Compact Water Recovery for Fuel Cell Power Systems

Compact, efficient, and sustainable generators are needed to provide mobile electric power for deployable military bases. Fuel cells with fuel processors that run on logistic fuel are attractive candidates due to their high efficiency. For good sustainability, these systems need to be self-sufficient in water. We propose to develop a compact water recovery unit that will capture and recycle water from the system exhaust. In Phase I, we proved the feasibility of this approach by assessing candidate technologies, recommending the optimal approach, and demonstrating efficient water recovery in the laboratory. In Phase II, we propose to design, build, and demonstrate a full-size prototype water recovery unit. The unit will be designed to integrate and test with fuel cell power systems currently under development by the Air Force but will be easily scalable to a wide range of system powers.