Abstract: An apparatus for accommodating at least one component of a SOFC fuel cell system includes a thermally insulating inner box and an outer box that surrounds the inner box. The inner box includes a base, a cover, and side panels. The outer box bears against the base, the cover, and the side panels of the inner box and presses them together, and wherein the at least one component can be arranged in the interior of the inner box. The base, the cover, and the side panels are at least partly over-dimensioned so that the inner box can be assembled with a press-fit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel cell system comprising an insulation means for thermally insulating a first portion from a second portion, the first portion during operation of the fuel cell system generally being at a higher temperature level than the second portion and the insulation means comprising at least one leadthrough portion interfacing the first portion and second portion through which at least one component of the fuel cell system is led during operation of the fuel cell system in thus coming into thermal contact with the first portion and the second portion. In accordance with the invention it is provided for that at least part of the component is made of a material featuring a lower thermal conductivity than that of adjacent parts resulting in an insulation part and that the insulation part is sited at least partly within the leadthrough portion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel cells system (10) which comprises at least one heat-generating component (12 to 32) and at least one component (12, 14, 16) that uses process air. The invention is characterized in that ambient air (34) can be supplied to the heat-generating component, said air being heatable by the heat-generating component (12 to 32), and the air heated in said manner being supplied to the component (12, 14, 16) that uses process air. The invention also relates to a method for influencing the thermal balance of the fuel cell system according to the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to a reformer (12) for a fuel cell system (10). Said reformer comprises an oxidation zone (48) to which stored fuel can be supplied by means of a primary fuel supply device (50; 62) for reaction with an oxidant; and a mixing zone (54), arranged downstream of the oxidation zone (48), to which stored fuel can be supplied by means of a secondary fuel supply device (56; 64) for mixing with substances originating from the oxidation zone (48). The invention is characterized in that the primary fuel supply device (50; 62) and the secondary fuel supply device (56; 64) are adapted to supply fuel in such a manner that the fuel supplied by the primary fuel supply device (50; 62) differs from the fuel supplied by the secondary fuel supply device (56; 64) with respect to the type of fuel and/or its state of aggregation and/or the pressure and/or the temperature at which it is supplied.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel cell system (10) which comprises a reformer (12) having an oxidation zone (48) to which stored fuel can be supplied by means of a fuel supply device (50) for reaction with an oxidant; and an afterburner (36) having an oxidation zone (60) to which stored fuel can be supplied by means of a fuel supply device (62) for reaction with an oxidant. The invention is characterized in that the fuel supply device (50) of the reformer (12) and the fuel supply device (62) of the afterburner (36) are adapted to supply fuel in such a manner that the fuel supplied by the fuel supply device (50) of the reformer differs from the fuel supplied by the fuel supply device (62) of the afterburner (36) with respect to the type of fuel and/or its state of aggregation and/or the temperature at which it is supplied. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising said fuel cell system and to a method for operating said fuel cell system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a housing for accommodating at least one fuel cell stack comprising a housing part formed so that it is capable of at least partly accommodating the fuel cell stack. According to the invention it is envisaged that clamping means are provided by which the fuel cell stack is restrainable via at least one orifice of the housing portion. The invention further relates to a system comprising such a housing and at least one fuel cell stack accommodated therein.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device comprising a thermally insulating receptacle and, arranged in the receptacle, at least one high-temperature fuel cell system component enclosed by at least one insulating layer of a first material, a clamping means acting on the insulating layer. In accordance with the invention it is provided for that the clamping means comprises, supported by a receptacle housing and acting on the insulating layer, one or more plate-shaped elements made of a second material which is elastically deformable at a contact pressure, at which the first material is not deformable.

Abstract: The invention relates to a reformer system for generating a hydrogen-rich reformate comprising a reformer to which fuel and an oxidising agent can be supplied. According to the invention it is contemplated that the fuel supplied to the reformer is at least partly coolable by a fluid having other functions in addition to the function of cooling the fuel in the reformer system or a parent system into which the reformer system is integrated. The invention further relates to a method for generating a hydrogen-rich reformate as well as a fuel cell system comprising a reformer system according to the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for determining the lambda value (?actual) of reformate provided for supply to a fuel cell stack, in which the no-load voltage across at least one fuel cell element is detected and evaluated for determining the lambda value (?actual). In accordance with the invention it is provided for that the at least one fuel cell element is a terminal fuel cell element of the fuel cell stack exclusively provided for sensing, and the voltage provided for at least one consumer can be picked off across the remaining fuel cell elements of the fuel cell stack. The invention relates furthermore to a process for lambda control of a reformer, a device for determining the lambda value, as well as to a system comprising a reformer for reacting at least fuel and air into reformate, and a fuel cell stack which is connected with the reformer for receiving reformate therefrom, the reformer being lambda-controlled.

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 a fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell (26) for the supply of a hydrogen-rich gas at the anode end and an oxidant at the cathode end for reaction in the fuel cell (26) into an anode exhaust gas and cathode exhaust gas; an afterburner (36) for supply of the anode exhaust gas; and a heat exchanger (46) for the supply of the afterburner exhaust gas, and by means of which the oxidant for supply to the cathode end of the fuel cell (26) is preheatable. In accordance with the invention it is provided for that the supply of the cathode exhaust gas is possible via a cathode exhaust gas line (44) to the heat exchanger (46) downstream of the afterburner (36). The invention relates furthermore to a motor vehicle comprising such a fuel cell system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel cell system comprising a reformer and an afterburner each for reacting at least fuel and an oxidant; and a fuel feeder for supplying the reformer and the afterburner with fuel. It is provided for to particular advantage that at least one flow control valve for controlling the fuel supply is included upstream of at least the reformer or the afterburner. The invention relates furthermore to a motor vehicle having one such fuel cell system.

Abstract: The invention relates to device for emission control of an internal combustion engine (10) including an exhaust tract (12) comprising a NOx catalyst (14), and a reductant feeder (16) designed to deliver reductant to the exhaust tract (12) upstream of the NOx catalyst (14). In accordance with the invention, the reductant feeder (16) comprises a reformer (18) designed to react gas exhausted by the engine (10) and fuel into a reformate serving as reductant. In addition, the invention relates to a method for emission control of an internal combustion engine (10) wherein a NOx catalyst (14) provided in the exhaust tract (12) is supplied with reductant. In this arrangement use is made of reformate generated by a reformer (18) as the reductant, the reformer (18) generating the reformate from the engine (10) exhaust gas and fuel.

Abstract: A fuel cell system (10) having a reformer (12) having a burner (14) and a catalyst (16) and provided for reacting fuel and oxidant into a reformate, and having a fuel cell (24), particularly a high-temperature fuel cell which, on the basis of reformate generated by the reformer, generates electric energy and thereby liberates anode exhaust gas (26). The system is provided with a blower (28) and injector (30) oxidant feed arrangement with which, all of the anode exhaust gas is delivered to the burner. A method for operating the fuel cell system for reacting fuel (18) and oxidant (20) into a reformate (22) involves aspirating the anode exhaust gas into the oxidant feed arrangement, feeding it to the burner together with fuel and with the burner exhaust being delivered with additional fuel to the catalyst to produce reformate that is delivered to the fuel cell.

Abstract: A mixture formation means for the reformer of a fuel cell system or for a heater. The fuel feed includes a pressure impulse injection means and the mixture formation area is a swirl chamber having a discharge nozzle connected to the pressure impulse injection device. Also included is a fuel heater for preheating the fuel before injection in order to achieve complete vaporization of the fuel, such as diesel fuel.

Abstract: A fuel cell system in which fuel is supplied to a fuel cell arrangement and/or a reformer by an injector, where the anode exhaust gas of the fuel cell arrangement is recirculated to the injector. The fuel cell arrangement is connected to an intake opening of the injector which also has an inlet opening, a following nozzle, a following diffuser with an outlet opening and an intake opening for feed of the anode exhaust gas of the fuel cell arrangement. A chamber is formed between the nozzle and the entry area of the diffuser, and a slide is positioned within the chamber to move from a first slide position permiting the passage of the fuel from the nozzle to the outlet opening and a second slide position where the passage of fuel is prevented.

Abstract: A vehicle electrical system, especially for a motor vehicle, with an APU (auxiliary power unit) based on a fuel cell and a DC/DC converter for converting the DC voltage which is generated by the fuel cell (10) in order to match it to the voltage of the vehicle electrical system, and a process for operating an electrical consumer (14) with electrical power, with which some of the electrical power delivered from the fuel cell (10) is supplied to at least one electrical consumer (14) without conversion by the DC/DC converter (12).

Abstract: A fuel cell system in which fuel is supplied to a fuel cell arrangement and/or a reformer by an injector, where the anode exhaust gas of the fuel cell arrangement is recirculated to the injector. The fuel cell arrangement is connected to an intake opening of the injector which also has an inlet opening, a following nozzle, a following diffuser with an outlet opening and an intake opening for feed of the anode exhaust gas of the fuel cell arrangement. A chamber is formed between the nozzle and the entry area of the diffuser, and a slide is positioned within the chamber to move from a first slide position permiting the passage of the fuel from the nozzle to the outlet opening and a second slide position where the passage of fuel is prevented.

Abstract: A mixture formation means for the reformer of a fuel cell system or for a heater. The fuel feed includes a pressure impulse injection means and the mixture formation area is a swirl chamber having a discharge nozzle connected to the pressure impulse injection device. Also included is a fuel heater for preheating the fuel before injection in order to achieve complete vaporization of the fuel, such as diesel fuel.