Patent · US Active

Fuel cell cathode balance of plant freeze strategy

US10290880B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
4References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 23, 2014
Grant dateMay 14, 2019
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 20, 2036

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E60/50
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A system and method for a cathode subsystem in a fuel cell system. The system includes a fuel cell stack, a cathode inlet line that provides cathode air to a fuel cell stack and a cathode exhaust line that exhausts a cathode exhaust gas out of the fuel cell stack. Also included is a backpressure valve in the cathode exhaust line that is located downstream of a drip rail of the cathode exhaust line, where the drip rail includes a protrusion that prevents condensed water from building up near the backpressure valve. The drip rail further includes a sump that collects drips of condensed water from the protrusion of the drip rail. The system also includes a drain below a water vapor transfer unit that includes an orifice that is in a portion of the drain that is within the cathode exhaust line.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.