent mixtures while removing the environmentally compatible exhaust air developing in the fuel cell system, the waste heat that is produced and the electric power that is produced.

Abstract: Disclosed are an electrolyte matrix, particularly for a molten carbonate fuel cell, comprising a matrix material which contains one or several lithium compounds, aluminum oxide, and a carbide, and a method for the production thereof. The inventive matrix material contains a combination of lithium carbonate, aluminum oxide, and titanium carbide. Said matrix material can be produced in a simple manner from inexpensive materials that are available at the required degree of fineness, has a high degree of solidity in both the green state and the sintered state, and has good storage properties in the green state.

Abstract: A fuel cell, in particular a molten carbonate fuel cell and a method for production thereof are disclosed. The anode (1) and the cathode (2) are each provided on current collectors (4a, 4b), which electrically contact with the relevant electrode (1, 2) and form gas flow paths (17, 18) for a fuel gas or a cathode gas, whereby the anode-side current collector (4a) together with the anode (1) and the cathode-side current collector (4b) together with the cathode (2) form an anode half cell (11) and a cathode half cell (12) respectively. According to the invention, the electrolyte matrix (3) or electrolyte layer is applied to one of the half cells (11, 12) and sealing elements (21, 22) are provided on the sides of the current collectors (4a, 4b) laterally surrounding the above in a sealing manner, whereby an insulating layer (31) electrically insulates each sealing element (21, 22) of a half cell (11) with respect to the other half cell (12).

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for operating a fuel cell system with fuel cells (2) arranged in a stack (1). It also concerns the fuel cell system itself. In the method of the invention and the fuel cell system of the invention, a fuel gas is partially converted to hydrogen in first reforming units (4) that are in thermal contact with the fuel cells (2) in an endothermic reaction with absorption of heat from the fuel cells (2). This reformed fuel gas is supplied to the anodes of the fuel cells (2).

Abstract: Disclosed are an electrolyte matrix, particularly for a molten carbonate fuel cell, comprising a matrix material which contains one or several lithium compounds, aluminum oxide, and a carbide, and a method for the production thereof. The inventive matrix material contains a combination of lithium carbonate, aluminum oxide, and titanium carbide. Said matrix material can be produced in a simple manner from inexpensive materials that are available at the required degree of fineness, has a high degree of solidity in both the green state and the sintered state, and has good storage properties in the green state.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electronically conductive reformer catalyst for a fuel cell, in particular a molten carbonate fuel cell, containing particles of a water-adsorbent substrate material (6) and particles of a catalyst material (7) located on said substrate material (6). According to the invention, the substrate material (6) itself is electronically conductive. The specific conductivity of the reformer catalyst (4) preferably exceeds 1 S/cm under operating conditions.

Abstract: A fuel cell, in particular a molten carbonate fuel cell and a method for production thereof are disclosed. The anode (1) and the cathode (2) are each provided on current collectors (4a, 4b), which electrically contact with the relevant electrode (1, 2) and form gas flow paths (17, 18) for a fuel gas or a cathode gas, whereby the anode-side current collector (4a) together with the anode (1) and the cathode-side current collector (4b) together with the cathode (2) form an anode half cell (11) and a cathode half cell (12) respectively. According to the invention, the electrolyte matrix (3) or electrolyte layer is applied to one of the half cells (11, 12) and sealing elements (21, 22) are provided on the sides of the current collectors (4a, 4b) laterally surrounding the above in a sealing manner, whereby an insulating layer (31) electrically insulates each sealing element (21, 22) of a half cell (11) with respect to the other half cell (12).

Abstract: A method for inerting and protecting the anodes of fuel cells, especially high-temperature fuel cells, and a fuel cell system, in which, during a shutdown, when the supply of fuel gas to the anodes is interrupted, during emergency shutdown or standby operation, water vapor is supplied to the anodes, and an external voltage is applied to the fuel cells to produce a reducing atmosphere at the anodes by electrolysis. This makes it possible to inert the anodes of the fuel cells without having to maintain a supply of a flushing or protective gas expressly for this purpose.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing electrodes, components, half cells and cells for electrochemical energy converters, such as fuel cells or electrolysis cells, comprising the following steps: a) producing a plane, porous support material (4a; 4b); b) applying at least one layer of an electrode material (1) and/or a layer of a catalyst material (18) to the porous support material (4a); c) rolling or pressing said porous support material (4a) together with the layers applied thereto to a predetermined thickness (D), at the same time producing a flat and smooth or structured surface.

Abstract: A cell arrangement for an electrochemical energy converter, especially a fuel cell arrangement with cells (12) arranged in the form of a cell stack (10), is described. Each of the cells (12) comprises an anode (1), a cathode (2), and an ion-conducting layer (3) positioned between the anode and the cathode, and the cells are separated from on another and electrically contacted via bipolar plates (4). According to the invention, current collectors (4a, 4b) provided for contacting the anodes (1) or the cathodes (2) are formed by a porous structure, in which flow paths (16, 17) for conducting anode and/or cathode medium are contained.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel cell assembly with fuel cells arranged in the form of a fuel cell stack. The fuel cells each comprise an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte matrix arranged therebetween, and are separated from one another and electrically contacted by bipolar plates. Current collectors are respectively provided on the electrodes for electrically contacting the same and for guiding combustion gas or cathode gas thereon. In addition, means are provided for supplying and carrying away combustion gas and cathode gas to and from the fuel cells. A means that generates a pretensioning force subjects the fuel cells inside the fuel cell stack to a mutual pretensioning in the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell stack. According to the invention, the fuel cell stack is horizontally arranged when in operation, and the pretensioning force of the fuel cells exerts a uniform force upon all cells, is small and can be variably adapted to the operating state of the fuel cell assembly.