Gas humidification system using water permeable membranes

• US 5,996,976 A
• Filed: 04/30/1996
• Issued: 12/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lynntech Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Lynntech Incorporated
• Inventors: Cisar, Alan J., Murphy, Oliver J., Gonzalez-Martin, Anuncia, Hitchens, G. Duncan
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiesa, Richard L.
• Application Number:
  US08/641,210
• Time in Patent Office: 1,316 Days
• Field of Search: 261/104, 261/107, 261/142, 261/154
• US Class Current: 261/104
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/22 by diffusion manufacturing semi-permeable membranes B01D67/00; form, structure or properties of semi-permeable membranes B01D69/00; material for semi-permeable membranes B01D71/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/326 in electrochemical cells
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/12 with vaporisation of a liquid disinfection, sterilisation or deodorisation of air A61L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/2475 Membrane reactors
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2208/00061 of the reactants
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2208/00132 Tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2208/00256 in a heat exchanger for the heat exchange medium separate from the reactor
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2208/00539 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2208/00584 Controlling the density
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00058 Temperature measurement
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00063 of the reactants
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00067 Liquid level measurement
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00069 Flow rate measurement
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00081 Tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00099 the reactor being immersed in the heat exchange medium
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00103 in a heat exchanger separate from the reactor
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00135 Electric resistance heaters
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00162 controlling the pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00171 controlling the density
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00184 controlling the weight of reactants in the reactor vessel
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 8/009 : Membranes, e.g. feeding or removing reactants or products to or from the catalyst bed through a membrane
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/4618 : for producing "ionised" acidic or basic water
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2001/46142 : Catalytic coating
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2101/30 : Organic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/04 : Disinfection
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2305/023 : Reactive oxygen species, singlet oxygen, OH radical
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/13 : Ozone
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 13/02 : characterised by shape or form
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 9/19 : with diaphragms
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2300/0082 : Organic polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0202 : Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04119 : with simultaneous supply or evacuation of electrolyte; Humidifying or dehumidifying
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04291 : Arrangements for managing water in solid electrolyte fuel cell systems H01M8/04119 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/1007 : with both reactants being gaseous or vaporised H01M8/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/1023 : having only carbon, e.g. polyarylenes, polystyrenes or polybutadiene-styrenes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/1039 : halogenated, e.g. sulfonated polyvinylidene fluorides
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/1065 : characterised by the form, e.g. perforated or wave-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/186 : by electrolytic decomposition of the electrolytic solution or the formed water product
• CPC Class Codes: Y02C 20/30 : of perfluorocarbons [PFC], hydrofluorocarbons [HFC] or sulfur hexafluoride [SF6]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 : Fuel cells

Abstract

The present invention provides a gas humidifier for the humidification of reactant gases supplied to electrochemical devices such as electrolyzers and fuel cells. The humidifier provides a water permeable member, such as a polymer membrane in the form of a tube, sheet, tubulated sheet and the like, that can be saturated with water to allow evaporation of water into a gas stream passing over a water permeable member. The humidifier is compact and lightweight, yet provides efficient humidification of gases at flow rates as low as about 0.1 grams per minute of water.

Claims

1. A humidifier comprising:

(a) a water permeable polymer sheet having two sides, a perimeter edge and a plurality of substantially parallel gas passages extending within the sheet from points along the perimeter edge to opposing points along the perimeter edge, said sheet and passages being an integral piece of material with the passages being voids within the sheet itself; and

(b) a water chamber formed in communication with at least a portion of the water permeable polymer sheet.

2. The humidifier of claim 1, wherein the gas passages are substantially unobstructed.

3. The humidifier of claim 1, wherein the water permeable polymer sheet is a plurality of sheets positioned in a spaced apart relationship, and wherein the water chamber is formed between the sheets.

4. The humidifier of claim 1, wherein the water permeable polymer is a perfluorinated sulfonic acid polymer.

5. A humidifier comprising:

(a) a water permeable polymer sheet having two sides, a perimeter edge and a plurality of substantially parallel integral water passages extending within the sheet from points along the perimeter edge, said sheet and passages being an integral piece of material with the passages being voids within the sheet itself; and

(b) a gas passageway in communication with at least a portion of the water permeable polymer sheet.

6. The humidifier of claim 5, wherein the parallel passages extend through the sheet.

7. The humidifier of claim 5, wherein the water permeable polymer sheet is a plurality of sheets positioned a spaced distance apart, and wherein the gas passageways formed between the sheets.

8. The humidifier of claim 5, wherein the integral water passages extend from points along the perimeter edge to opposing points along the perimeter edge.

9. The humidifier of claim 5, wherein the passages are substantially unobstructed.

10. The humidifier of claim 5, wherein the water permeable polymer is a perfluorinated sulfonic acid polymer.