IP Library Granted Patent US 12671100
Granted Patent B2
US 12671100 · App. 18/579,969 · Granted Jun 30, 2026

Fuel cell membrane humidifier

Inventors: Hyoung Mo Yang (Seoul, KR); Woong Jeon Ahn (Seoul, KR); Do Woo Kim (Seoul, KR)
Assignee: KOLON INDUSTRIES, INC.
H01M8/04149H01M2008/1095
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12671100
App. No.
18/579,969
Granted
Jun 30, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed is a fuel cell membrane humidifier which may prevent degradation of efficiency, which is caused by an increase in differential pressure in the fuel cell membrane humidifier due to volume minimization of the fuel cell membrane humidifier. A disclosed fuel cell membrane humidifier performs moisture exchange between a first fluid and a second fluid and includes a mid-case, a second fluid inlet configured to introduce the second fluid into the mid-case, a second fluid outlet configured to discharge the second fluid to outside, a partition wall partitioning an inner space of the mid-case into a first space and a second space, and an active bypass portion configured to adjust a flow rate of the second fluid flowing in the first space and the second space according to a flow rate of the second fluid introduced through the second fluid inlet.

Claims (25)

1 . A fuel cell membrane humidifier performing moisture exchange between a first fluid and a second fluid and comprising:

a mid-case;

a second fluid inlet configured to introduce the second fluid into the mid-case;

a second fluid outlet configured to discharge the second fluid to outside;

a partition wall partitioning an inner space of the mid-case into a first space and a second space; and

an active bypass portion configured to adjust a flow rate of the second fluid flowing in the first space and the second space according to a flow rate of the second fluid introduced through the second fluid inlet,

wherein the active bypass portion comprises;

a bypass hole formed by penetrating the partition wall; and

a bypass hole opening/closing device configured to open/close the bypass hole according to a flow rate of the second fluid introduced through the second fluid inlet,

wherein the bypass hole opening/closing device comprises a dual valve member formed on the partition wall to cover the bypass hole from both sides.

2 . The fuel cell membrane humidifier of claim 1 , wherein the bypass hole opening/closing device comprises a single valve member formed on the partition wall to cover the bypass hole.

3 . The fuel cell membrane humidifier of claim 1 , wherein the bypass hole opening/closing device comprises a flexible material having a shape that is deformed as a pressure applied thereto increases and returns to an original shape when the pressure decreases.

4 . The fuel cell membrane humidifier of claim 1 , further comprising:

caps formed at both ends of the mid-case; and

at least one cartridge arranged in the mid-case and configured to accommodate a plurality of hollow fiber membranes.

5 . A fuel cell membrane humidifier performing moisture exchange between a first fluid and a second fluid and comprising:

a mid-case;

a second fluid inlet configured to introduce the second fluid into the mid-case;

a second fluid outlet configured to discharge the second fluid to outside;

a partition wall partitioning an inner space of the mid-case into a first space and a second space; and

an active bypass portion configured to adjust a flow rate of the second fluid flowing in the first space and the second space according to a flow rate of the second fluid introduced through the second fluid inlet,

wherein the active bypass portion comprises:

a bypass hole formed by penetrating the partition wall; and

a bypass hole opening/closing device configured to open/close the bypass hole according to a flow rate of the second fluid introduced through the second fluid inlet,

wherein the bypass hole opening/closing device comprises a double valve member formed on the partition wall to cover the bypass hole from both sides while at least a portion of the members overlapping each other.