# US 11,444,296 B2 · Membrane humidifier, preferably for a fuel cell system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,444,296 B2 - Document ID: US11444296B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/434,667 - Filed: 2019-06-07 - Published: 2019-09-19 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2016-12-08 - Assignees: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft - Applicants: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft - Inventors: Marc Becker; Thomas Hoefler; Hubert Wimmer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11444296B2 ## CPC - H01M 8/04149: {by diffusion, e.g. making use of membranes} - B01D 63/081: {Manufacturing thereof} - B01D 63/0822: {Plate-and-frame devices} - H01M 8/04141: {by water containing exhaust gases} - B01D 2313/02: Specific tightening or locking mechanisms - B01D 2313/025: Specific membrane holders - H01M 2250/20: Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane - Y02T 90/40: Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using 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) - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A membrane humidifier has multiple stacking units mounted one on top of the other, where an individual stacking unit includes a flow plate and diffusion unit, where a circumference of the diffusion unit is formed by two oppositely situated first edge sides and two oppositely situated second edge sides. The diffusion unit includes: a top layer on a top side of the diffusion unit, a bottom layer on a bottom side of the diffusion unit, a moisture-permeable membrane, two oppositely situated upper receiving elements at the two first edge sides, on the top side of the diffusion unit, and two oppositely situated lower receiving elements at the two second edge sides, on the bottom side of the diffusion unit, where the flow plate of the stacking unit is inserted into the two lower receiving elements, and where the next stacking unit is inserted into the two upper receiving elements. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A membrane humidifier for a fuel cell system, comprising: a plurality of stacking units placed one on top of another; wherein each of the plurality of stacking units comprises a flow plate and a diffusion unit; wherein a periphery of the diffusion unit is formed by two opposing first marginal sides and two opposing second marginal sides; wherein the diffusion unit comprises: a top layer on a top side of the diffusion unit; a bottom layer on a bottom side of the diffusion unit; a moisture-permeable membrane in the top layer, in the bottom layer, or between the top layer and the bottom layer; two opposing upper receiving elements on the two first marginal sides on the top side of the diffusion unit, respectively; and two opposing lower receiving elements on the two second marginal sides on the bottom side of the diffusion unit, respectively; wherein the flow plate of the stacking unit is inserted in the two lower receiving elements; and wherein in the two upper receiving elements is inserted a next above-disposed stacking unit of the plurality of stacking units. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The membrane humidifier as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the two upper receiving elements is an upper groove. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The membrane humidifier as claimed in claim 2, wherein the upper groove is formed by a folded-over margin of the bottom layer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The membrane humidifier as claimed in claim 2, wherein the upper groove embraces the next above-disposed stacking unit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The membrane humidifier as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the two lower receiving elements is a lower groove. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The membrane humidifier as claimed in claim 5, wherein the lower groove is formed by a folded-over margin of the top layer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The membrane humidifier as claimed in claim 5, wherein the lower groove embraces the respective flow plate of the stacking unit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The membrane humidifier as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top layer and/or the bottom layer comprises a diffusion layer of thermoplastic nonwoven fabric. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The membrane humidifier as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the two upper receiving elements is angular and has a side face and a bearing surface angled-off from the side face. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The membrane humidifier as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the two lower receiving elements is angular and has a side face and a bearing surface angled-off from the side face. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The membrane humidifier as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the two upper receiving elements and/or the two lower receiving elements is formed by a frame element which is joined respectively to the top layer or the bottom layer. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The membrane humidifier as claimed in claim 1, wherein a frame element extends fully over all four marginal sides and forms both the two upper receiving elements and both the two lower receiving elements of the stacking unit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The membrane humidifier as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two upper receiving elements and/or the two lower receiving elements extend over an entire length of the respective two first marginal sides and the respective two second marginal sides. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A fuel cell system, comprising: a fuel cell; and the membrane humidifier as claimed in claim 1, wherein the membrane humidifier humidifies a cathode feed air of the fuel cell with a cathode exhaust air of the fuel cell. ### Claim 15 A method for producing a membrane humidifier, comprising the steps of: assembling a diffusion unit from a top layer, a bottom layer, and a moisture-permeable membrane arranged in the top layer, the bottom layer, or between the top layer and the bottom layer, wherein a periphery of the diffusion unit is formed by two opposing first marginal sides and two opposing second marginal sides; configuring two opposing upper receiving elements on the two first marginal sides on a top side of the diffusion unit before and/or during and/or after the assembling; configuring two opposing lower receiving elements on the two second marginal sides on a bottom side of the diffusion unit before and/or during and/or after the assembling; forming of a stacking unit by insertion of a flow plate into the two lower receiving elements of the diffusion unit; and placing of a plurality of stacking units one on top of another, wherein into the two upper receiving elements of the stacking unit is inserted the next above-disposed stacking unit.