Title:
CONTACT HEATER/HUMIDIFIER FOR FUEL CELL SYSTEM
Document Type and Number:
Japanese Patent JP2003323908
Kind Code:
A
Abstract:
To provide a contact heater/humidifier for a fuel cell system wherein membranes is not be dried out by incoming gaseous reactants and the reactant gases are delivered to a fuel cell at a desired elevated target dewpoint temperature range, typically about 63°C.
Degradation of membranes in fuel cells 10 due to dehydration by relatively dry incoming reactant gases is avoided through the use of humidifiers 56, 58 in the incoming reactant streams 12, 14. At least one of the humidifiers 56, 58 is formed in a stack 66 having alternating flow passages 68, 70 with the former receiving reactant gases and including fins 102 therein and the latter receiving hot coolant from the fuel cell 10. The fins 102 are provided with a hydrophilic coating.
Inventors:
Meissner, Alan P.
Voss, Mark G.
Hughes, Gregory G.
Stevenson, Joseph R.
Cao, Liping
Voss, Mark G.
Hughes, Gregory G.
Stevenson, Joseph R.
Cao, Liping
Application Number:
JP2003000099298
Publication Date:
November 14, 2003
Filing Date:
April 02, 2003
Export Citation:
Assignee:
MODINE MFG CO
International Classes:
H01M8/10; F28D9/00; F28F3/02; F28F3/04; H01M8/02; H01M8/04; (IPC1-7): H01M8/04