Patent ID: 8586253
Filing Date: 2013-11-19
Classification: B64C,B64D,H01M,Y02E,Y02P,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A closed loop energy storage system comprising: a fuel cell system configured to react a gaseous fuel with a gaseous oxidizer using a proton exchange membrane to produce a liquid product and electrical power, the fuel cell system being further configured to separate the product into a first mixture including the liquid product and the gaseous fuel, and a second mixture including the liquid product and the gaseous oxidizer; a first phase separator configured to separate the liquid product from the first mixture to produce gaseous fuel; a second phase separator configured to separate the liquid product from the second mixture to produce gaseous oxidizer; a fuel tank configured to store gaseous fuel for subsequent reaction in the fuel cell system; and an oxidizer tank configured to store gaseous oxidizer for subsequent reaction in the fuel cell system; wherein at least one of the phase separators is configured to receive liquid product from the fuel cell system and store the liquid product for subsequent separation in the fuel cell system, without the use of a separate storage tank for the liquid product.