Water recovery in the anode side of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell
AssigneeHydrogenics Corporation
InventorsDavid Frank, Xuesong Chen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fuel cell has a proton exchange membrane. In known manner, the fuel cell includes inlets and outlets for flow of an oxidant and for flow of a fuel gas, commonly hydrogen. To deal with the issue of humidification, the invention provides a recirculation conduit including a pump connected between the anode inlet and the anode outlet. A water separator is provided in the recirculation conduit, for separating water from fuel gas exiting the anode. A main fuel inlet is connected to the recirculation conduit, for supply of fuel. A branch conduit can be provided, to enable purge cycles and other options to be provided.
Claims15
A fuel cell comprising an anode, an anode inlet for a fuel gas and an anode outlet;
- a cathode, a cathode inlet for an oxidant and a cathode outlet;
- and an electrolyte between the anode and the cathode;
- a recirculation conduit including a pump and connected between the anode inlet and the anode outlet;
- and a water separator provided in the recirculation conduit for separating water from the fuel gas exiting the anode;
- a first fuel inlet connected to the recirculation conduit, for supply of the fuel gas;
- and a branch conduit connected to the recirculation conduit and a dryer in the branch conduit, the branch conduit including a vent outlet.
A fuel cell comprising an anode, an anode inlet for a fuel gas and an anode outlet;
- a cathode, a cathode inlet for an oxidant and a cathode outlet;
- and an electrolyte between the anode and the cathode;
- a recirculation conduit including a pump and connected between the anode inlet and the anode outlet;
- and a water separator provided in the recirculation conduit for separating water from the fuel gas exiting the anode;
- a first fuel inlet connected to the recirculation conduit, for supply of the fuel gas;
- and a dryer in the recirculation conduit, downstream from the water separator.
A method of recovering moisture from a fuel stream for a fuel cell comprising an anode, an anode inlet for a fuel gas and an anode outlet;
- a cathode, a cathode inlet for an oxidant and a cathode outlet;
- and an electrolyte between the anode and the cathode;
- and a first fuel inlet, for supply of the fuel gas, the method comprising:
- (i) providing a recirculation conduit between the anode inlet and the anode outlet, to form a recirculation circuit, and providing the first fuel inlet connected to the recirculation circuit;
- (ii) circulating the fuel gas through the recirculation circuit and through the anode;
- (iii) continuously supplying additional fuel gas to the recirculation circuit, to make up for the fuel gas consumed in the fuel cell;
- (iv) passing the fuel gas flow in the recirculation conduit through a water separator, to separate out water generated in the fuel cell;
- and
- (v) providing a branch conduit connected to the recirculation conduit, a dryer in the branch conduit and a vent outlet connected to the branch conduit, and periodically venting the fuel gas out through the branch conduit and the vent outlet, to purge accumulated and unwanted gases from the anode.
A method of recovering moisture from a fuel stream for a fuel cell comprising an anode, an anode inlet for a fuel gas and an anode outlet;
- a cathode, a cathode inlet for an oxidant and a cathode outlet;
- and an electrolyte between the anode and the cathode;
- and a first fuel inlet, for supply of the fuel gas, the method comprising:
- (i) providing a recirculation conduit between the anode inlet and the anode outlet, to form a recirculation circuit, and providing the first fuel inlet connected to the recirculation circuit;
- (ii) circulating the fuel gas through the recirculation circuit and through the anode;
- (iii) continuously supplying additional fuel gas to the recirculation circuit, to make up for the fuel gas consumed in the fuel cell;
- (iv) passing the fuel gas flow in the recirculation conduit through a water separator, to separate out water generated in the fuel cell;
- (v) providing a branch conduit connected to the recirculation conduit, a dryer in the branch conduit and a vent outlet connected to the branch conduit, and periodically venting the fuel gas out through the branch conduit and the vent outlet, to purge accumulated and unwanted gases from the anode;
- (vi) providing a dryer in the recirculation conduit, downstream from the water separator and drying the fuel gas in the dryer;
- and
- (vii) providing a first shut-off valve in the branch conduit and operating the first shut-off valve to effect purge cycles, to purge accumulated and unwanted gases from the anode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.