Fuel Cell Purge Line System

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017040623-A1
Application number	US-201615298666-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 20, 2016
Priority date	Mar 11, 2013
Publication date	Feb 9, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A fuel cell system including a fuel cell stack, separator and a scavenging reservoir. The fuel cell stack is configured to generate water and reusable fuel. The separator is downstream of and in fluid communication with the fuel cell stack. The separator is configured to separate the water from the reusable fuel. The scavenging reservoir is downstream of and in fluid communication with the separator. The scavenging reservoir is configured to receive the water from the separator. The scavenging reservoir includes an inlet portion, an outlet portion, and a middle portion positioned between the inlet and outlet portions. The middle portion includes a reservoir and a passageway extending there between. The passageway is configured to allow a fluid stream to flow there through when the reservoir is occupied by a frozen fluid.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A fuel cell system comprising:
a fuel cell stack configured to generate water and reusable fuel; a separator downstream of and in fluid communication with the fuel cell stack, the separator configured to separate the water from the reusable fuel; and a scavenging reservoir downstream of and in fluid communication with the separator, the scavenging reservoir configured to receive the water from the separator, the scavenging reservoir including an inlet portion, an outlet portion, and a middle portion positioned between the inlet and outlet portions, the middle portion including a reservoir and a passageway extending there between, the passageway configured to allow a fluid stream to flow there through when the reservoir is occupied by a frozen fluid.

2 . The fuel cell system of claim 1 , wherein the scavenging reservoir is in fluid communication with an anode of the fuel cell stack.

3 . The fuel cell system of claim 1 , wherein the scavenging reservoir is in fluid communication with a cathode of the fuel cell stack.

4 . The fuel cell system of claim 1 , further comprising a valve downstream of the outlet portion and having an open position and a closed position, and when the valve is in the open position, the valve is configured to allow the fluid stream to exit to the atmosphere.

5 . The fuel cell system of claim 1 , wherein the inlet portion angled upward at an inlet angle relative to the middle portion, and the outlet portion angled upward at an outlet angle relative to the middle portion.

6 . The fuel cell system of claim 1 , wherein the scavenging reservoir is situated below the separator.

7 . The fuel cell system of claim 1 , wherein the middle portion is a horizontal middle portion.

8 . A fuel cell system comprising:
a fuel cell stack configured to generate water and reusable fuel and to have a soak cycle; a separator downstream of and in fluid communication with the fuel cell stack, the separator configured to separate the water from the reusable fuel; and a scavenging reservoir downstream of and in fluid communication with the separator, the scavenging reservoir configured to receive the water received from the separator, the scavenging reservoir including an inlet portion, an outlet portion, and a middle portion positioned between the inlet and outlet portions, the middle portion including a reservoir and a passageway extending there between, the passageway configured to store the water received from the separator during the soak cycle to avoid a blockage of the fuel cell system during an attempted startup of the fuel cell system subsequent to the soak cycle.

9 . The fuel cell system of claim 8 , wherein the scavenging reservoir is in fluid communication with an anode of the fuel cell stack.

10 . The fuel cell system of claim 8 , wherein the scavenging reservoir is in fluid communication with a cathode of the fuel cell stack.

11 . The fuel cell system of claim 8 , further comprising a valve downstream of the outlet portion and having an open position and a closed position, and when the valve is in the open position, the valve is configured to allow the fluid stream to exit to the atmosphere.

12 . The fuel cell system of claim 8 , wherein the inlet portion angled upward at an inlet angle relative to the middle portion, and the outlet portion angled upward at an outlet angle relative to the middle portion.

13 . The fuel cell system of claim 8 , wherein the scavenging reservoir is situated below the separator.

14 . The fuel cell system of claim 8 , wherein the middle portion is a horizontal middle portion.

15 . A fuel cell system comprising:
a fuel cell stack configured to generate water and reusable fuel; a separator downstream of and in fluid communication with the fuel cell stack, the separator configured to separate the water from the reusable fuel; and a scavenging reservoir downstream of and in fluid communication with the separator, the scavenging reservoir configured to receive the water from the separator, the scavenging reservoir including an inlet portion, an outlet portion, and a horizontal middle portion positioned between the inlet and outlet portions, the inlet portion angled upward at an inlet angle relative to the horizontal middle portion, and the outlet portion angled upward at an outlet angle relative to the horizontal middle portion, the horizontal middle portion including a reservoir and a passageway extending there between, the passageway configured to allow a fluid stream to flow there through when the reservoir is occupied by a frozen fluid.

16 . The fuel cell system of claim 15 , wherein the outlet angle is greater than about 90 degrees and less than about 155.5 degrees.

17 . The fuel cell system of claim 15 , wherein the inlet angle is greater than about 90 degrees and less than about 155.5 degrees.

18 . The fuel cell system of claim 15 , wherein the outlet angle is at least enough to overcome a road pitch of ±21 degrees.

19 . The fuel cell system of claim 15 , wherein the inlet angle is at least enough to overcome a road pitch of ±21 degrees.

20 . The fuel cell system of claim 15 , wherein the horizontal middle portion extends horizontally from the inlet portion to the outlet portion.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Mathie Craig Michael
• Sanderson William F
• Edwards Virgo
• Osborne Kurt David

Classifications

• H01M8/04164 Primary

  by condensers, gas-liquid separators or filters · CPC title

• H01M8/04

  Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids · CPC title

• H01M8/04097 Primary

  with recycling of the reactants (H01M8/04119, H01M8/04104 take precedence) · CPC title

• H01M8/04231

  Purging of the reactants · CPC title

• Y02E60/50

  Fuel cells · CPC title