Integrated air cooler, filter, and humidification unit for a fuel cell stack
US7226680B2 · kind B2 · utility
5Cited by
14References
32Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 7, 2003 |
| Grant date | Jun 5, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 1, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
System for thermally conditioning, humidifying and filtering reactant feed gases supplied to a stack of fuel cells using an evaporative element, a water spray mechanism and a heat exchanger. The evaporation element also functions as a filter. The evaporative element may take the form of a removable packing (filter media). Use of a controller to manage the rate of nebulized water addition to the feed gas stream is also described. Benefits in filter efficiency and extended filter service life along with volume, weight, and cost reduction in a fuel cell system are realized.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.