Helmholtz-zentrum Hereon Gmbh

U.S. Philips Corporation

Stühff Gmbh

Volkswagen Ag

Panco Gmbh

Helmholtz-zentrum Geesthacht Zentrum Fur Material Und Kustenforschung Gmbh

Klaus Taube

Thomas Klassen

Martin Dornheim

José M Bellosta Von Colbe

Julián Puszkiel

Julian Jepsen

Claus-Peter Klages

Heinz Dimigen

Hubertus Hubsch

Dieter Platzek

Holger Stühff

Rainer Veyhl

Rudolf Thyen

Giovanni Capurso

Eckart Boettger

Claudio Pistidda

Thi Thu Le

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 present invention relates to a composite material for hydrogen storage based on metal hydrides and to a method of operating a hydrogen storage system based on metal hydrides capable of releasing and absorbing hydrogen. Such hydrogen storage systems based on metal hydrides may be applicable as a fuel source for a fuel cell. The composite material for hydrogen storage comprises a powder or pellets of a hydride and a phase changing material (PCM), wherein the PCM is an encapsulated phase changing material (EPCM) which is homogeneously dispersed within the powder or pellets of the hydride.

Integrated material and process for integrated operation of a hydride storage system

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

The present invention relates to a method for producing tetrahydridoborate salts with high efficiency at low cost. The method for the production of metal borohydride salts according to the present invention comprises the steps of providing an anhydrous metal borate salt and milling the anhydrous metal borate salt in the presence of a metal material based on magnesium or magnesium alloys in a hydrogen atmosphere at a temperature and for a time sufficient to produce the metal borohydride salt. In another embodiment of the invention, the method for the production of metal borohydride salts according to the present invention comprises the steps of providing an hydrated metal borate salt and milling the hydrated metal borate salt in the presence of a metal material based on magnesium or magnesium alloys in an inert gas atmosphere at a temperature and for a time sufficient to produce the metal borohydride salts. In a still further embodiment of the invention, the metal material based on magnesium or magnesium alloys is a secondary magnesium material, preferably a Class 2, Class 3, or Class 6 secondary magnesium material.

Method for producing borohydride salts

The invention relates to a gas circulation system () for transporting heat from a high-temperature source () to a heat consumer (), having a pipe system (), through which a gaseous heat transfer medium flows, wherein part of the pipe system () is formed as a heat exchanger () following on from the high-temperature source (), in which heat is transferred from the high-temperature source () into the heat transfer medium, and wherein part of the pipe system () is formed as a heat sink (), in which the heat transferred to the heat transfer medium can be transferred to a heat consumer (), or as a heat consumer. One or more gas flow enhancers () functioning according to the Coand&#x103; effect and/or the Venturi effect, which are supplied with pressurized impulse gas, are provided in the pipe system (), in order to propel the heat transfer medium in the pipe system () in a flow direction ().

Gas circulation system for transporting heat from a high temperature source

The present invention relates to a system and method for the efficient heat management of a low-temperature fuel cell which is supplied from a metal hydride store. The system of the invention makes it possible to achieve, for example, discharge temperatures of the metal hydride store of about 180&#xb0; C. in the case of low-temperature fuel cells operated at about 85&#xb0; C.

System and method for heat management of high-temperature systems

A resistive film includes carbon (40-95 at. %), one or more metal(s) (4-60 at.%) and hydrogen (1-30 at. %). The film has a resistivity in excess of 1000 .mu..OMEGA.cm and a temperature coefficient TC in the range of between -100 and +100 ppm/K.

Resistive film

The invention relates to a resistive film comprising carbon (40-95 at. %), one or more metal(s) (4-60 at. %) and hydrogen (1-30 at. %), said film having a resistivity in excess of 1000.mu..OMEGA.cm and a temperature coefficient TC in the range between -100 and +100 ppm/K.

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Hamburg, Germany

Klaus Taube