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US 6,663,991 B2Granted
Fuel cell pressurization system
AssigneeThe George Washington University
InventorCharles Alexander Garris
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Abstract
A thermally energized fuel-cell pressurization system and humidity control system utilizing a compressor-expander, an ejector, and a steam generator is disclosed. The system can be more compact and energy efficient than comparable electrically-based pressurization systems when incorporated into the fuel cell reformation and water management systems as a whole.
Claims7
A pressurized fuel cell system comprising:
- a. a fuel cell (98);
- b. a compressor-expander (70);
- c. an ejector (1);
- d. a boiler (94);
- wherein, pressurized and energetic products of reaction from said fuel cell (98) are conducted through a conduit (86) to the primary fluid inlet conduit (71) of said compressor-expander (70) wherein said products of reaction are de-energized and discharged from the system, said primary fluid imparting energy on a reactant-rich secondary fluid which is introduced to said compressor-expander through secondary fluid inlet conduit (72) and thereafter compressed in said compressor-expander (70) and discharging into said ejector (1) through a secondary fluid inlet conduit (3), said ejector (1) being energized by vapor conducted to the said primary fluid inlet conduit (2) and provided by said boiler (94);
- said reactant-rich secondary fluid being further pressurized in said ejector (1) and having the mixture of the said vapor primary fluid and said reactant rich secondary fluid discharged through an outlet conduit (4) into said fuel cell (98).
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.