Abstract: A flow-field plate is provided for distributing a reactant to an electrode or a gas diffusion layer of a fuel cell, the flow-field plate having a gas inlet, and having a plurality of channels defining a flow field. A pressure gradient is present between the gas inlet and the flow field given a state of throughflow, which leads to an intake of exhaust gas flowing in the channels in the direction of the gas inlet. Furthermore, there is a water/gas separator which is fluidically connected to the gas inlet for separating liquid water and/or water vapor from a gas which is connected to the flow field in order to supply the gas separated in the water/gas separator to the flow field. A flow cross-section at the gas inlet or at the gas inlet region is smaller than the flow cross-section at or in the region of the water/gas separator.

Abstract: A humidifier has a plurality of humidifier modules that are clamped between end plates by tie rods and have a membrane that is permeable to water vapor, in which on both sides of the membrane there is respectively arranged a flow field frame having a multiplicity of webs defining a flow field. The tie rods are configured as hollow rods forming coolant tubes for a coolant to be led through. A fuel cell device and a motor vehicle having such a humidifier are also provided.

Abstract: A method for humidifying a reactant in a fuel cell system is provided having a fuel cell stack, which is fluidically connected to a humidifier, wherein the humidifier comprises a membrane, on whose surface channels are formed. At least one of the channels is associated with a storage element for temporary storing of liquid water, the method involving the following steps: extracting the liquid water from the fuel cell stack and feeding the liquid water to the humidifier, admitting at least part of the liquid water into the storage element and temporarily storing the part therein, at least partially emptying the storage element by evaporating of the liquid water and humidifying of the reactant being supplied to the fuel cell stack by means of the evaporated liquid water, wherein the liquid water is extracted from the fuel cell stack both at the anode side and at the cathode side. A fuel cell system for carrying out the method is also provided.

Abstract: A fuel cell comprises a polymer electrolyte membrane, an anode electrode being associated with said membrane on the first side thereof and a cathode electrode being associated with said membrane on the second side thereof, wherein a gas diffusion layer is associated with each of the electrodes on the side thereof that faces away from the polymer electrolyte membrane, and wherein a flow field plate having a flow field for distributing the reactants is associated with each of the gas diffusion layers on the side thereof that faces away from the polymer electrolyte membrane, characterized in that at least one conducting line formed from a hygroscopic and/or capillary-active material is provided for conducting water and thus for moistening the polymer electrolyte membrane.

Abstract: A fuel cell plate for distributing a reactant at an electrode or a gas diffusion layer of a fuel cell has a plate body in which at least one flow field is incorporated, comprising at least one duct. The plate body has hygroscopic and electrically conductive properties.

Abstract: A humidifier is provided having a humidifier module which is arranged between end plates and has a steam-permeable membrane, wherein on each of the two sides of the membrane, a flow field frame having a plurality of bridges defining a flow field is arranged, and between each flow field frame and the membrane a seal is arranged. A motor vehicle with a fuel cell device having a humidifier is also provided.

Abstract: A humidifier comprises at least one humidifier module, which has a membrane permeable to water vapor and respectively on both sides of the membrane, a flow field frame with at least two walls defining a flow channel. A thermal bridge with an increased thermal conductivity compared to the membrane protrudes through the membrane. A fuel cell device comprises such a humidifier and a motor vehicle includes a fuel cell device comprising such a humidifier.

Abstract: A humidifier for a fuel cell device is provided which includes a water vapor permeable membrane and at least one flow field arranged on one side of the membrane, in which flow channels are separated by flow field webs. The flow field webs are designed as hollow webs for integration into a coolant circuit. A fuel cell device with a humidifier as well as to a motor vehicle with such a fuel cell device are also provided.

Abstract: A humidifier module for a humidifier in a fuel cell system is provided having a gas-permeable membrane, on one side of which there is arranged a flow field core defining a flow field, wherein the flow field core comprises at least two separating webs, between which a channel is formed. The separating webs are formed from a hygroscopic, not water-soluble material, such that a liquid flowing in the at least one channel can be stored temporarily in the hygroscopic separating webs. Furthermore, the invention relates to a humidifier having humidifier modules, a fuel cell system having a humidifier, and a method for humidifying a gas are also provided.

Abstract: A humidifier module is provided having a water vapor-permeable membrane having spacers defining a flow field arranged on either side of the membrane and having a yarn stitched into the membrane. The spacers defining the flow field are formed by the yarn stitched into the membrane. A humidifier, a method for making a humidifier module and a method for making a humidifier are also provided.

Abstract: A flow-field plate is provided for distributing a reactant to an electrode or a gas diffusion layer of a fuel cell, the flow-field plate having a gas inlet, and having a plurality of channels defining a flow field. A pressure gradient is present between the gas inlet and the flow field given a state of throughflow, which leads to an intake of exhaust gas flowing in the channels in the direction of the gas inlet. Furthermore, there is a water/gas separator which is fluidically connected to the gas inlet for separating liquid water and/or water vapor from a gas which is connected to the flow field in order to supply the gas separated in the water/gas separator to the flow field. A flow cross-section at the gas inlet or at the gas inlet region is smaller than the flow cross-section at or in the region of the water/gas separator.

Abstract: A humidifier comprises at least one humidifier module, which has a membrane permeable to water vapor and respectively on both sides of the membrane, a flow field frame with at least two walls defining a flow channel. A thermal bridge with an increased thermal conductivity compared to the membrane protrudes through the membrane. A fuel cell device comprises such a humidifier and a motor vehicle includes a fuel cell device comprising such a humidifier.

Abstract: A humidifier has a plurality of humidifier modules that are clamped between end plates by tie rods and have a membrane that is permeable to water vapor, in which on both sides of the membrane there is respectively arranged a flow field frame having a multiplicity of webs defining a flow field. The tie rods are configured as hollow rods forming coolant tubes for a coolant to be led through. A fuel cell device and a motor vehicle having such a humidifier are also provided.

Abstract: A humidifier is provided having a humidifier module which is arranged between end plates and has a steam-permeable membrane, wherein on each of the two sides of the membrane, a flow field frame having a plurality of bridges defining a flow field is arranged, and between each flow field frame and the membrane a seal is arranged. A motor vehicle with a fuel cell device having a humidifier is also provided.

Abstract: A method for humidifying a reactant in a fuel cell system is provided having a fuel cell stack, which is fluidically connected to a humidifier, wherein the humidifier comprises a membrane, on whose surface channels are formed. At least one of the channels is associated with a storage element for temporary storing of liquid water, the method involving the following steps: extracting the liquid water from the fuel cell stack and feeding the liquid water to the humidifier, admitting at least part of the liquid water into the storage element and temporarily storing the part therein, at least partially emptying the storage element by evaporating of the liquid water and humidifying of the reactant being supplied to the fuel cell stack by means of the evaporated liquid water, wherein the liquid water is extracted from the fuel cell stack both at the anode side and at the cathode side. A fuel cell system for carrying out the method is also provided.

Abstract: A moisture exchanger (10) for transferring moisture between two gases, including a plurality of hollow fiber membranes (12). The moisture exchanger (10) includes at least one partition (34) between the hollow fiber membranes (12) and in that the plurality of hollow fiber membranes (12) is subdivided, at least in a section (36) of the length thereof, into zones (38) that are connected in parallel.

Abstract: It is proposed to arrange a plurality of individual separator elements (48, 49) on the first side (40) of the membrane (38) in order to provide a humidifier (37) with integrated water separator, in particular for fuel cells (11) having a water vapor permeable membrane (38) and separator elements (48, 49) for separating water, wherein the membrane (38) on a first side (40) is in contact with a first channel (41) for a first humid gas stream, and on the second side (42) is in contact with a second channel (43) for a second, dry gas stream to be humidified, which allows an optimized exchange of moisture between the exhaust gas and operating medium streams of a fuel cell. Also provided is a fuel cell system and vehicle having the aforementioned humidifier.

Abstract: A humidifier with an integrated water separator for a fuel cell system, including a housing with a first channel for a first gas stream and a second channel for a second gas stream, a humidifier area in which the first channel and the second channel are separated from one another by a water vapor-permeable membrane, and a collection container for collecting the deposited liquid water is provided. It is provided that a water separator for separating liquid water is situated in the humidifier area.

Abstract: A fuel cell system (1) in which a water separator (110) for separating liquid water from an exhaust gas (6, 4) of a fuel cell (10) of the fuel cell system (1) is fluid-mechanically coupled into an exhaust gas path (32, 22) of the fuel cell system. A water recirculator (120) is fluid-mechanically coupled into the fuel cell system (1), with the aid of which at least a portion of the water of the water separator (110) is once again providable to the fuel cell (10). Moreover, a method for recirculating water in a fuel cell system (1), in which liquid water of a fuel cell supply (30, 20) of the fuel cell system (1) is withdrawn at a removal site at/in the fuel cell supply (30, 20). The water upstream from the removal site is provided to the same fuel cell supply (30, 20) and/or to some other fuel cell supply (20, 30) of the fuel cell system (1).

Abstract: It is proposed to arrange a plurality of individual separator elements (48, 49) on the first side (40) of the membrane (38) in order to provide a humidifier (37) with integrated water separator, in particular for fuel cells (11) having a water vapor permeable membrane (38) and separator elements (48, 49) for separating water, wherein the membrane (38) on a first side (40) is in contact with a first channel (41) for a first humid gas stream, and on the second side (42) is in contact with a second channel (43) for a second, dry gas stream to be humidified, which allows an optimized exchange of moisture between the exhaust gas and operating medium streams of a fuel cell. Also provided is a fuel cell system and vehicle having the aforementioned humidifier.