초록 ▼

The invention is a pressurized water recovery system for a fuel cell power plant including at least one fuel cell having an electrolyte between anode and cathode electrodes for producing an electric current from a reducing fluid and an oxidant stream. A coolant loop directs a coolant fluid from a re

The invention is a pressurized water recovery system for a fuel cell power plant including at least one fuel cell having an electrolyte between anode and cathode electrodes for producing an electric current from a reducing fluid and an oxidant stream. A coolant loop directs a coolant fluid from a reservoir through a coolant passage to the fuel cell and back to the reservoir, and the coolant loop also receives coolant fluid through water lines secured between condensing heat exchangers and the coolant reservoir. A process exhaust passage directs a process exhaust stream from adjacent the cathode and anode electrodes out of the fuel cell and into a condensing heat exchanger. Whenever the power plant is under coolant stress, a process exhaust valve selectively directs a portion of the process exhaust stream out of the process exhaust passage to a supercharger that pressurizes the received portion of the process exhaust stream and directs the pressurized portion to a pressurized condensing heat exchanger. Because the process exhaust stream within the pressurized heat exchanger is under pressure, an increased amount of water condenses out of the stream without a need to continuously pressurize any of the fuel cell components. The increased amount of condensed water is directed to the coolant reservoir, and whenever the coolant stress ends, the process exhaust valve and supercharger stop pressurizing any portion of the process exhaust stream.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A pressurized water recovery system for a fuel cell power plant, comprising:a. at least one fuel cell means having an electrolyte between an anode electrode and a cathode electrode for producing an electric current from a reducing fluid and an oxidant stream;b. a coolant

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A pressurized water recovery system for a fuel cell power plant, comprising:a. at least one fuel cell means having an electrolyte between an anode electrode and a cathode electrode for producing an electric current from a reducing fluid and an oxidant stream;b. a coolant loop having a coolant passage that directs a coolant fluid from a coolant reservoir through the coolant passage to the fuel cell means and back to the reservoir to cool the fuel cell means;c. a process exhaust passage that receives a cathode exhaust stream from a cathode exhaust passage in fluid communication with the cathode electrode, wherein the process exhaust passage directs the cathode exhaust stream as a process exhaust stream out of the fuel cell means;d. a supercharger in fluid communication with the process exhaust passage, wherein the supercharger pressurizes the process exhaust stream; and,e. a pressurized condensing heat exchanger in fluid communication with the supercharger that receives the process exhaust stream, the heat exchanger having a pressure valve secured to an outlet of the exchanger that restricts discharge of the process exhaust stream out of the pressurized condensing heat exchanger to pressurize the process exhaust stream within the heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger directs condensed water from the heat exchanger through a condensed water line back into the coolant loop.