Patent · US Expired

Fuel cell system with device for water recovery and method of operating such a system

US6893754B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by

6References

15Claims

0Family size

Assignee

Daimlerchrysler AG · US

Inventors

David Agar · Rimbach, DE
Andreas Docter · Eßlingen, DE
Martin Gosewinkel · Hamm, DE
Marc Sommer · Ulm, DE

Key dates

Filing date	Jul 16, 2001
Grant date	May 17, 2005
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Oct 25, 2022

Classification

Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
CPC primaryY02T90/40
WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A fuel cell method and apparatus includes upstream reforming of hydrocarbons and/or alcohols, with water contained in the exhaust air stream of the fuel cell system being recovered. An absorption unit is connected into the exhaust air stream of the fuel cell, and water absorbed therein is released in a desorption unit, preferably by means of heated air to be supplied, and/or by heating the glycol solution. The moist air can subsequently be returned to the fuel cell system or the reforming unit. This makes it possible to recover all of the process water, and to operate the system at low pressure.

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