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US 7,479,335 B2Granted
Anode humidification
AssigneePlug Power Inc.
InventorsDavid A. Leboe, Kenneth M. Flaherty, Adrian J. Corless, Kenneth W. Kratschmar, John D. Usborne
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A technique includes providing fuel and oxidant flows to a fuel cell. The technique includes humidifying the anode of the fuel cell, including saturating the oxidant flow and maintaining a temperature of the oxidant flow above a temperature of the fuel cell such that excess water propagates from a cathode of the fuel cell to the anode.
Claims14
A method comprising:
- providing a fuel flow to a fuel cell;
- providing an oxidant flow to the fuel cell;
- and
- humidifying an anode of the fuel cell, comprising saturating the oxidant flow and maintaining a temperature of the oxidant flow above a temperature of the fuel cell such that excess water propagates from a cathode of the fuel cell to the anode.
1 more element
A system comprising:
- a fuel cell stack comprising a cathode chamber and an anode chamber;
- a fuel source to provide a fuel flow;
- an oxidant source to provide an oxidant flow;
- and
- a humidifier to saturate the oxidant flow and maintain a temperature of the oxidant flow above a temperature of the fuel cell stack such that excess water propagates from the cathode chamber to the anode chamber to at least partially humidify the anode chamber.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.