Patent ID: 7037612
Filing Date: 2006-05-02
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A fuel cell power plant ( 110 , 210 , 310 , 410 ) including in combination, a fuel cell stack assembly ( 12 ) having an anode region ( 14 ), a cathode region ( 16 ), and an electrolyte region ( 18 ) intermediate the anode and cathode regions; a fuel processing system including combustion-supported reaction means ( 20 , 120 ) for receiving a supply of fuel ( 46 , 46 ′, 48 ) and an oxidant stream ( 124 , 224 , 324 , 424 ) and for providing a hydrogen-rich fuel stream ( 22 ) to the anode region ( 14 ); a source of oxidant ( 26 ); a primary energy recovery device ( 30 ) having adjacent source ( 32 ) and sink ( 34 ) channels separated by an enthalpy exchange barrier ( 36 ) for the transfer of heat and moisture therebetween; a further energy recovery device ( 50 ) having means ( 132 , 134 , 136 ) for receiving gas and liquid and flowing at least the gas therethrough in proximity with the liquid for the transfer of heat and moisture therebetween to regulate the dew point of the gas; a source of water ( 52 ); at least one of the combustion-supported reaction means ( 20 , 120 ), the cathode region ( 16 ), and the anode region ( 14 ) having an exhaust flow ( 42 , 44 , 48 , 148 ) for providing an exhaust gas stream ( 28 , 128 ); and wherein the oxidant source ( 26 ) is operatively connected to flow through at least the sink channel of the primary energy recovery device ( 30 ) to provide the oxidant stream ( 124 , 224 , 324 , 424 ) supplied to at least the combustion-supported reaction means ( 20 , 120 ), the exhaust gas stream ( 28 , 128 ) is operatively connected to flow through at least the source channel of the primary energy recovery device ( 30 ), the water source ( 52 ) is operatively connected to provide the liquid to the further energy recovery device ( 50 ), and the further energy recovery device ( 50 ) and one of the source channel ( 32 ) and the sink channel ( 34 ) of the primary energy recovery device ( 30 ) are serially connected ( 26 ′, 28 ′, 126 ′, 128 ′) for gas flow therethrough, such that the regulation of the dew point of the gas flowing through the further energy recovery device ( 50 ) by the water in the further energy recovery device ( 50 ) operates to regulate, at least indirectly, the dew point of the oxidant stream ( 124 , 224 , 324 , 424 ) supplied to at least the combustion-supported reaction means ( 20 , 120 ).