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A humidity control system for a fuel cell stack includes a gas supply and a humidifier including an outlet and an inlet connected to the gas supply. A fuel cell stack includes an inlet that is connected to the outlet of the humidifier. A bypass line and a valve bypass gas around the humidifier to co

A humidity control system for a fuel cell stack includes a gas supply and a humidifier including an outlet and an inlet connected to the gas supply. A fuel cell stack includes an inlet that is connected to the outlet of the humidifier. A bypass line and a valve bypass gas around the humidifier to control the humidity of gas entering the fuel cell stack. The valve is located in the bypass line, between the gas supply and the humidifier, or between the humidifier and the fuel cell stack. The valve is a gas restriction valve, a throttle valve, or a directional valve. A humidity sensor generates a humidity signal based on humidity of gas entering the fuel cell stack. A controller connected to the humidity sensor and the valve controls the valve based on the humidity signal. The inlet of the fuel cell stack is one of a cathode flow line and an anode flow line of the fuel cell stack.

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1. A humidity control system for a fuel cell stack, comprising:a gas supply; a humidifier including an inlet connected to said gas supply and an outlet; a fuel cell stack including an inlet that is connected to said outlet of said humidifier; a bypass line having one end connected between said gas s

1. A humidity control system for a fuel cell stack, comprising:a gas supply; a humidifier including an inlet connected to said gas supply and an outlet; a fuel cell stack including an inlet that is connected to said outlet of said humidifier; a bypass line having one end connected between said gas supply and said humidifier and an opposite end connected between said outlet of said humidifier and said inlet of said fuel cell stack; and a valve located in said bypass line, wherein said valve is one of a gas restriction valve and a throttle valve. 2. A humidity control system for a fuel cell stack, comprising:a gas supply; a humidifier including an inlet connected to said gas supply and an outlet; a fuel cell stack including an inlet that is connected to said outlet of said humidifier; a bypass line having one end connected between said gas supply and said humidifier and an opposite end connected between said outlet of said humidifier and said inlet of said fuel cell stack; and a proportional valve located in said bypass line, said proportional valve being openable at a plurality of positions including a fully open position, a fully closed position, and a plurality of intermediate partially closed positions. wherein said proportional valve controls the proportion of gas flowing from said gas supply through said humidifier to said fuel cell stack and through said bypass line to said fuel cell stack. 3. A humidity control system for a fuel cell stack, comprising:a gas supply; a humidifier including an inlet connected to said gas supply and an outlet; a fuel cell stack including an inlet that is connected to said outlet of said humidifier; a bypass line having one end connected between said gas supply and said humidifier and an opposite end connected between said outlet of said humidifier and said inlet of said fuel cell stack; a valve located in said bypass line; a humidity sensor for generating a humidity signal based on the humidity of gas entering said fuel cell stack; and a controller connected to said humidity sensor and said valve for controlling said valve based on said humidity signal. 4. The humidity control system of claim 2, wherein said inlet of said fuel cell stack is one of a cathode flow line and an anode flow line of said fuel cell stack.5. A humidity control system for a fuel cell stack, comprising:a gas supply; a humidifier including an inlet connected to said gas supply and an outlet; a fuel cell stack including an inlet that is connected to said outlet of said humidifier; a proportional valve located between said gas supply and said inlet of said humidifier, said proportional valve being openable at a plurality of positions including a fully open position, a fully closed position, and a plurality of intermediate partially closed positions; and a bypass line having one end connected to said proportional valve and an opposite end connected between said outlet of said humidifier and said inlet of said fuel cell stack, wherein said proportional valve controls the proportion of gas flowing from said gas supply through said humidifier to said fuel cell stack and through said bypass line to said fuel cell stack. 6. The humidity control system of claim 5 wherein said valve is a directional valve.7. A humidity control system for a fuel cell stack, comprising:a gas supply; a humidifier including an inlet connected to said gas supply and an outlet; a fuel cell stack including an inlet that is connected to said outlet of said humidifier; a valve located between said gas supply and said inlet of said humidifier; a bypass line having one end connected to said valve and an opposite end connected between said outlet of said humidifier and said inlet of said fuel cell stack; a humidity sensor for generating a humidity signal based on the humidity of gas entering said fuel cell stack; and a controller connected to said humidity sensor and said valve for controlling said valve based on said humidity signal. 8. The humidity control system of claim 7 wherein inlet of said fuel cell stack is one of a cathode flow line and an anode flow line of said fuel cell stack.9. A humidity control system for a fuel cell stack, comprising:a gas supply; a humidifier including an inlet connected to said gas supply and an outlet; a fuel cell stack including an inlet that is connected to said outlet of said humidifier; a proportional valve located between said outlet of said humidifier and said inlet of said fuel cell stack, said proportional valve being openable at a plurality of positions including a fully open position, a fully closed position, and a plurality of intermediate partially closed positions; and a bypass line having one end connected to said proportional valve and an opposite end connected between said gas supply and said inlet of said humidifier, wherein said proportional valve controls the proportion of gas flowing from said gas supply through said humidifier to said fuel cell stack and through said bypass line to said fuel cell stack. 10. The humidity control system of claim 9 wherein said valve is a directional valve.11. A humidity control system for a fuel cell stack, comprising:a gas supply; a humidifier including an inlet connected to said gas supply and an outlet; a fuel cell stack including an inlet that is connected to said outlet of said humidifier; a valve located between said outlet of said humidifier and said inlet of said fuel cell stack; a bypass line having one end connected to said valve and an opposite end connected between said gas supply and said inlet of said humidifier; a humidity sensor for generating a humidity signal based on the humidity of gas entering said fuel cell stack; and a controller connected to said humidity sensor and said valve for controlling said valve based on said humidity signal. 12. The humidity control system of claim 11 wherein said inlet of said fuel cell stack is one of a cathode flow line and an anode flow line of said fuel cell stack.13. A humidity control system for a fuel cell stack, comprising:a gas supply; a humidifier including an inlet connected to said gas supply and an outlet; a fuel cell stack including a stack inlet that is connected to said outlet of said humidifier; a valve located between said gas supply and said inlet of said humidifier; and a bypass line having one end connected between said gas supply and said valve and an opposite end connected between said outlet of said humidifier and said stack inlet, wherein said valve is one of an air restriction valve and a throttle valve. 14. A humidity control system for a fuel cell stack, comprising:a gas supply: a humidifier including an inlet connected to said gas supply and an outlet; a fuel cell stack including a stack inlet that is connected to said outlet of said humidifier; a proportional valve located between said gas supply and said inlet of said humidifier, said proportional valve being openable at a plurality of positions including a fully open position, a fully closed position, and a plurality of intermediate partially closed positions; and a bypass line having one end connected between said gas supply and said proportional valve and an opposite end connected between said outlet of said humidifier and said stack inlet, wherein said proportional valve controls the proportion of gas flowing from said gas supply through said humidifier to said fuel cell stack and through said bypass line to said fuel cell stack. 15. A humidity control system for a fuel cell stack, comprising:a gas supply; a humidifier including an inlet connected to said gas supply and an outlet; a fuel cell stack including a stack inlet that is connected to said outlet of said humidifier; a valve located between said gas supply and said inlet of said humidifier; a bypass line having one end connected between said gas supply and said valve and an opposite end connected between said outlet of said humidifier and said stack inlet; a humidity sensor for generating a humidity signal based on the humidity of gas entering said fuel cell stack; and a controller connected to said humidity sensor and said valve for controlling said valve based on said humidity signal. 16. The humidity control system of claim 15 wherein said stack inlet is one of a cathode flow line and an anode flow line of said fuel cell stack.17. A humidity control system for a fuel cell stack, comprising:a gas supply; a humidifier including an inlet connected to said gas supply and an outlet; a fuel cell stack including an inlet that is connected to said outlet of said humidifier; a valve located between said outlet of said humidifier and said inlet of said fuel cell stack; and a bypass line having one end connected between said valve and said inlet of said fuel cell stack and an opposite end connected between said gas supply and said inlet of said humidifier; wherein said valve is one of an air restriction valve and a throttle valve. 18. A humidity control system for a fuel cell stack, comprising:a gas supply; a humidifier including an inlet connected to said gas supply and an outlet; a fuel cell stack including an inlet that is connected to said outlet of said humidifier: a proportional valve located between said outlet of said humidifier and said inlet of said fuel cell stack, said proportional valve being openable at a plurality of positions including a fully open position, a fully closed position, and a plurality of intermediate partially closed positions; and a bypass line having one end connected between said proportional valve and said inlet of said fuel cell stack and an opposite end connected between said gas supply and said inlet of said humidifier; wherein said proportional valve controls the proportion of gas flowing from said gas supply through said humidifier to said fuel cell stack and through said bypass line to said fuel cell stack. 19. A humidity control system for a fuel cell stack, comprising:a gas supply; a humidifier including an inlet connected to said gas supply and an outlet; a fuel cell stack including an inlet that is connected to said outlet of said humidifier; a valve located between said outlet of said humidifier and said inlet of said fuel cell stack; and a bypass line having one end connected between said valve and said inlet of said fuel cell stack and an opposite end connected between said gas supply and said inlet of said humidifier; wherein said valve is one of an air restriction valve and a throttle valve; a humidity sensor for generating a humidity signal based on the humidity of gas entering said fuel cell stack; and a controller connected to said humidity sensor and said valve for controlling said valve based on said humidity signal. 20. The humidity control system of claim 19 wherein said inlet of said fuel cell stack is one of a cathode flow line and an anode flow line of said fuel cell stack.21. The humidity control system of claim 3 wherein said inlet of said fuel cell stack is one of a cathode flow line and an anode flow line of said fuel cell stack.22. The humidity control system of claim 5 wherein inlet of said fuel cell stack is one of a cathode flow line and an anode flow line of said fuel cell stack.23. The humidity control system of claim 9 wherein said inlet of said fuel cell stack is one of a cathode flow line and an anode flow line of said fuel cell stack.24. The humidity control system of claim 14 wherein said stack inlet is one of a cathode flow line and an anode flow line of said fuel cell stack.