NOVELTY - An integrated contaminant separator (10) for a fuel reactant stream of a fuel cell (12), comprises a separator scrubber (58); a water discharge (66); a fuel reactant discharge (60); an accumulator (68); ion exchange material (69); a particle filter device (71); a scrubber fuel outlet (98); a water-control loop (78); a water-control loop pump device (84); a water-control loop heat exchanger (86); and a loop conduit return line (90) configured to direct flow of the water stream from the heat exchanger back into the separator scrubber.    USE - In fuel reactant stream of a fuel cell (claimed).    ADVANTAGE - The integrated contaminant separator enhances removal of contaminants from, and maintenance of an optimal temperature and moisture content of, a fuel reactant stream of a fuel cell. The integrated contaminant separator can be operated efficiently for a long period of time without high frequency maintenance. An ion exchange material is integrated within the accumulator so that the accumulator serves as a container for the ion exchange material. The accumulator also includes a particle filter adjacent a water outlet of the accumulator. This prevents particles of the ion exchange material from leaving the accumulator. The temperature of the water passing through the separator scrubber may be controlled to facilitate achieving optimal ammonia removal and optimal heat transfer from the hot fuel passing from the reformer through the separator scrubber and into the fuel cell. By the integrated contaminant separator having ion exchange material within and supported by the accumulator, a necessary volume of ion exchange material within the accumulator may be established based upon anticipated operating criteria to achieve replacement of the ion exchange material at desired, predetermined intervals. The ion exchange material may simply be removed and replaced by flushing the combined accumulator water and ion exchange material out of the separator scrubber during shut down of the fuel cell. By integrating the ion exchange material within the accumulator in the scrubber, the disclosure eliminates materials necessary for an ion exchange bed exterior to the separator. The integrated separator also eliminates the cost of assembly-labor associated with assembling and installing an exterior ion exchange bed. Also, addition of the ion exchange material to the accumulator increases the viscosity of the combined ion exchange material and liquid separated contaminant stream within the accumulator. Increasing the viscosity reduces production of waves at a surface of the material caused by falling droplets of separated contaminant stream into the accumulator. Reducing the waves has a beneficial effect of minimizing unnecessary triggering of any control switches adjacent the surface of the combined ion exchange material and separated contaminant stream within the accumulator, such as switches necessary to control replenishment and/or overflow of the accumulator.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - An integrated contaminant separator (10) for a fuel reactant stream of a fuel cell (12), comprises a separator scrubber (58) secured in fluid communication with a fuel reactant inlet line (26) of the fuel cell, the separator scrubber including an ammonia dissolving unit (61) disposed within a scrubber container (64) of the separator scrubber for dissolving ammonia from the fuel reactant stream into a separated contaminant stream within the separator scrubber; a water discharge (66) configured to discharge water into the ammonia dissolving unit; a fuel reactant discharge (60) configured to discharge the fuel reactant stream into the ammonia dissolving unit; an accumulator (68) configured accumulate the separated contaminant stream; ion exchange material (69) integrated within the accumulator, and configured to remove contaminants from the separated contaminant stream; a particle filter device (71) secured within the accumulator adjacent a water outlet (82) and configured to prohibit particles of the ion exchange material from exiting the accumulator; a scrubber fuel outlet (98) configured to direct flow of the fuel reactant from the separator scrubber back into the fuel reactant inlet line; and a water-control loop (78) in fluid communication with the separator scrubber, and configured to direct a water stream from the water outlet; a water-control loop pump device (84) secured in fluid communication with the water outlet; a water-control loop heat exchanger (86) secured in fluid communication with the pump device and configured to transfer thermal energy with the water stream from the pump device; and a loop conduit return line (90) configured to direct flow of the water stream from the heat exchanger back into the separator scrubber. An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is included for method of decontaminating a fuel reactant stream for a fuel cell involving flowing the fuel reactant stream through an ammonia dissolving unit for dissolving ammonia from the fuel reactant stream within a separator scrubber while simultaneously flowing water through the ammonia dissolving unit to separate contaminants from the fuel reactant stream into a separated contaminant water stream; accumulating the separated contaminant stream from the packed bed within an accumulator; removing contaminants from the separated contaminant water stream onto particles of an ion exchange material integrated within the accumulator; circulating a de-contaminated water stream from the accumulator through a water-control loop; circulating the decontaminated water stream from the water-control loop back through the ammonia dissolving unit; and controlling a temperature of one of the water flowing through the water control loop or the fuel reactant stream upstream of the separator scrubber to produce a predetermined temperature of the fuel reactant stream passing through the separator scrubber.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a simplified schematic representation of an integrated contaminant separator and water-control loop.    Integrated contaminant separator (10)    Fuel cell (12)    Fuel reactant inlet line (26)    Separator scrubber (58)    Fuel reactant discharge (60)    Ammonia dissolving unit (61)    Scrubber container (64)    Water discharge (66)    Accumulator (68)    Ion exchange material (69)    Particle filter device (71)    Water-control loop (78)    Water outlet (82)    Water-control loop pump device (84)    Water-control loop heat exchanger (86)    Loop conduit return line (90)    Scrubber fuel outlet (98)