Fuel-cell engine stream conditioning system

Patent · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2002

OSTI ID:874665

DuBose, Ronald Arthur ^[1]

---

1. Marietta, GA

A stream conditioning system for a fuel cell gas management system or fuel cell engine. The stream conditioning system manages species potential in at least one fuel cell reactant stream. A species transfer device is located in the path of at least one reactant stream of a fuel cell's inlet or outlet, which transfer device conditions that stream to improve the efficiency of the fuel cell. The species transfer device incorporates an exchange media and a sorbent. The fuel cell gas management system can include a cathode loop with the stream conditioning system transferring latent and sensible heat from an exhaust stream to the cathode inlet stream of the fuel cell; an anode humidity retention system for maintaining the total enthalpy of the anode stream exiting the fuel cell related to the total enthalpy of the anode inlet stream; and a cooling water management system having segregated deionized water and cooling water loops interconnected by means of a brazed plate heat exchanger.

• Research Organization: PENTASTAR ELECTRONICS CO
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-94CE50390
• Assignee: Emprise Technology Associates Corp. (Marietta, GA)
• Patent Number(s): US 6436562
• OSTI ID: 874665
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

fuel-cell
engine
stream
conditioning
fuel
cell
gas
management
manages
species
potential
reactant
transfer
device
located
path
cells
inlet
outlet
conditions
improve
efficiency
incorporates
exchange
media
sorbent
cathode
loop
transferring
latent
sensible
heat
exhaust
anode
humidity
retention
maintaining
total
enthalpy
exiting
related
cooling
water
segregated
deionized
loops
interconnected
means
brazed
plate
exchanger
fuel cell
heat exchanger
cell gas
reactant stream
/429/