초록 ▼

A membrane humidifier for a fuel cell system is disclosed wherein the membrane humidifier includes a plurality of membrane layers, a first pair of spaced apart sealing bars disposed between a first membrane layer and a second membrane layer adjacent to perimeter edges thereof to form a first flow ch

A membrane humidifier for a fuel cell system is disclosed wherein the membrane humidifier includes a plurality of membrane layers, a first pair of spaced apart sealing bars disposed between a first membrane layer and a second membrane layer adjacent to perimeter edges thereof to form a first flow channel, a second pair of spaced apart sealing bars disposed between the second membrane layer and a third membrane layer adjacent to perimeter edges thereof to form a second flow channel, and a plurality of supports, wherein a first support is disposed adjacent the second planar layer and extending between the second pair of spaced apart sealing bars, and a second support is disposed adjacent the third planar layer and extending between the second pair of spaced apart sealing bars.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A membrane humidifier assembly for a fuel cell comprising: a first substantially planar membrane layer,a second substantially planar membrane layer spaced apart from said first layer;a third substantially planar membrane layer spaced apart from said second layer;a first pair of spaced apart seali

1. A membrane humidifier assembly for a fuel cell comprising: a first substantially planar membrane layer,a second substantially planar membrane layer spaced apart from said first layer;a third substantially planar membrane layer spaced apart from said second layer;a first pair of spaced apart sealing bars disposed between said first layer and said second layer adjacent peripheral edges thereof to form a first flow channel therebetween;a second pair of spaced apart sealing bars disposed between said second layer and said third layer adjacent peripheral edges thereof to form a second flow channel therebetween;a first support disposed adjacent said second layer and extending between said second pair of sealing bars; anda second support disposed adjacent said third planar layer and extending between said second pair of sealing bars. 2. The membrane humidifier according to claim 1, further including a first plurality of perforated sealing bars disposed between said first layer and said second layer adjacent peripheral edges thereof and extending between said first pair of sealing bars. 3. The membrane humidifier according to claim 1, further including a second plurality of perforated sealing bars disposed between said second layer and said third layer adjacent peripheral edges thereof and extending between said second pair of sealing bars. 4. The membrane humidifier according to claim 1, further including a third support disposed adjacent said first layer and extending between said first pair of sealing bars and a fourth support disposed adjacent said second layer and extending between said first pair of sealing bars. 5. The membrane humidifier according to claim 1, wherein said first support and said second support are formed from one of a foam, a corrugated metal foil, a screen, and a paper. 6. The membrane humidifier according to claim 1, further including a substantially planar array of elongate ribbons disposed between said first support and said second support to define a plurality of flow channels therebetween, said ribbons produced from a polymeric material. 7. The membrane humidifier according to claim 1, wherein said first pair of sealing bars is adhered to said first layer and said second layer and said second pair of sealing bars is adhered to said second layer and said third layer with at least one of a B-stage epoxy, ethylene vinyl acetate, polyvinylideneifluoride, and a pressure sensitive adhesive. 8. The membrane humidifier according to claim 1, wherein said first support is adhered to said second layer and said second support is adhered to said third layer with at least one of a B-stage epoxy, ethylene vinyl acetate, polyvinylideneifluoride, and a pressure sensitive adhesive. 9. The membrane humidifier according to claim 1, wherein said membrane is one of a perfluorosulfonic acid, a hydrophilic polymer membrane, a hydrocarbon based membrane, and a polymer composite membrane. 10. The membrane humidifier according to claim 1, wherein said first pair of sealing bars and said second pair of sealing bars are formed from at least one of a steel, a polymer, graphite, and a composite material. 11. The membrane humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the second flow channel is adapted to receive a humidified fluid and the first flow channel is adapted to receive a fluid having a humidity lower than the humidified fluid. 12. The membrane humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the first flow channel is substantially perpendicular to the second flow channel. 13. The membrane humidifier according to claim 1, further including a removable tool disposed in the first flow channel and adapted to support said first membrane layer and the second membrane layer forming the first flow channel, wherein said tool militates against the deformation of said first membrane and said second membrane layer during compression of the membrane humidifier. 14. A membrane humidifier assembly for a fuel cell comprising: a first substantially planar membrane layer;a second substantially planar membrane layer spaced apart from said first layer;a third substantially planar membrane layer spaced apart from said second layer;a first pair of spaced apart sealing bars disposed between said first layer and said second layer adjacent peripheral edges thereof to form a first flow channel therebetween;a first plurality of perforated sealing bars disposed between said first layer and said second layer adjacent peripheral edges thereof and extending between said first pair of sealing bars;a second pair of spaced apart sealing bars disposed between said second layer and said third layer adjacent peripheral edges thereof to form a second flow channel therebetween;a first support disposed adjacent said second layer and extending between said second pair of sealing bars; anda second support disposed adjacent said third planar layer and extending between said second pair of sealing bars. 15. The membrane humidifier according to claim 14, further including a third support disposed adjacent said first layer and extending between said first pair of sealing bars and a fourth support disposed adjacent said second layer and extending between said first pair of sealing bars. 16. The membrane humidifier according to claim 14, further including a substantially planar array of elongate ribbons disposed between said first support and said second support to define a plurality of flow channels therebetween, said ribbons produced from a polymeric material. 17. The membrane humidifier according to claim 14, wherein said first pair of sealing bars is adhered to said first layer and said second layer, and said second pair of sealing bars is adhered to said second layer and said third layer with at least one of a B-stage epoxy, ethylene vinyl acetate, polyvinylideneifluoride, and a pressure sensitive adhesive. 18. A method for making a membrane humidifier for a fuel cell system, the method comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of spaced apart and substantially planar layers formed from a membrane, a plurality of sealing bars, and a plurality of supports;providing a first pair of sealing bars and adhering said first pair of sealing bars between a first planar layer and a second planar layer adjacent to peripheral edges thereof to form a first flow channel;providing a second pair of sealing bars and adhering said second pair of sealing bars between the second planar layer and a third planar layer adjacent to peripheral edges thereof to form a second flow channel;providing a first support disposed adjacent to the second planar layer and extending between the second pair of sealing bars and adhering the first support to the second planar layer; andproviding a second support disposed adjacent to the third planar layer and extending between the second pair of sealing bars and adhering the second support to the third planar layer. 19. The method of claim 18, further including the step of providing a first plurality of perforated sealing bars disposed between the first layer and the second layer adjacent peripheral edges thereof and extending between the first pair of sealing bars and a second plurality of perforated sealing bars disposed between the second layer and the third layer adjacent peripheral edges thereof and extending between the second pair of sealing bars. 20. The method of claim 18, further including the step of disposing a removable tool in the first flow channel and adapted to support the first membrane layer and the second membrane layer forming the first flow channel, wherein the tool militates against the deformation of the first membrane and the second membrane layer during compression of the membrane humidifier.