Ballard Power Systems Ag

Marcel Corneille

Berthold Keppeler

Christoph Koch

Bernd Schoenrock

Michael Klier

Stefan Paulik

Bernd Sch&ouml;nrock

Christian Lorenz

Martina Fischer

Jacques Herzog

A multifuel fuel cell system includes a hydrogen production unit; at least one fuel cell; means for heating a first catalytic converter element in the hydrogen production unit to an operating temperature which can be preset; means for metering liquid fuel, air, and optionally water to the catalytic converter element to produce a synthetic gas mixture containing hydrogen or a reformate; and means for passing the synthetic gas or reformate to further components of the hydrogen production unit which are connected between the catalytic converter element and the at least one fuel cell. The fuel cell system also contains means for switching the fuel cell system between a first and a second operating mode. Separation occurs between the hydrogen production unit and the at least one fuel cell during the first operating mode, and a communicating connection occurs between the hydrogen production unit and the at least one fuel cell during the second operating mode, so that reformate can be transferred from the hydrogen production unit to the at least one fuel cell only during the second operating mode.

Multifuel fuel cell system and a method for its operation

A combined component consists of a heat exchanger and a reactor. The heat exchanger is designed in a plate form, and flow spaces for a first medium and a second medium are alternately defined between successive plates. The plates of the heat exchanger are configured as essentially annular. The heat exchanger has, substantially perpendicularly to the plates, a tubular outer wall and a tubular inner wall. The reactor is surrounded by the inner wall of the heat exchanger. The product of the reactor is conducted through supply orifices on the inner wall of the heat exchanger into the flow spaces for one of the two fluids in the heat exchanger.

Combined heat exchanger and reactor component

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Stuttgart, Germany

Marcel Corneille