Fuel cell demineralizers integrated with coolant accumulator
a technology of demineralizer and fuel cell, which is applied in the direction of electrochemical generator, cell component details, cell components, etc., can solve the problems of excessive parasitic power drain, heat required to raise the mass of the demineralizer, and the extremely long thawing time of the demineralizer, so as to reduce the sloshing of water within the accumulator
Inactive Publication Date: 2006-06-29
INT FUEL CELLS
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Benefits of technology
"The invention aims to reduce the size, parasitic power, and plumbing requirements of fuel cell power plants. It also simplifies shut down strategies for draining water systems in subfreezing ambients and reduces the volume required by the power plant. The invention includes a gas separator and demineralizers placed within the water accumulator of the power plant, which are heated by the plant during startup to warm the demineralizers. This saves space and reduces the amount of water needed for the power plant. The invention also reduces sloshing of water within the accumulator."
Problems solved by technology
Thus, the demineralizer takes an extremely long time to thaw, perhaps hours.
The heat required to raise the mass of the demineralizer to a temperature above the freezing point of water is significant, and constitutes an excessive parasitic power drain.
During startup, before adequate flow is established in the demineralizers, the water becomes more and more conductive thereby reducing useful power that is generated.
Method used
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[0018] Referring to FIG. 2, one or more demineralizers 33 are disposed directly within the accumulator 11. At the top of the accumulator, the separator 16 comprises a conical baffle, around which water flows downwardly into the accumulator, allowing gases to escape through the vent 17. It could be other shapes or a spray, in some embodiments. In the form illustrated in FIG. 2, the invention not only reduces the volume of fuel cell power plants by disposing the demineralizers within the accumulator, it also reduces volume by disposing the separator within the accumulator.
[0019] In a preferred embodiment, the flow restrictor 30 and much of the plumbing 29, 31, 32 will be disposed within the accumulator 11.
[0020] All of the aforementioned patents are incorporated herein by reference.
[0021] Thus, although the invention has been shown and described with respect to exemplary embodiments thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and various other ch...
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Abstract
The water transport plates (8) of a stack of fuel cells (9) receive water from an accumulator (11) which has a vent (17) within which demineralizers (33) are disposed. The entrance to the accumulator has a conical baffle which disrupts the flow of water entering the accumulator, thereby acting as a gas separator (16). A coolant pump (23) pumps coolant through a heat exchanger (25) where it is divided between an accumulator inlet conduit (31) and a demineralizer inlet conduit (32), the flow between which may be adjusted by means of a flow restrictor (30).
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] This invention relates to disposing fuel cell power plant water demineralizers within the coolant accumulator so as to be warmed by the fuel cell stack coolant, upon startup, particularly in sub-freezing temperatures. BACKGROUND ART [0002] A simplified illustration of a fuel cell power plant is shown in FIG. 1. [0003] The cooler plates 8 within the fuel cell stack assembly 9 (CSA) receive water over a conduit 10 from an accumulator 11. The outflow from the cooler plates 8 is applied over a conduit 15 to a separator 16 having a vent, such as an atmospheric vent 17, that removes entrained gas from the coolant water. A conduit 22 provides the coolant to the input of a coolant pump 23, the outflow of which on a conduit 24 delivers the coolant to a heat exchanger 25. When a fuel cell power plant is operating, the heat exchanger will dissipate some of the heat to maintain the coolant water temperature reentering the cooler plates 8 at a suitable temperature. The hea...
Claims
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IPC IPC(8): H01M8/02H01M8/04
CPCH01M8/04029H01M8/04052H01M8/04291Y02E60/50H01M8/04
Inventor FINK, GARRETT W.KURTZ, JENNIFER M.
Owner INT FUEL CELLS