Patent ID: 6936364
Filing Date: 2005-08-30
Classification: F28D,F28F,H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A fuel vaporizing system for use in a fuel cell propulsion system including a source of liquid fuel; a source of water; a source of fluid at an elevated temperature; a heat exchanger for vaporizing fuel and water and delivering the resulting vapor to a reformer, said heat exchanger having an inlet for said fluid, an outlet for said fluid spaced therefrom, the inlet being connected to said fluid source, a fluid flow path extending between said fluid inlet and said fluid outlet, and having an upstream end at said fluid inlet and a downstream end at said fluid outlet, a fuel/water liquid inlet and a fuel/water vapor outlet spaced therefrom and connected by a plurality of elongated fuel/water flow paths that are in heat exchange relation with said fluid flow path, said fuel/water inlet being connected to said fuel and water sources and located adjacent said upstream end of said fluid flow path; and wherein said fuel/water flow paths are multiple pass flow paths with an upstream most one of said fuel/water flow paths flowing concurrent with said fluid flow path and a downstream most one of said fuel/water flow paths flowing countercurrent to said fluid flow path.