Patent ID: 8974976
Filing Date: 2015-03-10
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A fuel cell system comprising: a first sub-stack including an anode input and an anode output; a second sub-stack including an anode input and an anode output; a plurality of control valves that control the flow of an anode reactant gas to the anode side of the first and second sub-stacks in a stack order switching manner; and a first humidifier positioned at the anode input of the first sub-stack that includes a plurality of corrugated walls separated by plates and a second humidifier positioned at the anode input of the second sub-stack that includes a plurality of corrugated walls separated by plates, wherein the walls and the plates of the first and second humidifiers absorb water, and wherein liquid water in the anode reactant gas that is output from the anode output of the first sub-stack and input into the anode input of the second sub-stack is absorbed by the second humidifier, liquid water in the anode reactant gas that is output from the anode output of the second sub-stack and input to the anode input of the first sub-stack is absorbed by the first humidifier, fresh hydrogen being provided to the anode input of the first sub-stack is humidified by the first humidifier and fresh hydrogen being provided to the second sub-stack is humidified by the second humidifier, wherein the first humidifier is positioned within an anode inlet manifold of the first sub-stack and the second humidifier is positioned within an anode inlet manifold of the second sub-stack.