Closed loop reactant/product management system for electrochemical galvanic energy devices
First Claim
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1. A closed loop reactant/product management system for electrochemical galvanic energy devices, the system comprising:
- (a) a modular package comprising a plurality of galvanic cells, two internal gas flow conduit means for independently carrying each of two gaseous reactants, which form a liquid product within the galvanic cells, and an internal liquid flow conduit means for independently carrying a cooling liquid to the galvanic cells, the cooling liquid being derived from the liquid product;
(b) first and second gas supply connecting means each designed to provide make-up gaseous reactants, respectively, to the system;
(c) indirect heat exchanger means in fluid flow connection with the internal liquid flow conduit means;
(d) first and second liquid-gas separator means and first and second liquid reservoir means, the respective separator means and reservoir means being in open fluid flow connection, each of the reservoir means being designed to provide a liquid-free, gas-filled space in an upper portion thereof and to maintain liquid in the lower portion, the first reservoir means being in pressure-tight fluid flow connection with the heat exchanger means and with the respective internal liquid flow passage, each of the first and second reservoir means being in pressure-tight fluid flow connection with the respective first and second gas supply connecting means, and the first and second liquid-gas separator means being in pressure tight fluid flow connection with the respective gas flow conduit means; and
(f) gas repressurization means between each of the gas flow conduit means and the respective liquid-gas separator means, designed to increase the pressure of gas from the internal gas flow conduit means.
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Abstract
The present invention teaches a closed loop energy system including means capable of managing both the cooling cycle and the fuel/oxidant gas flow in conjunction with a fuel cell. The system includes a plurality of galvanic cells, gas flow conduit means, internal fluid flow conduit means, heat exchanger means, liquid-gas separator means, and gas repressurization means.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A closed loop reactant/product management system for electrochemical galvanic energy devices, the system comprising:
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(a) a modular package comprising a plurality of galvanic cells, two internal gas flow conduit means for independently carrying each of two gaseous reactants, which form a liquid product within the galvanic cells, and an internal liquid flow conduit means for independently carrying a cooling liquid to the galvanic cells, the cooling liquid being derived from the liquid product; (b) first and second gas supply connecting means each designed to provide make-up gaseous reactants, respectively, to the system; (c) indirect heat exchanger means in fluid flow connection with the internal liquid flow conduit means; (d) first and second liquid-gas separator means and first and second liquid reservoir means, the respective separator means and reservoir means being in open fluid flow connection, each of the reservoir means being designed to provide a liquid-free, gas-filled space in an upper portion thereof and to maintain liquid in the lower portion, the first reservoir means being in pressure-tight fluid flow connection with the heat exchanger means and with the respective internal liquid flow passage, each of the first and second reservoir means being in pressure-tight fluid flow connection with the respective first and second gas supply connecting means, and the first and second liquid-gas separator means being in pressure tight fluid flow connection with the respective gas flow conduit means; and (f) gas repressurization means between each of the gas flow conduit means and the respective liquid-gas separator means, designed to increase the pressure of gas from the internal gas flow conduit means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A closed loop reactant/product management system for electrochemical galvanic energy devices, the system comprising:
- fuel cell means comprising first and second internal reactant gas conduit means, and internal coolant liquid conduit means;
first and second reactant gas supply connecting means;
indirect heat exchanger means in fluid flow connection with the internal liquid flow conduit means;
first liquid-gas separator and liquid reservoir means in pressure-tight fluid flow connection with the heat exchanger means and with the internal liquid flow conduit means and with the first internal gas flow conduit means;
second liquid-gas separator and liquid reservoir means in pressure-tight fluid flow connection with the second internal gas flow conduit means and second gas supply connecting means; and
gas repressurization means between each of the internal gas flow conduit means and the liquid-gas separator means, respectively, designed to increase the pressure of gas from the internal gas flow conduit means. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8)
- fuel cell means comprising first and second internal reactant gas conduit means, and internal coolant liquid conduit means;
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9. In a process for galvanically generating electricity comprising:
- (a) separately passing an excess of a fuel and an oxidant gas through a stack of fuel cells;
separately withdrawing the excess fuel and the excess oxidant gas from the fuel cell stack, the oxidant gas being removed together with a product liquid; and
passing a coolant liquid past the fuel cells to remove excess heat therefrom;
the improvement comprising;
repressurizing each of the excess fuel and oxidant gases;
admixing the excess fuel and oxidant gases with additional fuel and oxidant gases, respectively;
separating out product liquid from the excess oxygen and admixing the separated product liquid with cooling liquid;
separating out and storing product liquid from the excess hydrogen; and
humidifying the fuel and oxidant gases with the separated product liquid before the gases are passed to the stack of fuel cells.
- (a) separately passing an excess of a fuel and an oxidant gas through a stack of fuel cells;
Specification