US 2004/0106020 A1 · Catalytic humidifier and heater, primarily for humidification of the oxidant stream for a fuel cell

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for humidifying oxidant supplied to a fuel cell system, which can be a single fuel cell or a multiplicity of fuel cells. A catalytic reactor is provided, which is supplied with a portion of the fuel and the oxidant. The oxidant is supplied in excess of the fuel to the reactor, so as to generate a stream of oxidant which is both heated and humidified. For an air breathing stack, this heated oxidant can simply be mixed with air flowing through the fuel cell stack. For a closed system, a heated and humidified oxidant flow, and optionally a fuel flow are mixed with additional flows of these gases supplied to the fuel cell.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A tubular reactor, for catalyzing the reaction of hydrogen and a gaseous oxidant, the tubular reactor comprising:

an elongated housing,
a catalyst formed from a material adapted to promote catalytic combustion of the fuel and the oxidant, being formed into an elongated body substantially filling the elongated housing and being porous, a first inlet for a gaseous fuel and a second inlet for a gaseous oxidant, both first and second inlets being provided at one end of the elongated housing;
and
an outlet at the other end of the housing, whereby, in use, the catalyst promotes combustion between the fuel and the oxidant to generate heat and moisture, whereby a heated and humidified gas flow exits through the outlet.

1 more element

A fuel cell system comprising:

at least one fuel cell, each fuel cell comprising:
an inlet for a fuel;
an anode having a catalyst associated therewith for producing cations from the fuel;
a fuel manifold, connected between the inlet and the anode, for distributing fuel to the anode;
an oxidant inlet means for supplying oxidant;
a cathode having a catalyst associated therewith and connected to the oxidant inlet means, for producing anions from the oxidant, said anions reacting with said cations to form water on said cathode;
an ion exchange membrane deposed between said anode and said cathode, said membrane facilitating migration of cations from said anode to said cathode, while isolating the fuel and the oxidant from one another;
and
a catalytic reactor having a first inlet for fuel and a second inlet for an oxidant, and an outlet for heated and humidified oxidant, the catalytic reactor being mounted to supply the heated and humidified oxidant to the fuel cell.

6 more elements

A method of operating a fuel cell system comprising a plurality of fuel cells, each fuel cell comprising an inlet for fuel, an anode having a catalyst associated therewith for producing cations from fuel, a fuel manifold connected between the inlet and the anode for distributing fuel to the anode, an oxidant inlet means for supplying oxidant, a cathode having a catalyst associated therewith and connected to the oxidant inlet means for producing anions from the oxidant, said anions reacting with said cations to form water on said cathode and an ion exchange membrane disposed between the anode and the cathode, for facilitating migration of cations from the anode to the cathode while isolating the fuel and oxidant from one another, the method comprising

(a) supplying fuel to the fuel cell for reaction to generate electrical power and heat;
(b) providing a catalytic reactor, supplying fuel to the catalytic reactor and supplying oxidant to the catalytic reactor, in an amount greater than the stoichiometric amount required for the combustion of the fuel, to ensure complete combustion of the fuel, thereby generating a flow of heated and humidified oxidant;
(c) supplying the heated and humidified oxidant to the fuel cell, for reaction with the fuel to generate electricity and heat.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

10/721,888Filed 26 Nov 2003

Priority

13 Jun 2000

Published

3 Jun 2004

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

H01M 8/0625
From carbon-containing material: in a modular combined reactor/fuel cell structure
H01M 8/04022
Heat exchange using gaseous fluids; Heat exchange by combustion of reactants: heating by combustion
H01M 8/04119
Of gaseous reactants: with simultaneous supply or evacuation of electrolyte; Humidifying or dehumidifying
H01M 8/1007
Fuel cells with solid electrolytes: with both reactants being gaseous or vaporised

Catalytic humidifier and heater, primarily for humidification of the oxidant stream for a fuel cell

Life of this patent

Catalytic humidifier and heater, primarily for humidification of the oxidant stream for a fuel cell

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22