System for removal of inerts from fuel cell reactants
AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation
InventorDavid L. Clark
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electrical power plant that includes a fuel cell and at least one recycle system for recycling at least a first reactant, for reuse by the fuel cell. The fuel cell discharges a first exit stream that includes the first reactant and inerts. The recycle system comprises a separator that receives the first exit stream from the fuel cell and separates the first reactant contained in the first exit stream from inerts contained in the exit stream. The separated first reactant is directed back to the fuel cell for reuse. The remaining inerts and unseparated first reactant are discharged by the separator and then recirculated back into the separator, without progressing through the fuel cell, to separate additional first reactant from the inerts.
Claims18
A method of generating electrical power, comprising the steps of:
- providing a first reactant feed to a fuel cell;
- generating electrical power using said providing a first reactant feed step;
- directing a first exit stream out of said fuel cell to a separator;
- separating at least a portion of a first reactant from said first exit stream to produce a first separated reactant stream;
- directing said first separated reactant stream out of said separator;
- and
- recycling a portion of said first exit stream through said separator without passing through said fuel cell for a continued execution of said separating step.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.