Process for removing electrolyte vapor from fuel cell exhaust gas

Claim 1

In a process for operating a fuel cell comprising an electrolyte disposed between a pair of electrodes, wherein an oxidant gas is passed through the cell on the nonelectrolyte facing side of one electrode and a fuel gas is passed through the cell on the nonelectrolyte facing side of the other electrode, and wherein electrolyte evaporates into one or both of the reactant gas streams as they pass through the cell, the process of removing electrolyte vapor from the gas streams containing such vapor comprising: continuously recirculating a mass of liquid water in a loop, including passing said mass of water through a saturator; and passing the hot exhaust gas stream to be treated through the saturator in direct contact with the liquid water passing through the saturator, the circulating water absorbing heat from the gas stream and evaporating as a result of such heat absorption, thereby cooling the gas stream to a temperature below the dew point of the electrolyte to be removed from the gas stream, wherein the electrolyte condenses and dissolves into the circulating liquid, wherein the evaporated water is carried out with the gas stream, and wherein all of the acid dissolved into the circulating liquid remains in the liquid as it circulates, increasing the concentration of acid on a continuing basis.