Patent ID: 7090940

Claim:
A freeze tolerant fuel cell power plant for generating an electrical current from hydrogen containing reducing fluid fuel and oxygen containing oxidant reactant streams, the plant comprising: a. at least one fuel cell ( 12 ) including a coolant inlet ( 14 ) and a coolant outlet ( 16 ) for directing a water immiscible fluid and the water component to flow through the fuel cell ( 12 ); b. a coolant loop ( 18 ) including a freeze tolerant accumulator means ( 22 ) secured in fluid communication with the fuel cell coolant outlet ( 16 ) for storing and separating the water immiscible fluid and the water component, a direct contact heat exchanger ( 56 ) secured in fluid communication with the accumulator means ( 22 ) and the fuel cell coolant inlet ( 14 ), and a coolant circulating means ( 21 ) secured in fluid communication with a coolant passage ( 20 ) of the coolant loop ( 18 ) for circulating the water immiscible fluid and the water component through the coolant loop ( 18 ); and, c. a radiator loop ( 84 ) including a radiator ( 86 ) secured in fluid communication between a water immiscible fluid discharge ( 91 ) and water immiscible fluid inlet ( 90 ) of the direct contact heat exchanger ( 56 ) that removes heat from the water immiscible fluid passing through the radiator ( 86 ), and a radiator pump ( 92 ) secured to the radiator loop ( 84 ) for circulating the water immiscible fluid through the radiator ( 86 ) and direct contact heat exchanger ( 56 ).