Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Zur Foerderung Der Angewandten Forschung E.V.

Siemens Aktiengesellschaft

The United States of America As Represented by the Department of Energy

Konstantin Ledjeff

Roland Nolte

Alexander Schuler

Michael Bauer

Angelika Heinzel

Jochen Ahn

Falko Mahlendorf

Juergen Gieshoff

Jurgen Gieshoff

Helmut Kraft

Volker Peinecke

PEM fuel cell with structured plates

Assembly of single cells to form a diaphragm electrode unit

Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell

Battery shaped as a membrane strip containing several cells

Catalytic burner

Polymer fuel cell

Electrode membrane

Hot water heater

Water heater

A process and an apparatus for the storage and the conversion of energy hng a H.sub.2 /O.sub.2 /H.sub.2 O system by switching the mode of operation electrolytic/fuel cell reaction, with a cell being utilized which is composed of an anode compartment, a cathode compartment and an ion exchange membrane as the electrolyte. Bifunctional oxidation electrodes are utilized as electrodes in the anode compartment so that during electrolytic operation oxygen is formed and during fuel cell operation hydrogen is oxidized and with a bifunctional reduction electrode also being utilized in the cathode compartment so that during electrolytic operation hydrogen is formed and during fuel cell operation oxygen is reduced.

Apparatus for the storage and conversion of energy

The invention provides a rebalance cell for a Cr/Fe redox storage system. The rebalance cell has a catalyst for the reduction of Fe.sup.3+ ions by means of hydrogen. The catalyst separates a gas chamber of the rebalance cell (holding hydrogen) and a liquid chamber of the rebalance cell (holding Fe.sup.3+ electrolyte). The catalyst is in the form of an activated charcoal made hydrophobic and coated with a platinum metal, gold or silver. The catalyst can also be in the form of tungsten carbide made hydrophobic.

Rebalance cell for a Cr/Fe redox storage system

A recombination device including a gas-tight enclosure connected to receive he discharge gases from a rechargeable storage battery. Catalytic material for the recombination of hydrogen and oxygen to form water is supported within the enclosure. The enclosure is sealed from the atmosphere by a liquid seal including two vertical chambers interconnected with an inverted U-shaped overflow tube. The first chamber is connected at its upper portion to the enclosure and the second chamber communicates at its upper portion with the atmosphere. If the pressure within the enclosure differs as overpressure or vacuum by more than the liquid level, the liquid is forced into one of the two chambers and the overpressure is vented or the vacuum is relieved. The recombination device also includes means for returning recombined liquid to the battery and for absorbing metal hydrides.

Recombination device for storage batteries

Growing community of inventors

Bad Krozingen, Germany

Konstantin Ledjeff