Patent ID: 8241806

Claim:
A fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cell for generating power with supply of a reaction gas; a drain pipe and a drain valve; a fluid passage for warming the drain pipe and the drain valve; a gas-liquid separator arranged for separating moisture contained in an anode exhaust gas which is discharged from the fuel cell; a supply passage arranged for returning the anode exhaust gas, from which the moisture is separated by the gas-liquid separator, to a recirculating module arranged for mixing the anode exhaust gas, which is returned via the supply passage, with the reaction gas; a mount in which the fluid passage for warming is provided; and a collecting portion for collecting water which is separated by the gas-liquid separator; wherein the drain pipe is for discharging the water collected in the collecting portion, the drain pipe being extended from the collecting portion, in which the fluid passage for warming lies in thermal contact with the drain pipe and a fluid coming out of the fuel cell flows through the fluid passage for warming, wherein the drain valve is arranged downstream of the gas-liquid separator at an upstream portion of the drain pipe, in which the fluid passage for warming lies in thermal contact with the drain valve, wherein the gas-liquid separator and the recirculating module are attached under and above the mount, respectively, so as to be integrally configured, the supply passage is disposed between the gas-liquid separator and the recirculating module so that the supply passage runs in contact with a peripheral surface of the fluid passage for warming, at least a portion of the fluid passage for warming also serves as a coolant passage through which a cooling liquid for cooling the fuel cell passes, wherein the coolant passage is disposed downstream of the fuel cell, and the cooling liquid is warmed up while passing through the fuel cell, wherein the cooling liquid flows through the coolant passage and is again supplied to the fuel cell through a heat exchanger by a pump and a downstream portion of the drain pipe is arranged to lie in thermal contact with an upstream portion of the fluid passage for warming so that the drain pipe can be efficiently warmed.