The invention relates to a fuel cell system (100) having at least one fuel cell stack (101), an air path (10), wherein air from the surroundings reach the fuel cell stack (101) via the air path (10), an exhaust gas path (12), a fuel line (20), wherein fuel is transported to the fuel cell stack (101) via the fuel line (20). According to the invention, the air path (10) is connected to a cooling line (30) via a branch (33), wherein the cooling line (30) is connected to a PDU unit (32).

The invention relates to a fuel cell system (100) having at least one fuel cell stack (101), an air path (10), wherein air from the surroundings reach the fuel cell stack (101) via the air path (10), an exhaust gas path (12), a fuel line (20), wherein fuel is transported to the fuel cell stack (101) via the fuel line (20). According to the invention, the air path (10) is connected to a cooling line (30) via a branch (33), wherein the cooling line (30) is connected to a PDU unit (32).

An apparatus includes an integrated heat exchanger and reactor module. The integrated heat exchanger and reactor module includes a heat exchanger channel, and a reactor channel which is thermally coupled to the heat exchanger channel. The reactor channel includes a layer of catalyst material that is configured to produce hydrogen by endothermic catalytic decomposition of ammonia, which flows through the reactor channel, using thermal energy that is absorbed by the reactor channel from the heat exchanger channel.

An apparatus includes an integrated heat exchanger and reactor module. The integrated heat exchanger and reactor module includes a heat exchanger channel, and a reactor channel which is thermally coupled to the heat exchanger channel. The reactor channel includes a layer of catalyst material that is configured to produce hydrogen by endothermic catalytic decomposition of ammonia, which flows through the reactor channel, using thermal energy that is absorbed by the reactor channel from the heat exchanger channel.

A carbon dioxide production system 10A includes: a fuel cell stack 16; a separation unit 20 that separates anode off-gas into a non-fuel gas including at least carbon dioxide and water and a regenerative fuel gas; a second heat exchanger 32 that separates water from the non-fuel gas; a water tank 42; and a carbon dioxide recovery tank 48 that recovers the carbon dioxide after the water has been separated.

The present invention relates to a protective reformer device (10) for the protection of an anode section (112) of a fuel cell stack (110) against oxidizing damage during a heating-up process, having a gas duct (20) with a gas inlet (22) and a gas outlet (24) for conducting fuel gas from an anode feed section (120) of the fuel cell stack (110), wherein a catalytic converter section (30) is arranged in the gas duct (20) for a catalytic oxidation of at least part of the fuel gas into a protective gas for feeding to the anode section (112), wherein, furthermore, the gas duct (20) has a temperature control device (40) in thermally transmitting contact with the catalytic converter section (30) for an active temperature control of the catalytic converter section (30).

The present invention relates to a protective reformer device (10) for the protection of an anode section (112) of a fuel cell stack (110) against oxidizing damage during a heating-up process, having a gas duct (20) with a gas inlet (22) and a gas outlet (24) for conducting fuel gas from an anode feed section (120) of the fuel cell stack (110), wherein a catalytic converter section (30) is arranged in the gas duct (20) for a catalytic oxidation of at least part of the fuel gas into a protective gas for feeding to the anode section (112), wherein, furthermore, the gas duct (20) has a temperature control device (40) in thermally transmitting contact with the catalytic converter section (30) for an active temperature control of the catalytic converter section (30).

A fuel cell system includes: a reformer which generates a reformed gas containing hydrogen by reacting hydrocarbon and moisture with each other; a fuel cell stack which generates electric energy through electrochemical reaction of the reformed gas and an oxidant; an ejector which, using steam as a drive fluid, sucks either a raw fuel containing the hydrocarbon or a recycled gas recovered from an anode exhaust gas, and supplies a resultant gas to the reformer; and a vaporizer which generates the steam by vaporizing water, wherein an operation temperature of the fuel cell stack is higher than a boiling point of water at an operation pressure, and the vaporizer generates the steam through heat exchange with the anode exhaust gas.

A fuel cell system includes: a reformer which generates a reformed gas containing hydrogen by reacting hydrocarbon and moisture with each other; a fuel cell stack which generates electric energy through electrochemical reaction of the reformed gas and an oxidant; an ejector which, using steam as a drive fluid, sucks either a raw fuel containing the hydrocarbon or a recycled gas recovered from an anode exhaust gas, and supplies a resultant gas to the reformer; and a vaporizer which generates the steam by vaporizing water, wherein an operation temperature of the fuel cell stack is higher than a boiling point of water at an operation pressure, and the vaporizer generates the steam through heat exchange with the anode exhaust gas.

An air pressure in fuel cells of an electric power generation system comprising a fuel cell stack (PCS) is raised with a pressurized air cooling system with recirculation to values at least two times greater than typical values for an PCS with air cooling. The FCS is either placed in a high-pressure chamber to which air is injected, or air outgoing from the FCS is redirected via a duct back to the FCS inlet and a portion of pressurized fresh air is added thereto. The chamber or the duct is provided with a radiator by means of which circulating air heat is transferred into the external environment. Air recirculation in the chamber or the duct is effected by means of fans for cooling fuel cells. Useful capacity of electric power generation systems based on fuel cells is raised significantly, the necessity of using a humidifier is excluded, and the temperature range of fuel cell operation is expanded.