DIRECT MASS AND HEAT TRANSFER FUEL CELL POWER PLANT

摘要

A direct mass and heat transfer fuel cell power plant invention includes at least one fuel cell and a direct mass and heat transfer device. The fuel cell includes an electrolyte, an anode electrode and a cathode electrode supported respectively by a porous anode support layer and a porous cathode support layer in intimate contact with opposed surfaces of the electrolyte. A reducing fluid stream and an oxidant inlet stream flow at about ambient pressure through the support layers. The direct mass and heat transfer device passes the oxidant inlet stream upstream of the fuel cell in mass transfer relationship with a cathode exhaust stream leaving the cell so that mass such as water vapor picked up by the cathode exhaust stream passes directly through a transfer medium of the mass and heat transfer device into the oxidant stream entering the cell, thereby humidifying and adding heat to the oxidant stream entering the cell. The direct mass transfer device includes a separator housing for supporting the transfer medium in mass transfer relationship with the cathode exhaust stream and oxidant inlet stream so that the streams contact the transfer medium and the separator housing prevents bulk mixing of the streams. The transfer medium may comprise any of a variety of materials that sorb a fluid substance consisting of polar molecules within a stream including fluid substances consisting of polar and non-polar molecules. An exemplary transfer medium includes a liquid water portion of polyflourosulfonic ionomer membrane.