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US 2013/0280628 A1Published application
Extended valve orifice for fuel cell
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorRonald J. Daum
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved fuel cell system comprising a component designed to minimize or otherwise prevent the collection of water (and thus formation of ice at low temperatures) at valves or other anode exhaust flowpath control points. Thus, such system is configured to be operable under at least freeze start conditions. Also provided, in various embodiments, are methods of controlling ice blockage in a fuel cell system by, among other things, providing such a component.
Claims20
A fuel cell system, comprising:
- (A) a fuel cell stack having (i) a plurality of fuel cells, each comprising an anode;
- and (ii) an anode exhaust flowpath operably coupled to said anodes and configured to direct flow of a water-containing exhaust away from said anodes;
- (B) a water separator operably coupled to said flowpath and configured to remove at least a portion of water from said exhaust;
- (C) a valve comprising (i) a first portion operably coupled to said flowpath and configured to accept said exhaust therefrom, and (ii) a second portion operably coupled to said water separator and configured to discharge said accepted exhaust thereto;
- and
- (D) a valve inlet throat comprising (i) a proximate end portion operably coupled to said first portion of said valve;
- (ii) a substantially curved distal end portion having an orifice disposed therein, said orifice operably coupled to said flowpath;
- and (iii) a sidewall portion disposed between said proximate end portion and said distal end portion and defined around an axis;
- wherein the fuel cell system is configured to operate under at least freeze start conditions.
6 more elements
A method of controlling anode exhaust flowpath ice-blockage in a fuel cell system, comprising:
- (A) providing a fuel cell stack having an anode exhaust flowpath operably coupled to a plurality of fuel cells and configured to direct flow of a water-containing exhaust;
- (B) providing a water separator operably coupled to said anode exhaust flowpath and configured to remove at least a portion of water from said exhaust;
- (C) providing at least one valve comprising (i) a first portion operably coupled to said flowpath and configured to accept said exhaust therefrom, and (ii) a second portion operably coupled to said water separator and configured to discharge said accepted exhaust thereto;
- and
- (D) providing a valve inlet throat comprising (i) a proximate end portion operably coupled to said first portion of said valve;
- (ii) a substantially curved distal end portion having an orifice disposed therein, said orifice operably coupled to said flowpath;
- and (iii) a sidewall portion disposed between said proximate end portion and said distal end portion and defined around an axis;
- wherein said distal end portion is configured such that any water, ice, or both, in said exhaust does not collect at said orifice or at said first portion of said anode inlet valve.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.