Aarhus Universitet

Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon Gmbh

Volkswagen Ag

Stühff Gmbh

Deutsches Zentrum Für Luft- Und Raumfahrt Advanced Technology

Deutsches Zentrum Für Luft- Und Raumfahrt Advanced Technology Marketing

Panco Gmbh

Deutsches Zentrum Fuer Luft-Und Raumfahrt E.v

Dieter Platzek

Thomas Klassen

Martin Dornheim

Klaus Taube

José M Bellosta Von Colbe

Julian Jepsen

Julián Puszkiel

Bo Brummerstedt Iversen

Britta Lundtoft

Mogens Christensen

Holger Stühff

Anna Kallias

Ignasi Cabezas Marce

A cold start device for an exothermic hydrogen consumer such as a fuel cell, as well as a method for operating an exothermic hydrogen consumer with a metal hydride storage system. An exothermic hydrogen consumer such as a fuel cell with an efficient cold start device which can be brought into operation rapidly and. does not require a pressure tank is provided. The cold start device is available for an unlimited number of start-up procedures. At least one starter tank is filled with a metal hydride which has an equilibrium pressure for desorption of at least 100 kPa at a temperature of −40° C., as well as at least one operating tank which is filled with at least one metal hydride, which has an equilibrium pressure of <100 kPa at temperatures of <0° C., and wherein the starter tank is incorporated into the operating tank.

Metal hydride-hydrogen tank system with a frost-start capability

The invention relates to a cold start apparatus for an exothermic hydrogen consumer such as a fuel cell and also a method for operating an exothermic hydrogen consumer having a metal hydride store or hydrogen supply from a reformer. It is an object of the present invention to provide a fuel cell having an efficient cold start apparatus, which can be taken into operation immediately and does not require any pressure tank. Furthermore, the cold start apparatus should be available for an unlimited number of starting operations. The object is achieved by an apparatus for operation of a fuel cell or another exothermic hydrogen consumer, which comprises at least one starter tank comprising a metal hydride having cold start properties and also at least one operating tank comprising at least one intermediate-temperature hydride or at least one reformer, wherein the starter tank is in fluidic communication with the exothermic hydrogen consumer and the operating tank or the reformer, wherein the first starter tank comprises a metal hydride which has an equilibrium pressure for desorption at a temperature of &#x2212;40&#xb0; C. of at least 100 kPa and further comprises a cooling device in order to be able to be reloaded with hydrogen by the operating tank or the reformer while the fuel cell is being supplied.

Apparatus comprising a metal hydride store for operating an exothermic hydrogen consumer

A thermoelectric material of the p-type having the stoichiometric formula ZnSb, wherein part of the Zn atoms optionally being substituted by one or more elements selected from the group comprising Sn, Mg, Pb and the transition metals in a total amount of 20 mol % or less in relation to the Zn atoms is provided by a process involving zone-melting of a an arrangement comprising an interphase between a 'stoichiometric' material having the desired composition and a 'non-stoichiometric' material having a composition deviating from the desired composition. The thermoelectric materials obtained exhibit excellent figure of merits.

P-type thermoelectric materials, a process for their manufacture and uses thereof

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Mülheim-Kärlich, Germany

Dieter Platzek