IP Library Granted Patent US 12,551,850
Granted Patent B2
US 12,551,850 · App. 18/262,437 · Granted Feb 17, 2026

Fuel cell membrane humidifier

Inventors: Jung Kun Her (Seoul, KR); Do Woo Kim (Seoul, KR); Woong Jeon An (Seoul, KR); Kyoung Ju Kim (Seoul, KR)
Assignee: KOLON INDUSTRIES, INC.
B01D63/02H01M8/04149B01D2313/04B01D2313/20B01D2313/21
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,551,850
App. No.
18/262,437
Granted
Feb 17, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention relates to a fuel cell membrane humidifier, which improves binding force between a potting part and an inner case, and thus can maintain the binding force even if a fuel cell is repeatedly operated and stopped. A fuel cell membrane humidifier according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a humidification module for humidifying air, supplied from the outside, with the moisture of exhaust gas discharged from a fuel cell stack; and caps, which are each coupled to the both ends of the humidification module. The humidification module includes at least one cartridge having: an inner case; a plurality of hollow fiber membranes placed inside the inner case; and a potting part which fixes the ends of the plurality of hollow fiber membranes, and which is filled in and coupled to the end part of the inner case.

Claims (18)

1 . A fuel cell membrane humidifier comprising:

a humidification module configured to humidify air supplied from an outside of the humidifier with moisture in an off-gas discharged from a fuel cell stack; and

caps coupled to both ends of the humidification module, respectively,

wherein the humidification module includes

at least one cartridge including an inner case, a plurality of hollow fiber membranes disposed inside the inner case, and potting portions configured to fix ends of the plurality of hollow fiber membranes, the potting portions being fitted into and coupled to ends of the inner case,

wherein at least one of the potting portions includes:

a potting body formed to extend in a longitudinal axis of the inner case;

a potting wing formed to extend in a lateral direction from an end of the potting body; and

a potting protrusion formed to extend toward one of the ends of the inner case from the potting wing,

wherein an end groove formed in a shape corresponding to the potting protrusion is formed at said one end of the inner case,

wherein the potting protrusion is fitted into and coupled to the end groove, the potting wing covers said one end of the inner case, and the potting body is formed to come into surface contact with the inner case in the longitudinal axis of the inner case.

2 . The fuel cell membrane humidifier of claim 1 , wherein the humidification module includes

a mid-case having opposite open ends and a step formed on an inner circumferential surface;

a fixing layer formed between the mid-case and the cartridge;

a bracket supported by the step of the mid-case and coming into contact with the fixing layer; and

a packing member having a groove into which the end of the mid-case is fitted, the packing member coming into contact with the bracket.

3 . The fuel cell membrane humidifier of claim 2 , wherein a protrusion member fitted into the fixing layer to suppress vibration generated in the cartridge due to air flowing inside the humidification module is disposed on an inner wall of the packing member.

4 . The fuel cell membrane humidifier of claim 2 , wherein a damping protrusion fitted into the fixing layer to suppress vibration generated in the cartridge due to air flowing inside the humidification module is disposed on an inner wall of the mid-case.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 21, 2023
From: HER, JUNG KUN; KIM, DO WOO; AN, WOONG JEON; KIM, KYOUNG JU
To: KOLON INDUSTRIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 064339/0135 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2021-0032467 · Mar 12, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240088410A1 · Mar 14, 2024
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