Abstract: A pressure vessel for the storage of pressurized gaseous hydrogen includes a liner which defines an interior for the accommodation of the gaseous hydrogen and a wrapping encompassing the liner which gives the pressure vessel its dimensional stability. In order to prevent a discharge of gaseous hydrogen from the wrapping of the pressure vessel at a high rate if the pressure vessel is discharged after a prolonged downtime, the wrapping of the pressure vessel is designed to be at least partially gas-permeable, so that the gas penetrating through the liner can escape continuously through the wrapping of the pressure vessel.

Abstract: A membrane module for the separation of hydrogen is configured for parallel flows and contains a plurality of planar membrane cells which respectively comprise two hydrogen-selective planar membranes respectively surrounded by a flat membrane frame. An air-permeable distancing layer is arranged between the membranes for removal of the permeate gas and a supply frame surrounding a supply area for the reformate gas. All membrane frames and supply frames have the same outer dimensions and form a stack with planar side surfaces. Two membrane frames of each membrane cell have protruding edges directed towards each other, enabling them to enter into contact with each other, except for at least one first opening towards a side surface of the stack. The supply frame is disposed, except for second and third openings towards the side surfaces of the stack, in a closely adjacent manner to the edges of the membrane frame of two neighboring membrane cells.

Abstract: A method and a system for resistance seam welding of a foil and at least one foil support of a fuel cell system. During welding, the thin foil, together with the thicker foil support, is moved relative to the roller electrode while resting on a flat support element. In a suitable welding system, a counter-electrode is designed as a flat support element, such as a welding strip, that is displaceable relative to the roller electrode, the roller electrode being in rolling contact with the foil support, but not with the foil. Depending on whether one foil is to be welded to one or two foil frames, the support element may be designed having a high or a low specific electric resistance.

Abstract: A membrane module for the separation of hydrogen is configured for parallel flows and contains a plurality of planar membrane cells which respectively comprise two hydrogen-selective planar membranes respectively surrounded by a flat membrane frame. An air-permeable distancing layer is arranged between the membranes for removal of the permeate gas and a supply frame surrounding a supply area for the reformate gas. All membrane frames and supply frames have the same outer dimensions and form a stack with planar side surfaces. Two membrane frames of each membrane cell have protruding edges directed towards each other, enabling them to enter into contact with each other, except for at least one first opening towards a side surface of the stack. The supply frame is disposed, except for second and third openings towards the side surfaces of the stack, in a closely adjacent manner to the edges of the membrane frame of two neighboring membrane cells.

Abstract: A membrane module for hydrogen separation includes a stack of flat membrane packs disposed adjacent one another so as not to exert a force on one another and a rotationally symmetrical pressure shell enclosing the stack of flat membrane packs. A feed space for a reformate gas is disposed between every two membrane packs in the stack. Each membrane pack has a pair of membrane assemblies and a support structure disposed therebetween and each membrane assembly includes a hydrogen-selective flat membrane supported by at least one membrane frame.

Abstract: An apparatus generates virtually pure hydrogen for fuel cells, and includes a device for reforming starting substances having at least one hydrocarbon-containing compound and water. Furthermore, the apparatus has catalytic agents for producing a water gas shift reaction in the reformate gas stream generated by the reforming device. Moreover, the apparatus includes a device for separating hydrogen out of the reformate gas stream using membranes which are selectively permeable to hydrogen. The hydrogen-separating device includes a proportion of the catalytic agents for producing the water gas shift reaction. A device for exchanging thermal energy between the reformate gas stream and a further stream of medium is arranged downstream, as seen in the direction of flow, of the reforming device. The device for exchanging thermal energy includes a further proportion of the catalytic agents for producing the water gas shift reaction.

Abstract: A method and a system for resistance seam welding of a foil and at least one foil support of a fuel cell system. During welding, the thin foil, together with the thicker foil support, is moved relative to the roller electrode while resting on a flat support element. In a suitable welding system, a counter-electrode is designed as a flat support element, such as a welding strip, that is displaceable relative to the roller electrode, the roller electrode being in rolling contact with the foil support, but not with the foil. Depending on whether one foil is to be welded to one or two foil frames, the support element may be designed having a high or a low specific electric resistance.

Abstract: A gas generation system includes a reformer for producing a hydrogen-containing reformate gas using raw materials, at least a first of the raw materials containing carbon and hydrogen, a separator device configured to selectively separate the hydrogen-containing reformate gas into hydrogen and a residual gas, and a recirculation system. The recirculation system recirculates an amount of the residual gas from a first location downstream of the separator device to a second location upstream from the separator device. The gas generation system may be used to produce a hydrogen-containing gas from liquid hydrocarbons, such as gasoline or diesel oil, for operating a fuel cell. The fuel cell may be part of a drive device or of an auxiliary power unit, in particular in a motor vehicle.

Abstract: A method for controlling a fuel cell system that has a high-pressure gas generating system so as to avoid mechanical damage to a fuel cell. In the event of a malfunction of a diaphragm of a reformer unit, the differential pressure between the side of the diaphragm of the reformer unit facing the anode side and the cathode side of the fuel cell module is held below a predefined value. In addition fuel cell systems are provided for holding the differential pressure may contain a pressure relief valve, which may be controlled by a sensor, a bursting disk, or a flow resistance, or another controllable valve on the low-pressure side upstream from the anode side of fuel cell unit.

Abstract: A membrane module for hydrogen separation includes a stack of flat membrane packs disposed adjacent one another so as not to exert a force on one another and a rotationally symmetrical pressure shell enclosing the stack of flat membrane packs. A feed space for a reformate gas is disposed between every two membrane packs in the stack. Each membrane pack has a pair of membrane assemblies and a support structure disposed therebetween and each membrane assembly includes a hydrogen-selective flat membrane supported by at least one membrane frame.

Abstract: A tubular membrane module includes a a tubular jacket delimiting a flow path for a fluid containing a plurality of components, a plurality of tubular membrane bodies bundled together in a bundle and disposed in the tubular jacket, and at least one interspace element disposed between at least two adjacent membrane bodies of the plurality of membrane bodies. Each of the tubular membrane bodies has a surface and is permeable for a first component of the plurality of components. The interspace elements reduces a diffusion path of the first component to the surface of the membrane bodies.

Abstract: A container for receiving an operating medium for the operation of fuel cells has an inlet for a medium, a first outlet and a second outlet. The container is divided by at least one permeable component into at least an inlet-side interior space, and an interior space which is remote from the inlet. The first outlet is arranged in the inlet-side interior space and the second outlet is arranged in the interior space which is remote from the inlet.

Abstract: Method for manufacturing a metal foil consisting of several metals in which at least one galvanic bath of several different bath types is prepared. Each bath type contains an electrolyte solution suitable for the deposition of one of the metals involved. A layer stack is then formed for the metal foil by successive alternate galvanic deposition of one layer at a time of the metals contained in the various bath types, on the circumference of a rotating deposition roller which is wired as a cathode in the corresponding galvanic bath. This step is followed by a tempering process that converts the layer stack is converted into a homogeneous alloy of the metals. Thereby, a metal membrane foil is produced for hydrogen separation from a process gas of a methanol reformation system in a fuel-cell-operated motor vehicle.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A reactor for the catalytic chemical reaction of a gaseous or liquid reaction starting product to a reaction end product that contains a gaseous or liquid reaction constituent which can be selectively separated by means of a membrane diffusion includes a reaction space into which the reaction starting product flows and which contains a suitable catalyst material. Porous hollow fibers are placed in the reaction space as membranes for the selective separation of the reaction constituent from the residual reaction end product.

Abstract: A method for the extraction of a liquid by condensation from a gas stream, wherein the gas stream contains the liquid mainly as fluid steam, includes expanding the gas stream in an expansion device and condensing at least a portion of the liquid downstream from the expansion device. The gas stream is then recompressed by at least one compressing device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for operating a system for the water vapor reforming of a hydrocarbon. The system includes a reactor which is suitable for POX operation as well as for a reforming operation, an evaporator, a hydrogen separating stage, and a catalytic burner device. A first part of the catalytic burner device is in thermal contact with the reforming reactor, and a second part of the burner device is in thermal contact with the evaporator. An air/hydrocarbon intermediate feeding pipe for the reactor and a pressure maintaining valve are provided for changing the reactor between the POX operation and the reforming operation. According to the process, during cold start of the system, a heating operation is carried out during which the reactor is first used in the POX operation at a lower pressure and subsequently is used for the reforming operation and simultaneously the pressure is increased to the normal operating pressure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for operating a system for the water vapor reforming of a hydrocarbon, having an evaporator, a reforming reactor, a membrane module connected behind, and a catalytic burner device. According to the invention, a first part of the catalytic burner device is in thermal contact with the reforming reactor, and a second part of the burner device is in thermal contact with the evaporator. According to the process, a heating operation is carried out during the cold start of the system, in which, in a first operating phase, at least the evaporator and the reforming reactor are heated by the catalytic burner device, and in a second operating phase, a hydrocarbon/water vapor mixture is prepared in the evaporator at a water/hydrocarbon ratio which is higher than in the normal operation and is fed to the reactor, the substance mixture emerging from the reactor being fed by way of the membrane module to the catalytic burner device.

Abstract: A membrane for separating hydrogen from a gas mixture is provided on at least one side with a catalyst layer for a specific catalytic combustion process. A methanol reformation system so equipped can be brought rapidly to operating temperature, with the hydrogen-separating membrane being heated directly by performing the catalytic combustion process.

Abstract: A reactor unit includes a monolithic block with several parallel reaction chamber lengthwise channels into which a reaction starting product can flow, which contain a suitable reaction catalyst material, and which are delimited externally by membrane walls for the selective separation of a desired reaction component from the reaction end product. A catalytic burner is accommodated in at least some of the lengthwise channels.