Patent ID: 6207306
Filing Date: 2001-03-27
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
A water recovery fuel cell system, comprising:a fuel cell defining a cathode flow field including a cathode input port and a cathode output port, and an anode flow field including an anode input port and an anode output port;combustor means having an input port communicating with the anode output port and to be coupled to an oxidant supply, and having an output communicating with the cathode output port at a junction for providing a combustor exhaust combined at the junction with cathode exhaust leaving the cathode output port to form a process exhaust gas;a humidity exchange device defining a supply gas input port, a supply gas output port, a process exhaust gas input port and a process exhaust gas output port, the supply gas input port to be coupled to a source of oxidant gas, the supply gas output port being coupled to the cathode input port of the fuel cell and the input port of the combustor means, the process exhaust gas input port communicating with the junction, and the exhaust gas output port communicating with a power plant exhaust conduit, a power plant exhaust path being defined from the cathode output port of the fuel cell to the power plant exhaust conduit via the humidity exchange device; anda water recovery condenser disposed along the power plant exhaust path between the junction and the power plant exhaust conduit.