Patent ID: 8168339

Claim:
A method for reducing loss of a liquid electrolyte in a fuel cell system including at least a first and second fuel cell, each fuel cell having a gas-permeable anode and a gas-permeable cathode disposed in face-sharing contact with a polymer-electrolyte membrane, the method comprising: directing an exhaust gas from at least the first fuel cell to an exhaust gas exit so that incoming gas is enriched with a vapor of the liquid electrolyte, the liquid electrolyte being unreplenishable via an electrochemical reaction of the fuel cell system; transporting the incoming gas over or through a sorbent structure charged with the liquid electrolyte en route to at least the second fuel cell, the sorbent structure arranged in an internal cavity coupled to the exhaust gas exit; and directing the incoming gas enriched with the vapor to an inlet of at least the second fuel cell.