VOLKSWAGEN AG

A system includes a stack module box, within which is accommodated a fuel cell stack and which stack module box has at least one fuel cell, the fuel cell being in connection with a plurality of media guides leading to the stack module box and from which media can be delivered to the stack module box or received from the stack module box, wherein at least two of the media guides have electrically conductive regions for discharge of current from the fuel cell stack, and/or the wall of the stack module box is electrically conductive in the regions laying opposite to the media guides, and wherein connection lines are led away from the fuel cell stack to the electrically conductive regions and away therefrom. A fuel cell device and a fuel cell vehicle including such a stack module box are also provided.

A method for separating carbon dioxide from ambient air includes feeding ambient air into a process chamber of a facility configured to separate carbon dioxide and conducting the air through an adsorption unit. Carbon dioxide is temporarily stored in the adsorption unit and later released by at least partially evacuating the process chamber and heating the adsorption unit. An inert gas, such as steam, may be introduced into the process chamber to assist in releasing the temporarily stored carbon dioxide from the adsorption unit and to increase the carbon dioxide concentration within the process chamber. The facility is configured to perform this method.

A catalytic composition for producing a fuel cell electrode comprises a catalytically active material in particulate form, for example platinum, a carbon nanomaterial which is coated with a first ionomer, as well as a binding agent composition in which the catalytically active material and the coated carbon nanomaterial are present in dispersed form, wherein the binding agent composition comprises a second ionomer and the first and second ionomers are the same or different. The composition is used to produce a catalytic layer of a fuel cell electrode for a fuel cell.

A method is provided for control of a system of charging points composed of at least two charging points, each of which is outfitted with at least one solid oxide fuel cell and with a high-voltage battery electrically connected or electrically connectible to the solid oxide fuel cell, where the charging points are adapted to provide electrical charging current via a converter at an interface for connection to a battery operated consumer. The method includes: checking the state of charge of the high-voltage battery of a first charging point by which the electric energy will be provided for charging the consumer via the interface, charging the high-voltage battery of the first charging point, and possibly that of the consumer, by a current-generating operation of the solid oxide fuel cell of the first charging point, if the state of charge of the high-voltage battery of the first charging point has fallen below a first limit value, and charging the high-voltage battery of the first charging point by means of an electric current provided by a second charging point if the state of charge of the high-voltage battery has fallen below a second limit value, located below the first limit value.

An installation for separating carbon dioxide from ambient air is disclosed. The installation includes an adsorption chamber configured to bind carbon dioxide from ambient air to a sorbent, a desorption chamber configured to release carbon dioxide from the sorbent, and a cooling chamber configured to cool the sorbent after desorption. A heating mechanism is disposed within the desorption chamber to facilitate the release of carbon dioxide. The installation further includes a continuous belt configured to support or contain the sorbent and a drive element configured to transport the continuous belt through the adsorption chamber, the desorption chamber, and the cooling chamber. Also disclosed is a method for separating carbon dioxide from ambient air using the installation.

A method for determining the roadway plane in the surrounding area of a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a stereo camera system for capturing stereo images of the surrounding area of the vehicle and an artificial neural network for processing the image information provided by the stereo camera system, wherein the neural network determines disparity information of the surrounding area of the vehicle, wherein, on the basis of the disparity information, distance information is calculated which contains information regarding the distance of the objects displayed on the image information from the stereo camera system or the vehicle, wherein roadway distance information is extracted from the distance information, wherein the roadway plane is determined on the basis of the roadway distance information.

A battery safety system for controlled, active gas release. The battery safety system includes a sorption element configured to absorb chemical compounds generated during gas release events, such as those caused by aging, leakage, or accidents. The system further includes a sensor or indicator configured to monitor the saturation state of the sorption element. Methods of using the battery safety system are also disclosed, including monitoring the saturation of the sorption element to ensure continued functionality and safety of the system. The use of the battery safety system in battery-powered transportation devices, household appliances, and large-scale electrochemical storage systems is also disclosed. Additionally, the use of a sensor or indicator for monitoring the saturation of sorption elements in battery systems is provided.

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.

A windscreen wiper device of the flat blade type comprising an elastic, elongated carrier element, as well as an elongated wiper blade of a flexible material, which can be placed in abutment with a windscreen to be wiped, which wiper blade includes at least one longitudinal slit, in which slit at least one longitudinal strip of the carrier element is disposed, which windscreen wiper device comprises a connecting device for a rod-like extension of an oscillating arm, wherein said rod-like extension can be pivotally connected to said connecting device about a pivot axis near a free end thereof, wherein said connecting device comprises a first part and a second part, wherein said rod-like extension of said oscillating arm can be pivotally connected to said first part about said pivot axis, with the interposition of said second part, wherein said first part is connected to said wiper blade and said second part is pivotally (preferably also detachably) connected onto said first part, wherein said second part comprises a channel arranged to receive said free end of said rod-like extension, with the special feature that said windscreen wiper device comprises a housing for said rod-like extension, wherein said housing is arranged to be connected to said second part, and wherein said housing comprises a channel to receive said rod-like extension, said channel of said housing in mounted position being co-axial with said channel of said second part.

A motor vehicle component has two component parts made of steel with different wall thicknesses, which are arranged at an angle α to one another and are connected by a weld seam. A joining surface at the end portion of the first component part has a bevel produced without cutting. In order to form the bevel, an end portion of an initial blank is formed without cutting. The end portion is then trimmed at the end and an abutment surface is created on the front side of the end portion. The two component parts are positioned relative to each other so that the joining surface of the first component part and the joining surface of the second component part face each other. The material-locking joining of the first component part and the second component part is achieved by a weld seam on the joining surfaces.