Description:Complete Specification

The following specification describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.
Field of the invention
[0001] This invention relates to a water collector auxiliary unit of a fuel cell stack, and more specifically to the water collector auxiliary unit that is located upstream of a water separator of the fuel cell stack.

Background of the invention
[0002] US 2010028742 AA describes a metal separator for a fuel cell stack. The present invention discloses a metal separator for a fuel cell including a reaction gas channel formed to protrude from a first face of the metal separator to a second face thereof, a coolant channel formed between the reaction gas channels protruding from the second face of the metal separator, a reaction gas manifold opened to introduce a reaction gas into the metal separator, a coolant manifold opened to introduce a coolant into the metal separator, and a stepped portion positioned at any one of the space between the reaction gas channel and the reaction gas manifold, and the reaction gas channel. This configuration serves to widen the reaction gas flowing portion and the coolant flowing portion on the metal separator and prevent deformation of the reaction gas flowing portion and the coolant flowing portion, thereby improving efficiency of the fuel cell.

Brief description of the accompanying drawings
[0003] Figure 1 illustrates a water separator that is located downstream of a water collector auxiliary unit of the fuel cell stack in one embodiment of the invention.
[0004] Figure 2 illustrates the water separator that is located downstream of the water collector auxiliary unit of the fuel cell stack in another embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description of the embodiments
[0005] Figure 1 illustrates a water collector auxiliary unit 100 located upstream of a water separator 110 of a fuel cell stack 120. The water collector auxiliary unit 100 comprises a water passageway 130 comprising an upstream end 140 and a downstream end 150. The upstream end 140 of the water passageway 130 is in flow communication with a fuel cell stack 120. The downstream end 150 of the water passageway 130 is in flow communication with the water separator 110 of the fuel cell stack 120. A water collector 160 is defined between the upstream end 140 of the water passageway 130 and the downstream end 150 of the water passageway 130, the water collector 160 adapted to collect water from moist hydrogen that flows through the water passageway 130.

[0006] Figure 1 illustrates the water collector auxiliary unit 100 located upstream of the water separator 110 of the fuel cell stack 120. The water collector auxiliary unit 100 comprises a water passageway 130 comprising an upstream end 140 and a downstream end 150. The upstream end 140 of the water passageway 130 is in flow communication with a fuel cell stack 120. More specifically, the moist hydrogen that flows from the fuel cell stack 120 is channeled to the upstream end 140 of the water passageway 130. A downstream end 150 of the water passageway 130 is in flow communication with the water separator 110 of the fuel cell stack 120. Moist hydrogen gas from the fuel cell stack 120 is channeled to the water passageway 130 from which the water is extracted before the remaining moist hydrogen gas is channeled to the water separator 100 for separating water. In an exemplary embodiment, a water collector 160 is defined between the upstream end 140 of the water passageway 130 and the downstream end 150 of the water passageway 130. The water collector 160 is adapted to collect water from moist hydrogen that flows through the water passageway 130 before channeling the remaining moist hydrogen to the water separator 110 that is in flow communication with the downstream end 150 of the water passageway 130.

[0007] In an exemplary embodiment, the water passageway 130 defined between the water collector 160 and the downstream end 150 of the water passageway 130 is inclined at an angle with reference to the water collector 160. The water passageway 170 defined between the water collector 160 and the downstream end 150 of the water passageway 130 facilitates the water from the downstream end 150 of the water passageway 130 flowing into the water collector 160 via the water passageway 170 and collecting in the water collector 160. A connecting pipe 170 is secured between the water collector 160 and the water separator 110 and receives moist hydrogen gas from the fuel cell stack 120. The connecting pipe 170 is adapted to transfer water from the water collector 160 to the water separator 110. In an exemplary embodiment, the connecting pipe 170 is secured between the water collector 160 and a water separator unit 185 of the water separator 110. More specifically, the connecting pipe 170 is adapted to transfer water from the water collector 160 to the water separator unit 185 of the water separator 110. Therefore, the water collector 160 acts like an axillary water separator before the water is transferred to the water separator unit 185. In an exemplary embodiment, the connecting pipe 170 is secured between the water collector 160 and the water collector main unit 195 of the water separator 110. Therefore, the connecting pipe 170 is adapted to transfer hydrogen gas containing moisture from the fuel cell stack 120 to the water collector main unit 195 of the water separator 110 via the water collector 160.

[0008] The downstream end 155 of the connecting pipe 170 that is secured between the water collector 160 and the water separator 110 is in flow communication with a sealing ball (not shown) that seals the downstream end 155 of the connecting pipe 170. The sealing ball is adapted to close the downstream end 155 of the connecting pipe 170 to prevent water from the connecting pipe 170 from flowing into the water separator 110. The downstream end 155 of the connecting pipe 170 that is secured between the water collector 160 and the water separator 110 is in flow communication with a flap controlled valve 167. More specifically, the flap controlled valve 167 is adapted to close the downstream end 155 of the connecting pipe 170 to prevent water that flows into the connecting pipe 170 from flowing into the water separator 110.

[0009] Figure 2 illustrates the water collector auxiliary unit 200 located upstream of the water separator 210 of the fuel cell stack 220. The water collector auxiliary unit 200 comprises a water passageway 230 comprising an upstream end 240 and a downstream end 250. The upstream end 240 of the water passageway 230 is in flow communication with the fuel cell stack 220. More specifically, the moist hydrogen that flows from the fuel cell stack 220 is channeled to the upstream end 240 of the water passageway 230. A downstream end 250 of the water passageway 230 is in flow communication with the water separator 210 of the fuel cell stack 220. Moist hydrogen gas from the fuel cell stack 220 is channeled to the water passageway 230 from which the water is extracted before the remaining moist hydrogen gas is channeled to the water separator 200 for separating water. In an exemplary embodiment, a water collector 260 is defined between the upstream end 240 of the water passageway 230 and the downstream end 250 of the water passageway 230. More specifically, the water collector 260 comprises a water collecting bowl 261 that is adapted to collect water from moist hydrogen that flows through the water passageway 230 before channeling the remaining moist hydrogen to the water separator 210 that is in flow communication with the downstream end 250 of the water passageway 230. The water from the water collecting bowl 161 may be discharged by means of a drain plug (not shown) that is in flow communication with the water collecting bowl 161. In an exemplary embodiment, the water passageway 230 defined between the water collector 260 and the downstream end 250 of the water passageway 230 is inclined at an angle with reference to the water collector 260. The water passageway 230 defined between the water collector 260 and the downstream end 250 of the water passageway 230 facilitates the water from the downstream end 250 of the water passageway 230 flowing into the water collector 260 via the water passageway 230 and collecting in the water collector 260.

[0011] A working of the water collector auxiliary unit 100 that is located upstream of the water separator 110 of the fuel cell stack 120 is described as an example. When moist hydrogen is channeled from the fuel cell stack 120, the moist hydrogen flows through the water collector auxiliary unit 100 that is located upstream of the water separator 110 of the fuel cell stack 120. The moist hydrogen that is channeled to the water separator 110 flows through the water passageway 130 that leads to the water separator 110. Due to the inclined portion of the water passageway 130 that leads from the water collector auxiliary unit 100 to the water separator 110 of the fuel cell stack 120, the water from the moist hydrogen that condenses flows through the inclined portion of the water passageway 100 to the water collector 160 that is located upstream from the water separator 110 of the fuel cell stack 120. Therefore, the water collector auxiliary unit 100 acts as an auxiliary source of water storage than the water separator 110.

[0011] It must be understood that the embodiments explained above are only illustrative and do not limit the scope of the disclosure. Many modifications in the embodiments with regard to dimensions of various components are envisaged and form a part of this invention. The scope of the invention is only limited by the scope of the claims.

, Claims:CLAIMS

We Claim

1. A water collector auxiliary unit (100) located upstream of a water separator (110) of a fuel cell stack (120), said water collector auxiliary unit (100) comprising:
a water passageway (130) comprising an upstream end (140) and a downstream end (150), the upstream end (140) of the water passageway (130) in flow communication with a fuel cell stack (120), the downstream end (150) of the water passageway (130) in flow communication said water separator (110) of said fuel cell stack (120); and
a water collector (160) defined between the upstream end (140) of said water passageway (130) and the downstream end (150) of said water passageway (130), said water collector (160) adapted to collect water from moist hydrogen that flows through said water passageway (130).

2. The water collector auxiliary unit (100) located upstream of the water separator (110) of the fuel cell stack (120) in accordance with Claim 1, wherein the water passageway (130) defined between said water collector (160) and the downstream end (150) of the water passageway (130) is inclined at an angle to facilitate the water from the downstream end (150) of the water passageway (130) flowing into said water collector (160) via the water passageway (130).

3. The water collector auxiliary unit (100) located upstream of the water separator (110) of the fuel cell stack (120) in accordance with Claim 2, further comprising a connecting pipe (170) secured between said water collector (160) and said water separator (110), said connecting pipe (170) adapted to transfer water from said fuel cell stack (120) to said water separator (110).
4. The water collector auxiliary unit (100) located upstream of the water separator (110) of the fuel cell stack (120) in accordance with Claim 3, wherein said connecting pipe (170) is secured between said water collector (160) and a water separator unit (185) of said water separator (110), said connecting pipe (170) adapted to transfer water from said water collector (160) to said water separator unit (185) of said fuel cell stack (120).

5. The water collector auxiliary unit (100) located upstream of the water separator (110) of the fuel cell stack (120) in accordance with Claim 4, wherein said connecting pipe (170) is secured between said water collector (160) and a water collector main unit (195) of said fuel cell stack (120), said connecting pipe (170) adapted to transfer water from said water collector (160) to said water collector main unit (195) of said water separator (110).

6. The water collector auxiliary unit (100) located upstream of the water separator (110) of the fuel cell stack (120) in accordance with Claim 5, wherein a downstream end (155) of said connecting pipe (170) that is secured between said water collector (160) and said water separator (110) is in flow communication with a sealing ball, said sealing ball adapted to close the downstream end (155) of said connecting pipe (170) to prevent water from said connecting pipe (170) flowing into said water separator (110).

7. The water collector auxiliary unit (100) located upstream of the water separator (110) of the fuel cell stack (120) in accordance with Claim 6, wherein the downstream end (155) of said connecting pipe (170) that is secured between said water collector (160) and said water separator (110) is in flow communication with a flap controlled valve, said flap controlled valve adapted to close the downstream end (155) of said connecting pipe (170) to prevent water from said connecting pipe (170) flowing into said water separator (110).