Patent ID: 6579637
Filing Date: 2003-06-17
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
In a fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell, a source of H2-rich fuel-gas providing a fuel stream for said fuel cell, a source of oxygen providing an oxidant stream for electrochemically reacting with said H2-rich fuel-gas in said fuel cell, an exhaust stream comprising H2-depleted said fuel-gas, a cathode exhaust stream comprising water, oxygen and nitrogen exiting said fuel cell, at least one water separator for removing water from at least one of said streams that is laden with said water, and a reservoir for collecting the water removed from the water-laden stream for reuse within said system, the improvement wherein said separator is a cyclonic separator comprising a collection tube having an internal cylindrical wall defining a collection chamber through which said water-laden stream flows, said collection tube having an inlet through which said water-laden stream enters said chamber and an outlet through which said water exits said chamber, a swirler at said inlet to impart a whirling motion to said water-laden stream in said chamber that centrifugally propels said water out of said water-laden stream onto said wall and urges said water along said wall toward said outlet, a sump underlying said outlet for collecting water that has migrated to said outlet along said wall, a baffle between said outlet and said sump for admitting said water into said sump while preventing water in said sump from escaping said sump back into said at least one stream, a drain communicating with said sump for draining said water from said sump into said reservoir, a valve operatively associated with said drain for controlling said draining so as to maintain a sufficient level of water in said sump to provide a water seal that prevents said water-laden stream from escaping said separator via said drain, a switch associated with said sump for triggering the closing of said valve when said level is reached, an exhaust tube having a mouth at one end that is substantially concentric with said collection tube inboard said wall for receiving water-depleted said at least one stream from said chamber and an exhaust end for discharging said water-depleted said at least one stream from said separator.