Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for heating a fuel cell system (1a; 1b; 1c; 1d) comprising at least one fuel cell stack (2) with an anode portion (3) and a cathode portion (4), and a reformer (5) upstream of the anode portion (3) for steam reforming using a fuel, the reformer (5) comprising a nickel-based catalyst, said method having the following steps: starting a heating process for heating the fuel cell system (1a; 1b; 1c; 1d) with a heating device (6) and conducting a carbon-containing fluid and conducting steam through the nickel-based catalyst of the reformer (5) during the heating process. The invention also relates to a fuel cell system (1a; 1b; 1c; 1d) which is designed to carry out a method according to the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel cell system (1a; 1b; 1c; 1d) comprising: at least one fuel cell stack (2) with an anode portion (3) and a cathode portion (4); a reformer-heat exchanger (5) with a cold side which is upstream of the anode portion (3) and forms a reformer (6) and a hot side which is downstream of the cathode portion (4) and forms a heat exchanger (7); and an afterburner (8) downstream of the heat exchanger (7) for combusting anode exhaust gas from the anode portion (3) and/or cathode exhaust gas from the cathode portion (4), the heat exchanger (7) being situated directly downstream of the cathode portion (4) and being in fluid communication with the cathode portion (4) by means of a cathode exhaust gas line (9) in order for the cathode exhaust gas to be fully conducted through the heat exchanger (7). The invention also relates to a method for controlling the temperature of a fuel cell system (1a; 1b; 1ce; 1d) according to the invention.

Abstract: Various embodiments include systems and methods of calculating performance-based rent. Sensor(s) may capture object data associated with objects in an interior and/or exterior environment of a commercial real estate location. Computing device(s) may obtain sales data associated with sales transactions attributable to the commercial real estate location; determine, based at least in part on the object data captured by the sensor(s), object traffic value(s) indicative of an amount of traffic of at least one of the objects; and calculate, based at least in part on performance metric values indicative of actual sales performance and potential sales performance of the commercial real estate location over a particular period of time, a performance-based rent for the commercial real estate location. The performance metric values comprise the sales data and the object traffic value(s), and the performance-based rent is variable over different periods of time with different performance metric values.

Abstract: A capacitance sensing system senses frost and ice accumulation in an energy efficient defrost system. The capacitance sensing system comprises a first capacitor including a portion of a metal heat exchanger and a sensor electrode electrically isolated from the metal heat exchanger; a tank oscillator including a second capacitor and an inductor coupled in parallel with each other and with the first capacitor; and a circuit coupled to the tank oscillator. The circuit determines a resonant frequency of the tank oscillator, determines a capacitance value of the first capacitor based on the resonant frequency of the tank oscillator, and transmits a heater activation command in response to determining the capacitance value is greater than a threshold.

Abstract: A capacitance sensing system for sensing frost and ice accumulation. The capacitance sensing system comprises a first capacitor formed by a portion of a metal heat exchanger and a sensor electrode electrically isolated from the metal heat exchanger, a tank oscillator comprising a second capacitor and an inductor connected in parallel with each other and coupled in parallel with the first capacitor, and a circuit coupled to the tank oscillator. The circuit coupled to the tank oscillator is configured to determine a resonant frequency of the tank oscillator, determine a capacitance value based on the resonant frequency of the tank oscillator, determine that the capacitance value is greater than a predefined threshold, and transmit a heater activation command in response to determining the capacitance value is greater than the predefined threshold.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel cell system (1a; 1b; 1c; 1d) comprising: at least one fuel cell stack (2) with an anode portion (3) and a cathode portion (4); a reformer-heat exchanger (5) with a cold side which is upstream of the anode portion (3) and forms a reformer (6) and a hot side which is downstream of the cathode portion (4) and forms a heat exchanger (7); and an afterburner (8) downstream of the heat exchanger (7) for combusting anode exhaust gas from the anode portion (3) and/or cathode exhaust gas from the cathode portion (4), the heat exchanger (7) being situated directly downstream of the cathode portion (4) and being in fluid communication with the cathode portion (4) by means of a cathode exhaust gas line (9) in order for the cathode exhaust gas to be fully conducted through the heat exchanger (7). The invention also relates to a method for controlling the temperature of a fuel cell system (1a; 1b; 1ce; 1d) according to the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for heating a fuel cell system (1a; 1b; 1c; 1d) comprising at least one fuel cell stack (2) with an anode portion (3) and a cathode portion (4), and a reformer (5) upstream of the anode portion (3) for steam reforming using a fuel, the reformer (5) comprising a nickel-based catalyst, said method having the following steps: starting a heating process for heating the fuel cell system (1a; 1b; 1c; 1d) with a heating device (6) and conducting a carbon-containing fluid and conducting steam through the nickel-based catalyst of the reformer (5) during the heating process. The invention also relates to a fuel cell system (1a; 1b; 1c; 1d) which is designed to carry out a method according to the invention.

Abstract: A system includes a conductive element. The system also includes a resonant circuit having a sensing capacitor arranged such that an amount of target material in a sensing zone of the sensing capacitor changes a capacitance of the sensing capacitor, wherein the conductive element is electrically isolated from at least part of the resonant circuit. The system also includes a resonant circuit analyzer configured to detect a resonant frequency of the resonant circuit and to output a digitized analyzer signal based on the resonant frequency. The system also includes a processor configured to receive the digitized analyzer signal, to determine a target material estimate based on the digitized analyzer signal, and to output the target material estimate or a signal derived from the target material estimate to an output device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a waste gas post-treatment system for a fuel cell system, having a condensing section for producing waste gas condensate from waste process gas of the fuel cell system, a collecting section downstream of the condenser section for collecting the waste gas condensate produced, a suction device for sucking waste process gas out of the fuel cell system into the condensing section, producing a negative pressure in the fuel cell system, a cleaning unit, downstream of the collecting section, for cleaning the waste gas condensate produced, and a valve assembly for recycling cleaning waste gas condensate into the fuel cell system, wherein the valve assembly can be switched between a blocking state, in which the recycling is blocked, and at least one passage state, in which waste gas condensate can be recycled by the negative pressure in the fuel cell system.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a communication interface, and a hardware controller. The hardware controller may detect a door open and close event for a refrigeration unit and receives temperature readings from the temperature sensor and pressure readings from the pressure sensor. The hardware controller determines whether a performance level of the seal has fallen below a threshold level based on the temperature and pressure readings and transmits a signal through the communication interface responsive to a determination that the performance level of the seal has fallen below the threshold level.

Abstract: A system includes a conductive element. The system also includes a resonant circuit having a sensing capacitor arranged such that an amount of target material in a sensing zone of the sensing capacitor changes a capacitance of the sensing capacitor, wherein the conductive element is electrically isolated from at least part of the resonant circuit. The system also includes a resonant circuit analyzer configured to detect a resonant frequency of the resonant circuit and to output a digitized analyzer signal based on the resonant frequency. The system also includes a processor configured to receive the digitized analyzer signal, to determine a target material estimate based on the digitized analyzer signal, and to output the target material estimate or a signal derived from the target material estimate to an output device.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a communication interface, and a hardware controller. The hardware controller may detect a door open and close event for a refrigeration unit and receives temperature readings from the temperature sensor and pressure readings from the pressure sensor. The hardware controller determines whether a performance level of the seal has fallen below a threshold level based on the temperature and pressure readings and transmits a signal through the communication interface responsive to a determination that the performance level of the seal has fallen below the threshold level.

Abstract: A capacitance sensing system for sensing frost and ice accumulation. The capacitance sensing system comprises a first capacitor formed by a portion of a metal heat exchanger and a sensor electrode electrically isolated from the metal heat exchanger, a tank oscillator comprising a second capacitor and an inductor connected in parallel with each other and coupled in parallel with the first capacitor, and a circuit coupled to the tank oscillator. The circuit coupled to the tank oscillator is configured to determine a resonant frequency of the tank oscillator, determine a capacitance value based on the resonant frequency of the tank oscillator, determine that the capacitance value is greater than a predefined threshold, and transmit a heater activation command in response to determining the capacitance value is greater than the predefined threshold.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for improving data transfers between a network and a network device is provided. The apparatus comprising a data input, a programmable counter adapted to counting the number of data packets received, an interrupt generator for signaling a microprocessor upon a signal from said programmable counter, a data processing block for examining the contents of data packets for an end-of-packet flag, and an output.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for improving data transfers between a network and a network device is provided. Said apparatus comprising a data input, a programmable counter adapted to counting the number of data packets received, an interrupt generator for signaling a microprocessor upon a signal from said programmable counter, a data processing block for examining the contents of data packets for an end-of-packet flag, and an output.