Patent ID: 6277509
Filing Date: 2001-08-21
Classification: C01B,H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
A hydride bed 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 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;c. a hydride bed cooler means in fluid communication with the process exhaust passage having manifolding for passing the process exhaust stream in heat exchange relationship with a water condensing hydride bed of the cooler means for cooling the process exhaust stream so that water vapor in the process exhaust stream condenses; and,d. a condensed water return line secured between the hydride bed cooler means and the fuel cell means that directs water condensed from the process exhaust stream into a coolant transport plate in the fuel cell means.