Patent ID: 6521366
Filing Date: 2003-02-18
Classification: H01M,Y02E,Y02T

Abstract:
A fuel cell system comprisingan anode chamber; a cathode chamber separated from the anode chamber by a proton-conducting membrane; a cathode supply line coupled to supply gas containing oxygen to cathode chamber; and an anode supply line coupled to supply a liquid cooling/fuel mixture to the anode chamber; wherein an anode circuit which includes said anode chamber and said anode supply line, and further comprises a gas separator and a pump; a first cooler and a first water separator disposed in a separated gas flow discharged from the gas separator, said first cooler being upstream of said first water separator in a gas flow direction; a second cooler disposed in said anode circuit to receive and cool a portion of fluids discharged from said anode chamber; and a second separator disposed downstream from said second cooler for collecting and cleaning a water methanol mixture from the second cooler, an output of said second separator being provided as an input to said first gas separator; wherein the anode circuit has an operating pressure of at least 2.5 bar; and the first cooler is cooled by a medium at ambient temperature.