US 11,929,527 B2
Fuel device and the use thereof in a motor vehicle
Michael Baumann, Ammerbuch (DE); Richard Bruemmer, Stuttgart (DE); Matthias Gaenswein, Esslingen (DE); Sven Alexander Kaiser, Waiblingen (DE); Frank Von Luetzau, Winnenden (DE); Jan Schultes, Stuttgart (DE); and Thomas Strauss, Notzingen (DE)
Assigned to Mahle International GmbH, (DE)
Filed by Mahle International GmbH, Stuttgart (DE)
Filed on Jul. 20, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/869,787.
Claims priority of application No. 102021207794.3 (DE), filed on Jul. 21, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0026964 A1, Jan. 26, 2023
Int. Cl. H01M 8/04119 (2016.01); B01D 53/26 (2006.01); F28F 25/02 (2006.01); H01M 8/04007 (2016.01); H01M 8/04111 (2016.01); H01M 8/04701 (2016.01)
CPC H01M 8/04164 (2013.01) [B01D 53/26 (2013.01); F28F 25/02 (2013.01); H01M 8/04074 (2013.01); H01M 8/04111 (2013.01); H01M 8/04126 (2013.01); H01M 8/04723 (2013.01); H01M 2250/20 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fuel cell device for a motor vehicle, comprising:
a fuel cell, a supply air path leading to the fuel cell for a cathode supply air flow that defines a supply air flow direction, the cathode supply air flow comprising water-containing supply air supplied to the fuel cell; and an exhaust air path leading away from the fuel cell for a cathode exhaust air flow that defines an exhaust air flow direction, the cathode exhaust air flow comprising water-containing exhaust air flowing out of the fuel cell;
the supply air path and the exhaust air path being routed through a humidifier, the humidifier communicates fluidically with a supply air and an exhaust air for humidifying the supply air and dehumidifying the exhaust air;
the exhaust air path being further routed through a water separator, the water separator communicates fluidically with the exhaust air for removing water from the exhaust air and for providing the water as evaporation water;
a heat exchanger for cooling the fuel cell that has an evaporative cooler for cooling the heat exchanger;
wherein the evaporative cooler is assigned to the water separator in fluidic communication and is supplied with evaporation water by the water separator; and
wherein the water separator is arranged upstream of the humidifier with respect to the exhaust air flow direction of the cathode exhaust air flow.