Abstract: The invention relates to an air-supply device for fuel-cell systems with two-stage compression. The invention is characterized in that for supplying to fuel-cell stacks electrically connected in parallel, a turbocompressor which is mechanically coupled to an exhaust-air turbine for the respective fuel-cell stack is provided for each of the fuel-cell stacks, wherein at least one electrically driven flow compressor, which respectively provides at least two of the turbocompressors with air in parallel, is provided upstream of the respective turbocompressor in the direction of flow of the compressed air. A fuel-cell system with at least two fuel-cell stacks comprises such an air-supply and can be used for example in a vehicle, in particular in a commercial vehicle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel cell stack having a variety of individual cells stacked up to form a stack, having at least one humidifier section integrated into the stack and arranged at one end of the individual cells as an electrochemical section. The invention is characterized in that a heat exchanger section is arranged on the side of the at least one humidifier section facing away from the electrochemical section, wherein flow plates for distributing fluids in at least three sections of the stack have the same external geometry.

Abstract: A communication system supports communication between an end node (101) of a vehicle (103) and a remote correspondent node (105) via a fixed network (107) which comprises a plurality of wireless access points (109) with a directional antenna arrangement for mm wave radio communication using directional beams. A vehicle (103) comprises wireless modems (111, 113, 701, 703) employing electronically steerable beamforming directional antennas for establishing mm wave radio communication links to the access points (109). The wireless modems (111, 701) forms links to two different access points (109). A ink manager (1101) is arranged to terminate a second mm wave radio communication link in response to a link failure a first mm wave radio communication link, and to initialize setup of a third mm wave radio communication link in response to the termination of the second mm wave radio communication link.

Abstract: A communication system supports communication between an end node (101) of a vehicle (103) and a remote correspondent node (105) via a fixed network (107) which comprises a plurality of wireless access points (109) with a directional antenna arrangement for mm wave radio communication using directional beams. A vehicle (103) comprises wireless modems (111, 113, 701, 703) employing electronically steerable beamforming directional antennas for establishing mm wave radio communication links to the access points (109). The wireless modems (111, 701) forms links to two different access points (109). A ink manager (1101) is arranged to terminate a second mm wave radio communication link in response to a link failure a first mm wave radio communication link, and to initialize setup of a third mm wave radio communication link in response to the termination of the second mm wave radio communication link.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for starting up a fuel cell system from starting temperatures below 0° C. The methods apply to systems comprising a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack whose cathodes comprise an oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalyst and whose anodes comprise both a hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) catalyst and an oxidation evolution reaction (OER) catalyst. In the methods, from the beginning of starting up until the fuel cell temperature reaches 0° C., the fuel cell stack current is kept sufficiently low such that the current density drawn does not exceed the stack's capability for the oxidation evolution and the oxygen reduction reactions to occur at the anode and cathode respectively (i.e. current density drawn is less than the stack's maximum OER/ORR current density).

Abstract: A machine receives, from a first client device, a first request for provision of data that is specified by the first request. The machine creates a datastream that contains the data and initiates provision of the datastream to the first client device. The machine creates a marker file that corresponds to the first request, and existence of the marker file indicates that the provision of the datastream to the first client device is incomplete. While the marker file exists, if the machine receives, from a second client device, a second request for provision of the same data, the machine caches the now twice-requested data in a data cache, and the machine may provide the data from the data cache to the second client device. This can avoid one or more retrieval operations or other preparations for providing the data to the second client device.

Abstract: Improved methods are disclosed for shutting down and storing a fuel cell system, particularly for below freezing temperature conditions. The methods comprise stopping power production from the fuel cell stack, monitoring its temperature, and repeatedly performing a predetermined warming operation if the stack temperature falls to a normal threshold temperature. In the improved methods, either an initial threshold temperature and/or an initial warming operation are used that differ from the respective normal threshold temperature and the predetermined warming operation.

Abstract: A machine receives, from a first client device, a first request for provision of data that is specified by the first request. The machine creates a datastream that contains the data and initiates provision of the datastream to the first client device. The machine creates a marker file that corresponds to the first request, and existence of the marker file indicates that the provision of the datastream to the first client device is incomplete. While the marker file exists, if the machine receives, from a second client device, a second request for provision of the same data, the machine caches the now twice-requested data in a data cache, and the machine may provide the data from the data cache to the second client device. This can avoid one or more retrieval operations or other preparations for providing the data to the second client device.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for starting up a fuel cell system from starting temperatures below 0° C. The methods apply to systems comprising a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack whose cathodes comprise an oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalyst and whose anodes comprise both a hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) catalyst and an oxidation evolution reaction (OER) catalyst. In the methods, from the beginning of starting up until the fuel cell temperature reaches 0° C., the fuel cell stack current is kept sufficiently low such that the current density drawn does not exceed the stack's capability for the oxidation evolution and the oxygen reduction reactions to occur at the anode and cathode respectively (i.e. current density drawn is less than the stack's maximum OER/ORR current density).

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for cold-start of fuel cell stack in fuel cell vehicles. In one example, a method may include in response to cold-start of fuel cell vehicle, limiting the load drawn from the fuel cell stack. In addition, a coolant pump may be operated at a higher rate through a bypass loop to get heat quickly to the fuel cell stack to increase the solubility of water in the fuel cell stack to prevent ice formation. The net effect is that the fuel cell stack is then operated within the ice capacity of the membrane, and start-up at lower temperatures is possible without experiencing an intermittent performance drop due to active area freezing. Once the fuel cell stack is sufficiently warmed up, the coolant pump rate and fuel cell stack may be adjusted according to the demand.

Abstract: Improved methods are disclosed for shutting down and storing a fuel cell system, particularly for below freezing temperature conditions. The methods comprise stopping power production from the fuel cell stack, monitoring its temperature, and repeatedly performing a predetermined warming operation if the stack temperature falls to a normal threshold temperature. In the improved methods, either an initial threshold temperature and/or an initial warming operation are used that differ from the respective normal threshold temperature and the predetermined warming operation.

Abstract: Improved methods are disclosed for shutting down and storing a fuel cell system, particularly for below freezing temperature conditions. The methods comprise stopping power production from the fuel cell stack, monitoring the amount of energy remaining in an energy supply, monitoring the stack temperature, and repeatedly performing a predetermined warming operation if the stack temperature falls to a normal threshold temperature and if the amount of energy remaining exceeds a certain minimum amount. In the improved methods, when the amount of remaining energy is less than or equal to the minimum amount, a final warming operation is performed that differs from the predetermined warming operation.

Abstract: A device for separating a fluid having a water and gas portion in a fuel cell system includes a fluid inlet an a fluid outlet with an outlet valve. The separating device includes a first reservoir region for collecting the water portion of the fluid. The first reservoir region includes a first outlet to feed the water portion in the direction of the fluid outlet. The separating device also includes a second reservoir region having a second outlet that feeds the water portion in the direction of the fluid outlet so that the first reservoir region 19 is connected in series in terms of flow via the second reservoir region with the fluid outlet. In an installation position of the separating device the first outlet is arranged lower than the second outlet so that deposits of the water portion completely covering the first outlet are prevented from flowing away.

Abstract: Improved methods are disclosed for shutting down and storing a fuel cell system, particularly for below freezing temperature conditions. The methods comprise stopping power production from the fuel cell stack, monitoring the amount of energy remaining in an energy supply, monitoring the stack temperature, and repeatedly performing a predetermined warming operation if the stack temperature falls to a normal threshold temperature and if the amount of energy remaining exceeds a certain minimum amount. In the improved methods, when the amount of remaining energy is less than or equal to the minimum amount, a final warming operation is performed that differs from the predetermined warming operation.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for cold-start of fuel cell stack in fuel cell vehicles. In one example, a method may include in response to cold-start of fuel cell vehicle, limiting the load drawn from the fuel cell stack. In addition, a coolant pump may be operated at a higher rate through a bypass loop to get heat quickly to the fuel cell stack to increase the solubility of water in the fuel cell stack to prevent ice formation. The net effect is that the fuel cell stack is then operated within the ice capacity of the membrane, and start-up at lower temperatures is possible without experiencing an intermittent performance drop due to active area freezing. Once the fuel cell stack is sufficiently warmed up, the coolant pump rate and fuel cell stack may be adjusted according to the demand.

Abstract: A fuel cell module includes at least one fuel cell stack with a housing. The at least one fuel cell stack is arranged, with a plurality of system components for conducting and/or conditioning the fluids for the supply of the at least one fuel cell stack, with a mechanical interface for fastening the fuel cell module to the vehicle. The mechanical interface is arranged on the housing, wherein the housing forms a carrier for the system components.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack arrangement includes a fuel cells arranged between a first and a second end plate. At least one of the end plates is designed as a channel end plate with at least one channel. The channel has a stack opening, which is opened in the direction of the stack, and a second opening. The stack opening and the second opening are connected to each other via a channel section and are arranged at a distance to each other in a top view looking down on the channel end plate.

Abstract: A device for separating a fluid having a water and gas portion in a fuel cell system includes a fluid inlet an a fluid outlet with an outlet valve. The separating device includes a first reservoir region for collecting the water portion of the fluid. The first reservoir region includes a first outlet to feed the water portion in the direction of the fluid outlet. The separating device also includes a second reservoir region having a second outlet that feeds the water portion in the direction of the fluid outlet so that the first reservoir region 19 is connected in series in terms of flow via the second reservoir region with the fluid outlet. In an installation position of the separating device the first outlet is arranged lower than the second outlet so that deposits of the water portion completely covering the first outlet are prevented from flowing away.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for fuel release mitigation including enclosing a fuel cell stack (12) within an enclosure (20), supplying oxidant to the enclosure, circulating the oxidant within the enclosure to mix with any fuel present in the enclosure, withdrawing circulated oxidant from the enclosure; and supplying at least a portion of the circulated oxidant withdrawn from the enclosure to the stack as the cathode inlet stream.

Abstract: A method and an arrangement for automatically correcting vehicle current setpoints which are respectively assigned to a specific position of an accelerator pedal, to the rotational speed and the voltage of a power supply system for at least one drive unit of a vehicle. The vehicle current setpoints are adjusted, taking into account the current output in the vehicle at the instant of the setpoint stipulation by means of a power supply system.