Method for cooling oxygen sensitive components
First Claim
1. A fuel cell system for cooling oxygen sensitive components comprising:
- a fuel cell stack comprising at least one fuel cell comprising an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte disposed between the anode and cathode;
a fuel reformer disposed in fluid communication with the fuel cell stack for supplying a flow of fuel to the anode;
an air supply disposed in fluid communication with the fuel cell stack for supplying a flow of air to the cathode; and
an air purification device for preparing a nitrogen gas stream, the air purification device having an inlet for receiving a flow of air and an outlet in fluid communication with the fuel cell stack anode for discharging the nitrogen gas stream;
a means for supplying a flow of the nitrogen gas stream to the anode during fuel cell cool down and optionally, during fuel cell shut down; and
an outlet for discharging a flow of oxygen enriched air;
wherein the flow of the nitrogen gas stream is sufficient to balance pressure within the fuel cell cathode and anode during cool down.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for cooling oxygen sensitive components in a fuel cell system comprising supplying air to an air purification device during cool down of a fuel cell system comprising at least one fuel cell comprising an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte disposed between the anode and cathode; treating the air within the air purification device to produce a flow of nitrogen gas and a waste stream comprising oxygen enriched air; directing a flow of the nitrogen gas through the anode; the anode being in fluid communication with the air purification device and isolated from the fuel reformer and anode exhaust during cool down; the flow of nitrogen gas being directed through the anode in an amount sufficient to balance pressure within the fuel cell cathode and anode during cool down.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A fuel cell system for cooling oxygen sensitive components comprising:
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a fuel cell stack comprising at least one fuel cell comprising an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte disposed between the anode and cathode;
a fuel reformer disposed in fluid communication with the fuel cell stack for supplying a flow of fuel to the anode;
an air supply disposed in fluid communication with the fuel cell stack for supplying a flow of air to the cathode; and
an air purification device for preparing a nitrogen gas stream, the air purification device having an inlet for receiving a flow of air and an outlet in fluid communication with the fuel cell stack anode for discharging the nitrogen gas stream;
a means for supplying a flow of the nitrogen gas stream to the anode during fuel cell cool down and optionally, during fuel cell shut down; and
an outlet for discharging a flow of oxygen enriched air;
wherein the flow of the nitrogen gas stream is sufficient to balance pressure within the fuel cell cathode and anode during cool down. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for cooling oxygen sensitive components in a fuel cell system comprising:
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supplying air to an air purification device during cool down of a fuel cell system comprising at least one fuel cell comprising an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte disposed between the anode and the cathode;
treating the supplied air within the air purification device to produce a nitrogen gas stream and a waste stream comprising oxygen enriched air;
directing the produced nitrogen gas stream through the anode;
the anode being in fluid communication with the air purification device;
the flow of nitrogen gas stream being sufficient to balance pressure within the fuel cell cathode and anode during fuel cell cool down. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification