WATERCRAFT POWER PLANT Russian patent published in 2004 - IPC

FIELD: power plants containing electrochemical generator with oxygen and hydrogen fuel elements; surface and submarine vessels. SUBSTANCE: proposed power plant includes methanol and water storage reservoirs, vapor reformer, gas separation unit provided with carbon dioxide discharge main, electrochemical generator with hydrogen and oxygen inlet, heat removal main and water steam discharge main. Vapor reformer is connected via gas heat exchanger with gas separation unit whose outlet is connected to hydrogen inlet of electrochemical generator which is communicated with inlet of water steam flow regulator through water steam discharge main and fan; one outlet of water steam flow regulator is connected with inlet of vapor reformer through gas heat exchanger and other outlet is connected with water storage reservoir. Outlet of methanol storage reservoir is connected to heat removal main of electrochemical generator through pump; said main is connected with inlet of methanol vapor flow regulator whose one outlet is connected with vapor reformer inlet through gas heat exchanger and other outlet is connected methanol storage reservoir which has thermal contact (similarly to water reservoir) with underwater part of watercraft. EFFECT: reduced power requirements; enhanced efficiency and reliability. 1 dwg