Method and apparatus for purging a fuel cell system with coolant
US6391485B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 26, 2000 |
| Grant date | May 21, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 26, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A fuel cell power plant system (10) having a membrane/electrode assembly (MEA) (21,22,23) fuel cell stack (11) is provided with the method and means for inerting the MEA through use of the coolant to effect a purge. Under normal on load operation, fuel flows through a fuel reactant flow path (30) at the anode side(s) of the stack (11), oxidant flows through an oxidant reactant flow path (29) at the cathode side(s) of the stack (11), and the coolant, typically water, flows through the coolant flow path (32,31) of the stack (11). However, during transient operations of shutdown and/or start-up, the coolant is at least temporarily redirected to one, or both, of the fuel and the oxidant reactant flow paths (30/29) in lieu of their respective supplies of fuel and oxidant. This serves to purge the respective reactant(s) from the respective flow path(s). To provide sufficient supply of coolant for the purge, the supply of coolant to the coolant flow path (32,31) may be reduced or terminated. The control of flow of the reactants and coolant is accomplished via a network of valved fluid conduits (43,44,47,48,52,54,52′,54′,52″,54″,64,66,62, 70,64″,66″,60,6…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.