{
  "patent_number": "US 10950878",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "How a Fuel Cell Humidifier Controls Air Moisture with a Smart Valve",
  "original_title": "Humidifier for a fuel cell",
  "summary": "This patent describes a fuel cell humidifier that uses two humidifying spaces and a controllable valve to precisely adjust the moisture content of incoming air before it reaches the fuel cell stack, improving efficiency and durability.",
  "what_it_does": "This humidifier prepares incoming air, called inflow gas, for a fuel cell by adding moisture. It features a body with two separate humidifying spaces, a first and a second, each containing special membranes (humidifying membranes) that allow water vapor to pass through. Exhaust gas from the fuel cell, which is naturally humid, flows around these membranes to transfer moisture to the drier inflow gas. A key component is a first valve installed in a 'passing space' (Claim 1). This valve can direct the inflow gas either through the second humidifying space, bypass the second humidifying space entirely, or split the flow so some goes through and some bypasses. By controlling this valve, the system can select the exact path for the inflow gas, allowing for fine-tuned humidification based on the fuel cell's needs (Claim 1). For example, if the fuel cell needs more humid air, the valve can direct all inflow gas through both humidifying spaces.",
  "what_it_does_not_cover": [
    "Does not cover humidifiers that lack a second, distinct humidifying space that can be selectively bypassed by a valve.",
    "Does not cover systems where the inflow gas always passes through the same humidification path without an adjustable valve.",
    "Does not cover humidifiers that only use a single humidifying membrane or space for all incoming air.",
    "Does not cover humidification methods that do not use exhaust gas from the fuel cell stack as the moisture source.",
    "Does not cover humidifiers where the valve cannot split the inflow gas into both humidified and non-humidified streams simultaneously."
  ],
  "filed": "2019-03-28",
  "granted": "2021-03-16",
  "expires": "2039-03-28",
  "status": "active",
  "holder": "Hyundai Motor",
  "holder_url": "https://patentbrief.org/company/hyundai-motor",
  "inventors": [
    {
      "name": "Hyun Yoo Kim",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/hyun-yoo-kim"
    },
    {
      "name": "Sae Han OH",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/sae-han-oh"
    }
  ],
  "times_cited": 4,
  "tags": [
    "automotive",
    "energy",
    "mechanical",
    "consumer_electronics"
  ],
  "abstract": "A humidifier for a fuel cell includes a body, first and second humidifying spaces formed inside the body, an exhaust gas inlet and an exhaust gas outlet for supplying exhaust gas released from the fuel cell stack into the first and second humidifying spaces, a passing space formed inside the body and directly or indirectly communicated with the second humidifying space and the fuel cell stack. The inflow gas flows into the passing space from the first humidifying space. A valve is installed in the passing space to allow the inflow gas introduced into the passing space to flow into the fuel cell stack with or without passing through or to allow some of the inflow gas introduced into the passing space to flow into the fuel cell stack passing through the second humidifying space and others of the inflow gas introduced into the fuel cell stack without passing through the second humidifying space.",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10950878/humidifier-for-a-fuel-cell",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10950878/humidifier-for-a-fuel-cell/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US10950878",
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}