| abstract |
The plant ( 60 ) includes at least one fuel cell ( 10, 62 ) having a wetproofed anode support ( 20 ) and a cathode support ( 24 ) for directing reactant streams adjacent catalysts ( 14, 16 ). A porous anode cooler plate ( 26 ) has its fuel channels ( 28 A, 28 B, 28 C, 28 D) secured adjacent the anode support ( 20 ). A porous cathode water management plate ( 38 ) has its oxidant channels ( 40 A, 40 B, 40 C, 40 D) secured adjacent the cathode support ( 24 ). A direct antifreeze solution passes only through coolant channels ( 32 A, 32 B, 32 C, 32 D) of the anode cooler plate ( 26 ) so the solution cannot poison the catalysts ( 14, 16 ), while fuel cell product water flows passively through the water management plate ( 38 ) and water management channels ( 44 A, 44 B, 44 C, 44 D) defined in the plate ( 38 ) to humidify reactant streams and be discharged from the fuel cell ( 62 ). |