HUMIDIFYING DEVICE FOR TRANSFERRING WATER FROM WASTE AIR OF A WASTE AIR FLOW TO SUPPLY AIR OF A SUPPLY AIR FLOW

Abstract

A humidifying device for transferring water and/or water vapour from waste air of a waste air flow to supply air of a supply air flow is provided. In the compensating chamber of the housing of the humidifying device, at least one spreading means is arranged, which spreads apart the plate stack of the humidifying device and the housing cover closing the housing in the direction of the longitudinal axis.

Claims

1. A humidifying device for transferring water from waste air of a waste air flow to supply air of a supply air flow, in particular for a fuel cell, the humidifying device comprising: a plate stack having a longitudinal extent along a longitudinal axis, which comprises separate individual plates that are touchingly stacked onto one another in the direction of the longitudinal axis, which for transferring water from waste air of a waste air flow enriched with water to supply air of a supply air flow to be enriched with water each comprise a fluid-permeable membrane; a housing, which forms at least one housing opening; wherein the plate stack is completely inserted into the housing through a housing opening of the housing; at least one housing cover, which completely seals this one housing opening, wherein in the direction of the longitudinal axis a compensating chamber is defined between the housing cover and the plate stack, and wherein in the compensating chamber a spreading means is arranged, which spreads apart the plate stack and the housing cover in the direction of the longitudinal axis.

2. The humidifying device according to claim 1, wherein the spreading means fixes the plate stack non-positively and positively on the housing with respect to the longitudinal axis.

3. The humidifying device according to claim 1, wherein the spreading means non-positively and positively supports itself on the plate stack and/or on the housing cover.

4. The humidifying device according to claim 1, wherein the spreading means is integrally embodied or connected to the plate stack and/or to the housing cover in a positive-locking manner.

5. The humidifying device according to claim 1, wherein the spreading means forms a separate component with respect to the housing with respect to the plate stack and with respect to the housing cover.

6. The humidifying device according to claim 1, wherein the compensating chamber is framed transversely to the longitudinal axis by a housing portion of the housing at least in sections, and wherein the spreading means non-positively and positively supports itself on the respecting housing portion.

7. The humidifying device according to claim 1, wherein the spreading means comprises a separate compression spring, in particular a helical compression spring which touchingly supports itself on the housing cover, a separate sealing plate and a separate plate seal, wherein the compression spring extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis through the compensating chamber and touchingly supports itself on the sealing plate, wherein within the compensating chamber the sealing plate is movably mounted on the housing from the inside in the direction of the longitudinal axis and on a large side facing away from the compression spring carries the plate seal, and wherein the plate seal, subjected to force by the compression spring, touchingly lies against the plate stack and seals the plate stack against the compensating chamber.

8. The humidifying device according to claim 1, wherein the spreading means comprises at least one leaf spring that is integrally embodied with the housing cover, a separate sealing plate and a separate plate seal, wherein the at least one leaf spring extends angularly with respect to the longitudinal axis through the compensating chamber towards the sealing plate and touchingly supports itself on the sealing plate, wherein within the compensating chamber, the sealing plate is movably mounted on the housing from the inside in the direction of the longitudinal axis and on a large side facing away from the spring carries the plate seal, and wherein the plate seal, subjected to force by the leaf spring, touchingly lies against the plate stack and seals the plate stack against the compensating chamber.

9. The humidifying device according to claim 7, wherein the sealing plate is formed by a pot body, which has a round or square pot base, which is framed by a pot wall surrounding the pot base completely or at least in section, which pot wall projects away from the pot base at a right angle, and wherein the plate seal is realised through a flat round or square elastic gasket that is formed in one piece and congruently with the pot base in terms of area.

10. The humidifying device according to claim 1, wherein the spreading means comprises a separate elastic hose seal, a separate sealing plate and a separate plate seal, wherein the hose seal touchingly supports itself on the housing cover and on the housing and transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis completely surrounds the longitudinal axis, wherein the hose seal expands in the direction of the longitudinal axis through the compensating chamber and touchingly supports itself on the sealing plate, wherein within the compensating chamber the sealing plate is movably mounted on the housing from the inside in the direction of the longitudinal axis and on a large side facing away with respect to the hose seal carries the plate seal, and wherein the plate seal, subjected to force by the hose seal, touchingly lies against the plate stack and seals the plate stack against the compensating chamber.

11. The humidifying device according to claim 1, wherein the spreading means is formed by a cured sealant, a separate sealing plate and a separate plate seal, wherein the housing comprises a filling opening, through which the liquid sealant is flowed into the compensating chamber, wherein the liquid sealant completely fills up the compensating chamber, so that on the one hand it is touchingly arranged on the sealing plate arranged within the compensating chamber and on the other hand on the housing cover and on the housing, wherein the liquid sealant is volume-expandingly cured, so that the cured sealant spreads apart the sealing plate and the housing cover in the direction of the longitudinal axis and seals the compensating chamber and the filling opening, and wherein on the sealing plate the plate seal is arranged, which, subjected to force by the cured sealant, touchingly lies against the plate stack and seals the plate stack against the compensating chamber.

12. The humidifying device according to claim 1, wherein the housing cover is a round or square flat rim part with central projecting cover curvature, wherein the cover curvature and the flat rim part delimit a curvature volume, wherein the housing cover in the assembled state of the humidifying device is arranged on the housing so that the cover curvature projects away from the housing in the direction of the longitudinal axis, and wherein the curvature volume enlarges the volume of the compensating chamber, or wherein the housing cover, in the assembled state of the humidifying device, is arranged on the housing such that the cover curvature projects towards the plate stack into the housing in the direction of the longitudinal axis, and wherein the curvature volume diminishes the volume of the equalisation chamber.

13. A humidifying device for transferring water from waste air of a waste air flow to supply air of a supply air flow, the humidifying device comprising: a plate stack having a longitudinal extent along a longitudinal axis, which comprises separate individual plates that are touchingly and congruently stacked onto one another in the direction of the longitudinal axis, which for transferring water from waste air of a waste air flow enriched with water to supply air of a supply air flow to be enriched with water each comprise a fluid-permeable membrane; a housing, which forms at least one housing opening, wherein the plate stack is completely inserted into the housing through a housing opening of the housing; at least one housing cover, which completely seals this one housing opening, wherein in the direction of the longitudinal axis between the housing cover and the plate stack a plate steal is arranged, and wherein this housing cover is formed as closure cover, in that the plate seal is touchingly arranged on the closure cover and in that the closure cover is inserted through this one housing opening into the housing and from the inside is pressed or wedged or welded to the housing.

14. The humidifying device according to claim 13, wherein the closure cover is produced from metal material or plastic material or composite material.

15. The humidifying device according to claim 13, wherein an air passage completely penetrating the closure cover and the plate seal for conducting the waste air flow or the supply air flow is formed by a hollow cylindrical connector extending parallel or coaxially with respect to the longitudinal axis and a passage opening extending parallel or coaxially with respect to the longitudinal axis, wherein the connector is integrally arranged on the closure cover, and wherein the passage opening is integrally arranged on the plate seal.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The disclosure will now be described with reference to the drawings wherein:

[0029] FIG. 1 shows in a perspective view an extract of a humidifying device that is cut in half along a section plane according to a first exemplary embodiment of the disclosure,

[0030] FIG. 2 shows a lateral view of the humidifying device shown in FIG. 1 according to an arrow II entered there,

[0031] FIG. 3 shows in a lateral view as in FIG. 2 a humidifying device in accordance with a further exemplary embodiment of the disclosure,

[0032] FIG. 4 shows in a lateral view as in FIGS. 2 and 3, a humidifying device in accordance with a further exemplary embodiment of the disclosure,

[0033] FIG. 5 shows in a lateral view as in FIGS. 2 to 4, a humidifying device in accordance with a further exemplary embodiment of the disclosure,

[0034] FIG. 6 shows in a lateral view as in FIGS. 2 to 5, a humidifying device in accordance with a further exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, and

[0035] FIG. 7 shows a humidifying device in a lateral view substantially carried out analogous to FIG. 2 in accordance with a further exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0036] Exemplary embodiments of the disclosure are shown in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description, wherein same reference numbers relate to same or similar or functionally same components.

[0037] FIGS. 1 to 7 show multiple exemplary embodiments for humidifying devices according to the disclosure, which are each preferentially suitable for use within a fuel cell system of a vehicle and here, as a whole, are marked with a reference number 1. Humidifying devices 1 serve in practice for transferring water and/or water vapour of moist waste air of a waste air flow 2 to dry supply air of a supply air flow 3. For the sake of simplicity, the waste air flow 2 and the supply air flow 3, are merely illustrated in FIG. 1 by a pair of arrows, in fact in practice the waste air flow 2 and the supply air flow 3 snake through the humidifying device 1 intersecting one another multiple times. In practice, the humidifying device 1 according to the disclosure, is interconnected exemplarily with a fuel cell that is not illustrated here such that by means of the humidifying device 1 supply air enriched, i.e., moistened with water and/or water vapour, is provided on the fuel cell via a connector 31 of the humidifying device 1. With the moistened supply air, a polymer electrolyte membrane of the fuel cell can be moistened there for example. During the operation of the fuel cell, oxygen practically reacts with hydrogen giving off energy to form the reaction products water and/or water vapour, which, in the form of moist waste air, flows out of the fuel cell. So as not to lose this waste air from the fuel cell unutilised, it can be made to flow into the humidifying device 1 as waste air flow 2 through a further connector of the humidifying device 1.

[0038] The humidifying device 1 for its part is fed with dry supply air via a further connector of the humidifying device 1. In order to moisten the supply air by means of the humidifying device 1, it is provided to transfer water and/or water vapour from the waste air of the waste air flow 2 enriched with water and/or water vapour flowing through the humidifying device 1 to the supply air of the supply air flow 3 to be enriched, for the purpose of which the waste air flow 2 and the supply air flow 3 are conducted past one another crossing multiple times. Following the transfer, the utilised waste air of the waste air flow 2 can flow out of the humidifying device 1 through a further connector of the humidifying device 1 and the moistened supply air utilised at the fuel cell as described above.

[0039] In FIG. 1, a perspective view of a humidifying device 1 cut approximately in half, according to a first exemplary embodiment is shown. Initially, it comprises a plate stack 5 having a longitudinal extent along a longitudinal axis 4, which comprises individual plates 6 that are separate and touchingly stacked onto one another in the direction of the longitudinal axis 4. The individual plates 6 each carry a fluid-permeable membrane 7, which serve for transferring water from waste air enriched with water of the waste air flow 2 to supply air to be enriched with water of the supply air flow 3. As is noticeable in FIGS. 1 and 2, the humidifying device 1 comprises a preferentially one-piece housing 8, which exemplarily forms two housing openings 9, of which however merely a single one is shown here. This one housing opening 9 is rectangular in shape although a housing opening 9 configured round is also conceivable in principle. At any rate, the described plate stack 5 is completely inserted into the housing 8 through this housing opening 9, so that it is completely framed, protected and supported by the housing 8 all around.

[0040] Furthermore, the humidifying device 1 comprises at least one housing cover 10 that is embodied congruently with at least one of the housing openings 9, which housing cover 10 can close this one housing opening 9 completely, in particular in a fluid-tight manner. In the direction of the longitudinal axis 4, between the housing cover 10 installed on the housing 8 on the housing opening 9 and the plate stack 5 a compensating chamber 11 is defined. A single spreading means 12 is exemplarily received in the compensating chamber 11. This spreading means 12 spreads the plate stack 5 and the housing cover 10 apart in the direction of the longitudinal axis 4.

[0041] According to FIGS. 1 and 2 it is exemplarily provided to embody the spreading means 12 in multiple parts, for it is formed by a separate helical compression spring 14 touchingly supporting itself on the housing cover 10, a separate sealing plate 14 and a separate plate seal 16. The compression spring 14 extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis 4 completely through the compensating chamber 11, so that it touchingly supports itself on the one hand on the housing cover 10 and on the other hand on the sealing plate 15. Within the compensating chamber 11, the sealing plate 15 is movably mounted on the housing 8 from the inside in the direction of the longitudinal axis 4. On a large side facing away from the compression spring it carries the plate seal 16, which is produced for example from elastic sealing material. The plate seal 16 is subjected to force via the sealing plate 15 by the compression spring 14 and in the direction of the longitudinal axis 4 touchingly clamped onto the plate stack 5, so that the plate stack 5 is fixed in the direction of the longitudinal axis 4 and so that the plate stack 5 is quasi sealed against the compensating chamber 11.

[0042] FIG. 3 shows in a lateral view, like FIG. 2, a humidifying device 1 according to a further exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. It differs from the preceding exemplary embodiment in particular by a structurally changed spreading means 12. Here, the same is namely formed by a leaf spring 17 integrally embodied with the housing cover 10, a separate sealing plate 15 and a separate plate seal 16, wherein the sealing plate 15 and the plate seal 16 are embodied identically with respect to the preceding exemplary embodiment. In any case it is noticeable that the leaf spring 17 comprises at least two leaf spring legs, each of which extend angularly, in particular each at an angle of approximately 45° with respect to the longitudinal axis 4 or the housing cover 10, through the compensating chamber 11 towards the sealing plate in order to touchingly lie against the sealing plate 15 there and in order to sealingly clamp the plate seal 16 onto the plate stack 5.

[0043] The sealing plate 15 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is exemplarily formed by a pot body 18 which comprises an obviously rectangular pot base 19, which is framed by a completely surrounding pot wall 20. The pot wall 20 exemplarily projects away from the pot base 19 at a right angle, wherein the plate seal 16 is realised by a flat elastic gasket 21 that is formed in one piece and congruently with the pot base 19 in terms of area.

[0044] FIG. 4 shows in a lateral view, like FIGS. 2 and 3, a humidifying device 1 according to the disclosure in accordance with a further exemplary embodiment. This too differs from the preceding exemplary embodiments in particular through a structurally modified spreading means 12. Here, the same is formed by a separate elastic hose seal 22, a separate sealing plate 15 and a separate plate seal 16. The hose seal 22 is equipped with elastic material properties and touchingly arranged on the housing cover 10, on the housing 8 and on the sealing plate 15. It runs completely around the compensating chamber 11 for example along the housing opening 9 and expands in the direction of the longitudinal axis 4 through the compensating chamber 11 in order to lie against the sealing plate 15 in a touchingly supported manner. Within the compensating chamber 11, the sealing plate 15 is movably mounted on the housing 8 from the inside in the direction of the longitudinal axis 4 and carries the plate seal 16 on a large side facing away with respect to the hose seal 22. This plate seal 16 is subjected to force via the sealing plate 15 by the hose seal 22, as a result of which the plate seal 16 is touchingly clamped onto the plate stack 5. By way of this, the plate stack 5 can quasi be sealed against the compensating chamber 11.

[0045] FIG. 5 shows in a lateral view, like FIGS. 2 to 4, a humidifying device 1 in accordance with a further exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, wherein the difference with respect to the preceding exemplary embodiments here lies in that the spreading means 12 is structurally modified. According to FIG. 5, the spreading means 12 is namely formed by a cured sealant 23, by a separate sealing plate 15 and by a separate plate seal 16. Furthermore, the housing 8, in contrast with the preceding housings 8, has at least one filling opening 24. Through this filling opening 24, liquid (uncured) sealing 23 can be flowed into the compensating chamber 11 as part of the assembly of the humidifying device 1 in particular so that it completely fills up the compensating chamber 11. By way of this, it is ensured that the sealant 23 is touchingly arranged or flowed-on, on the one hand on the sealing plate 15 arranged within the compensating chamber 11 and on the other hand on the housing cover 10 and on the housing 8. The liquid sealant 23 can cure, automatically or, externally activated, in a volume-expanding manner so that in the cured state it spreads apart the sealing plate 15 and the housing cover 10 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 4. Furthermore it can completely seal the filling opening 24. By way of this, the plate seal 16 arranged on the sealing plate 15 can, subjected to force, lie against the plate stack 5 in order to quasi seal the plate stack 5 against the compensating chamber 11.

[0046] The preceding exemplary embodiments have in common that the housing cover or housing covers 10 are each formed by a round or square flat rim part 26 with a centrally projecting cover curvature 27, see FIGS. 1 and 2. The cover curvature 27 and the flat rim part 26 delimit or form a curvature volume 28. According to FIGS. 1 and 2, it is noticeable that the housing cover 10, in the assembled state of the humidifying device 1, is arranged on the housing 8 so that the cover curvature 27 projects away from the housing 8 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 4. By way of this, the curvature volume 28 and the volume of the compensating chamber 11 can add up, i.e., become larger. Furthermore, it can also be provided, according to FIGS. 3 and 5, that the housing cover 10, in the assembled state of the humidifying device 1, is arranged on the housing 8 so that the cover curvature 27 projects in the direction of the longitudinal axis 4 towards the plate stack 5 into the housing 8. By way of this, the volume of the compensating chamber 11 diminishes by the curvature volume 28. Only the humidifying device 1 according to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 has a flat housing cover 10.

[0047] Furthermore, FIG. 6 shows in a lateral view, as in FIGS. 2 to 5, a humidifying device 1 in accordance with a further exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. The same, too, differs from the preceding exemplary embodiments. Here, it is exemplarily provided that the spreading means 12 is completely replaced by a housing cover 10 or formed by the same. For this purpose, the housing cover 10 is formed as closure cover 29 and inserted or slid into the housing 8 through the housing opening 9 and furthermore pressed or wedged or welded or glued to the housing 8 from the inside. On one of its two large sides, the closure cover 29 carries a plate seal 16 which in the installed state of the closure cover 29 is touchingly laid against the plate stack 5 in order to seal the plate stack 5 against the surroundings. In FIG. 6, it is also noticeable that the closure cover 29 and the plate seal 16 are equipped with a single air passage 30, which completely penetrates the same along the longitudinal axis 4. The air passage 30 serves for conducting through the waste air flow 2 or the supply air flow 3 mentioned at the outset. The air passage 30 is exemplarily formed by a hollow cylindrical connector 31 that extends parallel with respect to the longitudinal axis 4 and a passage opening 32 which extends parallel with respect to the longitudinal axis. The connector 31 for its part is integrally formed on the closure cover 29, the passage opening 32 for its part is integrally formed on the plate seal 16. The connector 31 and the passage opening 32 are orientated aligned with one another so that fluid can flow through.

[0048] Finally, FIG. 7 shows a humidifying device 1 according to a further exemplary embodiment, which is substantially constructed analogously to the humidifying device 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, so that the above explanations in this regard can also be incorporated here. The humidifying device 1 according to FIG. 7 differs from the preceding exemplary embodiments by the particularity described in the following that the housing cover 10 is moulded onto the housing 8. By way of this, the housing cover 10 and the housing 8 form a one-piece monolithic assembly. Exemplarily, the housing cover 10 and the housing 8 are produced by a common primary moulding, for example by means of injection moulding to near the final contour. In order for the said plate stack 7 to be insertable into the housing 8 it is provided, furthermore, but not illustrated in FIG. 7, that the housing 8 comprises at least one housing opening through which the plate stack 5 can be completely inserted into the housing 8. By way of this, the housing is quasi open towards at least one side. This housing opening, in the assembled state of the humidifying device 1, with a housing cover, is completely sealed, i.e., in particular in a fluid-tight manner. Because of this, the humidifying device 1 can be cost-effectively realised with a relatively low number of components.

[0049] It is understood that the foregoing description is that of the exemplary embodiments of the disclosure and that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined in the appended claims.