Abstract: A fuel cell system, which may include a fuel processing subsystem for converting hydrocarbons into a hydrogen-rich gas, is designed so that at least some of the components of the fuel cell system are contained inside at least one housing. The housing contains a recombiner to convert hydrogen and oxygen into water. The housing may also contain a temperature sensor in the vicinity of the recombiner.

Abstract: A methanol reforming catalyst containing passivated copper and zinc oxide and/or alumina can be prepared by (1) precipitating or spray-drying a mixture of catalyst precursor components dissolved or suspended in a diluent in order to form a solid catalyst precursor in the form of powder or granules, (2) calcining and reducing the solid catalyst precursor obtained in stage (1), (3) passivating the reduced catalyst precursor obtained in stage (2) and (4) shaping the passivated catalyst precursor obtained in stage (3) to form the catalyst. A reduction in the volume shrinkage and an increase in the mechanical hardness during operation of the methanol reforming catalyst are achieved by the preparation process.

Abstract: A method is used to start up a fuel cell electrically in a fuel cell installation, especially a fuel cell for use in a motor vehicle, with a gas-generating system producing a hydrogen-containing gas flow. The gas flow from the gas-generating system and an oxygen-containing gas flow are brought together and combusted after the fuel cell. The fuel cell is started up electrically as a function of a temperature course existing in the region of combustion of the gas flows.

Abstract: A system for supplying an evaporated and/or superheated hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon/water mixture to at least two components of a gas generation system of a fuel cell system, in particular to at least two stages of a multi-stage reforming process. In one embodiment, the system contains at least two heat exchangers, each of which contains a media-side area and an area that serves to input thermal energy. Furthermore, each of the heat exchangers is connected to least one of the components of the gas generation system and the two heat exchangers are connected to each other. In an alternate embodiment, the system contains one heat exchanger, the media-side area of which is connected to a valve device, which distributes the evaporated and/or superheated mixture to at least two conduits, each of which leads to one of the two components of the gas generation system.

Abstract: A method for operating a gas generation device, for example, for a fuel cell system, having at least two gas generation units through which a starting-material stream flows in series. The two gas generating units have a first and second rated power Prated—1, Prated—2 and a first and second predetermined operating temperature Trated—1, Trated—2, and the first gas generation unit has a lower thermal mass than the second gas generation unit. During a starting phase only the first gas generation unit is operated, with a power Pstart—1>Prated—1. After the end of the starting phase at least the second gas generation unit is operated.

Abstract: A methanol reforming catalyst containing passivated copper and zinc oxide and/or alumina can be prepared by (1) precipitating or spray-drying a mixture of catalyst precursor components dissolved or suspended in a diluent in order to form a solid catalyst precursor in the form of powder or granules, (2) calcining and reducing the solid catalyst precursor obtained in stage (1), (3) passivating the reduced catalyst precursor obtained in stage (2) and (4) shaping the passivated catalyst precursor obtained in stage (3) to form the catalyst. A reduction in the volume shrinkage and an increase in the mechanical hardness during operation of the methanol reforming catalyst are achieved by the preparation process.

Abstract: A methanol reforming catalyst containing passivated copper and zinc oxide and/or alumina can be prepared by (1) precipitating or spray-drying a mixture of catalyst precursor components dissolved or suspended in a diluent in order to form a solid catalyst precursor in the form of powder or granules, (2) calcining and reducing the solid catalyst precursor obtained in stage (1), (3) passivating the reduced catalyst precursor obtained in stage (2) and (4) shaping the passivated catalyst precursor obtained in stage (3) to form the catalyst. A reduction in the volume shrinkage and an increase in the mechanical hardness during operation of the methanol reforming catalyst are achieved by the preparation process.

Abstract: A method serves the purpose of introducing fuel and/or thermal energy into a gas stream flowing to a catalytic reactor. The gas stream flows in part through an exterior chamber and in part through an interior chamber, which is at least partially open in the flow direction and to which fuel is supplied. The partial streams are re-united after flowing through the two chambers and are fed to the catalytic reactor. In a starting phase of the still cold catalytic reactor, the fuel is burned in the interior chamber. During conventional normal operating modes of the warm catalytic reactor, the fuel is vaporized in the interior chamber. In a suitable device, the exterior chamber and the interior chamber are designed as two tube elements that are inserted into one another.

Abstract: A gas generating system for a fuel cell system as well as to a method of operating same. In order to provide hydrogen-containing combustible gas as rapidly as possible and to reduce the exhaust gas emissions, for the start of the operation of the gas generating system, at least one catalytic burner is started and the generated heat is used for evaporating a combustion agent and/or water and for the heating-up of an additionally connected partial reforming unit or partial oxidation stage in order to generate a hydrogen-containing gas for the fuel cell unit by reforming or partial oxidation.

Abstract: A device is used to evaporate and/or superheat a hydrocarbon or a hydrocarbon/water mixture for a gas generation system of a fuel cell installation. The hydrocarbon or the hydrocarbon/water mixture flows through a medium-side region of a heat exchanger, which is in thermally conductive communication with a heat-transfer-side region of the heat exchanger. A burner is arranged upstream of the heat-transfer-side region of the heat exchanger, as seen in the direction of flow. An exhaust gas from a combustion which takes place in the burner flows through the heat-transfer-side region of the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell unit having a cooling circuit and an evaporator having at least one evaporation chamber for evaporation of a medium in the fuel cell system and at least one heat-transfer chamber which thermally communicates with the evaporation chamber. The heat-transfer chamber is a part of the cooling circuit of the fuel cell unit.

Abstract: An arrangement for generating a hydrogen-containing gas from a hydrocarbon-containing medium includes a multi-stage reforming unit that is connected to a multi-stage carbon monoxide removal unit by a heat-conducting separating medium. The stages of the reforming unit, in an ascending order relative to the gas flow direction in the reforming unit, are in a thermal contact with stages of the carbon monoxide removal unit, in a descending order relative to the gas flow direction in the carbon monoxide removal unit.

Abstract: In a fuel cell system having a fuel cell and a catalytic burner connected downstream thereof, an additional hydrogen-containing medium is fed to the catalytic burner.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for supplying at least two components of a gas producing system of a fuel cell installation, especially the stages of a multi-stage reformation process, with an evaporated and/or superheated hydrocarbon or a hydrocarbon/water mixture. The inventive system comprises at least two heat exchangers that have one zone for the media and one zone for the supply of thermal energy each. The heat exchangers are associated with one of the components each, the zone used for the supply of thermal energy to the at least two heat exchangers being connected in tandem. Alternatively, the inventive system comprises a heat exchanger and downstream of the media zone thereof a valve device which supplies the evaporated and/or superheated volume flow to at least one respective section of pipes that leads to one of the at least two components, respectively.

Abstract: A fuel cell system, which may include a fuel processing subsystem for converting hydrocarbons into a hydrogen-rich gas, is designed so that at least some of the components of the fuel cell system are contained inside at least one housing. The housing contains a recombiner to convert hydrogen and oxygen into water. The housing may also contain a temperature sensor in the vicinity of the recombiner.

Abstract: A reactor is provided for the catalytic conversion of a mixture of a reactants, such as fuel, into at least one reaction product, the reactor having a reaction chamber containing at least one catalytically active substance for the conversion. The reactor chamber further has a reaction area that at start-up is not yet reactive at ambient temperature, and an ignition area that is already capable of ignition at ambient temperature. Ignition area is in only partial contact with reaction area, and the ignition area is porous and contains one or more noble metals. The thermal contact between the two different areas is such that the heat output dissipated from the ignition area at ambient temperature is less than the heat output generated in this area.

Abstract: A heat exchanger has a plurality of fluidically parallel first layers which define first heat exchanger ducts through which a first medium is capable of flowing, and in each case has a second layer between the two first layers. The respective second layer is in thermal contact with the two adjacent first layers and defines at least one second heat exchanger duct through which a second medium is capable of flowing in parallel. The respective second layer comprises two fluidically parallel layer plies. A controllable supply of the second medium to the one and/or the other layer ply in each case is provided. Such a heat exchanger can be used, in particular, as an evaporator with an integrated starting and main evaporator part, and particularly as an evaporator in a reforming plant of a fuel-cell vehicle.

Abstract: A methanol reforming catalyst containing passivated copper and zinc oxide and/or alumina can be prepared by

Abstract: A gas generating system for a fuel cell system as well as to a method of operating same. In order to provide hydrogen-containing combustible gas as rapidly as possible and to reduce the exhaust gas emissions, for the start of the operation of the gas generating system, at least one catalytic burner is started and the generated heat is used for evaporating a combustion agent and/or water and for the heating-up of an additionally connected partial reforming unit or partial oxidation stage in order to generate a hydrogen-containing gas for the fuel cell unit by reforming or partial oxidation.

Abstract: 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.