Abstract: A mechanization of a fuel cell system and a method of operating the same is provided which simplifies the start-up of the fuel cell system. The fuel cell system can be started up without using any battery derived high voltage power to drive a high voltage compressor. The present invention provides for the use of a low voltage blower to provide oxygen to the cathode side of the fuel cell stack to enable start-up of the fuel cell stack without the initial use of a high voltage compressor. The low voltage blower can be powered by a low voltage power source and/or the voltage produced by the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: A mechanization of a fuel cell system and a method of operating the same is provided which simplifies the start-up of the fuel cell system. The fuel cell system can be started up without using any battery derived high voltage power to drive a high voltage compressor. The present invention provides for the use of a low voltage blower to provide oxygen to the cathode side of the fuel cell stack to enable start-up of the fuel cell stack without the initial use of a high voltage compressor. The low voltage blower can be powered by a low voltage power source and/or the voltage produced by the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: In order to produce a polymer electrolyte membrane from sulfonated, aromatic polyether ketone, an aromatic polyether ketone of the formula (I) in which Ar is a phenylene ring having p- and/or m-bonds, Ar′ is a phenylene, naphthylene, biphenylene, anthrylene or another divalent aromatic unit, X, N and M, independently of one another are 0 or 1, Y is 0, 1, 2 or 3, P is 1, 2, 3 or 4, is sulfonated and the sulfonic acid is isolated. At least 5% of the sulfonic groups in the sulfonic acid are converted into sulfonyl chloride groups, and these are reacted with an amine containing at least one crosslinkable substituent or a further functional group, and unreacted sulfonyl chloride groups are subsequently hydrolyzed. The resultant aromatic sulfonamide is isolated and dissolved in an organic solvent, the solution is converted into a film, and the crosslinkable substituents in the film are then crosslinked.

Abstract: The invention relates to a PEM fuel cell comprising at least one strip membrane (17) consisting of at least two, maximally 10,000 planar individual cells, each composed of an electrode layer (11, 16) applied on both sides of a membrane of a polymeric solid electrolyte, with the individual cells series-connected and with plates assembled on both sides to said strip membrane (17) and featuring conductive regions (20) and nonconductive regions (21), said regions being configured such that a short circuit between the individual electrodes of one membrane side is avoided.

Abstract: The invention relates to an assembly of flat single cells consisting of a lid polymer electrolyte and electrode areas applied to both sides thereof into a diaphragm electrode unit in which 2 to 10,000 single cells are connected in series through the stepwise overlapping of the electrode areas (4, 5, 6) of one single cell with the opposite electrode area (7, 8, 9) of the next cell, thus forming a one-dimensional diaphragm electrode unit (1), and a shunt conductive structure of electronically conductive material is placed at least between the overlapping electrode areas.

Abstract: The invention relates to a PEM fuel cell comprising at least one strip meane (8) which itself comprises at least 2, and a maximum of 10,000-surfaced individual cells each comprising an electrode layer (10-12, 13-15) applied on both sides of a membrane made of a polymeric solid electrolyte, the individual cells being incorporated in series and being made of plates (21, 22) of non-conductive material, which serve as heat exchangers and as fuel gas supply device, which are contacted on both sides on the strip membrane (8, 16) and separate outwardly-directed conductive structures (23, 24) for voltage derivation.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell has at least one membrane strip that forms a central area and at least two, maximum 10,000 flat individual cells. The individual cells consist each of an electrode layer applied on both sides of a membrane made of a polymer solid electrolyte and of a corresponding number of flat electronically conductive areas. The individual cells are connected in series and the central area is provided with an appropriate periphery in the cell.

Abstract: In order to produce a polymer electrolyte membrane from sulfonated, aromatic polyether ketone, an aromatic polyether ketone of the formula (I) ##STR1## in which Ar is a phenylene ring having p- and/or m-bonds,Ar' is a phenylene, naphthylene, biphenylene, anthrylene or another divalent aromatic unit,X, N and M, independently of one another are 0 or 1,Y is 0, 1, 2 or 3,P is 1, 2, 3 or 4,is sulfonated and the sulfonic acid is isolated. At least 5% of the sulfonic groups in the sulfonic acid are converted into sulfonyl chloride groups, and these are reacted with an amine containing at least one crosslinkable substituent or a further functional group, and unreacted sulfonyl chloride groups are subsequently hydrolyzed. The resultant aromatic sulfonamide is isolated and dissolved in an organic solvent, the solution is converted into a film, and the crosslinkable substituents in the film are then crosslinked.In specific cases, the crosslinkable substituents can be omitted.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel cell with a current collector, polymeric solid electrolyte in the form of membranes, gas distributor rings and currents distributor as components, all components being made from a thermoplastic basic polymer soluble in a solvent, and in that this basic polymer is so modified for the individual components that the current collectors (1) are electrically conductive, the membranes (4) are ion-conductive, the current distributors (3) are gas-permeable and electrically conductive, and the gas distributor rings (2) are made of unmodified and/or electrically conductive basic polymer, and in that the components are combined by a bonding process without seals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to electrode membranes which comprise an ion-exchange material forming a core zone, with electrodes bonded thereto on both sides, the ion exchange material being formed from homopolymers soluble in solvents, or copolymers or mixtures thereof. The polymers must have at least one residue dissociable in ions. The electrode material is connected on either side of the core zone to the ion-exchange material to form an intimate contact between the electrode and the ion exchange materials, while the external sides of the electrode are pure electrode material. The electrode membranes are useful for forming fuel cells or electrolyzers.

Abstract: In order to produce a polymer electrolyte membrane from sulfonated, aromatic polyether ketone, an aromatic polyether ketone of the formula (I) ##STR1## in which Ar is a phenylene ring having p- and/or m-bonds,Ar' is a phenylene, naphthylene, biphenylene, anthrylene or another divalent aromatic unit,X, N and M, independently of one another are 0 or 1,Y is 0, 1, 2 or 3,P is 1, 2, 3 or 4,is sulfonated and the sulfonic acid is isolated. At least 5% of the sulfonic groups in the sulfonic acid are converted into sulfonyl chloride groups, and these are reacted with an amine containing at least one crosslinkable substituent or a further functional group, and unreacted sulfonyl chloride groups are subsequently hydrolyzed. The resultant aromatic sulfonamide is isolated and dissolved in an organic solvent, the solution is converted into a film, and the crosslinkable substituents in the film are then crosslinked.In specific cases, the crosslinkable substituents can be omitted.

Abstract: In order to produce a polymer electrolyte membrane from sulfonated, aromatic polyether ketone, an aromatic polyether ketone of the formula (I) ##STR1## in which Ar is a phenylene ring having p- and/or m-bonds,Ar' is a phenylene, naphthylene, biphenylene, anthrylene or another divalent aromatic unit,X, N and M, independently of one another are 0 or 1,Y is 0, 1, 2 or 3,P is 1, 2, 3 or 4,is sulfonated and the sulfonic acid is isolated. At least 5% of the sulfonic groups in the sulfonic acid are converted into sulfonyl chloride groups, and these are reacted with an amine containing at least one crosslinkable substituent or a further functional group, and unreacted sulfonyl chloride groups are subsequently hydrolyzed. The resultant aromatic sulfonamide is isolated and dissolved in an organic solvent, the solution is converted into a film, and the crosslinkable substituents in the film are then crosslinked.In specific cases, the crosslinkable substituents can be omitted.