Integrated contaminant separator and water-control loop for a fuel reactant stream
US8343256B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 27, 2007 |
| Grant date | Jan 1, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 6, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An integrated contaminant separator and water-control loop (10) decontaminates a fuel reactant stream of a fuel cell (12). Water passes over surfaces of an ammonia dissolving means (61) within a separator scrubber (58) while the fuel reactant stream simultaneously passes over the surfaces to dissolve contaminants from the fuel reactant stream into the water. An accumulator (68) collects the separated contaminant stream, and ion exchange material (69) integrated within the accumulator removes contaminants from the stream. A water-control pump (84) directs flow of a de-contaminated water stream from the accumulator (68) through a water-control loop (78) having a heat exchanger (86) and back onto the scrubber (58) to flow over the packed bed (62). Separating contaminants from the fuel reactant stream and then isolating and concentrating the separated contaminants within the ion exchange material (69) minimizes cost and maintenance requirements.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.