# US 10,122,031 B2 · Humidifier, in particular for a fuel cell > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,122,031 B2 - Document ID: US10122031B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/749,277 - Filed: 2015-06-24 - Published: 2015-12-31 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-06-27 - Assignees: Mann+Hummel GmbH - Applicants: Mann+Hummel GmbH - Inventors: Michael Fasold; Bernd Tippmer; Michael Harenbrock; Heinz Fuchs; Sascha Bauer; Joerg Menssen; Thomas Tschech - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10122031B2 ## CPC - H01M 8/04149: {by diffusion, e.g. making use of membranes} - B01D 63/082: {comprising a stack of flat membranes} - B01D 2313/025: Specific membrane holders - B01D 2313/201: Closed housing, vessels or containers - Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A humidifier has a stack unit having a plurality of water-vapor-permeable membranes which are arranged parallel one above the other and spaced apart from one another. The membranes are enclosed at the edges at least in sections by an enclosing part, wherein the enclosing parts of membranes lying one above the other are directly connected to one another in a flow-tight manner. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A humidified capable of humidifying air for a fuel cell, comprising: at least one stack unit including a plurality of membranes permeable to water vapor in which each membrane is arranged one above the other and spaced apart from one another; a plurality of enclosing parts, each enclosing part secured onto a membrane edge of a respective one of the plurality of membranes, each enclosing part having: a flat contacting region arranged laterally outwardly from the membrane edge; a profile section connected to the contacting region and arranged perpendicularly between the membrane edge and the contacting region; a first foil connected to the profile section, the first foil resting directly on and extending on and fixedly connected to a first side of the respective one of the plurality of membranes; and a second foil connected to the profile section and resting directly on and extending on and fixedly connected to an opposite second side of the respective one of the plurality of membranes, such that the membrane edge is sandwiched between the first and second foil; wherein the membrane edge is enclosed at least in sections, by the foils of the enclosing part; and wherein the membrane edge of a first membrane of the plurality of membranes is fixedly connected to a first enclosing part of the plurality of enclosing parts; wherein the membrane edge of an immediately adjacent second membrane of the plurality of membranes is fixedly connected to a second enclosing part of the plurality of enclosing parts; wherein a connecting region of the first connecting part is fixedly directly connected onto the connecting region of the second connecting part, forming a flow-tight connection; wherein the connecting regions of the first connecting part and the second connecting part are arranged between membrane planes of the first membrane and the second membrane. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The humidifier according to claim 1, further comprising a support grid fixedly connected to and arranged between the membrane and the foil, at least on one side of the membrane. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The humidifier according to claim 2, wherein the support grid covers at least 30 percent of a membrane surface area of the membrane. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the profile section is formed to be angular. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The humidifier according to claim 1, wherein a first angular section of the profile section extends in a direction traverse to the membrane plane; wherein a second angular section of the profile section extends in a direction parallel to the membrane plane and offset from the membrane plane. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the enclosing part encloses the membrane circumferentially. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the enclosing parts of adjacent membranes are connected to one another at two opposing side edges. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The humidifier according to claim 7, wherein at flow channels offset in a parallel manner, the enclosing parts are connected to sealing strips at the front ends which are offset by 90 degrees. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the enclosing parts of adjacent membranes are securely connected to one; wherein the secure connection is a welded connection. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The humidifier according to claim 1, further comprising spacers arranged between two adjacent membranes of the plurality of membranes. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The humidifier according to claim 10, wherein adjacent membranes of the plurality of membranes are separated by a space therebetween; wherein the spacers are only provided and arranged between every second space between adjacent membranes. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The humidifier according to claim 10, wherein the spacers form a spacer grid. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The humidifier according to claim 11, wherein space between adjacent membranes form flow channels; wherein the spacers are formed in a flow-guiding manner and guide the flow in the flow channels in which the spacers are arranged, from an inflow side to an outflow side in the flow channel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A fuel cell comprising a humidifier according to claim 1.