PURGED ANODE, LOW EFFLUENT FUEL CELL

摘要

A hydrogen-fueled fuel cell reacts residual fuel in the exhaust of the anode flow field (16') either in a catalytic converter (69) or by feeding the anode exhaust (50) into the cathode oxidant stream (74). Control of flow of anode exhaust (50) into the cathode oxidant stream (74) may be in response to a flammability sensor (54), a gas composition analyzer (57), current output, or periodically in response to a timer (66); the anode exhaust (50) may be fed either upstream or downstream of the cathode air inlet blower (30).