Fuel cell power plant having a reduced free water volume

A fuel cell power plant having a reduced free water volume, the plant comprising:

• a. at least one fuel cell for generating electrical current from reducing fluid and process oxidant reactant streams;
• b. a coolant system including a sealed cooler plate secured in heat exchange relationship with the fuel cell that directs an antifreeze coolant through the cooler plate, a coolant accumulator in fluid communication with the cooler plate, and a coolant circulating line that directs the antifreeze coolant to flow from the coolant accumulator, through a coolant heat exchanger, through the cooler plate and back to the coolant accumulator;
• c. a fuel cell water collector in fluid communication between the fuel cell and the coolant system that directs some water from the fuel cell to the coolant system;
• d. a water vapor transfer system secured in fluid communication with the coolant accumulator that receives the antifreeze coolant from the accumulator and transfers water vapor out of the coolant antifreeze;
• e. a fuel processing system for processing a hydrocarbon fuel into the reducing fluid, wherein the fuel processing system is secured in fluid communication with the fuel cell water collector and with the water vapor transfer system and receives water vapor transferred out of the coolant antifreeze;
• and,
• f. a fuel cell start-up system secured in fluid communication with the coolant system and with the fuel cell including a start-up heat exchanger that heats the antifreeze coolant, wherein the heated antifreeze coolant from the start-up heat exchanger is selectively directed through the coolant system to heat the fuel cell.

A method of operating a fuel cell power plant having a reduced free water volume, comprising the steps of:

• a. circulating an antifreeze coolant from a coolant accumulator, through a coolant heat exchanger, through a sealed cooler plate secured in heat exchange relationship with a fuel cell of the power plant, and back into the coolant accumulator;
• b. directing water produced by and passing through the fuel cell into the coolant accumulator;
• c. circulating a portion of the coolant antifreeze from the coolant accumulator through a water vapor removal system so that water vapor is removed from the antifreeze coolant, and then circulating the antifreeze coolant back to the coolant system;
• and,
• d. heating a portion of the antifreeze coolant within a start-up heat exchanger and selectively directing the heated antifreeze coolant to pass through the sealed cooler plate to heat the fuel cell.