System and method for hydrating a proton exchange membrane fuel cell
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsTie Wang, James A. Adams, George S. Saloka, Chendong Huang
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Abstract
A fuel cell hydration system comprising a first reservoir is provided. The first reservoir is positioned between a cathode supply and a fuel cell stack. The first reservoir includes corrugated regions positioned axially along the first reservoir to accumulate water discharged from a first fluid stream. The first fluid stream absorbs the accumulated water when an amount of water within the first fluid stream is below a water level to hydrate the fuel cell stack.
Claims21
A fuel cell hydration apparatus comprising:
- a first reservoir positioned between a cathode supply and a fuel cell stack, the first reservoir including a first plurality of corrugated regions positioned axially along the first reservoir to accumulate water discharged from a first fluid stream, wherein the first fluid stream absorbs the accumulated water when an amount of water within the first fluid stream is below a water level to hydrate the stack and wherein the first plurality of corrugated regions are impermeable for preventing the accumulated water from passing therethrough.
An apparatus for hydrating one or more membranes positioned within a fuel cell stack of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
- a first reservoir including a first plurality of corrugated regions positioned axially along the first reservoir and fluidly coupled between a cathode supply that generates a first fluid stream having varying levels of water and a first inlet of the fuel cell stack, the first reservoir being configured to:
- accumulate excess water discharged from the first fluid stream on the first plurality of corrugated regions in the event a first amount of water within the first fluid stream exceeds a first particular water level, and
- facilitate the absorption of water into the first fluid stream from the accumulated water on the first plurality of corrugated regions in the event the first amount of water within the first fluid stream is below the particular water level for hydrating the one or more membranes of the fuel cell stack,
- wherein the first plurality of corrugated regions are impermeable for preventing the accumulated water from passing therethrough.
An apparatus for hydrating one or more membranes positioned within a fuel cell stack of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
- a first reservoir including a first plurality of corrugated regions positioned axially thereof and being fluidly coupled between an anode supply that generates an input fuel stream having varying levels of water and a first inlet of the fuel cell stack, the first reservoir being configured to:
- accumulate excess water discharged from the input fuel stream on the first plurality of corrugated regions in the event a first amount of water within the input fuel stream exceeds a first particular water level, and
- facilitate the absorption of water into the input fuel stream from the accumulated water on the first plurality of corrugated regions in the event the first amount of water within the first fluid stream is below the particular water level for hydrating the one or more membranes of the fuel cell stack, wherein the first plurality of corrugated regions are impermeable for preventing the accumulated water from passing therethrough.
A fuel cell hydration apparatus comprising:
- a reservoir positioned between a fuel cell stack and one of a cathode supply and an anode supply for receiving a fluid stream therefrom, the reservoir including a plurality of corrugated regions positioned axially along the first reservoir for accumulating excess water that is discharged from the first fluid stream, wherein the first plurality of corrugated regions are impermeable for preventing the accumulated excess water from passing therethrough.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.