A fuel cell apparatus (10) and method (50) of operating a fuel cell are provided. The fuel cell apparatus (10) includes a fuel cell assembly (12) having a first outlet (26) and a first vessel (34) coupled to the first outlet (26) and forming a first dead end. The first vessel (34) is arranged to rec
A fuel cell apparatus (10) and method (50) of operating a fuel cell are provided. The fuel cell apparatus (10) includes a fuel cell assembly (12) having a first outlet (26) and a first vessel (34) coupled to the first outlet (26) and forming a first dead end. The first vessel (34) is arranged to receive and hold a portion of a first reactant and water when a supply of the first reactant is being fed to the fuel cell assembly (12) and to return the first reactant in the first vessel (34) to the fuel cell assembly (12) via the first outlet (26) when the supply of the first reactant to the fuel cell assembly (12) is cut off.
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1. A fuel cell apparatus, comprising: a fuel cell assembly having a first outlet; anda first vessel coupled to the first outlet and forming a first dead-end, wherein the first vessel is arranged to receive and hold a portion of a first reactant and water when a supply of the first reactant is being
1. A fuel cell apparatus, comprising: a fuel cell assembly having a first outlet; anda first vessel coupled to the first outlet and forming a first dead-end, wherein the first vessel is arranged to receive and hold a portion of a first reactant and water when a supply of the first reactant is being fed to the fuel cell assembly and to return the first reactant in the first vessel to the fuel cell assembly via the first outlet when the supply of the first reactant to the fuel cell assembly is cut off. 2. The fuel cell apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first vessel has a pressure resistance of at least about 5 bar. 3. The fuel cell apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a first valve coupled to a first inlet of the fuel cell assembly to control the supply of the first reactant to the fuel cell assembly. 4. The fuel cell apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first valve is arranged to be continuously opened and closed at periodic time intervals. 5. The fuel cell apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first valve is arranged to be kept open for a period of between about 3 seconds (s) and about 20 s before being closed. 6. The fuel cell apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first valve is arranged to be kept closed for a period of between about 1 s and about 7 s before being reopened. 7. The fuel cell apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first valve is arranged to be continuously opened and closed depending on a pressure in the fuel cell assembly. 8. The fuel cell apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first valve is arranged to be automatically opened again when a pressure in the fuel cell assembly is reduced to a predetermined level. 9. The fuel cell apparatus of claim 8, wherein the predetermined level of pressure is about 1.5 bar. 10. The fuel cell apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first valve is an electrically actuated valve. 11. The fuel cell apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second valve arranged to control a discharge of liquid water from the first vessel. 12. The fuel cell apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first reactant is a fuel. 13. the fuel cell apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first reactant is an oxidant. 14. The fuel cell apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second vessel coupled to a second outlet of the fuel cell assembly and forming a second dead-end, wherein the second vessel is arranged to receive and hold a portion of a second reactant and water when a supply of the second reactant is being fed to the fuel cell assembly and to return the second reactant in the second vessel to the fuel cell assembly via the second outlet when the supply of the second reactant to the fuel cell assembly is cut off. 15. A method of operating a fuel cell apparatus, comprising: supplying a fuel and an oxidant to a fuel cell assembly having a first outlet, wherein a portion of a first reactant is driven through the fuel cell assembly and into a first vessel coupled to the first outlet, the first vessel forming a first dead-end, and wherein water in the fuel cell assembly is carried by a convective flow of the first reactant into the first vessel via the first outlet;retaining the portion of the first reactant and the water in the first vessel; andreturning the first reactant in the first vessel to the fuel cell assembly via the first outlet when a supply of the first reactant to the fuel cell assembly is cut off. 16. The method of operating a fuel cell of claim 15, wherein accumulated water in the fuel cell assembly is dispersed when returning the first reactant in the first vessel to the fuel cell assembly. 17. The method of operating a fuel cell of claim 15, wherein the supply of the first reactant to the fuel cell assembly is time regulated. 18. The method of operating a fuel cell of claim 17, further comprising cutting off the supply of the first reactant after a period of between about 3 s and about 20 s. 19. The method of operating a fuel cell of claim 18. wherein the supply of the first reactant is cut off for a period of between about 1 s and about 7 s. 20. The method of operating a fuel cell of claim 15, wherein the supply of the first reactant to the fuel cell assembly is pressure regulated. 21. The method of operating a fuel cell of claim 20, further comprising resupplying the first reactant to the fuel cell assembly when a pressure in the first vessel is reduced to a predetermined level. 22. The method of operating a fuel cell of claim 21, wherein the first reactant is resupplied to the fuel cell assembly when the pressure in the first vessel is reduced to about 1.5 bar. 23. The method of operating a fuel cell of claim 15, further comprising discharging liquid water from the first vessel. 24. The method of operating a fuel cell of claim 15, wherein the first reactant is one of pure hydrogen and hydrogen mixed with an inert gas. 25. The method of operating a fuel cell of claim 24, wherein the first reactant is supplied to the fuel cell assembly at a pressure of about 2 bar. 26. The method of operating a fuel cell of claim 15, wherein the first reactant is pure oxygen. 27. The method of operating a fuel cell of claim 26, wherein the first reactant is supplied to the fuel cell assembly at a pressure of about 2 bar. 28. The method of operating a fuel cell of claim 15, wherein a portion of a second reactant is driven through the fuel cell assembly and into a second vessel via a second outlet and wherein the water in the fuel cell assembly is carried by a convective flow of the second reactant into the second vessel via the second outlet. 29. The method of operating a fuel cell of claim 28, further comprising: retaining the portion of the second reactant and the water in the second vessel; andreturning the second reactant in the second vessel to the fuel cell assembly via the second outlet when a supply of the second reactant to the fuel cell assembly is cut off.
Sakaue, Eiichi; Sato, Yuusuke; Kikuiri, Nobutaka; Sadamoto, Atsushi, Fuel cell system with a gas supply pump that applies negative pressure to the anode and cathode.
Wilkinson David P. (Vancouver CAX) Voss Henry H. (West Vancouver CAX) Watkins David S. (Coquitlam CAX) Prater Keith B. (Vancouver CAX), Solid polymer fuel cell systems incorporating water removal at the anode.
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