IP Library Granted Patent US 9,859,576
Granted Patent B2
US 9,859,576 · App. 14/956,262 · Granted Jan 2, 2018

Membrane humidifier for fuel cell

Inventors: Jin Woo Koo (Seoul, KR); Hyun Yoo Kim (Seoul, KR)
Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
H01M8/04149B01D63/02B01D63/022H01M2250/20Y02T90/32
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,859,576
App. No.
14/956,262
Granted
Jan 2, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A membrane humidifier includes buffering and spacing structures each interposed between adjacent hollow fiber membranes of a plurality of hollow fiber membranes arranged in a housing of the membrane humidifier, wherein the buffering and spacing structures buffer a pressure of air supplied from an air blower and maintain a spacing between the adjacent hollow fiber membranes.

Claims (10)

1. A membrane humidifier comprising:

buffering and spacing structures each interposed between adjacent hollow fiber membranes of a plurality of hollow fiber membranes arranged in a housing of the membrane humidifier,

wherein the buffering and spacing structures are arranged such that a largest number of buffering and spacing structures is arranged at a central side, and a gradually reduced number of buffering and spacing structures is arranged toward a peripheral side, and

wherein the buffering and spacing structures buffer a pressure of air supplied from an air blower and maintain a spacing to form a flow channel for humid air between the adjacent hollow fiber membranes.

2. The membrane humidifier of claim 1 , wherein the buffering and spacing structures comprise a hydrophilic material.

3. The membrane humidifier of claim 1 , wherein the buffering and spacing structures have a greater diameter than the hollow fiber membranes, and have a length equal to a length of the hollow fiber membranes.

4. The membrane humidifier of claim 1 , wherein the buffering and spacing structures have a shape selected from the group comprising a straight shape, a zig-zag shape, a protrusion/groove shape, a coil spring shape, a crimp shape, and a mesh roll shape.

5. The membrane humidifier of claim 1 , wherein opposite ends of the buffering and spacing structures are potted together with opposite ends of the hollow fiber membranes, using a potting material.

6. The membrane humidifier of claim 1 , wherein humid air guide holes are formed at each of the buffering and spacing structures in a radial direction of the buffering and spacing structure.

7. The membrane humidifier of claim 1 , wherein humid air grooves are formed at each of the buffering and spacing structures in a radial direction of the buffering and spacing structure.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 1, 2015
From: KOO, JIN WOO; KIM, HYUN YOO
To: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
Reel/Frame 037184/0704 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2015-0061047 · Apr 30, 2015 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20160322654A1 · Nov 3, 2016