Abstract: The invention relates to a method for regenerating a reformer fed with a mixture of fuel and an oxidant having a mean air number ?1 in continuous reformer operation, the air number being varied for the purpose of regenerating the reformer. In accordance with the invention it is provided for that regeneration occurs in a shutoff phase of the reformer in that the reformer is operated during several successive time intervals with an air number ?2 higher than in reformer operation (?2>?1). Again in accordance with the invention it may be provided for that regeneration occurs in a starting phase of the reformer in that the reformer is continually operated with an air number increased as compared to reformer operation ?2>?1 until a critical temperature threshold is attained. The invention relates furthermore to a system including a reformer and a controller for implementing a method in accordance with the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to a reformer (10) comprising a first media feeder portion (12) for receiving a supply of fuel (14) and oxidant (16), following the first media feeder portion an oxidation zone (18) in which the media supplied to the first media feeder portion react at least in part into flue gas (20), a second media feeder portion (22) for receiving at least a supply of fuel (24), a mixture formation zone following the oxidation zone (18) and the second media feeder portion and in which a fuel/flue gas mixture (28) can be generated, and following the mixture formation zone (26) a reforming zone in which the fuel/flue gas mixture (28) is catalytically reformable. In accordance with the invention it is provided for that the volume of the mixture formation zone is in the range of 20 to 90 cm3.

Abstract: A reformer (10) for a fuel cell has a chamber (26) including a chamber inlet (20) for the input of a reactant gas mixture and a chamber outlet (24) for the output of a reformed gas, a catalytic active medium being arranged in the chamber. The reformer (10) has a heat pipe (12) with an outer cylindrical pipe wall (14) and an inner cylindrical wall (16), the chamber (26) being disposed between the outer pipe wall (14) and the inner wall (16). Advantageously, the heat pipe has a passage with a helical shapes.

Abstract: A method for regenerating a reformer to which fuel (12, 14) and an oxidant (16, 18, 20) are continuously fed, the feed rate of the fuel (12, 14) being reduced for the purpose of regeneration as compared to the feed rate in the continuous operation. According to the invention, the feed rate of the fuel (12, 14 is reduced during a plurality of successive regeneration intervals as compared to the feed rate in the continuous (normal) operation. The feed rate of the fuel (12, 14) between the successive intervals is higher than during them. A corresponding reformer has temperature sensors for implementing control of the fuel feed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a reformer for a fuel cell system for generating a reformate comprising a plurality of function units for treating the fuel, at least one function unit being adapted to a first type of fuel. In this arrangement the invention is characterized to advantage in that the function unit adapted to the first type of fuel can be releasably coupled to the reformer as a module by means of an interface which is also designed to couple a replacement function unit instead of the function unit adapted to the first type of fuel, the replacement function unit being adapted to a second type of fuel different from the first type of fuel. The invention relates furthermore to a function unit for such a reformer, to a fuel cell system having such a reformer and to a motor vehicle having such a fuel cell system.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus (12 to 26) for supplying media to a fuel cell arrangement (28) in a fuel cell system (10), which apparatus at least partly consists of a chromium-containing metal alloy. According to the invention a surface (30) of the apparatus coming into contact with supply media is at least partly coated with a metal oxide ceramics (32).

Abstract: A reformer (10) for reacting fuel (12, 14) and oxidizer (16, 18) into reformate (20), with a plurality of reaction zones (22, 24) to which the fuel (12) and oxidizer (16) are supplied and in each which the fuel and oxidizer are reacted into reformate. The process for reacting fuel and oxidizer into reformate separately adjusting the fuel and/or oxidizer supplied to the reaction zones for varying the reformate output produced.

Abstract: A reformer (10) for reacting fuel (12, 14) and oxidizer (16, 18) into reformate (20), with a plurality of reaction zones (22, 24) to which the fuel (12) and oxidizer (16) are supplied and in each which the fuel and oxidizer are reacted into reformate. The process for reacting fuel and oxidizer into reformate separately adjusting the fuel and/or oxidizer supplied to the reaction zones for varying the reformate output produced.