Fuel Cell Dead-End Reactant Vessel Pressure Swing

The patent implements periodic pressure cycling between high and low pressure states. During high pressure, water is removed from the fuel cell; during low pressure, unreacted fuel and oxidant are returned to the fuel cell for continued reaction. This periodic action eliminates the need for purging while maintaining water management, thereby preventing flooding without losing unreacted gases.

The patent uses dynamic pressure cycling to alternately fill and empty the accumulation chamber. During the filling phase (high pressure), water is forced out of the fuel cell into the chamber. During the emptying phase (low pressure), unreacted gases are drawn back into the fuel cell. This dynamic pressure variation enables passive gas recirculation without requiring continuous blowing or pumping, thus reducing power consumption while maintaining high gas utilization rates.

The patent extracts the water removal function from the fuel cell by providing a separate accumulation chamber connected to the fuel cell outlet. The chamber acts as a dedicated water collection reservoir that receives and stores excess water during high pressure cycles. This separation of water management from the main fuel cell operation simplifies the control system by eliminating the need for complex purge valve mechanisms while effectively managing water accumulation.