Abstract: A method for operating a plant for the steam reforming of hydrocarbons, in particular methanol, in which, in a mixture-preparation stage, a steam/hydrocarbon mixture is prepared from water and at least one hydrocarbon. The prepared steam/hydrocarbon mixture is introduced into a reforming reactor. The steam/hydrocarbon mixing ratio is set or adapted in order to compensate for an aging-related long-term shift in a temperature profile within the reforming reactor.

Abstract: An apparatus for the selective catalytic oxidation of carbon monoxide contained in a hydrogen-rich mixed gas flow, includes a reaction chamber filled with a catalyst and a cooling chamber through which a coolant flows formed between successive plates. The plates have openings that form inlet and outlet channels for the mixed gas flow and the coolant. An oxidizing gas is supplied directly into the inlet channel for the mixed gas flow. For two-stage apparatuses, a separating plate without an opening for the inlet channel for the mixed gas flow is arranged between the first and the second stage, and an apparatus for supplying the oxidizing gas to the second stage is passed into the outlet channel for the mixed gas flow from the first stage.

Abstract: A device for selective oxidation of a substance stream comprises a selectively active catalyst. For improving the cold-starting characteristics, the device also has an oxidation catalyst that possesses high activity at low temperatures. The selectively active catalyst is applied as a coating onto one or more surfaces of interior walls of the device. A layer of oxidation catalyst is provided in at least the inlet region where the substance stream enters the device, between the layer of selectively active catalyst and the interior walls of the device.

Abstract: An arrangement for generating a hydrogen-containing gas from a hydrocarbon-containing medium includes a multi-stage reforming unit that is connected to a multi-stage carbon monoxide removal unit by a heat-conducting separating medium. The stages of the reforming unit, in an ascending order relative to the gas flow direction in the reforming unit, are in a thermal contact with stages of the carbon monoxide removal unit, in a descending order relative to the gas flow direction in the carbon monoxide removal unit.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a gas generation device for the catalytic steam reforming of a steam/fuel mixture and/or for the partial oxidation of an oxygen/fuel mixture for generating a hydrogen-rich medium and a gas cleaning stage for removing carbon monoxide from the product gas of the gas generation device using selective CO oxidation. A principal flow path of the medium is split at least over a certain length into a first and a second parallel flow path and is then brought together again. A flow-diverting means is provided at least in the first flow path in order to open or block the first flow path in a temperature-dependent manner.

Abstract: A method for shortening the cold starting time of a CO oxidation catalytic converter in a vehicle with an integrated fuel cell system. According to the invention, gas components which delay the start are removed from the reformate gas of the gas-generating system using an adsorber during the cooling-down phase after the vehicle has been switched off.

Abstract: A device for selective oxidation of a substance stream comprises a selectively active catalyst. For improving the cold-starting characteristics, the device also has an oxidation catalyst that possesses high activity at low temperatures. The selectively active catalyst is applied as a coating onto one or more surfaces of interior walls of the device. A layer of oxidation catalyst is provided in at least the inlet region where the substance stream enters the device, between the layer of selectively active catalyst and the interior walls of the device.

Abstract: A plate-type selective oxidation device, for the selective oxidation of constituents of a process stream, contains a media chamber located between two plates of the device. Each media chamber contains fins or ridges for the input or dissipation of thermal energy and/or to selectively direct the process stream. In partial areas of each media chamber, the fins or ridges are thermally decoupled from the plates that border the respective media chamber, to facilitate cold start-up of the device.

Abstract: To improve the cold-start performance of a selective CO oxidation catalyst in a gas-cleaning stage of a gas generation system for producing a hydrogen-containing reformate gas (in particular for a fuel cell system), after the gas generation system has been switched off, a flow of medium is guided over the selective CO oxidation catalyst in order to flush out constituents which delay starting.

Abstract: A chemical reactor for a fuel cell system includes a reaction chamber containing at least two reaction partial chambers arranged parallel to one another. The effective reaction chamber cross section on the input side is adjustable by opening or closing the reaction partial chambers. A first reaction partial chamber type is open when the system is started is warmed up more rapidly under comparable operating conditions than the second reaction partial chamber.

Abstract: A reactor unit in a system for the production of hydrogen-rich gas from a liquid raw fuel includes (1) a reaction chamber for a reaction medium and which contains a catalyst material; and (2) two tempering chambers separated from one another. The two tempering chambers are associated with different areas of the reaction chamber, so that within the reaction chamber two reaction zones are formed, which can be held at different temperature levels.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for producing a hydrogenous gas stream for a fuel cell system, the share of CO contained in the gas stream, is reduced by providing one or more selective oxidation stages which preferably are thermally coupled to a reformer for the reforming of hydrocarbons, or to a heat exchanger. In order to supply the fuel cell system, as quickly as possible, with a hydrogenous gas stream having a low share of CO, so that it can be placed in operation at the temperature of the surrounding environment, one or more additional, thermally decoupled, selective oxidation stages is series-connected to the existing selective oxidation stages at the beginning or end of the series, or at intermediate points.

Abstract: A method for operating a plant for the steam reforming of hydrocarbons, in particular methanol, in which, in a mixture-preparation stage, a steam/hydrocarbon mixture is prepared from water and at least one hydrocarbon. The prepared steam/hydrocarbon mixture is introduced into a reforming reactor. The steam/hydrocarbon mixing ratio is set or adapted in order to compensate for an aging-related long-term shift in a temperature profile within the reforming reactor.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a gas generation device for the catalytic steam reforming of a steam/fuel mixture and/or for the partial oxidation of an oxygen/fuel mixture for generating a hydrogen-rich medium and a gas cleaning stage for removing carbon monoxide from the product gas of the gas generation device using selective CO oxidation. A principal flow path of the medium is split at least over a certain length into a first and a second parallel flow path and is then brought together again. A flow-diverting means is provided at least in the first flow path in order to open or block the first flow path in a temperature-dependent manner.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for shortening the cold starting time of a CO oxidation catalytic converter in a vehicle with an integrated fuel cell system. According to the invention, gas components which delay the start are removed from the reformate gas of the gas-generating system using an adsorber during the cooling-down phase after the vehicle has been switched off.

Abstract: A system for generating hydrogen-rich gas has a reformer for catalytic water vapor reforming of a water vapor/fuel mixture by an input supply of thermal energy, and a CO oxidation stage for removing carbon monoxide from the hydrogen-rich gas while emitting heat, with the reformer and the CO oxidation stage being thermally coupled. An oxygen quantity fed to the CO oxidation stage is adjusted as a function of the gas temperature in or at the output of the reformer/oxidation stage. This can take place by an automatic (feedback) control, a combination of open loop control and automatic control or by an adaptive characteristic diagram.

Abstract: A device for the selective catalytic oxidation of carbon monoxide contained in a hydrogenous gas mixture flow includes at least one CO oxidation stage having at least one inlet opening for feeding oxidizing gas to the gas mixture flow. At least one flow-through body containing a catalyst is arranged in the gas mixture flow in the CO oxidation stage. The flow-through body fills a flow-through cross section of the gas mixture flow in the CO oxidation stage. The device also contains means for pre-setting the temperature of the body as a function of the load.

Abstract: A multistage device for the selective catalytic oxidation of carbon monoxide contained in a hydrogen-rich gas-mixture stream includes at least three stages, each stage having at least one CO oxidation chamber. An oxidizing medium may be metered to an inlet side of each stage. A common cooling device is provided for the first two stages and an independent cooling device is provided for the third stage.