초록 ▼

A direct antifreeze cooled fuel cell power plant is disclosed. The plant includes at least one fuel cell a thermal management system that directs flow of a cooling fluid for controlling heat within the plant, including a direct antifreeze solution passing through the water transport plate. The plant

A direct antifreeze cooled fuel cell power plant is disclosed. The plant includes at least one fuel cell a thermal management system that directs flow of a cooling fluid for controlling heat within the plant, including a direct antifreeze solution passing through the water transport plate. The plant also integrates the direct antifreeze solution with a direct mass and heat transfer device, a water treatment system, and a steam injection system so that the direct antifreeze solution minimizes problems related to operation of the plant in sub-freezing conditions. A preferred antifreeze solution is an alkanetriol selected from the group consisting of glycerol, butanetriol, and pentanetriol. The direct antifreeze solutions minimize movement of the antifreeze as a vapor out of a water transport plate into contact with cathode or anode catalysts, and also minimize direct antifreeze solution loss from other power plant systems.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A direct antifreeze cooled fuel cell power plant that generates electrical energy from reducing fluid and process oxidant reactant streams, the power plant comprising:a. at least one fuel cell means for producing electrical energy from the reducing fluid and process oxidant streams including an e

1. A direct antifreeze cooled fuel cell power plant that generates electrical energy from reducing fluid and process oxidant reactant streams, the power plant comprising:a. at least one fuel cell means for producing electrical energy from the reducing fluid and process oxidant streams including an electrolyte secured between an anode catalyst and a cathode catalyst; b. a thermal management system means for controlling temperature within the power plant including a porous water transport plate secured in fluid communication with the cathode catalyst; and, c. a direct antifreeze solution passing through the thermal management system for cooling the fuel cell means, wherein the direct antifreeze solution is an organic antifreeze solution that does not wet the cathode catalyst and that is non-volatile at cell operating temperatures.