CA1310358C - Fuel cell clean waste water discharge system - Google Patents
Fuel cell clean waste water discharge systemInfo
- Publication number
- CA1310358C CA1310358C CA000606090A CA606090A CA1310358C CA 1310358 C CA1310358 C CA 1310358C CA 000606090 A CA000606090 A CA 000606090A CA 606090 A CA606090 A CA 606090A CA 1310358 C CA1310358 C CA 1310358C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- water
- storage tank
- power plant
- fuel cell
- discharge
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Classifications
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
- Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
- Y02E60/50—Fuel cells
Landscapes
- Fuel Cell (AREA)
Abstract
Abstract of the Disclosure Fuel Cell Clean Waste Water Discharge System Excess or waste water produced by the operation of a fuel cell power plant is discharged directly into the ambient environment by a discharge system (16) which ensures that only the cleanest water in the system can be discharged.
The discharge system is controlled by the amount of water in the power plant water storage tank (6). The storage tank receives contaminated water from the power plant, and also receives clean water (14) from demineralizing beds. When the quantity of water in the storage (6) tank exceeds a predetermined amount, the clean incoming water (14) from the demineralizing beds is diverted into a drain passage (16) where it is drained from the power plant. The drainage of clean water stops when the amount of water in the storage tank drops below the predetermined amount.
The discharge system is controlled by the amount of water in the power plant water storage tank (6). The storage tank receives contaminated water from the power plant, and also receives clean water (14) from demineralizing beds. When the quantity of water in the storage (6) tank exceeds a predetermined amount, the clean incoming water (14) from the demineralizing beds is diverted into a drain passage (16) where it is drained from the power plant. The drainage of clean water stops when the amount of water in the storage tank drops below the predetermined amount.
Description
Description Fuel Cell Clean Waste Water Discharge System Technical Field This invention relates to a fuel cell power plant, and more particularly to a water discharge system for such a power plant.
Background of the Invention The electrochemical reaction which occurs in a fuel cell power plant produces water as a by-product. Water is also used as a coolant in the power plant to control cell temperature, since the reaction is an exothermic reaction. Water in the form of steam is also used in the operation of the power plant in the reforming of raw hydrocarbon fuel to hydrogen rich fuel suitable for consumption in the cells.
Since water is produced by the plant and is also used to operate the plant, fuel cell power plants will include water circulation systems wherein water will be retrieved, stored, cleaned, and recirculated through the coolant system of the plant. Some water in the form of steam will bs consumed by the power plant in the fuel reforming process, however, it is generally the case that more water will be created in the plant by the electrochemical react:ion than will be consumed by the plant in the form of steam.
ClS15for ~ 3 1 035~
In view of the aforesaid, there is a need to periodically drain the water circulation and storage ystem in the ~uel cell power plant.
Since the water found in the fuel cell system contains contaminants such as ammonia, carbon dioxide, and system corrosion products, and also contains clean water which has been processed through filters and demineralizing beds, care must be taken to ensure that the water discharged from the plant is clean, and not contaminated.
Environmental protection requires that water discharged to the environment have very low levels of contaminants. Thus it is desirable to have a discharge system in the power plant which could discharge only the cleanest water in the system, and one that would operate automatically.
Summary of Invention This invention relates to a water discharge system for a fuel cell power plant which operates automatically and which discharges only the cleanest water from the power plant. The water ~hus can be discharged directly into ambient surroundings with no possible pollution pro~lems.
The system of this invention includes a water storage tank which receives recirculated coolant water, water condensed from steam in the power plant, and water produced by the electrochemical reaction in the power plant. The water in the storage tank is constantly withdrawn therefrom, taken through filters and demineralizing beds and returned to the coolant system. Demineralized water not needed in the coolant system is r~turned to the storage tank. Excess water building up in the system will reside in the storage tank so that the level of the water in the storage tank will be indicative of the amount of water in the entire system.
This invention uses a sensor which senses when the water level in the storage tank is at or above a predetermined level, which is selected to represent the presence of excess water in the system. When the predetermined water level is sensed in the storage tank, the flow of incoming clean water from the demineralizing beds is diverted to a drain passage through which it flows out of the - system. The incoming flow of contaminated water from the power plant is not disturbed, and contaminated water in the storage tank is prevented from reaching the drain passage. Thus only clean water can be drained from the system.
It is therefore an object of this invention to directly discharge excess water to the ambient surroundings from a fuel cell.
It is a further object of this invention to discharge only the cleanest water in the plant.
It is an additional object of this invention to automatically discharge water when the total amount of water in the power plant exceeds a predetermined quantity.
In accordance with a particular embodiment of the invention there is provided a fuel cell power plant having a power section, and having a water cir~ulating system for cooling the power section, said water circulating system comprising:
a) a water storage tank for storing water used in said circulating system;
b) decontaminating means for cleaning water in said circulating system;
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:
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c) first means for carrying water from said storage tank to said decontaminating means;
d) second means for carrying water from said decontaminating means to said power section for cooling the latter;
e) third means for carrying clean water from said decontaminating means to said storage tank;
f) fourth means for carrying contaminated water from said power section to said storage tank;
and g) discharge means for releasing water to ambient surroundings from said water circulation system when the amount of water in said storage tank exceeds a predetermined volume characterized by said discharge means arranged to discharge water from said third means, whereby only clean water is discharged into the ambient surroundings from the power plant.
From a different aspect, and in accord-ance with a particular embodiment,of the invention, there is provided a method for discharging excess water from a water cooling loop in a fuel cell power plant into ambient surroundings, said method comprising the steps of:
a) said power plant having in series a fuel cell power section with a cathode side and a cooling section using water or the coolant, a water storage tank, a decontamination means through which the water loop passes, transferring a stream of contaminated water from said:power section cooling section to said storage tank;
b) transferring a stream of water from said - : storage tank to said decontamination means;
c) transferring a stream of decontaminated water from said decontamination means to an inlet .
side of said cooling section while concurrently -- 3a -' I 3 1 03~
transferring a stream of excess decontaminated water back to said storage tank;
d) periodically, when the amount of water in said storage tank exceeds a predetermined amount, diverting at least a portion of the stream of excess decontaminated water from said storage tank into a discharge pipe to discharge said portion of said stream of excess decontaminated water into the ambient surroundings.
Description of the Drawings : Figure 1 is a schematic representation of : the water circulation system in the fu~1 cell power plant;
.
- 3b -t 3 1 ~358 Figure 2 is a side sectional view of one e~bodiment of a water draining assembly formed in accordance with this invention ~hown in a state whsre no water is being drained from the power plant;
Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, but showing how water drains from the power plant at appropriate times;
Figure 4 i5 a side sectional view of a second embodiment o~ a drain assembly formed in accordance with this invention shown in a state where no drainage will occur; and Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 but showing how the assembly operates to drain water from the power plant at appropriate times.
Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring to Figure 1, the appropriate portion of the power plant is shown schematically.
The plant includes a power section 2 which contains the fuel cells and wherein the electrochemical reaction takes place. The power section 2 has a cooling system 4 therein through which a water coolant is circulated to contxol the temperature of the cells. The water storage tank 6 receives water from the cooling system 4 through line 8, which water will be contaminated with carbon dioxide, a~monia, and system corrosion prsducts.
The water in the storage tank 6 is continuously withdrawn from the storage tank 6 and takPn through line 9 to filter and demineralizing beds 1g wherein the water is decontaminated.
1 3 1 035~
Clean water is taken from the demineralizing beds 10 through line 12 back to the cooling system 4 in the power section 2, and excess clean water is recirculated back to the storage tank 6 through line 14. The drain from the storage tank 6 is denoted generally by the numeral 16.
In addition to receiving water from the cooling system 4, the storage tank ~ also re~eives watQr which is condensed from the exhaust gases from the cathodes C in the power section 2. The cathode exhaust gases carry water vapor which forms from the product water created by the electrochemical reaction. The moist cathode exhaust is taken to a condenser 20 via line 18 wherein the water is condensed out of the cathode exhaust. The condensed water is taken from the condenser 20 to the line 8 through line 22, to be deposited in the storage tank. The dehumidified cathode exhaust leaves the condenser 20 through line 21.
In the event that the exhaust gas from the anodes A is sufficiently moisturized by product water, the anode exhaust can likewise be dehumidi~ied and the water therefrom deposited in the storage tank 6. It is thus apparent that clean water is constantly being recirculated into the storage tank 6 through the line 14, and contaminated water is also constantly entering the storage tank 6 through the line 8.
Referring to Figures 2 and 3, a preferred e~bodiment of an automatic drain control which drains only clean water from the system is shown.
The clean water return line 14 is provided with a ; - 5 -stand pipe which opens into the line 14, and which also opens into the storage tank 6 via line 26.
When the water level in the storage tank 6 is below the return line 14, the clean water will flow from the line 14 into the storage tank 6, as shown in Figure 2. The conta~inated water from the power section flows into the tank 6 from the direction of the arrow B.
When the water in the tank 6 reaches the level L (shown as a phantom line) which is above the clean water line port, the clean water flow into the tank 6 will diminish. As the water level rises in the tank 6, the clean water will rise therewith in the stand pipe 24. A drain pipe 28 opens out of the stand pipe above the line 14, and below the line 26. When the water level in the tank ~ and stand pipe 24 rises high enough, as shown in Figure 3, the clean water in the stand pipe 24 will flow out of the system through the drain pipe 28. Since only clean water can reach the drain pipe 28, there are no environmental problems caused by draining the system directly into am~ient surroundings.
Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, an alternative embodiment of a drain which allows only clean water to leave the sy~tem is shown. In Figure 4 the water level in the storage tank 6 is below the entry port of the clean water line 14 into the tank 6. The clean water thus flows through the line 14 and empties into the tank 6.
The clean water line 14 is provided with a drain branch 30 which gradually diverges away from the line 14.
1 31 035~
An air pres~ure tube 32 opens into the clean water line 14 closely adjacent to the drain branch 30 and upstream therefrom in terms of the direction of flow of the clean water. The air pressure tube 32 has an open end 34 which i5 disposed in the storage tank 6 below the level o~
the clean water line 14. So long as the water level in the tank 6 remains below the open end 34 of the tube 32, air will be drawn from the tank 6 into the tube 32 as a result of ~he clean water flow past the end of the tube 32 which opens into the line 14. This will create a positive pressure force in the line 14 upstream of the drain branch 30.
When the water level in the tank 6 rises above the end 34 of the tube 32~ as shown in Figure 5, air can no longer flow from the tank 6 through the tube 32. This causes a pressure drop to occur in the clean water line 14 between the opening thereto from the tube 32 and the drain branch 30. When this pressure drop occurs, the clean water flow will follow the wall surface of the line 14 and will flow out through the drain branch 30. The clean water will continue to flow out through the drain branch 30 so long as the end : 34 of the tube 32 remains submerged in the water : ~ in the tank 6.
It will be readily appreciated that the drain system of this invention operates automatically when needed, and will only drain the cleanest ~ water in the power plant therefrom. Its : construc~ion is simple,~and its operation is passiveO It can be easily retrofitted onto ;
~ ~ - 7 _ .
existing fuel cell power plants which have a need ~or such a feature. The water drained from the power plant can be released directly into ambient sllrroundings with no further treatment or purification~
: - 8 .
:
:
, ~ .
Background of the Invention The electrochemical reaction which occurs in a fuel cell power plant produces water as a by-product. Water is also used as a coolant in the power plant to control cell temperature, since the reaction is an exothermic reaction. Water in the form of steam is also used in the operation of the power plant in the reforming of raw hydrocarbon fuel to hydrogen rich fuel suitable for consumption in the cells.
Since water is produced by the plant and is also used to operate the plant, fuel cell power plants will include water circulation systems wherein water will be retrieved, stored, cleaned, and recirculated through the coolant system of the plant. Some water in the form of steam will bs consumed by the power plant in the fuel reforming process, however, it is generally the case that more water will be created in the plant by the electrochemical react:ion than will be consumed by the plant in the form of steam.
ClS15for ~ 3 1 035~
In view of the aforesaid, there is a need to periodically drain the water circulation and storage ystem in the ~uel cell power plant.
Since the water found in the fuel cell system contains contaminants such as ammonia, carbon dioxide, and system corrosion products, and also contains clean water which has been processed through filters and demineralizing beds, care must be taken to ensure that the water discharged from the plant is clean, and not contaminated.
Environmental protection requires that water discharged to the environment have very low levels of contaminants. Thus it is desirable to have a discharge system in the power plant which could discharge only the cleanest water in the system, and one that would operate automatically.
Summary of Invention This invention relates to a water discharge system for a fuel cell power plant which operates automatically and which discharges only the cleanest water from the power plant. The water ~hus can be discharged directly into ambient surroundings with no possible pollution pro~lems.
The system of this invention includes a water storage tank which receives recirculated coolant water, water condensed from steam in the power plant, and water produced by the electrochemical reaction in the power plant. The water in the storage tank is constantly withdrawn therefrom, taken through filters and demineralizing beds and returned to the coolant system. Demineralized water not needed in the coolant system is r~turned to the storage tank. Excess water building up in the system will reside in the storage tank so that the level of the water in the storage tank will be indicative of the amount of water in the entire system.
This invention uses a sensor which senses when the water level in the storage tank is at or above a predetermined level, which is selected to represent the presence of excess water in the system. When the predetermined water level is sensed in the storage tank, the flow of incoming clean water from the demineralizing beds is diverted to a drain passage through which it flows out of the - system. The incoming flow of contaminated water from the power plant is not disturbed, and contaminated water in the storage tank is prevented from reaching the drain passage. Thus only clean water can be drained from the system.
It is therefore an object of this invention to directly discharge excess water to the ambient surroundings from a fuel cell.
It is a further object of this invention to discharge only the cleanest water in the plant.
It is an additional object of this invention to automatically discharge water when the total amount of water in the power plant exceeds a predetermined quantity.
In accordance with a particular embodiment of the invention there is provided a fuel cell power plant having a power section, and having a water cir~ulating system for cooling the power section, said water circulating system comprising:
a) a water storage tank for storing water used in said circulating system;
b) decontaminating means for cleaning water in said circulating system;
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:
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c) first means for carrying water from said storage tank to said decontaminating means;
d) second means for carrying water from said decontaminating means to said power section for cooling the latter;
e) third means for carrying clean water from said decontaminating means to said storage tank;
f) fourth means for carrying contaminated water from said power section to said storage tank;
and g) discharge means for releasing water to ambient surroundings from said water circulation system when the amount of water in said storage tank exceeds a predetermined volume characterized by said discharge means arranged to discharge water from said third means, whereby only clean water is discharged into the ambient surroundings from the power plant.
From a different aspect, and in accord-ance with a particular embodiment,of the invention, there is provided a method for discharging excess water from a water cooling loop in a fuel cell power plant into ambient surroundings, said method comprising the steps of:
a) said power plant having in series a fuel cell power section with a cathode side and a cooling section using water or the coolant, a water storage tank, a decontamination means through which the water loop passes, transferring a stream of contaminated water from said:power section cooling section to said storage tank;
b) transferring a stream of water from said - : storage tank to said decontamination means;
c) transferring a stream of decontaminated water from said decontamination means to an inlet .
side of said cooling section while concurrently -- 3a -' I 3 1 03~
transferring a stream of excess decontaminated water back to said storage tank;
d) periodically, when the amount of water in said storage tank exceeds a predetermined amount, diverting at least a portion of the stream of excess decontaminated water from said storage tank into a discharge pipe to discharge said portion of said stream of excess decontaminated water into the ambient surroundings.
Description of the Drawings : Figure 1 is a schematic representation of : the water circulation system in the fu~1 cell power plant;
.
- 3b -t 3 1 ~358 Figure 2 is a side sectional view of one e~bodiment of a water draining assembly formed in accordance with this invention ~hown in a state whsre no water is being drained from the power plant;
Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, but showing how water drains from the power plant at appropriate times;
Figure 4 i5 a side sectional view of a second embodiment o~ a drain assembly formed in accordance with this invention shown in a state where no drainage will occur; and Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 but showing how the assembly operates to drain water from the power plant at appropriate times.
Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring to Figure 1, the appropriate portion of the power plant is shown schematically.
The plant includes a power section 2 which contains the fuel cells and wherein the electrochemical reaction takes place. The power section 2 has a cooling system 4 therein through which a water coolant is circulated to contxol the temperature of the cells. The water storage tank 6 receives water from the cooling system 4 through line 8, which water will be contaminated with carbon dioxide, a~monia, and system corrosion prsducts.
The water in the storage tank 6 is continuously withdrawn from the storage tank 6 and takPn through line 9 to filter and demineralizing beds 1g wherein the water is decontaminated.
1 3 1 035~
Clean water is taken from the demineralizing beds 10 through line 12 back to the cooling system 4 in the power section 2, and excess clean water is recirculated back to the storage tank 6 through line 14. The drain from the storage tank 6 is denoted generally by the numeral 16.
In addition to receiving water from the cooling system 4, the storage tank ~ also re~eives watQr which is condensed from the exhaust gases from the cathodes C in the power section 2. The cathode exhaust gases carry water vapor which forms from the product water created by the electrochemical reaction. The moist cathode exhaust is taken to a condenser 20 via line 18 wherein the water is condensed out of the cathode exhaust. The condensed water is taken from the condenser 20 to the line 8 through line 22, to be deposited in the storage tank. The dehumidified cathode exhaust leaves the condenser 20 through line 21.
In the event that the exhaust gas from the anodes A is sufficiently moisturized by product water, the anode exhaust can likewise be dehumidi~ied and the water therefrom deposited in the storage tank 6. It is thus apparent that clean water is constantly being recirculated into the storage tank 6 through the line 14, and contaminated water is also constantly entering the storage tank 6 through the line 8.
Referring to Figures 2 and 3, a preferred e~bodiment of an automatic drain control which drains only clean water from the system is shown.
The clean water return line 14 is provided with a ; - 5 -stand pipe which opens into the line 14, and which also opens into the storage tank 6 via line 26.
When the water level in the storage tank 6 is below the return line 14, the clean water will flow from the line 14 into the storage tank 6, as shown in Figure 2. The conta~inated water from the power section flows into the tank 6 from the direction of the arrow B.
When the water in the tank 6 reaches the level L (shown as a phantom line) which is above the clean water line port, the clean water flow into the tank 6 will diminish. As the water level rises in the tank 6, the clean water will rise therewith in the stand pipe 24. A drain pipe 28 opens out of the stand pipe above the line 14, and below the line 26. When the water level in the tank ~ and stand pipe 24 rises high enough, as shown in Figure 3, the clean water in the stand pipe 24 will flow out of the system through the drain pipe 28. Since only clean water can reach the drain pipe 28, there are no environmental problems caused by draining the system directly into am~ient surroundings.
Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, an alternative embodiment of a drain which allows only clean water to leave the sy~tem is shown. In Figure 4 the water level in the storage tank 6 is below the entry port of the clean water line 14 into the tank 6. The clean water thus flows through the line 14 and empties into the tank 6.
The clean water line 14 is provided with a drain branch 30 which gradually diverges away from the line 14.
1 31 035~
An air pres~ure tube 32 opens into the clean water line 14 closely adjacent to the drain branch 30 and upstream therefrom in terms of the direction of flow of the clean water. The air pressure tube 32 has an open end 34 which i5 disposed in the storage tank 6 below the level o~
the clean water line 14. So long as the water level in the tank 6 remains below the open end 34 of the tube 32, air will be drawn from the tank 6 into the tube 32 as a result of ~he clean water flow past the end of the tube 32 which opens into the line 14. This will create a positive pressure force in the line 14 upstream of the drain branch 30.
When the water level in the tank 6 rises above the end 34 of the tube 32~ as shown in Figure 5, air can no longer flow from the tank 6 through the tube 32. This causes a pressure drop to occur in the clean water line 14 between the opening thereto from the tube 32 and the drain branch 30. When this pressure drop occurs, the clean water flow will follow the wall surface of the line 14 and will flow out through the drain branch 30. The clean water will continue to flow out through the drain branch 30 so long as the end : 34 of the tube 32 remains submerged in the water : ~ in the tank 6.
It will be readily appreciated that the drain system of this invention operates automatically when needed, and will only drain the cleanest ~ water in the power plant therefrom. Its : construc~ion is simple,~and its operation is passiveO It can be easily retrofitted onto ;
~ ~ - 7 _ .
existing fuel cell power plants which have a need ~or such a feature. The water drained from the power plant can be released directly into ambient sllrroundings with no further treatment or purification~
: - 8 .
:
:
, ~ .
Claims (7)
1. A fuel cell power plant having a power section, and having a water circulating system for cooling the power section, said water circulating system comprising:
a) a water storage tank (6) for storing water used in said circulating system;
b) decontaminating means (10) for cleaning water in said circulating system;
c) first means (9) for carrying water from said storage tank to said decontaminating means;
d) second means (12) for carrying water from said decontaminating means to said power section for cooling the latter;
e) third means (14) for carrying clean water from said decontaminating means to said storage tank;
f) fourth means (8) for carrying contaminated water from said power section to said storage tank; and g) discharge means (16) for releasing water to ambient surroundings from said water circulation system when the amount of water in said storage tank exceeds a predetermined volume characterized by said discharge means 16 arranged to discharge water from said third means (14), whereby only clean water is discharged into the ambient surroundings from the power plant.
a) a water storage tank (6) for storing water used in said circulating system;
b) decontaminating means (10) for cleaning water in said circulating system;
c) first means (9) for carrying water from said storage tank to said decontaminating means;
d) second means (12) for carrying water from said decontaminating means to said power section for cooling the latter;
e) third means (14) for carrying clean water from said decontaminating means to said storage tank;
f) fourth means (8) for carrying contaminated water from said power section to said storage tank; and g) discharge means (16) for releasing water to ambient surroundings from said water circulation system when the amount of water in said storage tank exceeds a predetermined volume characterized by said discharge means 16 arranged to discharge water from said third means (14), whereby only clean water is discharged into the ambient surroundings from the power plant.
2. The fuel cell power plant of claim 1 wherein said fourth means (8) comprises conduit means for carrying contaminated cooling water from said power section (4) to said storage tank (6), and for carrying product water condensed from cathode exhaust (2) to said storage tank whereby product water will be continuously added to the cooling water in the storage tank.
3. The fuel cell power plant of claim 1 or 2 wherein said discharge means (16) comprises a discharge pipe opening (28) into said third means (14) adjacent to said storage tank, and means (26) associated with said storage tank and operably connected to said discharge pipe for causing water to flow from said third means through said discharge pipe when the level of water in said storage exceeds a predetermined height.
4. The fuel cell power plant of claim 3 further comprising a stand pipe (24) opening into said third means and said discharge pipe (28), said stand pipe being operable to duct water from said third means (14) to said discharge pipe when the water level in said storage tank rises above an entry port into said storage tank from said third means.
5. The fuel cell power plant of claim 1 or 2 wherein said discharge means comprises a discharge pipe (30) opening into said third means upstream in the direction of flow of water from said storage tank;
and means (32) responsive to increases in the water level in said storage tank operable to create a pressure drop in said third means in the vicinity of said discharge pipe causing water to selectively flow from said third means into said di charge pipe.
and means (32) responsive to increases in the water level in said storage tank operable to create a pressure drop in said third means in the vicinity of said discharge pipe causing water to selectively flow from said third means into said di charge pipe.
6. A method for discharging excess water from a water cooling loop in a fuel cell power plant into ambient surroundings, said method comprising the steps of:
a) said power plant having in series a fuel cell power section (2) with a cathode side (C) and a cooling section (4) using water or the coolant, a water storage tank (6), a decontamination means (2)) through which the water loop passes, transferring a stream (8) of contaminated water from said power section cooling section to said storage tank;
b) transferring a stream (9) of water from said storage tank to said decontamination means;
c) transferring a stream (12) of decontaminated water from said decontamination means to an inlet side of said cooling section while concurrently transferring a stream (14) of excess decontaminated water back to said storage tank;
d) periodically, when the amount of water in said storage tank (6) exceeds a predetermined amount, diverting at least a portion (16) of the stream of excess decontaminated water (14) from said storage tank into a discharge pipe (28) to discharge said portion of said stream of excess decontaminated water into the ambient surroundings.
a) said power plant having in series a fuel cell power section (2) with a cathode side (C) and a cooling section (4) using water or the coolant, a water storage tank (6), a decontamination means (2)) through which the water loop passes, transferring a stream (8) of contaminated water from said power section cooling section to said storage tank;
b) transferring a stream (9) of water from said storage tank to said decontamination means;
c) transferring a stream (12) of decontaminated water from said decontamination means to an inlet side of said cooling section while concurrently transferring a stream (14) of excess decontaminated water back to said storage tank;
d) periodically, when the amount of water in said storage tank (6) exceeds a predetermined amount, diverting at least a portion (16) of the stream of excess decontaminated water (14) from said storage tank into a discharge pipe (28) to discharge said portion of said stream of excess decontaminated water into the ambient surroundings.
7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the steps of condensing product water out of cathode exhaust gases (20) and transferring a stream of the condensed product water (22) to said storage tank (6).
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000606090A CA1310358C (en) | 1988-07-08 | 1989-07-19 | Fuel cell clean waste water discharge system |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US07/216,489 US4855192A (en) | 1988-07-08 | 1988-07-08 | Fuel cell clean waste water discharge system |
| CA000606090A CA1310358C (en) | 1988-07-08 | 1989-07-19 | Fuel cell clean waste water discharge system |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1310358C true CA1310358C (en) | 1992-11-17 |
Family
ID=25672893
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000606090A Expired - Lifetime CA1310358C (en) | 1988-07-08 | 1989-07-19 | Fuel cell clean waste water discharge system |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1310358C (en) |
-
1989
- 1989-07-19 CA CA000606090A patent/CA1310358C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
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