Abstract: A direct methanol fuel cell has a proton conducting membrane (PCM), a catalyst in contact with the PCM, a gas diffusion layer in contact with the catalyst, and a conducting plate in contact with the gas diffusion membrane. The gas diffusion layer comprises a microporous membrane. The microporous membrane may be a microporous membrane, a laminate of a microporous membrane, and a skinned microporous membrane.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a method and a reactor for generating hydrogen from a metal hydride. The method includes the steps of: providing a fuel containing a metal hydride and water; catalyzing a reaction of the hydride and water by using a functional membrane system; and thereby generating hydrogen. The reactor for generating hydrogen includes a vessel, and a functional membrane system disposed within the vessel. The functional membrane system compartmentalizes the vessel into two chambers. One of the two chambers is a fuel chamber, and the other chamber is a hydrogen chamber. Fuel, containing a metal hydride and water, is introduced to the fuel chamber, where it undergoes a catalytic reaction to generate hydrogen. The generated hydrogen then passes through the functional membrane system into the hydrogen chamber, and exits the reactor via the hydrogen outlets. The functional membrane system includes a membrane and a catalyst.

Abstract: A standard pump housing is provided for rotary pumps having impellers with various delivery heads and flow rates. The pump housing can be manufactured by a simple sheet metal shaping technique, is very stiff even at the joint of the pressure pipe and achieves the best possible efficiency. The pump housing has a flattened part at its circumference which narrows the flow room arranged downstream of the impeller and delimited by the pump housing, in the direction of the pump axis. An opening for connecting with a pipe having a standard connection cross-section is arranged in the flattened part of the housing.

Abstract: A casing which admits the fluid medium into the range of the impeller or first impeller in a fluid flow machine, particularly in a centrifugal pump, is made of several sections which have abutting surfaces. At least one such surface has a recess forming part of a fluid flow passage, and the recess is machined into the respective surface by a material removing tool. This simplifies the making of the casing and enables the latter to optimally conform to the conditions of flow between the supply conduit and the impeller or first impeller of the machine to thus reduce noise and stray movements and enhance the efficiency of the machine.