Sulzer Brothers Limited

Sulzer Hexis Ag

Sulzer Innotec Ag

Zehnder Group International Ag

Gebrueder Sulzer Aktiengesellschaft

Roland Diethelm

Uwe Werner

Heinz Baumann

Jörg Evertz

Bruno Barp

Thomas Gamper

Dominik Eggert

Martin Muller

Joseph Brun

Martin MÜLLER

Renato GÖTZ

Renato Götz

The invention relates to a system and method for fastening a heating/cooling element () to a wall or to a floor, the method comprising the following steps:

System and method for fastening a heating or cooling body

The fuel cell module contains an integrated additional heater for a start-up operation and comprises the following components. Planar fuel cells are connected in series and form a cylindrical stack at the lateral surface of which air infeed points of the cells are located. A jacket is arranged about the cell stack and is formed as a dynamic heat insulation in a manner radially permeable to air. Furthermore, a space between the cell stack and the jacket is provided for an afterburning of gas leaving the cell and for conducting off exhaust gases. Heat sources of the additional heater are arranged at the inner surface of the jacket. During the start-up operation, the heat given off by the additional heater is at least partially introduced into the fuel cells by a radial air flow.

Fuel cell module with an integrated additional heater

The apparatus comprises a cell block with fuel cells, a heat insulating jacket, an afterburner chamber between the jacket and the cell block, a prereformer for a combustion gas as well as an auxiliary heat source. The method comprises a start-up phase and a current-delivering operating state. Hot combustion gases which are fed into the apparatus or are produced there in an auxiliary burner form the auxiliary heat source during the start-up phase. The apparatus comprises a first and a second heat exchanger, for the preheating of air and for preheating the prereformer respectively. During the start-up phase air which is fed into the apparatus is preheated in the first heat exchanger by means of a mixture formed of hot combustion gas and exhaust air with the mixture being conducted separately from the air. Heat is supplied to the fuel cells with the preheated air. The exhaust air emerging from the cells is admixed to the hot combustion gas. In the second heat exchanger the prereformer is heated to the operating temperature with the hot combustion gas.

Method for operating an apparatus with fuel cells

The apparatus comprises a cell block with fuel cells, a heat insulating sleeve and an afterburner chamber between the sleeve and the cell block. The afterburner chamber is connected at two opposite ends via channels to at least one exhaust outlet for exhaust gases. These channels are each closeable by a blocking member, with the combustion chamber of the auxiliary burner communicating with the channel between the afterburner chamber and one of the blocking members. This blocking member is closed during a starting-up phase, while the other blocking member is open.

Apparatus with fuel cells

The fuel cell battery (10), comprising stacked modules (1) and using air and gaseous fuel as reactants, is arranged substantially axially symmetrically. A module comprises the following components: a three-layer, electrochemically active plate (2) which is free from holes and is composed of a solid electrolyte (20) conducting oxide ions as well as a gas and an air electrode (21 and 22); and a plate-shaped, metallic heat exchange element (5) for heating the reactants. According to the invention a porous layer (3) provides connection between the gas electrode (21) and the heat exchange element (5), the porous layer being electrically conductive and acting to equalize thermal stresses; this layer (3) forming further together with the electrochemically active plate (2) an integrated unit.

Axially symmetric fuel cell battery

The module for a fuel cell battery comprises an electrochemically active plate which, on the one hand, consists of an oxide-ion-conducting solid electrolyte and, on the other hand, two electrode layers applied to both sides of the electrolyte layer. At least one of the electrode layers is electrically conductively and nondetachably connected to a supporting and electron conduction structure via a plurality of regularly disposed contact elements.

Module for a fuel cell battery

A centrally symmetrical fuel cell battery is made of stacked modules each of which has an electrochemical active plate made of one oxide ion conducting solid electrolyte and two electrodes, a gas impervious wall between an air chamber and a fuel chamber, an air conduit from at least one peripheral intake location to a center of the module where the air comes in contact with the electrochemically active plates, and a central supply point for a gaseous fuel. Unlike prior art fuel cell batteries of this type which require seal rings, the fuel cell battery of this application requires no seal rings. The electrochemically active plates are continuous, and supply conduits for the fuel are provided for directing the fuel to each module from at least one intake on the periphery of the module to a central supply point of the module.

Centrally symmetrical fuel cell battery

A battery of solid electrolytic fuel cells is provided with heat conductive temperature equalizing members disposed in alternating relation with electrochemically electrode active structures of the fuel cells. The heat produced by the electrochemical reaction is dissipated by the air which is applied to the fuel cells to provide the oxygen required for the reactions. The transfer of the heat of reaction to the air is largely brought about before the air comes into contact with the electrochemically active structures. The transfer of heat from the electrochemically active structures to the equalizing members occurs mainly by thermal radiation whereas heat is transferred from the equalizing members

Solid electrolytic fuel cell and method of dissipating heat therein

The heat exchanger is formed of parallel rows of tubes and transverse ribs. The ribs have flat uncorrugated parts extending in zones about and along the rows of tubes as well as corrugated parts extending between the rows of tubes. The flat parts may be separated from the corrugated parts by stepped parts or fillers may be provided in the gaps between the uncorrugated parts. The gaps are to conduct a flow of medium in heat exchange relation to a flow of medium through the tubes. The crests and troughs of each corrugated part extend from the same plane adjacent a flat part and terminate in a similar plane at an adjacent flat part. Streamline-shaped inflow and outflow members aligned with the stepped part of the fin direct the flow of air.

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Bauma, Switzerland

Roland Diethelm