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

A fuel cell system comprising:

• a fuel cell stack;
• an anode supply having an anode supply path for supplying an anode operating medium to the fuel cell stack, and an anode exhaust path for discharging an anode exhaust gas from the fuel cell stack;
• a cathode supply having a cathode supply path for supplying a cathode operating medium to the fuel cell stack, and a cathode exhaust path for discharging a cathode exhaust gas from the fuel cell stack;
• and
• a humidifier arranged in either the anode supply or in the cathode supply, the humidifier comprising:
• a water vapor-permeable membrane;
• separator elements for separating water, wherein:
• the water vapor-permeable membrane on a first side is in contact with a first channel for a first humid gas stream, and on a second side is in contact with a second channel for a second, dry gas stream to be humidified, and
• a plurality of separate separator elements are arranged on the first side of the water vapor-permeable membrane;
• and
• optionally a turbine arranged after the humidifier in a flow direction of humid exhaust air from the fuel cell stack.

A vehicle comprising:

• a fuel cell stack;
• a humidifier for humidifying process gases of fuel cells, the humidifier comprising:
• a water vapor-permeable membrane;
• and
• separator elements for separating water, wherein:
• the water vapor-permeable membrane on a first side is in contact with a first channel for a first humid gas stream, and on a second side is in contact with a second channel for a second, dry gas stream to be humidified, and
• a plurality of separate separator elements are arranged on the first side of the water vapor-permeable membrane.

A vehicle comprising:

• a fuel cell stack;
• an anode supply having an anode supply path for supplying an anode operating medium to the fuel cell stack, and an anode exhaust path for discharging an anode exhaust gas from the fuel cell stack;
• a cathode supply having a cathode supply path for supplying a cathode operating medium to the fuel cell stack, and a cathode exhaust path for discharging a cathode exhaust gas from the fuel cell stack;
• and
• a humidifier arranged either in the anode supply or in the cathode supply, the humidifier comprising:
• a water vapor-permeable membrane;
• separator elements for separating water;
• the water vapor-permeable membrane on a first side is in contact with a first channel for a first humid gas stream, and on a second side is in contact with a second channel for a second, dry gas stream to be humidified;
• and
• a plurality of separate separator elements are arranged on the first side of the water vapor-permeable membrane.