APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR MANIFOLDED INTEGRATION OF A HUMIDIFICATION CHAMBER FOR INPUT GAS FOR A PROTON EXCHANGE MEMBRANE FUEL CELL
First Claim
1. An apparatus for humidifying input gas for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack, the apparatus comprising:
- an input gas chamber integrated with a fuel cell stack, the input gas chamber comprising at least one wall, the input gas chamber having an input gas inlet that receives an input gas flow and an input gas outlet in fluid communication with the fuel cell stack;
a water vapor chamber integrated with the fuel cell stack, the water vapor chamber comprising at least one wall, the water vapor chamber having a water vapor inlet and a water vapor outlet, the water vapor inlet receiving a water vapor flow from the fuel cell stack; and
a water-selective membrane disposed between the input gas chamber and the water vapor chamber, the water-selective membrane forming a common wall between the input gas chamber and the water vapor chamber, the water-selective membrane configured to selectively diffuse water from the water vapor flow to the input gas flow.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for the manifolded integration of a humidification chamber for input gas for a fuel cell stack. An input gas chamber and water vapor chamber are integrated with a fuel cell stack. The input gas chamber has one wall, an input gas inlet that receives an input gas flow, and an input gas outlet in fluid communication with the fuel cell stack. The water vapor chamber has a wall, a water vapor inlet, and a water vapor outlet. The water vapor inlet receives a water vapor flow from the fuel cell stack. A water-selective membrane is disposed between the input gas chamber and the water vapor chamber. The water-selective membrane forms a common wall between the input gas chamber and the water vapor chamber. The water-selective membrane selectively diffuses water from the water vapor flow to the input gas flow.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An apparatus for humidifying input gas for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack, the apparatus comprising:
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an input gas chamber integrated with a fuel cell stack, the input gas chamber comprising at least one wall, the input gas chamber having an input gas inlet that receives an input gas flow and an input gas outlet in fluid communication with the fuel cell stack;
a water vapor chamber integrated with the fuel cell stack, the water vapor chamber comprising at least one wall, the water vapor chamber having a water vapor inlet and a water vapor outlet, the water vapor inlet receiving a water vapor flow from the fuel cell stack; and
a water-selective membrane disposed between the input gas chamber and the water vapor chamber, the water-selective membrane forming a common wall between the input gas chamber and the water vapor chamber, the water-selective membrane configured to selectively diffuse water from the water vapor flow to the input gas flow. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for humidifying input gas for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack, the system comprising:
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a fuel cell stack comprising a fuel cell stack air inlet, a fuel cell stack water vapor outlet, and one or more hydrogen fuel cells in a stack configuration, the hydrogen fuel cells configured to generate electric power using hydrogen and oxygen;
one or more air pumps configured to provide the air flow to a humidifier air inlet;
an air humidifier having an area footprint less than or equal to an area footprint of at least one fuel cell in the fuel cell stack, the air humidifier comprising;
an air chamber formed within an air chamber body, the air chamber configured to guide the air flow from the humidifier air inlet to a humidifier air outlet, the humidifier air outlet in fluid communication with the fuel cell stack air inlet;
a water vapor chamber formed within a water vapor chamber body, the water vapor chamber configured to guide a water vapor flow from a humidifier water vapor inlet to a humidifier water vapor outlet, the humidifier water vapor inlet in fluid communication with the fuel cell stack water vapor outlet; and
a water-selective membrane disposed between the air chamber and the water vapor chamber, the membrane forming a common wall between the oxygen chamber and the water vapor chamber, the water-selective membrane configured to selectively diffuse water from the water vapor flow to the air flow. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. An apparatus for humidifying input gas for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack, the apparatus comprising:
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a serpentine oxygen chamber formed within a first structural layer of a fuel cell stack, the serpentine oxygen chamber configured to guide an oxygen flow from an oxygen inlet to an oxygen outlet, the oxygen outlet in fluid communication with the fuel cell stack;
a serpentine water vapor chamber formed within a second structural layer of the fuel cell stack, the serpentine water vapor chamber configured to guide a water vapor flow from a water vapor inlet to a water vapor outlet; and
a water-selective membrane disposed between the serpentine oxygen chamber and the serpentine water vapor chamber, the membrane forming a common wall between the serpentine oxygen chamber and the serpentine water vapor chamber, the water-selective membrane configured to selectively diffuse water from the water vapor flow to the oxygen flow. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification