Method and apparatus for collecting condensate in an integrated fuel cell system

A water management subsystem for a fuel cell system, comprising:

• a gas conduit containing gas at a first pressure;
• a water collection tank containing water and an atmosphere, the water having a level within the tank, the water collection tank having an inlet orifice below the water level, and the tank atmosphere having a second pressure;
• a drain conduit having a first end and a second end, the drain conduit being connected at the first end to the gas conduit, the drain conduit being further connected at the second end to the inlet orifice of the water collection tank;
• wherein the water level and the inlet orifice have a vertical height of water between them corresponding to a head pressure;
• and
• wherein the sum of the second pressure and the head pressure is greater than the first pressure.

A water management subsystem for a fuel cell system, comprising:

• a gas conduit containing gas at a first pressure;
• a water collection tank containing water and an atmosphere, the water having a level within the tank, the water collection tank having an inlet orifice above the water level, and the tank atmosphere having a second pressure;
• a drain conduit having a first end and a second end, the drain conduit being connected at the first end to the gas conduit, the drain conduit being further connected at the second end to the inlet orifice of the water collection tank;
• wherein a portion of the drain conduit forms a water trap bend, the water trap bend containing water, the water in the trap bend having a vertical height corresponding to a head pressure;
• and
• wherein the sum of the second pressure and the head pressure is greater than the first pressure.

A method of water management for a fuel cell system, comprising:

• flowing a fuel cell process stream containing liquid water through a gas conduit at a first pressure;
• draining the liquid water from the gas conduit into a drain conduit;
• draining the liquid water through the drain conduit into an inlet orifice of a water collection tank, wherein the inlet orifice is located below a water level of the water collection tank;
• and
• maintaining the water level of the water collection tank such that a second pressure of water at the inlet orifice is greater than the first pressure of the process stream.

A method of water management for a fuel cell system, comprising:

• flowing a fuel cell process stream containing liquid water through a gas conduit at a first pressure;
• draining the liquid water from the gas conduit into a drain conduit;
• draining the liquid water through the drain conduit into an inlet orifice of a water collection tank, wherein the inlet orifice is located above a water level of the water collection tank;
• and
• maintaining the water level of the water collection tank such that a second pressure of water at the inlet orifice is greater than the first pressure of the process stream.