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Unitized regenerative fuel cell systemA Unitized Regenerative Fuel Cell system uses heat pipes to convey waste heat from the fuel cell stack to the reactant storage tanks. The storage tanks act as heat sinks/sources and as passive radiators of the waste heat from the fuel cell stack. During charge up, i.e., the electrolytic process, gases are conveyed to the reactant storage tanks by way of tubes that include dryers. Reactant gases moving through the dryers give up energy to the cold tanks, causing water vapor in with the gases to condense and freeze on the internal surfaces of the dryer. During operation in its fuel cell mode, the heat pipes convey waste heat from the fuel cell stack to the respective reactant storage tanks, thereby heating them such that the reactant gases, as they pass though the respective dryers on their way to the fuel cell stacks retrieve the water previously removed.
Document ID
20090002667
Acquisition Source
Headquarters
Document Type
Other - Patent
Authors
Burke, Kenneth A.
Date Acquired
August 24, 2013
Publication Date
August 12, 2008
Subject Category
Fluid Mechanics And Thermodynamics
Report/Patent Number
Patent Number: US-Patent-7,410,714
Patent Number: NASA-Case-LEW-17551-1
Patent Application Number: US-Patent-Appl-SN-10/891,599
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
Patent
US-Patent-7,410,714|NASA-Case-LEW-17551-1
Patent Application
US-Patent-Appl-SN-10/891,599
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