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Title: Humidifier for fuel cell using high conductivity carbon foam

Abstract

A method and apparatus of supplying humid air to a fuel cell is disclosed. The extremely high thermal conductivity of some graphite foams lends itself to enhance significantly the ability to humidify supply air for a fuel cell. By utilizing a high conductivity pitch-derived graphite foam, thermal conductivity being as high as 187 W/m.dot.K, the heat from the heat source is more efficiently transferred to the water for evaporation, thus the system does not cool significantly due to the evaporation of the water and, consequently, the air reaches a higher humidity ratio.

Inventors:
;
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1176019
Patent Number(s):
7147214
Application Number:
10/389,379
Assignee:
UT-Battelle, LLC (Oak Ridge, TN)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
C - CHEMISTRY C04 - CEMENTS C04B - LIME, MAGNESIA
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F28 - HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL F28D - HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
DOE Contract Number:  
AC05-00OR22725
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
25 ENERGY STORAGE

Citation Formats

Klett, James W., and Stinton, David P. Humidifier for fuel cell using high conductivity carbon foam. United States: N. p., 2006. Web.
Klett, James W., & Stinton, David P. Humidifier for fuel cell using high conductivity carbon foam. United States.
Klett, James W., and Stinton, David P. Tue . "Humidifier for fuel cell using high conductivity carbon foam". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1176019.
@article{osti_1176019,
title = {Humidifier for fuel cell using high conductivity carbon foam},
author = {Klett, James W. and Stinton, David P.},
abstractNote = {A method and apparatus of supplying humid air to a fuel cell is disclosed. The extremely high thermal conductivity of some graphite foams lends itself to enhance significantly the ability to humidify supply air for a fuel cell. By utilizing a high conductivity pitch-derived graphite foam, thermal conductivity being as high as 187 W/m.dot.K, the heat from the heat source is more efficiently transferred to the water for evaporation, thus the system does not cool significantly due to the evaporation of the water and, consequently, the air reaches a higher humidity ratio.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Dec 12 00:00:00 EST 2006},
month = {Tue Dec 12 00:00:00 EST 2006}
}

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