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:

Klett, James W.; Stinton, David P.

Issue Date:

2006-12-12

Research Org.:

Oak Ridge National Lab. (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):

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F28 - HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL F28F - DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION

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Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

Y02E60/14 - Thermal storage

F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F28 - HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL F28F - DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION

F28F21/02 - of carbon, e.g. graphite

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

F28D5/02 - in which the evaporating medium flows in a continuous film or trickles freely over the conduits
F28D20/023 - {the latent heat storage material being enclosed in granular particles or dispersed in a porous, fibrous or cellular structure}

C - CHEMISTRY C04 - CEMENTS C04B - LIME, MAGNESIA

C04B38/00 - Porous mortars, concrete, artificial stone or ceramic ware

F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F28 - HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL F28F - DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION

F28F13/18 - by applying coatings, e.g. radiation-absorbing, radiation-reflecting

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DOE Contract Number:  

AC05-00OR22725

Resource Type:

Patent

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

25 ENERGY STORAGE