A drive system (1) having a unipolar machine (2) and a fuel cell (3) for supplying the unipolar machine (2) with electrical energy. The fuel cell (3) can be arranged in a ring shape around a rotor shaft (5) of a rotor (4) of the unipolar machine (2). The unipolar machine (2) can be provided in a motor vehicle (600) to supply a traction torque.

A fuel cell includes a fuel cell stack. A pressure plate is arranged on one side of the fuel cell stack. The pressure plate includes a hole, and a tie rod assembly has a tie rod received in the hole. A nut with a conical surface is secured to the tie rod. An isolator is arranged in the hole between the tie rod assembly and the pressure plate. The isolator has a conical portion, and the conical surface engages the conical portion to provide a conical interface. The tie rod assembly applies a clamp load on the fuel cell stack via the conical interface.

Embodiments of the invention include fuel cells incorporating sheets and/or powders of silica fibers and methods for producing such devices. The silica fibers may be formed via electrospinning of a sol gel produced with a silicon alkoxide reagent, such as tetraethyl ortho silicate, alcohol solvent, and an acid catalyst.

The art for the design of a class of modified catalysts, the process for preparing such modified catalysts and implementation of such modified catalysts in phosphoric acid fuel cells is disclosed. The modified catalyst comprises a particle of a metal-doped porous material and an amount of a phosphate-containing acid group or phosphate-containing acid groups. The particle of the metal-doped porous material is a particle of a porous carrier with metal microparticles and a plurality of hydroxyl groups on the surface of the porous carrier such that (i) the plurality of metal microparticles are attached to a first portion of the plurality of hydroxyl groups of the surface of the porous carrier and (ii) an amount of a phosphate-containing acid group or phosphate-containing acid groups can be bonded to a second portion of the plurality of hydroxyl groups of the surface of the porous carrier to form the modified catalyst.

The art for the design of a class of modified catalysts, the process for preparing such modified catalysts and implementation of such modified catalysts in phosphoric acid fuel cells is disclosed. The modified catalyst comprises a particle of a metal-doped porous material and an amount of a phosphate-containing acid group or phosphate-containing acid groups. The particle of the metal-doped porous material is a particle of a porous carrier with metal microparticles and a plurality of hydroxyl groups on the surface of the porous carrier such that (i) the plurality of metal microparticles are attached to a first portion of the plurality of hydroxyl groups of the surface of the porous carrier and (ii) an amount of a phosphate-containing acid group or phosphate-containing acid groups can be bonded to a second portion of the plurality of hydroxyl groups of the surface of the porous carrier to form the modified catalyst.

A dehydrogenation method for hydrogen storage materials, which is executed by a fuel cell system. The fuel cell system includes a hydrogen storage material tank, a heating unit, a fuel cell, a pump, a water thermal management unit and a heat recovery unit. The described dehydrogenation method utilizes the heating unit and the heat recovery unit to provide thermal energy to the hydrogen storage material tank, so that hydrogen storage material is heated to the dehydrogenation temperature. The pump extracts hydrogen from the hydrogen storage material tank, so that the hydrogen storage material is under negative pressure (i.e. H.sub.2 absolute pressure below 1 atm), according to which the hydrogen storage material is dehydrogenated, and the dehydrogenation efficiency and the amount of hydrogen release are improved. The method n can reduce the dehydrogenation temperature of the hydrogen storage material, and reduce the thermal energy consumption for heating the hydrogen storage material.

Nanostructured materials, and methods and apparatus for their production are provided. Nanostructured materials comprise nanofibers having nanoparticles deposited along the outer surface thereof. The size of the nanofibers and nanoparticles, and the spacing of such nanoparticles along the nanofibers may be controlled over a wide range. Nanostructured materials may comprise a plurality of such nanofibers interwoven together to form fiber cloth-like materials. Many materials may be used to form the nanofibers including polymer nanofiber materials (e.g., polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), etc.) along with compatible nanoparticle materials (e.g., salts or other crystallizable materials).

Nanostructured materials, and methods and apparatus for their production are provided. Nanostructured materials comprise nanofibers having nanoparticles deposited along the outer surface thereof. The size of the nanofibers and nanoparticles, and the spacing of such nanoparticles along the nanofibers may be controlled over a wide range. Nanostructured materials may comprise a plurality of such nanofibers interwoven together to form fiber cloth-like materials. Many materials may be used to form the nanofibers including polymer nanofiber materials (e.g., polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), etc.) along with compatible nanoparticle materials (e.g., salts or other crystallizable materials).

A reformer assembly includes a vortex tube receiving heated fuel mixed with steam. A catalyst coats the inner wall of the main tube of the vortex tube and a hydrogen-permeable tube is positioned in the middle of the main tube coaxially with the main tube. With this structure the vortex tube outputs primarily Hydrogen from one end and Carbon-based constituents from the other end. In some embodiments a second vortex tube receives the Carbon output of the first vortex tube to establish a water gas shift reactor, producing Hydrogen from the Carbon output of the first vortex tube.

A reformer assembly includes a vortex tube receiving heated fuel mixed with steam. A catalyst coats the inner wall of the main tube of the vortex tube and a hydrogen-permeable tube is positioned in the middle of the main tube coaxially with the main tube. With this structure the vortex tube outputs primarily Hydrogen from one end and Carbon-based constituents from the other end. In some embodiments a second vortex tube receives the Carbon output of the first vortex tube to establish a water gas shift reactor, producing Hydrogen from the Carbon output of the first vortex tube.