SELF-REGULATING ENCAPSULATED FUEL CELL SYSTEM

摘要

A hydrogen and oxygen fuel cell powerplant is disclosed wherein the fuel cell is encapsulated within a sealed pressure tank for undersea applications. The system is self-regulating to compensate for variations in the venting and leaking of reactant gases. Hydrogen gas in the capsule is reacted or burned, and the resulting water vapor is condensed and collected in a tank at the bottom of the capsule. A simple method of controlling the reactant purge flow has been devised to include essentially a pressure regulator in the oxygen purge line and an orifice in the hydrogen purge line.