IP Library Granted Patent US 8,317,167
Granted Patent B2
US 8,317,167 · App. 12/752,794 · Granted Nov 27, 2012

Humidifier for fuel cell

Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Motor Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,317,167
App. No.
12/752,794
Granted
Nov 27, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention provides a humidifier for a fuel cell, in which a plurality of hollow fiber membranes having different diameters are appropriately arranged to control the flow direction of dry air introduced into the humidifier, thus uniformly humidifying the dry air.

Claims (18)

1. A humidifier for a fuel cell, the humidifier comprising a hollow fiber membrane module and a plurality of hollow fiber membranes arranged in the hollow fiber membrane module,

wherein the hollow fiber membranes have different diameters and are appropriately arranged in the hollow fiber membrane module,

wherein a plurality of hollow fiber membranes having a small diameter are arranged in the center of the hollow fiber membrane module, through which dry air supplied from the outside by an air blower mainly flows, and a plurality of hollow fiber membranes having a large diameter are arranged in the periphery of the hollow fiber membrane module, through which humid air discharged from a fuel cell stack mainly flows.

2. The humidifier of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of first hollow fiber membranes having the smallest diameter are arranged in the center of the hollow fiber membrane module, a plurality of third hollow fiber membranes having the largest diameter are arranged in the periphery of the hollow fiber membrane module, and a plurality of second hollow fiber membranes having an intermediate diameter are arranged between the first and third hollow fiber membranes.

3. The humidifier of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of hollow fiber membranes having a lower humidification performance are arranged in the periphery of the hollow fiber membrane module.

4. The humidifier of claim 1 , wherein the hollow fiber membranes having a lower humidification performance are formed of polyetherimide or polyphenylsulfone.

5. A humidifier for a fuel cell, the humidifier comprising a hollow fiber membrane module and a plurality of hollow fiber membranes,

wherein the hollow fiber membranes have different diameters and are arranged in the hollow fiber membrane module, and

a plurality of hollow fiber membranes having a small diameter are arranged in the center of the hollow fiber membrane module, through which dry air supplied from the outside by an air blower flows.

6. The humidifier of claim 5 , wherein a plurality of hollow fiber membranes having a large diameter are arranged in the periphery of the hollow fiber membrane module, through which humid air discharged from a fuel cell stack flows.

7. A humidifier for a fuel cell, the humidifier comprising a hollow fiber membrane module and a plurality of hollow fiber membranes arranged in the hollow fiber membrane module,

wherein the hollow fiber membranes have different diameters and are appropriately arranged in the hollow fiber membrane module,

wherein a plurality of first hollow fiber membranes having the smallest diameter are arranged in the center of the hollow fiber membrane module, a plurality of third hollow fiber membranes having the largest diameter are arranged in the periphery of the hollow fiber membrane module, and a plurality of second hollow fiber membranes having an intermediate diameter are arranged between the first and third hollow fiber membranes.

8. The humidifier of claim 7 , wherein a plurality of hollow fiber membranes having a lower humidification performance are arranged in the periphery of the hollow fiber membrane module.

9. The humidifier of claim 7 , wherein the hollow fiber membranes having a lower humidification performance are formed of polyetherimide or polyphenylsulfone.

10. A humidifier for a fuel cell, the humidifier comprising a hollow fiber membrane module and a plurality of hollow fiber membranes,

wherein the hollow fiber membranes have different diameters and are arranged in the hollow fiber membrane module, and

a plurality of hollow fiber membranes having a large diameter are arranged in the periphery of the hollow fiber membrane module, through which humid air discharged from a fuel cell stack flows.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 1, 2010
From: KIM, HYUN YOO
To: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY; KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 024176/0814 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2009-0116517 · Nov 30, 2009 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20110127683A1 · Jun 2, 2011