Volkswagen Ag

Audi Ag

Rune Staeck

Christian Lucas

Oliver Berger

Tore Westphal

A flow-field plate is provided for distributing a reactant to an electrode or a gas diffusion layer of a fuel cell, the flow-field plate having a gas inlet, and having a plurality of channels defining a flow field. A pressure gradient is present between the gas inlet and the flow field given a state of throughflow, which leads to an intake of exhaust gas flowing in the channels in the direction of the gas inlet. Furthermore, there is a water/gas separator which is fluidically connected to the gas inlet for separating liquid water and/or water vapor from a gas which is connected to the flow field in order to supply the gas separated in the water/gas separator to the flow field. A flow cross-section at the gas inlet or at the gas inlet region is smaller than the flow cross-section at or in the region of the water/gas separator.

Flow-field plate

A humidifier has a plurality of humidifier modules that are clamped between end plates by tie rods and have a membrane that is permeable to water vapor, in which on both sides of the membrane there is respectively arranged a flow field frame having a multiplicity of webs defining a flow field. The tie rods are configured as hollow rods forming coolant tubes for a coolant to be led through. A fuel cell device and a motor vehicle having such a humidifier are also provided.

Humidifier, fuel cell device having a humidifier, and motor vehicle

A method for humidifying a reactant in a fuel cell system is provided having a fuel cell stack, which is fluidically connected to a humidifier, wherein the humidifier comprises a membrane, on whose surface channels are formed. At least one of the channels is associated with a storage element for temporary storing of liquid water, the method involving the following steps: extracting the liquid water from the fuel cell stack and feeding the liquid water to the humidifier, admitting at least part of the liquid water into the storage element and temporarily storing the part therein, at least partially emptying the storage element by evaporating of the liquid water and humidifying of the reactant being supplied to the fuel cell stack by means of the evaporated liquid water, wherein the liquid water is extracted from the fuel cell stack both at the anode side and at the cathode side. A fuel cell system for carrying out the method is also provided.

Method for humidifying a reactant, and fuel cell system for carrying out the method

A humidifier is provided having a humidifier module which is arranged between end plates and has a steam-permeable membrane, wherein on each of the two sides of the membrane, a flow field frame having a plurality of bridges defining a flow field is arranged, and between each flow field frame and the membrane a seal is arranged. A motor vehicle with a fuel cell device having a humidifier is also provided.

Humidifier and motor vehicle with a fuel cell device having a humidifier

A humidifier comprises at least one humidifier module, which has a membrane permeable to water vapor and respectively on both sides of the membrane, a flow field frame with at least two walls defining a flow channel. A thermal bridge with an increased thermal conductivity compared to the membrane protrudes through the membrane. A fuel cell device comprises such a humidifier and a motor vehicle includes a fuel cell device comprising such a humidifier.

Humidifier, fuel cell device with a humidifier and motor vehicle with a fuel cell device comprising a humidifier

A moisture exchanger () for transferring moisture between two gases, including a plurality of hollow fiber membranes (). The moisture exchanger () includes at least one partition () between the hollow fiber membranes () and in that the plurality of hollow fiber membranes () is subdivided, at least in a section () of the length thereof, into zones () that are connected in parallel.

Moisture exchanger and fuel cell arrangement comprising same

It is proposed to arrange a plurality of individual separator elements () on the first side () of the membrane () in order to provide a humidifier () with integrated water separator, in particular for fuel cells () having a water vapor permeable membrane () and separator elements () for separating water, wherein the membrane () on a first side () is in contact with a first channel () for a first humid gas stream, and on the second side () is in contact with a second channel () for a second, dry gas stream to be humidified, which allows an optimized exchange of moisture between the exhaust gas and operating medium streams of a fuel cell. Also provided is a fuel cell system and vehicle having the aforementioned humidifier.

Humidifier having an integrated water separator for a fuel cell system, fuel cell system and vehicle comprising same

A humidifier with an integrated water separator for a fuel cell system, including a housing with a first channel for a first gas stream and a second channel for a second gas stream, a humidifier area in which the first channel and the second channel are separated from one another by a water vapor-permeable membrane, and a collection container for collecting the deposited liquid water is provided. It is provided that a water separator for separating liquid water is situated in the humidifier area.

Humidifier with an integrated water separator for a fuel cell system, fuel cell system including a humidifier, and vehicle including same

A fuel cell system () in which a water separator () for separating liquid water from an exhaust gas () of a fuel cell () of the fuel cell system () is fluid-mechanically coupled into an exhaust gas path () of the fuel cell system. A water recirculator () is fluid-mechanically coupled into the fuel cell system (), with the aid of which at least a portion of the water of the water separator () is once again providable to the fuel cell (). Moreover, a method for recirculating water in a fuel cell system (), in which liquid water of a fuel cell supply () of the fuel cell system () is withdrawn at a removal site at/in the fuel cell supply (). The water upstream from the removal site is provided to the same fuel cell supply () and/or to some other fuel cell supply () of the fuel cell system ().

Growing community of inventors

Gifhorn, Germany

Rune Staeck