International Fuel Cells, LLC

Utc Fuel Cells, LLC

William P Collins

Albert P Grasso

Kazuo Saito

Leslie L Van Dine

An arrangement and process are provided for regulating the humidification or dew point of inlet air supplied () to combustion-supported reaction means () of a fuel processing system in a fuel cell power plant (). In addition to flowing exhaust gas(es) () in heat and energy exchange relation with inlet air through a primary energy recovery device (ERD) () of the gas/gas type, a supplemental ERD () of the gas/liquid (water) type uses water temperature to passively condense moisture from a gas stream, either of inlet air or of exhaust gas, to regulate the dew point of the air supplied to the combustion-supported reaction means (). The supplemental ERD () may have a gas channel () and a water channel () separated by an enthalpy exchange barrier (), and may be relatively upstream or downstream of the primary ERD () relative to the flow of inlet air through the latter to regulate dew point indirectly or directly, respectively.

Moisture stabilization for a fuel cell power plant system

The heat from various portions of a fuel cell power plant () are redistributed in a manner allowing desired modification of/to the heat removal means (), e. g., radiator (), included in the coolant loop for the fuel cell stack assembly (CSA) (). A humidifier () added in the coolant loop () and the inlet oxidant (air) stream (') serves to relatively increase the humidification of the inlet air while removing heat from the coolant prior to entering the CSA (). The combined effects are to relatively increase the temperature of the coolant exiting the CSA without similarly increasing the temperature of the coolant entering the CSA, and to relatively increase the temperature differential ('pinch') between the coolant entering the heat removal means and the cooling air of the heat removal means (). This latter effect permits a relative reduction in the size/capacity of the heat removal means ().

Cathode saturation arrangement for fuel cell power plant

The invention is a humidification system for a fuel cell power plant. The system includes at least one fuel cell comprising a coolant flow field adjacent the cathode flow field. The coolant flow field includes a coolant inlet, a coolant outlet, and a split-path coolant distribution channel between the coolant inlet and outlet. The split-path distribution channel directs some of the coolest portion of the coolant stream to flow adjacent the cathode inlet and some of the coolest portion to flow adjacent the cathode outlet. The humidification system lowers a temperature of the process oxidant stream adjacent the cathode inlet, thereby increasing relative humidity of the stream in the cathode flow field adjacent the cathode inlet.

Humidification system for a fuel cell power plant

The seal between the sides of a fuel cell stack and the gas manifolds is improved by adding a mechanical interlock between the adhesive sealing strip and the abutting surface of the manifolds. The adhesive is a material which can flow to some extent when under compression, and the mechanical interlock is formed providing small openings in the portion of the manifold which abuts the adhesive strip. When the manifolds are pressed against the adhesive strips, the latter will flow into and through the manifold openings to form buttons or ribs which mechanically interlock with the manifolds. These buttons or ribs increase the bond between the manifolds and adhesive, which previously relied solely on the adhesive nature of the adhesive.

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South Windsor, CT, United States of America

William P Collins