Pressurized water recovery system for a fuel cell power plant
US6171718A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 28, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jan 9, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 28, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02T90/40
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The invention is a pressurized water recovery system for a fuel cell power plant including at least one fuel cell having an electrolyte between anode and cathode electrodes for producing an electric current from a reducing fluid and an oxidant stream. A coolant loop directs a coolant fluid from a reservoir through a coolant passage to the fuel cell and back to the reservoir, and the coolant loop also receives coolant fluid through water lines secured between condensing heat exchangers and the coolant reservoir. A process exhaust passage directs a process exhaust stream from adjacent the cathode and anode electrodes out of the fuel cell and into a condensing heat exchanger. Whenever the power plant is under coolant stress, a process exhaust valve selectively directs a portion of the process exhaust stream out of the process exhaust passage to a supercharger that pressurizes the received portion of the process exhaust stream and directs the pressurized portion to a pressurized condensing heat exchanger. Because the process exhaust stream within the pressurized heat exchanger is under pressure, an increased amount of water condenses out of the stream without a need to continuously pre…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.