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 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 assembly has fuel cells, each containing an anode and a cathode. A fresh-air feed is used for feeding fresh air to the cathode input. Between the anode output and the cathode input, by way of an anode waste gas return pipe, a burner device is provided for afterburning of combustible residual constituents contained in the spent fuel gas leaving the anode output, optionally together with fresh air fed by way of the fresh-air feed. The fresh-air feed contains a first fresh-air feed pipe connected to the burner device, for optional feeding of fresh air together with the spent fuel gas to the burner device, as well as a second fresh-air feed pipe for feeding fresh air to the cathode input while bypassing the burner device. The amount of the fresh air fed to the burner device by way of the first fresh-air feed pipe is preferably adjusted such that a temperature of between 750° C. and 1,400° C., preferably between 850° C. and 1,250° C., occurs in the burner device.

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 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: The invention relates to a fuel cell assembly with fuel cells arranged in the form of a fuel cell stack (310). The fuel cell assembly disposes of an anode inlet (313) and of an anode outlet (314) for the combustion gas and disposes of a cathode inlet (315) and of a cathode outlet (316) for the cathode gas. An electric heating device (320) is provided for heating the gas stream consisting of cathode gas and/or of combustion gas. According to the invention, the electric heating device (320) is formed by a structure, which is comprised of an electrically conductive foam material, through which gas to be heated flows, and which is provided with electric connections to the connection of a power supply.

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.