초록 ▼

A fine pore enthalpy exchange barrier is disclosed for use with a fuel cell power plant. The barrier includes a flexible support matrix that defines pores and a liquid transfer medium that fills the pores creating a gas barrier. An inlet surface of the fine pore enthalpy exchange barrier is position

A fine pore enthalpy exchange barrier is disclosed for use with a fuel cell power plant. The barrier includes a flexible support matrix that defines pores and a liquid transfer medium that fills the pores creating a gas barrier. An inlet surface of the fine pore enthalpy exchange barrier is positioned in contact with a process oxidant inlet stream entering a fuel cell power plant, and an opposed exhaust surface of the barrier is positioned in contact with an exhaust stream exiting the plant so that water and heat exchange from the exhaust stream directly into the process oxidant inlet stream to heat and humidify the stream as it enters the plant. The flexible support matrix defines hydrophilic pores having a pore-size range of about 0.1-100 microns and results in a bubble pressure that is greater than 0.2 pounds per square inch. The liquid transfer medium may include water, aqueous salt solutions, aqueous acid solutions, or organic antifreeze water solutions. The fine pore enthalpy exchange barrier may be disposed within a structure of a direct mass and heat transfer device of the plant in fluid communication with the process oxidant inlet and plant exhaust streams so that the structure and barrier cooperate to restrict bulk mixing of the inlet and exhaust streams, and water and heat transfer through the transfer medium from the plant exhaust stream into the process oxidant stream entering the plant.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A fuel cell power plant for generating electrical energy from a process oxidant stream and a reducing fluid stream, the plant comprising:a. at least one fuel cell means for producing the electrical energy from the oxidant stream and reducing fluid stream; and, b. a direct mass and heat transfer d

1. A fuel cell power plant for generating electrical energy from a process oxidant stream and a reducing fluid stream, the plant comprising:a. at least one fuel cell means for producing the electrical energy from the oxidant stream and reducing fluid stream; and, b. a direct mass and heat transfer device secured in fluid communication with both a primary oxidant inlet line that directs the process oxidant stream into the fuel cell means and also with a plant exhaust passage that directs a plant exhaust stream out of the fuel cell means, the device including a structure that secures a fine pore enthalpy exchange barrier in mass transfer relationship between the oxidant and exhaust streams passing through the device so that the process oxidant stream passes adjacent an inlet surface of the barrier, and the plant exhaust stream passes adjacent an opposed exhaust surface of the barrier and the structure secures the barrier between the oxidant and exhaust streams to prevent bulk mixing of the streams within the device, wherein the barrier includes a flexible support matrix means for defining hydrophilic pores having a pore-size range of between about 0.1 to about 100 microns and for being chemically stable in the presence of a liquid transfer medium so that whenever the liquid transfer medium fills the pores the barrier has a bubble pressure greater than 0.2 pounds per square inch, a first mesh layer secured adjacent the inlet surface of the barrier to support the barrier, a second mesh layer secured adjacent the exhaust surface of the barrier to support the barrier, and wherein the structure includes a first flow guide means secured adjacent the first mesh layer for guiding the process oxidant stream to flow adjacent the first mesh layer, and a second flow guide means secured adjacent the second mesh layer for guiding the plant exhaust stream to flow adjacent the second mesh layer.