Patents by Inventor Rainer Autenrieth
Rainer Autenrieth has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20130065147Abstract: A method for operating a fuel cell system for supplying at least one electrical consumer with electric energy is provided. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell and an accessory for supplying the fuel cell. The efficiency of the fuel cell system is determined and the fuel cell is switched off temporarily when the efficiency of the fuel cell system falls below a switch-limit efficiency.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2011Publication date: March 14, 2013Applicant: DAIMLER AGInventor: Rainer Autenrieth
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Patent number: 7261750Abstract: A method for the autothermal reforming of a hydrocarbon, in particular of diesel, includes introducing a combustible mixture of the hydrocarbon to be reformed and an oxygen-containing medium into a first reaction zone of a reformer, A gas-phase reaction is ignited. After an operating temperature required for the autothermal reforming process is reached, water or a water-containing medium is introduced into the first reaction zone, and the water content is increased until the conditions for the reforming process of the hydrocarbon prevail. The reforming process then takes place predominantly in a second reaction zone.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2000Date of Patent: August 28, 2007Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AGInventors: Rainer Autenrieth, Andreas Docter, Steffen Oliver Wieland
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Publication number: 20060166050Abstract: A fuel cell system for supplying at least one electric load with electric power includes at least one fuel cell and an energy storage device, and also a switching device for disconnecting and connecting the fuel cell system from and to the at least one load. The switching device has at least two switches, so that the fuel cell and the energy storage device can be disconnected and connected from and to the at least one electric load independently of one another. In addition, a method is provided for operating such a fuel cell system.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2003Publication date: July 27, 2006Inventor: Rainer Autenrieth
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Patent number: 7025941Abstract: A reactor system for reacting a hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon derivative charging material comprises a catalyst-coated reaction chamber, to which a reaction educt stream can be fed through a reaction chamber inlet, and electric heating means. The reaction chamber inlet has a flat, electrically heatable, catalyst-coated, and reaction educt stream-permeable heater, which covers at least partially the inlet cross section of the reaction chamber inlet and through which the educts for reacting the charging material can be fed at least in a start operating phase of the reactor system. An electric heater may be provided in front of the reaction chamber inlet, for the purpose of heating at least one reaction educt in a start operating phase and there are means for point-by-point injection of at least one reaction educt, heated in the heater, into the reaction chamber.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2000Date of Patent: April 11, 2006Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AGInventors: Rainer Autenrieth, Andreas Docter, Norbert Wiesheu
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Patent number: 6972159Abstract: A fuel-cell system, in particular for a vehicle, has a device for supplying the operating agents for a fuel cell and an electrical energy accumulator. The energy accumulator is composed of a battery and of an intermediate charge store which has a lower internal resistance than the battery. A switch is provided in the electrical connection between the energy accumulator and the fuel cell.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2002Date of Patent: December 6, 2005Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AGInventors: Rainer Autenrieth, Robert Gerberich, Gerhard Konrad, Karsten Ledwig, Michael Niehues, Markus Walter
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Patent number: 6866091Abstract: A method for vaporizing and/or superheating a combustible/water mixture, wherein the combustible is especially methanol, for supplying a gas generation system (2) belonging to a fuel cell installation (3). The waste-gas from the fuel cell and/or gas generation system is catalytically combusted together with a gas containing oxygen in order to produce the thermal energy required therefore. The combustible is added in a dosed manner to the volume flow from the gas containing oxygen and the waste gases of the fuel cell and/or gas generator system in the direction of flow prior to catalytic combustion.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2000Date of Patent: March 15, 2005Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AGInventor: Rainer Autenrieth
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Publication number: 20050031915Abstract: In a method for controlling fuel supply to a fuel cell system having at least one fuel cell, the power withdrawal from the fuel cell is performed via a timed switching-on and switching-off of an electric connection between the fuel cell and a consuming device, as a function of the fuel present in the fuel cell. The quantity of fuel is controlled as a function of a pause to switch-on ratio of the timed connection of the fuel cell with the consuming device in such a manner that, based on an actual value of the pause to switch-on ratio, a predefined desired value of the pause to switch-on ratio is set.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2003Publication date: February 10, 2005Applicant: DaimlerChrysler AGInventor: Rainer Autenrieth
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Publication number: 20040219402Abstract: A method for supplying a cathode area of at least one fuel cell with an oxygenated medium, in particular air, using at least one electrically powered delivery device having a variable delivery rate. A current generated by the at least one fuel cell and a current consumed by the at least one delivery device are determined. The delivery rate of the at least one delivery device is varied so that a maximum difference between the current generated by the at least one fuel cell and the current consumed by the at least one delivery device is established.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2004Publication date: November 4, 2004Applicant: DaimlerChrysler AGInventor: Rainer Autenrieth
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Patent number: 6696027Abstract: A reformation reactor that can be used especially for steam reformation of methanol for generating hydrogen in motor vehicles operated by fuel cells. A gas stream to be reformed is conducted through a reaction chamber into which a charge of a catalyst material is added. A catalyst supply container connected with the reaction chamber is so arranged that the catalyst material is automatically added from the supply container to the reaction chamber.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 1998Date of Patent: February 24, 2004Assignee: Ballard Power Systems AGInventors: Rainer Autenrieth, Andreas Christen
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Patent number: 6646413Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell unit having an anode side and a cathode side, anode-side feeding and outflow lines for the supply of fuel and removal of anode-side exhaust, and cathode-side feeding and outflow lines for the supply of oxygen and removal of cathode-side exhaust. The fuel cell system also includes means for electrically switching the fuel cell unit on and off depending on the available quantity of fuel.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2001Date of Patent: November 11, 2003Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AGInventors: Rainer Autenrieth, Gerhard Konrad, Karsten Ledwig, Michael Niehues, Markus Walter
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Publication number: 20030059729Abstract: A method for vaporizing and/or superheating a combustible/water mixture, wherein the combustible is especially methanol, for supplying a gas generation system (2) belonging to a fuel cell installation (3). The waste-gas from the fuel cell and/or gas generation system is catalytically combusted together with a gas containing oxygen in order to produce the thermal energy required therefore. The combustible is added in a dosed manner to the volume flow from the gas containing oxygen and the waste gases of the fuel cell and/or gas generator system in the direction of flow prior to catalytic combustion.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2002Publication date: March 27, 2003Inventor: Rainer Autenrieth
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Patent number: 6521364Abstract: A flame colorant additive for methanol for the operation of a fuel cell system includes at least one of (1) NaCl; (2) an organic compound of an element of the first principal group or of the second principal group of the periodic table of elements; and/or (3) an organic compound of an element of the third secondary group or of the ninth secondary group of the periodic table of elements.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2000Date of Patent: February 18, 2003Assignee: Ballard Power Systems AGInventor: Rainer Autenrieth
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Publication number: 20020182454Abstract: A fuel-cell system, in particular for a vehicle, has a device for supplying the operating agents for a fuel cell and an electrical energy accumulator. The energy accumulator is composed of a battery and of an intermediate charge store which has a lower internal resistance than the battery. A switch is provided in the electrical connection between the energy accumulator and the fuel cell.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2002Publication date: December 5, 2002Applicant: DaimlerChrysler AGInventors: Rainer Autenrieth, Robert Gerberich, Gerhard Konrad, Karsten Ledwig, Michael Niehues, Markus Walter
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Patent number: 6447736Abstract: A system for the water vapor reforming of a hydrocarbon includes a modular reactor unit of the plate stack and/or tube bundle type that, in an integrated manner, contains an evaporator, a prereforming unit, a main reformer, a CO removal unit and a catalytic burner unit. The evaporator and the main reformer are in a thermal contact with the catalytic burner unit and, the prereforming unit is in a thermal contact with the CO removal unit.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 1998Date of Patent: September 10, 2002Assignee: Xcellsis GmbHInventors: Rainer Autenrieth, Stefan Boneberg, Andreas Christen, Dietmar Heil, Barbara Strobel, Steffen Wieland, Detlef zur Megede
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Patent number: 6432378Abstract: A process for operating a methanol reforming system in which, in the reforming reaction operation, methanol is reformed in a methanol reforming reactor using a methanol reforming catalyst. The reforming reaction operation is interrupted periodically for catalyst reactivation phases during which the methanol reforming catalyst whose catalytic activity decreases in the reforming reaction operation is treated in an activity-regenerating manner. The process may be used in fuel-cell-driven motor vehicles for generating hydrogen for the fuel cells from methanol carried along in the liquid state.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 1998Date of Patent: August 13, 2002Assignee: Xcellsis GmbHInventors: Rainer Autenrieth, Andreas Christen, Martin Schuessler, Detlef zur Megede
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Patent number: 6423435Abstract: A fuel cell system has at least one fuel cell and a hydrogen generating arrangement for feeding the fuel cell anode with a hydrogen-containing product gas from a conversion reaction of a hydrocarbon starting substance or hydrocarbon derivative with of water fed supplied by way of a water feeding system. Water recovery devices are provided for condensing water out of the process gas supplied by the hydrogen generating arrangement, and/or out of the cathode waste gas carried away from the fuel cell cathode, and returning the condensed-out water into the water feeding system.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2000Date of Patent: July 23, 2002Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AGInventors: Rainer Autenrieth, Andreas Docter, Arnold Lamm, Thomas Poschmann, Steffen Wieland
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Publication number: 20020057066Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell unit having an anode side and a cathode side, anode-side feeding and outflow lines for the supply of fuel and removal of anode-side exhaust, and cathode-side feeding and outflow lines for the supply of oxygen and removal of cathode-side exhaust. The fuel cell system also includes means for electrically switching the fuel cell unit on and off depending on the available quantity of fuel.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2001Publication date: May 16, 2002Inventors: Rainer Autenrieth, Gerhard Konrad, Karsten Ledwig, Michael Niehues, Markus Walter
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Patent number: 6355589Abstract: A process for pretreating a catalyst material for catalysing a chemical reaction in a reactor, in particular for a reforming catalyst material for catalysing a methanol reforming reaction to obtain hydrogen, includes (1) subjecting the catalyst material to a hydrogen-containing gas mixture in a forming step, and (2) subsequently subjecting the catalyst material to an oxygen-containing gas mixture in a deactivating step.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2000Date of Patent: March 12, 2002Assignees: Xcellsis GmbH, BASF AktiengesellschaftInventors: Rainer Autenrieth, Stefan Brauchle, Otto Kumberger
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Patent number: 6355367Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying pressure to at least one reactant for delivery from a storage tank to a gas generating system has at least one pump. An operating medium for applying pressure to the reactants is delivered from the pump to the storage tank via a pipe system. The operating medium itself may also be delivered to a reaction chamber as a reactant of the gas generating system.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2000Date of Patent: March 12, 2002Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AGInventors: Rainer Autenrieth, Andreas Docter, Steffen Wieland
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Publication number: 20010028972Abstract: In an apparatus for recovering water for an electrical/fuel-cell system in a vehicle, the cooling circuit of the vehicle radiator and/or of the air-conditioning system is coupled via a heat exchanger to at least one exhaust-gas stream of the electrical/fuel-cell system. Water precipitated due to the cooling is collected.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2001Publication date: October 11, 2001Inventors: Rainer Autenrieth, Gerhard Konrad