IP Library Granted Patent US 10,658,688
Granted Patent B2
US 10,658,688 · App. 16/055,544 · Granted May 19, 2020

Humidifier and fuel cell system having the same

Inventor: Yoshihiro Shinozaki (Atsugi, JP)
Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
H01M8/04149H01M8/0432H01M8/0435H01M8/04141H01M8/04835G01K5/483G01K5/62
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,658,688
App. No.
16/055,544
Granted
May 19, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A humidifier includes: moisture permeable members each having a tubular shape; a case housing the moisture permeable members; a first flow path portion in which one of cathode gas to be supplied to a fuel cell and cathode off-gas discharged from the fuel cell flows inside the moisture permeable members; a second flow path portion in which the other of the cathode gas and the cathode off-gas flows outside the moisture permeable members within the case; and a temperature sensitive member attached to at least one of the moisture permeable members, deformable in response to temperature, and deforming so as to decrease a gap between the moisture permeable members as the temperature decreases.

Claims (26)

1. A humidifier comprising:

moisture permeable members each having a tubular shape;

a case housing the moisture permeable members;

a first flow path portion in which one of cathode gas to be supplied to a fuel cell and cathode off-gas discharged from the fuel cell flows inside the moisture permeable members;

a second flow path portion in which the other of the cathode gas and the cathode off-gas flows outside the moisture permeable members within the case; and

a temperature sensitive member attached to at least one of the moisture permeable members, deformable in response to temperature, and deforming so as to decrease a gap between the moisture permeable members as the temperature decreases,

wherein the temperature sensitive member includes at least one of a bimetal and a shape memory alloy.

2. The humidifier of claim 1 , wherein

the moisture permeable member is a moisture permeable membrane, and

the temperature sensitive member is attached to at least one of an inside and an outside of a curved portion of the moisture permeable membrane.

3. The humidifier of claim 1 , wherein

the moisture permeable members are hollow fiber membranes, and

the temperature sensitive member is curved so as to grasp the hollow fiber membranes.

4. The humidifier of claim 1 , further comprising an element configured to perform at least one of heating and cooling the temperature sensitive member.

5. The humidifier of claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensitive member is a porous body partially exposing the moisture permeable member.

6. A fuel cell system comprising:

a fuel cell; and

a humidifier,

wherein the humidifier includes:

moisture permeable members each having a tubular shape;

a case housing the moisture permeable members;

a first flow path portion in which one of cathode gas to be supplied to

a fuel cell and cathode off-gas discharged from the fuel cell flows inside the moisture permeable members;

a second flow path portion in which the other of the cathode gas and the cathode off-gas flows outside the moisture permeable members within the case; and

a temperature sensitive member attached to at least one of the moisture permeable members, deformable in response to temperature, and deforming so as to decrease a gap between the moisture permeable members as the temperature decreases,

wherein the temperature sensitive member includes at least one of a bimetal and a shape memory alloy.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 6, 2018
From: SHINOZAKI, YOSHIHIRO
To: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 046562/0275 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2017-166080 · Aug 30, 2017 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190067717A1 · Feb 28, 2019
Cited By (2)
US 12,476,265 US 12,548,788