Patent ID: 8426071

Claim:
A power generating apparatus comprising: a fuel processor for producing a hydrogen-rich reformate gas stream comprising water; a first separator connected to said fuel processor for separating water from said hydrogen-rich reformate gas stream to produce a water-depleted hydrogen-rich gas stream and water that is not mixed with and does not contain gas; a fuel cell connected to said first separator for receiving a water-depleted hydrogen-rich reformate gas stream and for producing electricity and an exhaust gas stream comprising water as products of an electrochemical reaction; a second separator connected to said fuel cell for separating water from said exhaust gas stream; and a combustor connected to said fuel processor and said second separator; wherein at least one of said first separator and said second separator is a mechanical water separator comprising: an elongated housing having a cylindrical inner surface wherein at least a portion of said cylindrical inner surface is covered with a capillary material; a gas stream inlet aligned on a second axis wherein said gas stream inlet is tangential to side wall of said elongated housing causing entering gas stream to swirl within said elongated housing wherein liquid components of said entering gas stream separate due to centrifugal forces created by swirling flow path of said entering gas stream within said elongated housing; a gas stream outlet located at upper portion of said elongated housing and aligned on a first axis wherein said gas stream outlet comprises an elongated tubular member that extends into said elongated housing wherein lower opening of said elongated tubular member within said elongated housing is located below said gas stream inlet; a liquid outlet located below said gas stream inlet; a liquid outlet valve for maintaining a minimum level of liquid within said elongated housing; a level indicator to monitor liquid level within said elongated housing; and a valve control system for said liquid outlet valve wherein said valve control system is a passive control system.