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 plurality of ribs that are positioned within a water separator, and more specifically to the plurality of ribs that are positioned within the water separator for increasing the water seperation efficiency of the water separator.

Background of the invention
[0002] CN 220360860 U describes a water separator structure for a fuel cell. The water separator structure for the fuel cell comprises a housing including a bottom plate, a first side plate, a second side plate, a first end plate, a second end plate, and a top plate, the housing being provided with a plurality of rib plates. The ribs include a main body portion and an extension portion, the extensions of each rib having notches formed therein, the notches of the plurality of ribs collectively forming a labyrinth flow channel within the housing. The ribs include a first end rib, a second end rib and a plurality of intermediate ribs, the first end rib and the first end plate forming a first containment cavity therebetween, the second end rib and the second end plate forming a second containment cavity therebetween, the housing being provided with a tail exhaust gas inlet opening in communication with the first containment cavity and an exhaust gas outlet opening in communication with the second containment cavity, The housing is provided with a first water outlet connected to a solenoid valve and a second water outlet connected to a manual valve, thereby greatly increasing the structural strength.

Brief description of the accompanying drawing
[0003] Figure 1 illustrates a water separator for a fuel cell stack in one embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description of the embodiments
[0004] Figure 1 illustrates a water separator 100 in one embodiment of the invention. The water separator 100 comprises a chamber 110 defined within the water separator 100. The chamber 110 defined within the water separator 100 comprises an inlet 120 that is adapted to receive water from an outlet of a fuel cell stack. A first rib 130 is positioned within the chamber 110 defined within the water separator 100 and inclined with respect to a horizontal axis. The first rib 130 is adapted to disrupt a flow of water that flows into the inlet of the water separator 100. A second rib 140 is positioned within the chamber 110 defined within the water separator 100 and inclined with respect to a horizontal axis. The second rib 140 is adapted to disrupt the flow of water that flows through the water separator 100.

[0005] Figure 1 illustrates a water separator 100 in one embodiment of the invention. More specifically, the water separator 100 is adapted to separate water from moist hydrogen gas that is discharged from a fuel cell stack. Once the water is separated from the moist hydrogen gas that is discharged from the fuel cell stack, the dry hydrogen devoid of moisture is channeled back to the inlet of the fuel cell stack for reacting with oxygen and producing water in the fuel cell stack.

[0006] In an exemplary embodiment, the water separator 100 comprises a chamber 110 that is defined within the water separator 100. The chamber that is defined within the water separator 100 comprising an inlet 120 that is adapted to receive water from an outlet of a fuel cell stack. A first rib 130 is positioned within the chamber 110 defined within the water separator 100 and is inclined with respect to a horizontal axis. More specifically, the first rib 130 that is positioned within the chamber 110 defined within the water separator 100 and is inclined with respect to the horizontal axis obstructs the flow of moist hydrogen that is channeled from the inlet 120 of the water separator 100. Therefore, the first rib 130 is adapted to disrupt a flow of water that flows through the inlet 120 of the water separator 100. Once the flow of water is disrupted by the flow of moist hydrogen that is channeled from the inlet 120 of the water separator 100, the hydrogen gas is circulated around the water separator 100. Therein, the water that is separated from the moist hydrogen flows down from the first rib 130 of the water separator 100 and is collected within the water separator 100. The substantially dry hydrogen subsequently flows past the first rib 130 and into the chamber of the water separator. Once the substantially dry hydrogen flows through the water separator 100, the substantially dry hydrogen is obstructed by a second rib 140 that is positioned within the chamber 110 defined within the water separator 100 and is inclined with respect to the horizontal axis.

[0007] More specifically, the second rib 140 is positioned within the chamber 110 defined within the water separator 100 and inclined with respect to a horizontal axis. The second rib 140 is adapted to disrupt the flow of water that flows through the water separator such that the substantially dry hydrogen gas is disrupted and the water is separated. The water that is separated from the substantially dry hydrogen is collected in the inclined surface of the second rib 140 and allowed to flow down and collect in the chamber of the water separator 100. More specifically, the second rib 140 is positioned within the chamber 110 defined within the water separator 100 and inclined with respect to a horizontal axis. Once the moist hydrogen that is disrupted by the first rib 130 flows into the chamber 110 of the water separator 100, the second rib 140 disrupts the flow of substantially dry hydrogen gas through the water separator 100. The substantially dry hydrogen gas on discharging water in the inclined surface of the second rib 140 flows through the water separator 100 and is channeled out of the water separator 100 in a dry condition. The dry hydrogen gas is channeled back to the inlet of the fuel cell stack for mixing with oxygen and producing water in the fuel cell stack.

[0008] In an exemplary embodiment, an angle of inclination of the first rib 130 and an angle of inclination of the second rib 140 are predetermined by a user depending on a user specific application. More specifically, the angle of inclination of the first rib and the angle of inclination of the second rib 140 with respect to the horizontal axis are predetermined by the user depending on the user specific application. Moreover, the disruption of water that flows into the inlet of the water separator 100 by the first rib 130 causes water to separate from moist hydrogen gas and condense within the water separator 100 and substantially dry hydrogen gas to flow through the water separator 100 by flowing through a complete inner circumference of the water separator 100.

[0009] In an exemplary embodiment, the disruption of water that flows into the inlet 120 of the water separator 100 by the second rib 140 causes water to separate from hydrogen gas. Therein, the water condenses within the water separator 100 by flowing along the second rib 140 and condensing within the water separator 100. Therein, the substantially pure and dry hydrogen gas is allowed to flow through the water separator 100 before it flows out of the water separator 100 and into the inlet manifold of the fuel cell stack for mixing with the oxygen gas and producing water within the fuel cell stack.

[0010] In an exemplary embodiment, the first rib 130 and the second rib 140 that are each positioned within the water separator 100 causes the water to swirl within the water separator 100 before it is channeled back to the fuel cell stack. More specifically, once the water and hydrogen mixture flows into the water separator 100 after striking against the first rib 130, the hydrogen gas swirls within the water separator 100 before striking against the second rib 140. Once the water and hydrogen mixture strikes against the second rib 140, the water condenses on the second rib which subsequently flows from the second rib 140 and collects on the floor of the water separator 100.

[0011] A working of the water separator 100 in one embodiment of the invention is described below. As moist hydrogen flows into the water separator 100 via its inlet 120, the first rib 130 that is positioned within the water separator 100 obstructs the flow of moist hydrogen that flows through the water separator 100. The moist hydrogen on striking the first rib 130 is diverted away from the first rib 130, wherein water from the moist hydrogen condenses on the first rib 130. Therein, the hydrogen containing lesser moisture is swirled within the water separator 100 and strikes the second rib 140. The remaining moisture that is present in the substantially dry hydrogen is discharged on the second rib 140 while the hydrogen gas swirls within the water separator 100 and is channeled to the outlet of the water separator 100. From the outlet of the water separator 100, the hydrogen gas is channeled back to the inlet of the fuel cell stack where it mixes with the oxygen to produce water in the fuel cell stack.

[0012] 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:We Claim

1. A water separator (100), said water separator (100) comprising:
a chamber (110) defined within said water separator (100), said chamber (110) defined within said water separator (100) comprising an inlet (120) that is adapted to receive water from an outlet of a fuel cell stack; characterized in that
a first rib (130) positioned within the chamber (110) defined within said water separator (100) and inclined with respect to a horizontal axis, said first rib (130) adapted to disrupt a flow of water that flows through the inlet (120) of said water separator (100); and
a second rib (140) positioned within the chamber (110) defined within said water separator (100) and inclined with respect to the horizontal axis, said second rib (140) adapted to disrupt the flow of water that flows through said water separator (100).

2. The water separator (100) in accordance with Claim 1, wherein an angle of inclination of the first rib (130) and an angle of inclination of the second rib (140) are predetermined by a user depending on a user specific application.

3. The water separator (100) in accordance with Claim 1, wherein the disruption of water that flows into the inlet (120) of said water separator (100) by the first rib (130) causes water to separate from hydrogen gas and condense within the water separator (100) and dry hydrogen gas to flow through the water separator (100).

4. The water separator (100) in accordance with Claim 1, wherein the disruption of water that flows into the inlet (120) of said water separator (100) by the second rib (140) causes water to separate from hydrogen gas and condense within the water separator (100) and dry hydrogen gas to flow through the water separator (100).

5. The water separator (100) in accordance with Claim 1, wherein the first rib (130) and the second rib (140) that are each positioned within the water separator (100) causes water to swirl within the water separator (100) before water is channeled back to the fuel cell stack.