Granted Patent B2

US 7,851,096 · App. 11/319,042 · Granted Dec 14, 2010

Abstract

Claims (25)

1. A method usable with a fuel cell, comprising:

generating a humidified reactant flow, comprising:

introducing water vapor into a first fuel flow;

mixing the first fuel flow with a second fuel flow; and

reforming the mixed first and second fuel flows;

measuring a rate of condensate production from the reactant flow; and

controlling the generation of the humidified reactant flow in response to the measured rate of condensate production.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

using the measured rate of condensate production as an indication of a humidity level of the humidified reactant flow.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a degree of supersaturation of the humidified reactant flow in response to the measured rate condensate production.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the measuring comprises:

routing the condensate into a container; and

determining a frequency at which the condensate fills up the container.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the measuring comprises:

determining a drip rate of the condensate.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the measuring comprises:

triggering a counter to measure the condensate production.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the controlling comprises:

controlling the first fuel flow in response to the measured rate of condensate production.

8. A method usable with a fuel cell, comprising:

generating a humidified reactant flow;

measuring a rate of condensate production from the reactant flow;

controlling the generation of the humidified reactant flow in response to the measured rate of condensate production; and

cooling the humidified reactant flow to a lower temperature, comprising cooling the humidified reactant flow to a temperature of a coolant near a coolant inlet of the fuel cell.

Assignments (8)