Fuel cell demineralizers integrated with coolant accumulator

Abstract

The water transport plates ( 8 ) of a stack of fuel cells ( 9 ) receive water from an accumulator ( 11 ) which has a vent ( 17 ) within which demineralizers ( 33 ) are disposed. The entrance to the accumulator has a conical baffle which disrupts the flow of water entering the accumulator, thereby acting as a gas separator ( 16 ). A coolant pump ( 23 ) pumps coolant through a heat exchanger ( 25 ) where it is divided between an accumulator inlet conduit ( 31 ) and a demineralizer inlet conduit ( 32 ), the flow between which may be adjusted by means of a flow restrictor ( 30 ).

1 . A fuel cell power plant comprising: 
 a stack of fuel cells, each fuel cell having anode water flow channels and cathode water flow channels;    a water accumulator in fluid communication with at least some of said water flow channels and having an inlet feed conduit;    at least one demineralizer disposed within said water accumulator and having an inlet feed conduit;    and wherein said accumulator is vented and has a conical baffle disposed at an inlet of the accumulator so as to disrupt the flow of water and gas entering the accumulator, whereby gas is separated from water; and    said accumulator inlet feed conduit and said demineralizer inlet feed conduit receive water from at least some of said water flow channels.    
   
   
       2 . A fuel cell power plant according to  claim 1  further comprising a heat exchanger disposed between said water flow channels and said accumulator inlet conduit.  
   
   
       3 . A fuel cell power plant comprising: 
 a stack of fuel cells, each fuel cell having anode water flow channels and cathode water flow channels;    a water accumulator in fluid communication with at least some of said water flow channels and having an inlet feed conduit; and    at least one demineralizer disposed within said water accumulator and having an inlet feed conduit; and    said accumulator inlet feed conduit and said demineralizer inlet feed conduit receive flow of water from at least some of said water flow channels.    
   
   
       4 . A fuel cell power plant according to  claim 3  wherein the flow of water into said accumulator and into said at least one demineralizer is adjusted by means of a flow restrictor in one of said inlet feed conduits.  
   
   
       5 . A fuel cell power plant according to  claim 3  further comprising a heat exchanger disposed between said water flow channels and said accumulator inlet conduit.  
   
   
       6 . A fuel cell power plant comprising: 
 a stack of fuel cells, each fuel cell having anode water flow channels and cathode water flow channels;    a water accumulator, said accumulator being vented and having a conical baffle disposed at an inlet of the accumulator so as to disrupt the flow of water and gas entering the accumulator, whereby gas is separated from water; and    said accumulator inlet flow conduit receiving water from at least some of said water channels.    
   
   
       7 . A fuel cell power plant according to  claim 6  further comprising a heat exchanger disposed between said water flow channels and said accumulator inlet conduit.