Patent ID: 6171718
Filing Date: 2001-01-09
Classification: H01M,Y02E,Y02T

Abstract:
A pressurized water recovery system for a fuel cell power plant, comprising:a. at least one fuel cell means having an electrolyte between an anode electrode and a cathode electrode for producing an electric current from a reducing fluid and an oxidant stream;b. a coolant loop having a coolant passage that directs a coolant fluid from a coolant reservoir through the coolant passage to the fuel cell means and back to the reservoir to cool the fuel cell means;c. a process exhaust passage that receives a cathode exhaust stream from a cathode exhaust passage in fluid communication with the cathode electrode, wherein the process exhaust passage directs the cathode exhaust stream as a process exhaust stream out of the fuel cell means;d. a supercharger in fluid communication with the process exhaust passage, wherein the supercharger pressurizes the process exhaust stream; and,e. a pressurized condensing heat exchanger in fluid communication with the supercharger that receives the process exhaust stream, the heat exchanger having a pressure valve secured to an outlet of the exchanger that restricts discharge of the process exhaust stream out of the pressurized condensing heat exchanger to pressurize the process exhaust stream within the heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger directs condensed water from the heat exchanger through a condensed water line back into the coolant loop.