Fuel cell humidifier with bypass-type baffle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fuel cell humidifier having a bypass-type baffle, the humidifier being characterized by comprising: an intermediate case having an exhaust gas inlet through which exhaust gas discharged from a fuel cell stack flows, and an exhaust gas outlet for discharging the exhaust gas; the filter element is arranged in the middle shell and comprises an inner shell and a fixing unit, the humidifying film is arranged in the inner shell, and the fixing unit is used for fixing the humidifying film from one side and the other side of the inner shell; a bypass flow path formed between an inner wall of the intermediate housing and an outer side of the inner housing; and a baffle plate provided in the inner space of the intermediate housing and partitioning the bypass flow path, in which the baffle plate is provided with a movement hole through which the fluid moves.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to a fuel cell humidifier including a bypass baffle, and more specifically, to a fuel cell humidifier including a bypass baffle that can reduce pressure differential by allowing exhaust gas to bypass through a bypass flow path and increase the effective area of ​​the humidification membrane by diversifying the fluid movement path via the baffle. Background Technology

[0002] A fuel cell is a power-generating battery that combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity. Unlike ordinary chemical batteries such as dry cell batteries or storage batteries, a fuel cell can continuously generate electricity as long as hydrogen and oxygen are supplied. Furthermore, because there is no heat loss in a fuel cell, it also has the advantage of being approximately twice as efficient as an internal combustion engine.

[0003] The fuel cell system includes a stack of power generation components that are unit fuel cells consisting of an air electrode and a fuel electrode, an air supply device for supplying air to the air electrode of the fuel cell, and a hydrogen supply device for supplying hydrogen to the fuel electrode of the fuel cell.

[0004] In polymer fuel cells within a fuel cell system, the ion exchange membrane of the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) requires a suitable amount of moisture to function properly, and to achieve this, the air supply unit of the fuel cell system includes a humidifier for humidifying the air supplied to the fuel cell.

[0005] The humidifier humidifies the dry gas supplied by the air compressor of the air supply system by using the moisture in the hot and humid exhaust gas discharged from the air electrode of the fuel cell, and supplies the humidified air to the air electrode of the fuel cell.

[0006] Fuel cell humidifiers use membrane humidification. These humidifiers perform membrane humidification through gas-to-gas moisture exchange between hot, humid exhaust gas from the air electrode of the fuel cell and dry gas supplied by an air compressor.

[0007] A fuel cell humidifier may include a filter element, wherein the humidifying membrane, composed of a hollow fiber membrane, is arranged in modules. Dry gas passes through the hollow fiber membrane through one side and the other side of the filter element, and openings (windows) are provided in the outward-facing side of the filter element.

[0008] Exhaust gas flows into the filter element through the opening, and the exhaust gas in the filter element exchanges moisture with the dry gas passing through the hollow fiber membrane.

[0009] However, this type of filter element has the following problems. Typically, the opening in the side of the filter element is formed at the point where exhaust gas flows in, and as the amount of exhaust gas becomes more concentrated and the flow rate increases at the point of exhaust gas inflow, the humidification membrane is damaged, resulting in reduced durability.

[0010] Furthermore, because the path of the exhaust gas through the filter element is predetermined, the membrane is used unevenly in sections within the filter element where the exhaust gas flow path is not defined. Therefore, the humidification efficiency of this fuel cell decreases due to a reduction in the effective membrane area and an increase in the pressure differential. Summary of the Invention

[0011] Technical issues

[0012] This disclosure aims to address the aforementioned problems, and more specifically, relates to a fuel cell humidifier including a bypass baffle, which reduces pressure differential by allowing exhaust gas to bypass through a bypass flow path and increases the effective area of ​​the humidification membrane by diversifying the fluid movement path via the baffle.

[0013] Technical solution

[0014] The fuel cell humidifier including a bypass baffle disclosed above includes: an intermediate housing having an exhaust gas inlet and an exhaust gas outlet, through which exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell stack flows in and through which exhaust gas is discharged; a filter element disposed inside the intermediate housing and including an inner housing and a fixing portion, wherein a humidifying membrane is disposed in the inner housing and the fixing portion is configured to fix the humidifying membrane at one side and the other side of the inner housing; a bypass flow path formed between the inner wall of the intermediate housing and the outer side of the inner housing; and a bypass baffle disposed in the internal space of the intermediate housing and separating the bypass flow path, wherein the bypass baffle has a moving orifice through which fluid moves.

[0015] In the fuel cell humidifier including the bypass baffle disclosed above, the side surface of the inner housing may have openings arranged continuously from one side of the inner housing to the other side of the inner housing.

[0016] In the fuel cell humidifier including the bypass baffle disclosed above, the bypass flow path may include a first bypass flow path formed between the upper part of the inner wall of the intermediate housing and the upper part of the outer side of the inner housing, and a second bypass flow path formed between the lower part of the inner wall of the intermediate housing and the lower part of the outer side of the inner housing. The bypass baffle may have a plate shape and separate the first bypass flow path and the second bypass flow path, and the movable hole in the bypass baffle may be provided at a point where one of the first bypass flow path and the second bypass flow path is formed.

[0017] In the fuel cell humidifier including the bypass baffle disclosed above, the bypass baffle may have a plate shape and a mounting hole into which the inner housing is inserted, and a movable hole may be provided in one of the upper and lower parts of the mounting hole.

[0018] In the fuel cell humidifier including the bypass baffle disclosed above, the bypass baffle may include a first baffle having a movable hole only in the upper part of the mounting hole and a second baffle having a movable hole only in the lower part of the mounting hole, and the first baffle and the second baffle may be arranged in the internal space of the intermediate housing.

[0019] In the fuel cell humidifier including the bypass baffle disclosed above, the first baffle and the second baffle can be alternately arranged in the internal space of the intermediate housing.

[0020] In the fuel cell humidifier including the bypass baffle disclosed above, the bypass baffle may include a first baffle having a movable hole only in the upper part of the mounting hole, and a plurality of first baffles may be arranged in the internal space of the intermediate housing such that a first bypass flow path is opened and a second bypass flow path is closed.

[0021] In the fuel cell humidifier including the bypass baffle disclosed above, the bypass baffle may include a second baffle having a movable hole only in the lower part of the mounting hole, and a plurality of second baffles may be arranged in the internal space of the intermediate housing such that the second bypass flow path is opened and the first bypass flow path is closed.

[0022] Beneficial effects

[0023] This disclosure relates to a fuel cell humidifier including a bypass baffle, and the fuel cell humidifier has the advantage of reducing pressure differential by forming a permanent bypass flow path between the inner shell and the inner wall of the intermediate shell of the filter element and bypassing exhaust gas.

[0024] Furthermore, the fuel cell humidifier including a bypass baffle according to the embodiments of this disclosure can increase the effective area of ​​the humidification membrane by diversifying the fluid movement path via the baffle that separates the bypass flow path, thereby improving humidification efficiency and reducing pressure difference. Attached Figure Description

[0025] Figure 1 This is an exploded perspective view of a fuel cell humidifier including a bypass baffle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0026] Figure 2 This is a diagram showing a filter element installed in an intermediate housing according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0027] Figure 3This is a diagram illustrating a filter element in which openings are formed throughout the entire side surface of the inner housing according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0028] Figure 4 This is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present disclosure in which a first baffle and a second baffle are alternately arranged within an intermediate housing to alter the movement path of the exhaust gas.

[0029] Figure 5 This is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present disclosure in which only the first baffle is arranged within the intermediate housing such that the first bypass flow path is open and the second bypass flow path is closed.

[0030] Figure 6 This is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present disclosure in which only the second baffle is arranged within the intermediate housing such that the second bypass flow path is open and the first bypass flow path is closed. Detailed Implementation

[0031] This specification clarifies the scope of this disclosure and describes its principles, and discloses implementation methods to enable those skilled in the art to practice this disclosure. The disclosed implementation methods can be implemented in various forms.

[0032] The terms "comprising" and "may include" as used in various embodiments of this disclosure indicate the presence of the disclosed functions, operations, components, etc., and do not limit one or more additional functions, operations, components, etc. Furthermore, in various embodiments of this disclosure, the terms "comprising," "having," etc., are intended to indicate the presence of features, quantities, steps, operations, constituent elements, components, or combinations thereof described in the specification, but should be understood to not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, quantities, steps, operations, constituent elements, components, or combinations thereof.

[0033] When a component is referred to as being "connected to" or "attached to" another component, it should be understood that the component can be directly connected to or attached to another component, but there may also be another component between the components. Conversely, when a component is referred to as being "directly connected to" or "directly attached to" another component, it should be understood that there are no other components between the components.

[0034] While the terms "first," "second," etc., used in this document can be used to describe various components, these components should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one component from another.

[0035] This disclosure relates to a fuel cell humidifier including a bypass baffle, and further to a fuel cell humidifier including a bypass baffle that can reduce pressure differential by allowing exhaust gas to bypass through a bypass flow path, and increase the effective area of ​​the humidification membrane by diversifying the fluid movement path via the baffle. Preferred embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0036] A fuel cell humidifier including a bypass baffle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes an intermediate housing 110, a filter element 130, a bypass flow path 150, and a baffle 160.

[0037] A fuel cell humidifier according to an embodiment of this disclosure can humidify the gas to be supplied to the fuel cell stack. (See also...) Figure 1 The intermediate housing 110 can be the outer housing of the humidifier, and the humidifying membrane 132 for humidifying the air can be disposed inside the intermediate housing 110.

[0038] The intermediate housing 110 may have an exhaust gas inlet 111 and an exhaust gas outlet 112. The intermediate housing 110 may have an exhaust gas inlet 111 and an exhaust gas outlet 112, whereby hot and humid exhaust gas to be discharged from the fuel cell stack may flow into the exhaust gas inlet 111 and the exhaust gas may flow out from the exhaust gas outlet 112.

[0039] According to an embodiment of this disclosure, the end cap 120 can be connected to the intermediate housing 110. The end cap 120 is connected to one side and the other side of the intermediate housing 110, respectively.

[0040] The end cap 120 may have an air inlet 121 that supplies dry air to the intermediate housing 110 and an air outlet 122 that discharges humidified air from the intermediate housing 110.

[0041] Specifically, the end cap 120 connected to one side of the intermediate housing 110 may have an air outlet 122, and the end cap 120 connected to the other side of the intermediate housing 110 may have an air inlet 121. The air outlet 122 may be connected to the fuel cell stack, and the humidified air discharged through the air outlet 122 may be supplied to the fuel cell stack.

[0042] The hot and humid exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell stack can flow into the intermediate housing 110 through the exhaust gas inlet 111 formed in the intermediate housing 110.

[0043] The exhaust gas flowing into the intermediate housing 110 is supplied with moisture to the dry air supply to the intermediate housing 110 through the air inlet 121 of the end cover 120.

[0044] Exhaust gas that supplies moisture to the dry air can be discharged to the outside through exhaust gas outlet 112 formed in the intermediate housing 110. The dry air humidified by the intermediate housing 110 is discharged through air outlet 122, and the humidified air is supplied to the fuel cell stack.

[0045] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the end cap 120 can be connected to one side and the other side of the intermediate housing 110 respectively, and the end cap 120 can also be integrally formed with the intermediate housing 110.

[0046] Reference Figure 2 and Figure 3 The filter element 130 may include an inner housing 140 in which a humidifying membrane 132 is disposed, and a fixing part 131 for fixing the two humidifying membranes 132 to one side and the other side of the inner housing 140 respectively.

[0047] Filter element 130 can be arranged inside the intermediate housing 110. (Refer to...) Figure 2 The inner housing 140 may have space therein, and one or more inner housings 140 may be arranged inside the intermediate housing 110.

[0048] The humidifying membrane 132 can be arranged inside the inner housing 140. The humidifying membrane 132 can exchange moisture between the exhaust gas and the dry air, and one or more humidifying membranes 132 can be arranged inside the inner housing 140.

[0049] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the humidifying membrane 132 may include a hollow fiber membrane. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the humidifying membrane 132 may include various types of humidifying membranes, as long as the humidifying membrane can exchange moisture between the exhaust gas and the dry air.

[0050] The fixing part 131 fixes the humidifying film 132 to the inner housing 140 on one side of the inner housing 140, and the fixing part 131 may be composed of a potting layer.

[0051] The fixing part 131 can be formed on one side of each of the plurality of humidifying films 132, and one side of each of the plurality of humidifying films 132 can be fixed to one side of the inner housing 140 by the fixing part 131.

[0052] Furthermore, the fixing part 131 can also fix each of the plurality of humidifying films 132 to the inner housing 140 on the other side of the inner housing 140. The fixing part 131 can also be formed on the other side of each of the plurality of humidifying films 132, and the other side of each of the plurality of humidifying films 132 can be fixed to the other side of the inner housing 140 by the fixing part 131.

[0053] The fixing part 131 can isolate the internal space of the inner housing 140, and by providing the fixing part 131 on one side and the other side of the inner housing 140 respectively, the dry air can flow only through the inner side of the humidifying film 132 or the hollow space of the humidifying film 132.

[0054] The fuel cell humidifier including a bypass baffle according to an embodiment of this disclosure may further include an encapsulation member 133. (See also...) Figure 1 The encapsulation component 133 is inserted between the filter element 130 and the intermediate housing 110 to seal the space between the filter element 130 and the intermediate housing 110.

[0055] The encapsulation component 133 can prevent the dry air supplied through the end cap 120 from directly mixing with the exhaust gas supplied to the intermediate housing 110.

[0056] Reference Figure 1 The encapsulation components 133 are respectively disposed on one side and the other side of the filter element 130 to separate and isolate the points through which dry air flows in and out from the points through which exhaust gas flows in and out.

[0057] By separating the points through which dry air flows in and out from the points through which exhaust gas flows in and out via the encapsulation member 133, direct mixing of the dry air supplied through the end cap 120 and the exhaust gas supplied to the intermediate housing 110 can be prevented.

[0058] The encapsulation member 133 may be made of rubber, but is not limited to it, and may include various components. For example, the encapsulation member 133 may include soft or hard components, and may also include metal components.

[0059] Reference Figure 3 According to embodiments of this disclosure, the opening 134 (window) may be continuously provided along the side surface of the inner housing 140 from one side of the inner housing 140 to the other side. The opening 134 may be open to the outside, and exhaust gas may flow into the filter element 130 through the opening 134.

[0060] The opening 134 can be provided only on one side and the other side of the inner housing 140. However, in this case, the inflow of exhaust gas is concentrated on the opening 134 provided on one side and the other side of the inner housing 140, causing the exhaust gas to flow rapidly in the opening 134. Therefore, the humidification membrane may be damaged.

[0061] To prevent this problem, the fuel cell humidifier including a bypass baffle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may have an opening 134 (window) continuously arranged from one side of the inner housing 140 to the other side of the inner housing 140. That is, the opening 134 may be provided in the entire side surface of the inner housing 140.

[0062] In this way, by providing openings 134 throughout the entire side surface of the inner housing 140, it is possible to prevent the flow rate from concentrating on some openings 134 and thus increasing the flow velocity.

[0063] When the opening 134 is disposed in the entire side surface of the inner housing 140, the humidification efficiency can be improved by allowing exhaust gas to flow into the various points of the opening 134. Therefore, a fuel cell humidifier including a bypass baffle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a bypass flow path 150 and a baffle 160.

[0064] Reference Figure 4 The bypass flow path 150 can be formed between the inner wall of the intermediate housing 110 and the outer side of the inner housing 140. The bypass flow path 150 can be formed between the inner wall of the intermediate housing 110 and the outer side of the inner housing 140, and exhaust gas can flow on the outer side of the filter element 130 through the bypass flow path 150.

[0065] The bypass path 150 can be a permanent bypass path formed between the inner walls of the inner housing 140 and the intermediate housing 110 of the filter element 130, and exhaust gas can be bypassed through the bypass path 150.

[0066] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a fuel cell humidifier including a bypass baffle can reduce pressure differential by forming a bypass flow path 150 to bypass exhaust gas.

[0067] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the bypass flow path 150 may include a first bypass flow path 151 formed between the upper inner wall 113 of the intermediate housing 110 and the outer side of the upper portion 141 of the inner housing 140, and a second bypass flow path 152 formed between the lower inner wall 114 of the intermediate housing 110 and the outer side of the lower portion 142 of the inner housing 140.

[0068] Here, the upper inner wall 113 of the intermediate shell 110 can be based on Figure 4 The inner wall of the upper part of the intermediate housing 110 is provided, and the lower inner wall 114 of the intermediate housing 110 can be based on... Figure 4 It is located on the inner wall of the lower part of the intermediate housing 110.

[0069] Furthermore, the upper part 141 of the inner housing 140 can be based on Figure 4 The upper portion of the inner housing 140, and the lower portion 142 of the inner housing 140 can be based on Figure 4The lower part of the inner shell 140.

[0070] The side surface 143 of the inner housing 140 can be based on Figure 4 An opening 134 is formed on the surface between the upper part 141 and the lower part 142 of the inner housing 140, and the opening 134 may be provided in the entire side surface 143 of the inner housing 140.

[0071] Reference Figure 4 A baffle 160 can be arranged in the interior space of the intermediate housing 110 to separate the bypass flow path 150. The baffle 160 can have a plate shape and can be installed inside the intermediate housing 110, and thus, the bypass flow path 150 can be separated by the baffle 160 having a plate shape.

[0072] Reference Figure 4 The baffle 160 may have a movable hole 161 through which fluid can move, and the fluid can move through the movable hole 161. The movable hole 161 may extend through the baffle 160.

[0073] The baffle 160 may include points where a movable orifice 161 is provided and points where no movable orifice 161 is provided. Fluid can move through the points in the baffle 160 where the movable orifice 161 is provided, and can also move without passing through the points in the baffle 160 where no movable orifice 161 is provided.

[0074] When the bypass flow path 150 is separated by the baffle 160, the path of fluid movement through it can be changed by altering the point at which the moving hole 161 is set, thus allowing for diversification of fluid movement paths.

[0075] Specifically, by dividing the bypass flow path 150 via the baffle 160 and changing the point where the moving hole 161 is set, the path along which the exhaust gas moves between the bypass flow path 150 and the opening 134 can be changed.

[0076] Reference Figure 4 According to an embodiment of this disclosure, the mounting hole 162 into which the inner housing 140 is inserted can be provided inside the baffle 160. The mounting hole 162 can penetrate the baffle 160, and the inner housing 140 can be inserted into the mounting hole 162.

[0077] When the baffle 160 is arranged inside the intermediate housing 110, the baffle 160 can be arranged such that the inner housing 140 is inserted through the mounting hole 162 of the baffle 160.

[0078] According to embodiments of this disclosure, the movable hole 161 of the baffle 160 can be provided in the upper or lower part of the mounting hole 162. The movable hole 161 of the baffle 160 can be selectively provided in the upper or lower part of the mounting hole 162. If necessary, the movable hole 161 can also be provided in both the upper and lower parts of the mounting hole 162.

[0079] Reference Figure 4 Multiple baffles 160 can be arranged inside the intermediate housing 110, and the baffles 160 can separate the first bypass flow path 151 from the second bypass flow path 152.

[0080] The movable hole 161 of the baffle 160 can be provided at the point where the first bypass flow path 151 or the second bypass flow path 152 is formed, and thus the path of the fluid through the first bypass flow path 151 and the second bypass flow path 152 can be changed.

[0081] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the baffle 160 may include a first baffle 171 and a second baffle 172. In the first baffle 171, the moving hole 161 is only provided in the upper part of the mounting hole 162, and in the second baffle 172, the moving hole 161 is only provided in the lower part of the mounting hole 162.

[0082] When the first bypass flow path 151 is separated from the second bypass flow path 152 by the first baffle 171 in which the movable hole 161 is only provided in the upper part of the mounting hole 162, the first bypass flow path 151 can be in a state where fluid can move through the movable hole 161, and the second bypass flow path 152 can be in a blocked state where fluid cannot move.

[0083] When the first bypass flow path 151 is separated from the second bypass flow path 152 by the second baffle 172 in which the movable hole 161 is only provided in the lower part of the mounting hole 162, the second bypass flow path 152 can be in a state where fluid can move through the movable hole 161, and the first bypass flow path 151 can be in a blocked state where fluid cannot move.

[0084] Multiple baffles 160 can be arranged in the interior space of the intermediate housing 110, and one or more first baffles 171 and one or more second baffles 172 can be arranged in the interior space of the intermediate housing 110. By arranging the first baffles 171 and the second baffles 172 in the interior space of the intermediate housing 110, the movement path of the exhaust gas can be diversified.

[0085] Reference Figure 4 According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the first baffle 171 and the second baffle 172 may be alternately arranged in the internal space of the intermediate housing 110.

[0086] When the first baffle 171 and the second baffle 172 are alternately arranged inside the intermediate housing 110, as... Figure 4 As shown, the exhaust gas flowing in through the exhaust gas inlet 111 moves alternately between the upper and lower parts of the filter element 130 through the first bypass flow path 151 and the second bypass flow path 152.

[0087] When exhaust gas moves alternately between the upper and lower parts of the filter element 130 through the first bypass flow path 151 and the second bypass flow path 152, exhaust gas can flow in through the entire side surface of the inner housing 140 because the opening 134 is provided in the entire side surface of the inner housing 140.

[0088] Because exhaust gas can flow into the entire side surface of the inner housing 140 through the first baffle 171, the second baffle 172, the first bypass flow path 151, and the second bypass flow path 152, the effective area of ​​the humidification membrane 132 can be increased. Therefore, the humidification efficiency of the fuel cell humidifier can be improved, while the pressure drop can be reduced.

[0089] In other words, the fuel cell humidifier including bypass baffles according to the embodiments of the present disclosure uses an internal housing 140 having an opening 134 provided in the entire side surface, and changes the movement path of the exhaust gas moving in the first bypass flow path 151 and the second bypass flow path 152 by the first baffle 171 and the second baffle 172, and thus the effective area of ​​the humidification membrane 132 can be increased, thereby improving the humidification efficiency.

[0090] In the internal space of the intermediate housing 110 of the fuel cell humidifier including the bypass baffle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a plurality of first baffles 171 having movable holes 161 provided only in the upper part of the mounting hole 162 may also be arranged.

[0091] Reference Figure 5 Only a plurality of first baffles 171 can be arranged in the interior space of the intermediate housing 110, and thus the first bypass flow path 151 is opened and the second bypass flow path 152 is closed.

[0092] Furthermore, in the internal space of the intermediate housing 110 of the fuel cell humidifier including the bypass baffle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a plurality of second baffles 172, each having a movable hole 161 provided only in the lower part of the mounting hole 162, can be arranged.

[0093] Reference Figure 6 Only a plurality of second baffles 172 can be arranged in the interior space of the intermediate housing 110, and thus the second bypass flow path 152 is opened and the first bypass flow path 151 is closed.

[0094] In a fuel cell humidifier including a bypass baffle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the movement path of the exhaust gas moving through the first bypass flow path 151 and the second bypass flow path 152 can be changed according to the position and shape of the exhaust gas inlet 111 and the exhaust gas outlet 112 and the hydraulic pressure of the exhaust gas.

[0095] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a fuel cell humidifier including a bypass baffle can open a first bypass flow path 151 and close a second bypass flow path 152 via a first baffle 171, such as... Figure 5 As shown, and therefore, the exhaust gas can move only through the first bypass flow path 151 formed in the upper part of the inner housing 140.

[0096] Furthermore, the fuel cell humidifier including a bypass baffle according to embodiments of this disclosure can open the second bypass flow path 152 and close the first bypass flow path 151 via the second baffle 172, such as... Figure 6 As shown, and therefore, exhaust gas can also move only through the second bypass flow path 152 formed in the lower part of the inner housing 140.

[0097] The fuel cell humidifier including a bypass baffle according to the above-disclosed embodiments has the following effects.

[0098] The fuel cell humidifier including a bypass baffle according to embodiments of the present disclosure has the advantage of reducing pressure differential by forming a permanent bypass flow path between the inner shell and the inner wall of the intermediate shell of the filter element and bypassing exhaust gas.

[0099] Furthermore, the fuel cell humidifier including a bypass baffle according to the embodiments of this disclosure can increase the effective area of ​​the humidification membrane by diversifying the fluid movement path via the baffle that separates the bypass flow path, thereby improving humidification efficiency and reducing pressure difference.

[0100] While this disclosure has been described with reference to embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, these are merely examples, and those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and variations of the embodiments can be derived therefrom. Therefore, the true scope of this disclosure should be defined by the technical spirit of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A fuel cell humidifier, the fuel cell humidifier comprising a bypass baffle, the fuel cell humidifier comprising: An intermediate housing having an exhaust gas inlet and an exhaust gas outlet, wherein exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell stack flows in through the exhaust gas inlet and the exhaust gas outlet is used to discharge the exhaust gas; A filter element is disposed inside the intermediate housing and includes an inner housing and a fixing part, a humidifying membrane is disposed in the inner housing, and the fixing part is configured to fix the humidifying membrane at one side and the other side of the inner housing; A bypass flow path is formed between the inner wall of the intermediate housing and the outer side of the inner housing; and A bypass baffle is disposed within the internal space of the intermediate housing and separates the bypass flow path. The bypass baffle has a movable hole through which fluid moves.

2. The fuel cell humidifier according to claim 1, wherein, The side surface of the inner housing has openings arranged continuously from one side of the inner housing to the other side.

3. The fuel cell humidifier according to claim 1, wherein, The bypass flow path includes a first bypass flow path formed between the upper portion of the inner wall of the intermediate housing and the upper portion of the outer side of the inner housing, and a second bypass flow path formed between the lower portion of the inner wall of the intermediate housing and the lower portion of the outer side of the inner housing. The bypass baffle has a plate shape and separates the first bypass flow path from the second bypass flow path. The movable hole in the bypass baffle is located at a point where one of the first bypass flow path and the second bypass flow path is formed.

4. The fuel cell humidifier according to claim 3, wherein, The bypass baffle has a plate shape and a mounting hole, into which the inner housing is inserted, and The movable hole is disposed in one of the upper and lower parts of the mounting hole.

5. The fuel cell humidifier according to claim 4, wherein, The bypass baffle includes a first baffle having the movable hole only in the upper part of the mounting hole and a second baffle having the movable hole only in the lower part of the mounting hole, and The first baffle and the second baffle are arranged in the internal space of the intermediate housing.

6. The fuel cell humidifier according to claim 5, wherein, The first baffle and the second baffle are alternately arranged in the internal space of the intermediate housing.

7. The fuel cell humidifier according to claim 4, wherein, The bypass baffle includes a first baffle having the movable hole only in the upper part of the mounting hole, and Multiple first baffles are arranged in the internal space of the intermediate housing such that the first bypass flow path is opened and the second bypass flow path is closed.

8. The fuel cell humidifier according to claim 4, wherein, The bypass baffle includes a second baffle having the movable hole only in the lower part of the mounting hole, and A plurality of second baffles are arranged in the internal space of the intermediate housing such that the second bypass flow path is opened and the first bypass flow path is closed.

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