Method for operating a fuel cell system, and associated fuel cell installation

Abstract

Methanol forms the fuel of the fuel cells and it is supplied to the system. An anode fluid including waste gases, such as carbon dioxide or the like, have to be led away after combustion. The carbon dioxide, which develops on the anode, is separated while it is hot from the anode fluid after leaving the anode of the fuel cell stack. The vaporous fuel separated together with the carbon dioxide is depleted in a counter-current flow using cold water. The cold water is recovered in the condenser of the cathode waste gas, and the resulting warmer water is admixed to the anode liquid. In the installation, a cooler with a CO2 trap arranged downstream is provided at least for the anode fluid, and a unit for carrying out rectification provided with which fuel contained there is separated and returned into the fuel circuit.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.