Patent ID: 6630260
Filing Date: 2003-10-07
Classification: C01B,H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
A fuel cell power plant, comprising:(a) a reactor having a reactant input for a reactor oxidant stream, and a reactor reformate output for a reformats supply stream; and (b) a first water transfer device comprising (i) a first device reformats input connected to said reactor reformats output, (ii) a first device reformate output, (iii) a first device oxidant gas input, (iv) a first device oxidant gas output connected to said reactant input of the reactor, and (v) a water-transfer membrane, wherein said water transfer device transfers water from said reformate gas stream to said reactor oxidant stream; (c) a fuel cell comprising an anode input for said reformate supply stream, a cathode input for a cathode oxidant stream, an anode output for an anode effluent stream; and a cathode output for a cathode effluent stream; and (d) a second water transfer device comprising (i) a second device reformats gas input connected to said first reformats gas output of the first water transfer device, (ii) a second device reformate gas output connected to said anode input of the fuel cell stack, (iii) a second device effluent input connected to one or both of said effluent outputs of the fuel cell stack, (iv) a second device effluent output, and (v) a water transfer membrane; wherein said second water transfer device transfers water from one or both of said effluent streams to said reformats supply stream.