Patent · US Expired

Integrated fuel cell power generation system

US5200278A · kind A · utility

137Cited by
4References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 15, 1991
Grant dateApr 6, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 15, 2011

Classification

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

Abstract

An integrated fuel cell power generation system comprises a fuel cell stack having a humidification section and an electrochemically active section. The humidification section imparts water vapor to an inlet hydrogen containing fuel stream and an inlet oxygen containing oxidant stream. The electrochemically active section comprises fuel cells for promoting the electrocatalytic conversion of the humidified fuel and oxidant streams to electric current and product water. The electrochemically active section also includes a coolant water stream for absorbing heat generated in the active section. The system includes a heat exchanger for removing heat from the coolant water stream exiting the active section, a water separator for removing water from the oxidant stream exiting the fuel cell stack, and a coolant reservoir for receiving the removed water stream from the water separator and from the heat exchanger. The coolant water stream is drawn from the coolant reservoir.

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