| abstract |
A freeze tolerant fuel cell power plant ( 10 ) includes at least one fuel cell ( 12 ), a coolant loop ( 18 ) including a freeze tolerant accumulator ( 22 ) for storing and separating a water immiscible fluid and water coolant or water component, a direct contact heat exchanger ( 56 ) for mixing the water immiscible fluid and the water coolant within a mixing region ( 72 ) of the heat exchanger ( 56 ), a coolant pump ( 21 ) for circulating the coolant through the coolant loop ( 18 ), a radiator loop ( 84 ) for circulating the water immiscible fluid through the heat exchanger ( 56 ), and a radiator ( 86 ) for removing heat from the coolant. The plant ( 10 ) utilizes the water immiscible fluid during steady-state operation to cool the fuel cell and during shut down of the plant to displace water from the fuel cell ( 12 ) to the freeze tolerant accumulator ( 22 ). |