Abstract:
A fuel feeder includes a fuel reserve body reserving a fuel, a fuel feed section feeding the fuel in the fuel reserve body to electric equipment, and a control section controlling the fuel feed section, wherein the control section obtains equipment information from by the electric equipment and operates the fuel feed section to feed the fuel after the control section has performed authentication of the electric equipment.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a humidity adjustment apparatus, a power generation apparatus, electronic equipment and a method of manufacturing a hollow fiber membrane module, and more particularly to a humidity adjustment apparatus capable of adjusting the humidity of a gas to be supplied to a fuel cell, a power generation apparatus, electronic equipment and a method of manufacturing a hollow fiber membrane module. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    In recent years, the research and the development with regard to the power sources that can realize high energy use efficiency have been energetically performed. 
         [0005]    Above all, a fuel cell is the one reacting a fuel with the oxygen in the atmosphere electrochemically to convert chemical energy into electric energy, and is recognized as a promising and hopeful power generation apparatus. 
         [0006]    Such a power generation apparatus is generally provided with a humidifier (humidity adjustment apparatus) as an apparatus for adjusting humidity in order to keep the electrical conductivity of hydrogen ions high. 
         [0007]    There has been known the membrane type humidifier (e.g. Japanese Patent Application Publication Laid-open No. 2003-115311) which is separated into a humidified gas chamber and a humidifying gas chamber with a water vapor permeable film; which introduces reacting air to be supplied to the air electrode of a fuel cell into the humidified gas chamber; which introduces an offgas ejected from the air electrode into the humidifying gas chamber; which introduces cell cooling water ejected from the cooling section of the fuel cell into the humidifying gas chamber at the same time; which thereby touches the offgas and the water with the reacting air through the water vapor permeable film to humidify the reacting air; and which adjusts the humidity thereby. 
         [0008]    However, although the membrane type humidifier mentioned above can perform the humidification even into an unloaded condition by introducing both of the cell cooling water and the offgas into the one humidifying gas chamber and by humidifying the humidified gas (reacting gas and reacting air) in the humidified gas chamber through the water vapor permeable film, on the other hand it is not considered to adjust humidity to a desired value, and it is difficult to control the humidifying quantity of the humidified gas by the above humidifier. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention was made in view of the situation mentioned above, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a humidity adjustment apparatus capable of easily adjusting the humidity of a humidity-adjusted fluid to a desired value by one apparatus by adjusting the humidity of the supplied humidity-adjusted fluid in each of a plurality of humidity adjusting sections defined by sealing sections, a power generation apparatus provided with the humidity adjustment apparatus, and electronic equipment mounted with the power generation apparatus. And, it is another object of the present invention to provide a method of manufacturing a hollow fiber membrane module to be used for the humidity adjustment apparatus by a method capable of being easily adapted to the prior art. 
         [0010]    In order to accomplish the above object, in accordance with a first aspect of the invention, a humidity adjustment apparatus comprises: a plurality of humidity adjusting sections each adjusting humidity of a humidity-adjusted fluid whose humidity is adjusted, wherein each of the plurality of humidity adjusting sections includes a plurality of hollow fiber membranes, and each of the hollow fiber membranes is at least partly defined by a sealing section, and wherein the humidity-adjusted fluid, which is a gas including water vapor, flows in an inside of the plurality of hollow fiber membranes, and a humidity adjustment fluid, which is any one of a gas having a partial water vapor pressure different from that of the humidity-adjusted fluid and a liquid including water, flows in an outside of the plurality of hollow fiber membranes, and the humidity of the humidity-adjusted fluid is adjusted by transferring water molecules between the humidity-adjusted fluid and the humidity adjustment fluid. 
         [0011]    In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, a power generation apparatus comprises: the above humidity adjustment apparatus; a reforming apparatus to reform a fuel to produce a reformed gas and to supply the produced reformed gas to the humidity adjustment apparatus; and a fuel cell to generate-electricity using the reformed gas whose humidity is adjusted by the humidity adjustment apparatus. 
         [0012]    In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, electronic equipment comprises the above power generation apparatus. 
         [0013]    In accordance with a forth aspect of the invention, a humidity adjustment apparatus comprises: a plurality of hollow fiber membranes; a housing equipped with the plurality of hollow fiber membranes in an inside thereof; and at least one sealing section provided at an central part in an axis direction of the plurality of hollow fiber membranes in the inside of the housing and in an outside of the plurality of hollow fiber membranes, wherein the at least one sealing section defines a plurality of humidity adjusting sections by sealing a space between each of the plurality of hollow fiber membranes, and a humidity-adjusted fluid, which is a gas including water vapor, and whose humidity is adjusted, flows in an inside of the plurality of hollow fiber membranes, and a humidity adjustment fluid, which is any one of a gas having a partial water vapor pressure different from that of the humidity-adjusted fluid and a liquid including water, flows in the inside of the housing and in an outside of the plurality of hollow fiber membranes, and the humidity of the humidity-adjusted fluid is adjusted by transferring water molecules between the humidity-adjusted fluid and the humidity adjustment fluid. 
         [0014]    In accordance with a fifth aspect of the invention, a power generation apparatus comprises: the above humidity adjustment apparatus; a reforming apparatus to reform a fuel to produce a reformed gas, and to supply the produced reformed gas to the humidity adjustment apparatus; and a fuel cell to generate electricity using the reformed gas whose humidity is adjusted by the humidity adjustment apparatus. 
         [0015]    In accordance with a sixth aspect of the invention, electronic equipment comprises the above power generation apparatus. 
         [0016]    In accordance with a seventh aspect of the invention, a humidity adjustment apparatus comprises: a plurality of humidity adjusting sections including: a plurality of hollow fiber membranes; a housing equipped with the plurality of hollow fiber membranes in an inside thereof; two sealing sections provided at both end portions in an axis direction of the plurality of hollow fiber membranes in the inside of the housing and in an outside of the plurality of hollow fiber membranes, the sealing sections sealing a space between each of the plurality of hollow fiber membranes, wherein a humidity-adjusted fluid, which is a gas including water vapor, and whose humidity is adjusted, flows in an inside of the plurality of hollow fiber membranes, and a humidity adjustment fluid, which is any one of a gas having a partial water vapor pressure different from that of the humidity-adjusted fluid and a liquid including water, flows in the inside of the housing and in the outside of the plurality of hollow fiber membranes, and the humidity of the humidity-adjusted fluid is adjusted by transferring water molecules between the humidity-adjusted fluid and the humidity adjustment fluid. 
         [0017]    In accordance with an eighth aspect of the invention, a power generation apparatus comprises: the above humidity adjustment apparatus; a reforming apparatus to reform a fuel to produce a reformed gas and to supply the produced reformed gas to the humidity adjustment apparatus; and a fuel cell to generate electricity using the reformed gas having humidity adjusted by the humidity adjustment apparatus. 
         [0018]    In accordance with a ninth aspect of the invention, electronic equipment comprises the above power generation apparatus. 
         [0019]    In accordance with a tenth aspect of the invention, a humidity adjustment apparatus comprises: a plurality of humidity adjusting sections including: a plurality of hollow fiber membranes; a housing equipped with the plurality of hollow fiber membranes in an inside thereof, the housing equipped with a partition having one end portion thereof connected to the housing and another end portion thereof separated from the housing; and two sealing sections provided at both end portions in an axis direction of the plurality of hollow fiber membranes in the inside of the housing and in an outside of the plurality of hollow fiber membranes, the sealing sections sealing spaces between each of the plurality of hollow fiber membranes, wherein a humidity-adjusted fluid, which is a gas including water vapor, and whose humidity is adjusted, flows in an inside of the plurality of hollow fiber membranes, and a humidity adjustment fluid, which is any one of a gas having a partial water vapor pressure different from that of the humidity-adjusted fluid and a liquid including water, flows in the inside of the housing and in the outside of the plurality of hollow fiber membranes, and the humidity of the humidity-adjusted fluid is adjusted by transferring water molecules between the humidity-adjusted fluid and the humidity adjustment fluid. 
         [0020]    In accordance with a eleventh aspect of the invention, a power generation apparatus comprises: the above humidity adjustment apparatus; a reforming apparatus to reform a fuel to produce a reformed gas and to supply the produced reformed gas to the humidity adjustment apparatus; and a fuel cell to generate electricity using the reformed gas having humidity adjusted by the humidity adjustment apparatus. 
         [0021]    In accordance with a twelfth aspect of the invention, electronic equipment comprises the above power generation apparatus. 
         [0022]    In accordance with a thirteenth aspect of the invention, a method of manufacturing a hollow fiber membrane module, comprises of: bundling a plurality of hollow fiber membranes; and injecting a sealing medium sealing a space between each of the plurality of hollow fiber membranes into a space between each of the bundled plurality of hollow fiber membranes at an central part in an axis direction thereof. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]    The aforesaid and further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0024]      FIG. 1A  is a planar sectional view of a humidification device for illustrating a first embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 1B  is a sectional view of the humidification device along a cutting plane line I-I as viewed from the direction of arrows; 
           [0025]      FIGS. 2A-2H  are process charts showing a method of manufacturing a hollow fiber membrane module; 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing portable electronic equipment mounted with a power generation apparatus provided with the humidification device cartridge of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 4A  is a planar sectional view of a humidification device for illustrating a second embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 4B  is a sectional view of the humidification device along a cutting plane line IV-IV as viewed from the direction of arrows; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 5A  is a planar sectional view of a humidification device for illustrating a third embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 5B  is a sectional view of the humidification device along a cutting plane line V-V as viewed from the direction of arrows; 
           [0029]      FIG. 6A  is a planar sectional view of a humidification device for illustrating a modification of the present invention, and  FIG. 6B  is a sectional view of the humidification device along a cutting plane line VI-VI as viewed from the direction of arrows. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0030]    In the following, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the shown examples. 
       First Embodiment 
       [0031]    A humidification device (humidity adjustment apparatus) of the present embodiment adjusts the humidity of, for example, a reformed gas (humidity-adjusted fluid) including hydrogen to be supplied to a fuel cell by humidifying the reformed gas, and is comprised in a power generation apparatus, which will be described later. First, the configuration of the humidification device will be described. 
         [0032]      FIG. 1A  is a planar sectional view of a humidification device  3 , and  FIG. 1B  is a sectional view of the humidification device  3  along a cutting plane line I-I as viewed from the direction of arrows. 
         [0033]    The humidification device  3  comprises a hollow fiber membrane module  301  and a case  32  housing the hollow fiber membrane module  301  therein. The hollow fiber membrane module  301  comprises a bundled plurality of hollow fiber membranes  31  each having a hollow at the central portion thereof and formed to be almost a cylindrical configuration. The hollow fiber membrane module  301  humidifies the reformed gas supplied on the inside of the hollow fiber membranes  31  by transferring water molecules between the inside and the outside of each of the bundled plurality of hollow fiber membranes  31 . 
         [0034]    The case  32  comprises a case body  321  and a cover  322  covering the case body  321 . The case body  321  extends in the direction parallel to the axes of the hollow fiber membranes formed in the cylindrical configuration mentioned above (hereinafter referred to as a longitudinal direction) and has a concave portion on the top surface thereof. By covering the concave portion of the case body  321  with the cover  322 , a long rectangular hollow  33  is formed in the inner part of the case  32 . As the materials of the case body  321  and the cover  322 , for example, metals such as stainless steel and aluminum in consideration of their strength and their corrosion resistance. 
         [0035]    A reformed gas supply tube  341  is provided on the under surface at the left end part of the case body  321 . The reformed gas supply tube  341  penetrates the under surface to communicate with the inside of the hollow  33  for supplying the reformed gas generated by a selective oxidation reactor  23  of a reforming apparatus  2 , which will be described later (see  FIG. 3 ). A reformed gas ejection tube  342  is provided on the top surface at the right end part of the cover  322 . The reformed gas ejection tube  342  penetrates the top surface to communicate with the inside of the hollow  33  for supplying the hydrogen in a humidified reformed gas into a fuel cell  4  (see  FIG. 3 ). The reformed gas is sent form the reformed gas supply tube  341  on the upstream side to the reformed gas ejection tube  342  on the downstream side by the pressure generated by a feed pump (not shown) for supplying a fuel from a fuel cartridge  1  to a vaporizer  21 , both described later. 
         [0036]    One hollow fiber membrane module  301  comprises the bundled plurality of hollow fiber membranes  31  is housed in the hollow  33  formed in this way. 
         [0037]    Each of the hollow fiber membranes  31  is a polymer membrane of a polyimide series or a fluorine series, and has the hollow at the central portion thereof. As such a hollow fiber membrane, for example, polyphenylsulfone, polyether-imide, both being micro porous materials made by NOK corporation, and the non-porous material made of tetrafluoroethylene and perfluorovinylether and the like, which can be available from Ashahi Glass Co., Ltd., can be used. Moreover, a hollow fiber membrane made of polyethylene, polyvinylidene-fluoride (PVDF), polyether sulfone, polyacrylonitrile, cellulose acetate or the like may be used. 
         [0038]    The exchange of the water molecules is performed through the hollow fiber membranes  31  so that the difference of partial water vapor pressure between the inside and the outside of the hollow fiber membranes  31  may be reduced by introducing a reformed gas having low humidity into the inner part of the hollow fiber membranes  31 , and by circulating the offgas (a first humidity adjustment fluid) ejected from the fuel cell  4  and having high humidity or the water (a second humidity adjustment fluid) supplied from the fuel cartridge  1 , which will be described later, on the outside of the hollow fiber membranes  31 . In the embodiment mentioned above, the humidity is adjusted by the transference of water molecules from the outside of the hollow fiber membranes  31  to the inside thereof to humidify the reformed gas. Here, the offgas is a gas including the water generated at the air electrode of the fuel cell  4 , unreacted oxygen and the like, and is the gas having the humidity higher than that of the above reformed gas. 
         [0039]    A plurality of such hollow fiber membranes  31  is bundled, and each of the sealing sections  35  seals the parts between the peripheral surface of each of the hollow fiber membranes  31  and the inner wall surface  331  forming the hollow  33  at the both end portions in the longitudinal direction and the position on the right side of the central part in the longitudinal direction of the hollow fiber membranes  31 . By these sealing sections  35 , the hollow  33  is partitioned into a offgas humidification section  36  (one humidity adjusting section) supplying the offgas from an offgas supply tube  381 , which will be described later, to the hollow  33  to humidify the offgas, and a water humidification section  37  (one of the other humidity adjusting section) supplying water from a water supply tube  391 , which will be described later, to the hollow  33  to humidify the hollow  33 . That is, the hollow enclosed by the sealing section  35  at the left end part, the sealing section  35  at almost the central part, and the inner wall surface  331  of the hollow  33  is made to be the offgas humidification section  36 , and the hollow enclosed by the sealing section  35  at the right end part, the sealing section  35  at almost the central part, and the inner wall surface  331  of the hollow  33  is made to be the water humidification section  37 . Because the sealing section  35  at almost the central part is located at the position on the right side of the central part in the longitudinal direction, the offgas humidification section  36  has a length longer than that of the water humidification section  37  in the longitudinal direction, and the region in which the reformed gas is humidified by the offgas is larger than the region in which the reformed gas is humidified by the water. 
         [0040]    Moreover, because the space between sealing section  35  at the left end part and the inner wall surface  331  forming the left end part of the hollow  33  communicates with the hollow of the hollow fiber membranes  31 , the humidification device  3  is configured so that only the reformed gas can flow. Similarly, because the space between the sealing section  35  at the right end part and the inner wall surface  331  forming the right end part of the hollow  33  communicates with the hollow of the hollow fiber membranes  31 , the humidification device  3  is configured so that only the reformed gas can flow. 
         [0041]    The offgas humidification section  36  is provided with the offgas supply tube  381  supplying the offgas into the offgas humidification section  36 , and an offgas ejection tube  382  ejecting offgas from the offgas humidification section  36 . 
         [0042]    The offgas supply tube  381  is provided so that one end thereof may penetrate the case body  321  from the front thereof (the under side of the humidification device  3  in  FIG. 1 ) to the inside of the offgas humidification section  36 , and so that the other end of the offgas supply tube  381  is connected to the fuel cell  4 , which will be described later, to which the offgas is ejected. The offgas is sent from the offgas supply tube  381  on the upstream side to the offgas ejection tube  382  on the downstream side by the pressure generated by another feed pump (not shown) for supplying the fuel from the fuel cartridge  1  to the vaporizer  21  similarly to the above reformed gas. 
         [0043]    The offgas ejection tube  382  is provided so that one end thereof may penetrate the case body  321  into the offgas humidification section  36  at a position on the right side of the offgas supply tube  381  on the back surface (the upper side of the humidification device  3  in  FIG. 1 ) of the case body  321 , and so that the other end of the offgas ejection tube  382  may be connected to a not shown offgas combustor. 
         [0044]    The water humidification section  37  is provided with the water supply tube  391  supplying water into the water humidification section  37 , and a water ejection tube  392  ejecting water from the water humidification section  37 . 
         [0045]    The water supply tube  391  is provided so that one end thereof may penetrate the case body  321  into the water humidification section  37  at the position on the right side of the offgas supply tube  381  on the front of the case body  321 , and so that the other end of the water supply tube  391  may be connected to the fuel cartridge  1 , which will be described later, for supplying water. The water is sent from the water supply tube  391  on the upstream side to the water ejection tube  392  on the downstream side by the pressure generated by a feed pump (not shown) for sending the water from the fuel cartridge  1 , which will be described later, to the humidification device  3 . 
         [0046]    The water ejection tube  392  is provided so that one end thereof may penetrate the case body  321  into the water humidification section  37  at a position on the right side of the water supply tube  391  on the back surface of the case body  321 , and so that the other end of the water ejection tube  392  may be connected to a not shown water recovery section or may communicate with the outside of the equipment provided with the present humidification device  3 , namely the atmosphere. 
         [0047]    Consequently, the offgas supplied from the offgas supply tube  381  to the offgas humidification section  36  is sent to the offgas ejection tube  382 , and at this time the water molecules included in the offgas move to the inside of the above hollow fiber membranes  31  and the reformed gas is humidified. After that, the offgas is ejected from the offgas ejection tube  382 . 
         [0048]    Moreover, the water supplied from the water supply tube  391  to the water humidification section  37  is also sent to the water ejection tube  392 . At this time, the water molecules included in the water transfer into the inside of the above hollow fiber membranes  31 , and the reformed gas is humidified. After that, the water is ejected from the water ejection tube  392 . 
         [0049]    Here, a method of manufacturing the hollow fiber membrane module  301  is described with reference to  FIG. 2 . 
         [0050]      FIGS. 2A-H  are process charts showing the method of manufacturing the hollow fiber membrane module  301 . 
         [0051]    As shown in  FIG. 2A , first, a plurality of hollow fiber membranes  31  is bundled into the shape of a cylinder with temporary joints  315  made of an elastic body such as rubber. At this time, the plurality of hollow fiber membranes  31  to be bundled having mutually different lengths is used, and is arranged so that the lengths of the hollow fiber membranes  31  may become gradually longer from the inside of the cylinder to the outside thereof. 
         [0052]    Next, as shown in  FIG. 2B , tectiform cups  311  having the same size as those of the cross sections of both the end portions of each of the bundled plurality of hollow fiber membranes  31  are pushed against both the end portions, and gaps  314  are formed among each of the hollow fiber membranes  31 . Then, a sealing medium  312  is injected into each of the gaps  314  at the central position in the longitudinal direction of the hollow fiber membranes  31 . Here, it is for spreading the sealing medium  312  between each of the plurality of densely arranged hollow fiber membranes  31  to form the gaps  314 . 
         [0053]    Moreover, because the hollow fiber membranes  31  disposed on the outside of the cylinder is longer than those disposed on the inside, the gaps  314  among each of the hollow fiber membranes  31  are made to be almost uniform when the hollow fiber membranes  31  are pushed against to each other by the cups  311 , and the hollow fiber membranes  31  are resulted in being securely fixed by the sealing medium  312 . As the sealing medium  312 , for example, a thermoset resin, a naturally hardenable resin, a light-setting resin and the like can be cited. 
         [0054]    Next, as shown in  FIG. 2C , the cups  311  are taken off, and the hollow fiber membranes  31  are restored to the original shapes. The temporary joints  315  are being disposed at the positions near the left and the right end parts as they are lest the bundle of the hollow fiber membranes  31  should be scattered. 
         [0055]    A mold  313  is fit at the central position, where the sealing medium  312  has been injected, and the sealing medium  312  is further injected. At the same time, the air is made to be out and a surplus sealing medium is sucked out. The reason of making the air out is to exclude air layers and air bubbles that can be produced at the time of the injection of the sealing medium  312 , and to fill up the sealing medium  312  more densely and securely. 
         [0056]    Furthermore, the mold  313  is removed after the curing of the sealing medium  312  by a desired method, and the sealing section  35  is formed by taking away burrs or shaving the sealing medium  312 . 
         [0057]    On the other hand, as shown in  FIG. 2D , the temporary joint  315  on the right side is moved to the inside, and the hollow fiber membranes  31  are cut to have a desired length. Then, the end portions of the hollow fiber membranes  31  are cut to an even length. Because the position of the sealing section  35  is determined by the cutting, the length of the offgas humidification section  36  and the length of the water humidification section  37  can be easily controlled. 
         [0058]    Next, the end faces of the hollow fiber membranes  31  are burned so that their holes are obstructed lest the sealing medium  312  should enter the inside of the hollow fiber membranes  31  at a sealing medium formation process, which will be described later, to the end portion. 
         [0059]    After that, as shown in  FIG. 2E , the mold  313  is fitted to the end face, and the sealing medium  312  is injected. Then, the hollow fiber membranes  31  are subjected to centrifugation. This operation is performed for excluding the air layer of the sealing medium  312  at the end portion and for spreading the sealing medium  312  among each of the hollow fiber membranes  31  by performing the centrifugation. Then, the sealing medium  312  is furthermore cured by a desired method. Incidentally, if the sealing medium  312  can be densely formed, the centrifugation and the heat curing may be performed at the same time. 
         [0060]    Then, the part where the sealing medium  312  was injected is cut together with the mold  313  (see  FIG. 2F ) to remove the mold  313 . After that, burrs are taken away and the hollow fiber membranes  31  are shaved to form the sealing section  35  (see  FIG. 2G ) similarly to the above sealing section  35  formed at the central position. 
         [0061]    Moreover, a sealing section  35  is also formed at the left end part of the hollow fiber membranes  31  by the method similarly to that at the right end part, and the hollow fiber membrane module  301  is manufactured in this way (see  FIG. 2H ). The manufactured hollow fiber membrane module  301  is inserted into the concave portion of the case body  321  after an adhesive and sealing medium has been applied to the sealing section  35  formed at the position on the right side of the central part of the hollow fiber membranes  31  and the sealing sections  35  formed at both the end portions. Then, the cover  322  is fastened with the case body  321  by an adhesive, or an O-ring or the like and a screw. Incidentally, the gaps between the inner wall surfaces of the case body  321  and the cover  322  and each of the sealing sections  35  are hermetically sealed by the above adhesive and sealing medium, and the gap between the humidification device  3  and the outside thereof is hermetically sealed with the above adhesive or the O-ring and the like. 
         [0062]    The principle of controlling the humidity of a reformed gas by the humidification device  3  formed as mentioned above is as follows. 
         [0063]    If a reformed gas whose humidity is adjusted to a predetermined value flow in the insides of the hollow fiber membranes  31  and only an offgas having humidity higher than that of the reformed gas flows on the outside of the hollow fiber membranes  31 , then the reformed gas can be humidified to several tens percents (first humidity) at the maximum. On the other hand, if only water flows on the outside of the hollow fiber membranes  31 , the reformed gas can be humidified to 100 percents (second humidity) at the maximum. Here, the longer the length of the offgas humidification section  36  or the water humidification section  37  in the longitudinal direction is, the higher the humidity of the reformed gas becomes. On the other hand, if the length in the above longitudinal direction is a predetermined value, for example, about several centimeters each, then the reformed gas can be humidified up to the above maximum humidity. 
         [0064]    Accordingly, by forming the length of the offgas humidification section  36  in the longitudinal direction of the hollow fiber membranes  31  to be the predetermined value or more, the reformed gas is humidified up to the above first humidity in the first offgas humidification section  36 . Accordingly, it is possible to manufacture the humidification device  3  capable of making the humidity of the reformed gas the desired humidity of from the above first humidity to the second humidity (100 percents) by suitably changing the positions where the sealing sections  35  are formed so that the length of the water humidification section  37  may be a value smaller than the predetermined value to the above predetermined value in each process of forming the above sealing sections  35 . Because the humidity of the reformed gas can be changed by the positions where the sealing sections  35  are formed in this manner, the control of the humidity of the reformed gas becomes easy. 
         [0065]    Next, the operation of the humidification device  3  having the above configuration is described. 
         [0066]    The reformed gas supplied from the selective oxidation reactor  23 , which will be described later, to the offgas humidification section  36  in the hollow  33  of the case  32  through the reformed gas supply tube  341  is supplied into the hollow of each of the hollow fiber membranes  31  from the left end part of the hollow fiber membrane module  301 . On the other hand, the offgas is supplied from the offgas supply tube  381  to the offgas humidification section  36 , and the water molecules in the offgas is taken in from the outside of the hollow fiber membranes  31  to their inner parts and the reformed gas in the hollow of the hollow fiber membranes  31  is humidified by the offgas. The humidified reformed gas flows in the hollow of the hollow fiber membranes  31  as it is. Moreover, the offgas supplied from the offgas supply tube  381  is ejected to the offgas ejection tube  382  by the pressure difference in the case  32 . 
         [0067]    Furthermore, water is supplied from the water supply tube  391  to the water humidification section  37 , and water molecules is taken in from the outside of the hollow fiber membranes  31  to their inner part by the water and the water molecules transfers in the hollow fiber membranes  31 . Then, the reformed gas humidified by the offgas is furthermore humidified. The humidified reformed gas is ejected from the right end part of the hollow fiber membranes  31  to the outside of the case  32  through the reformed gas ejection tube  342 . After that, the reformed gas is supplied to the fuel cell  4 . Moreover, the water supplied from the water supply tube  391  is ejected to the water ejection tube  392  by the pressure difference in the case  32 . 
         [0068]    Next, a power generation apparatus  100  provided with the above humidification device  3  and portable electronic equipment  101  mounted with the power generation apparatus  100  are described. 
         [0069]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing the power generation apparatus  100  provided with the humidification device  3  according to a first embodiment of the present invention and the portable electronic equipment  101  mounted with the power generation apparatus  100 . The electronic equipment  101  is portable type electronic equipment such as a notebook-size personal computer, a personal digital assistant (PbA), an electronic databook, a digital camera, a portable telephone, a wrist watch, a register and a projector, and the like. 
         [0070]    The power generation apparatus  100  is provided with the reforming apparatus  2  reforming the fuel supplied from the fuel cartridge  1 , in which fuel for power generation and the like are encapsulated, to generate the reformed gas including at least hydrogen and carbon dioxide, the humidification device  3  humidifying a reformed gas by supplying the reformed gas from the reforming apparatus  2  into an after-mentioned water tank  31 , a fuel cell  4  generating electricity using humidified hydrogen, a DC/DC converter  5  converting the electric energy generated by the fuel cell apparatus  4  into an appropriate voltage, a secondary battery  6  connected to the DC/DC converter  5 , and an electronic equipment body  7  to which electric energy is supplied from the DC/DC converter  5 . 
         [0071]    The fuel cell apparatus  4  generates electric energy to output the generated electric energy to the DC/DC converter  5 . The DC/DC converter  5  is configured to be able to perform the function of charging the electric energy generated by the fuel cell apparatus  4  in the secondary battery  6  to supply the electricity accumulated in the secondary battery  6  to the electronic equipment body  7  when the fuel cell apparatus  4  is not operating in addition to the function of converting the electric energy generated by the fuel cell apparatus  4  into an appropriate voltage to supply the converted voltage to the electronic equipment body  7  after the conversion. 
         [0072]    The fuel for power generation encapsulated in the fuel cartridge  1  is planned to use a liquid mixture of methanol and water, but the fuel is not limited to the liquid mixture. Alcoholic liquid fuels such as ethanol and butanol, and liquid fuels made of carbon hydride such as dimethyl ether, isobutane and a natural gas, which are a gas at an ordinary temperature under an ordinary pressure, can be applied in place of the methanol. 
         [0073]    Moreover, also water for supplying the water to the humidification device  3  is encapsulated in the fuel cartridge  1 , and the fuel cartridge  1  is connected to the water supply tube  391  of the humidification device  3 . 
         [0074]    The reforming apparatus  2  comprises the vaporizer  21 , a water vapor reforming reactor  22  and the selective oxidation reactor  23 . Each of the vaporizer  21 , the water vapor reforming reactor  22  and the selective oxidation reactor  23  function as a micro-reactor flowing a liquid in a groove formed on a small-sized substrate made of silicon, aluminum alloy, glass or the like to vaporize or to cause a chemical reaction in at least a part of the liquid by heating the liquid. 
         [0075]    The fuel stored in the fuel cartridge  1  is supplied to the vaporizer  21  first. In the vaporizer  21 , the supplied fuel is heated to be vaporized (evaporated), and is reformed to be the gas of methanol and water (water vapor) to be supplied to the water vapor reforming reactor  22 . 
         [0076]    In the water vapor reforming reactor  22 , hydrogen and carbon dioxide are produced from the fuel vaporized in the vaporizer  21 . To put it concretely, as chemical reaction formula (1), the methanol and the water vapor that have been made to a reformed gas by the vaporizer  21  react with each other, and carbon dioxide and hydrogen are produced. 
         [0000]      CH 3 OH+H 2 O→3H 2 +CO 2   (1) 
         [0077]    In the water vapor reforming reactor  22 , the methanol and the water vapor that have been reformed to the reformed gas in the vaporizer  21  are not completely reformed to the carbon dioxide and the hydrogen sometimes. In this case, the methanol and the water vapor that have reformed as the reformed gas react with each other to produce carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and hydrogen are produced as shown in chemical reaction formula (2). 
         [0000]      2CH 3 OH+H 2 O→5H 2 +CO+CO 2   (2) 
         [0078]    The water vapor, the carbon monoxide, the carbon dioxide and the hydrogen that have been produced in the water vapor reforming reactor  22  are supplied to the selective oxidation reactor  23 . 
         [0079]    In the selective oxidation reactor  23 , the carbon monoxide included in the reformed gas supplied from the water vapor reforming reactor  22  is selectively oxidized, and the carbon monoxide is removed from the reformed gas. To put it concretely, the carbon monoxide in the reformed gas supplied from the water vapor reforming reactor  22  and the oxygen in the outside air sent into the selective oxidation reactor  23  react with each other, and then carbon dioxide is produced. 
         [0000]      2CO+O 2 →2CO 2   (3) 
         [0080]    Then, in the present embodiment, the produced reformed gas is supplied from the selective oxidation reactor  23  into the case  32  of the humidification device  3 , and thereby the reformed gas is humidified in the humidification device  3 . 
         [0081]    In this manner, the fuel is subjected to the chemical reaction in each reactor of the vaporizer  21 , the water vapor reforming reactor  22  and the selective oxidation reactor  23  of the reforming apparatus  2 , and the reformed gas is produced. The produced reformed gas passes through the humidification device  3 , and thereby the humidified reformed gas is produced. The humidified reformed gas is supplied to the fuel cell  4 . 
         [0082]    The fuel cell  4  is configured to include a fuel electrode, a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, air electrode (all are not shown). As shown in an electrochemical reaction formula (4), the fuel electrode of the fuel cell  4  separates the hydrogen gas in the reformed gas supplied from the selective oxidation reactor  23  through the humidification device  3  to hydrogen ions and electrons by the operation of the catalyst fine particles of the fuel electrode, and furthermore the separated electrons are taken out. 
         [0000]      3H 2 →6H + +6 e   −   (4) 
         [0083]    Moreover, the solid polymer electrolyte membrane transmits the separated hydrogen ions therethrough to conduct the hydrogen ions to the air electrode. 
         [0084]    The air taken from the outside is supplied to the air electrode of the fuel cell  4 , and the oxygen in the air, the hydrogen ions that have transmitted an ion-conductive membrane and the electrons taken out by the fuel electrode react with one another to produce water as a by-product as shown in an electrochemical reaction formula (5). 
         [0000]      6H + + 3/2O 2 +6 e   − →3H 2 O  (5) 
         [0085]    As described above, in the fuel cell  4 , the electrochemical reactions of the above electrochemical reaction formulae (4) and (5) are caused, and thereby electric energy is generated. 
         [0086]    As above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in the humidification device  3 , because the sealing sections  35  sealing the spaces between the peripheral surface of each of the hollow fiber membranes  31  and the inner wall surface  331  of the case  32  are severally provided at almost the central part and both the end portions in the longitudinal direction of the one hollow fiber membrane module  301  housed in the hollow  33  of the case  32 , the hollow  33  is thereby partitioned to the offgas humidification section  36  and the water humidification section  37 . Consequently, the offgas supplied to the offgas humidification section  36  and the water supplied to the water humidification section  37  are not mixed with each other. First, the reformed gas supplied into the hollow fiber membranes  31  is humidified by the offgas in the offgas humidification section  36 , and after that the reformed gas is humidified by the water in the water humidification section  37 . In this manner, the humidification by both of the offgas and the water can be easily realized in the one humidification device  3 , and desired humidity can be obtained (in the range of from several tens percents to one hundred percents). As a result, the hydrogen in the humidified reformed gas can be used as the fuel of the fuel cell  4 . 
         [0087]    Moreover, the provision of the sealing sections  35  at almost the central part and both the end portions in the longitudinal direction of the hollow fiber membrane module  301  enables the partition of the hollow  33  to the offgas humidification section  36  and the water humidification section  37  easily in the state of high airtightness, and makes it needless to provide individual apparatus of a humidification device for offgas and a humidification device for water. Then, because the hollow fiber membrane module  301  of the present invention is the hollow fiber membrane module  301  having almost the same shape as that of the prior art except for provision of sealing sections  35 , the capacity of the case  32  housing the hollow fiber membrane module  301  is hardly changed and the hollow fiber membrane module  301  can be easily adapted to the prior art and can reduce the introducing cost and the developing cost. 
         [0088]    Moreover, by suitably changing the positions of the sealing section  35  at almost the central part in the longitudinal direction of the hollow fiber membrane module  301  and the length of the hollow fiber membrane module  301  itself, the sizes of the offgas humidification section  36  and the water humidification section  37  can be changed, and consequently the control of humidity becomes easy. 
         [0089]    Moreover, because the sealing sections  35  are provided at both the end portions of the hollow fiber membrane module  301 , the reformed gas supplied from the end portion of the hollow fiber membrane module  301  into the hollow in the hollow fiber membranes  31 , and the offgas in the offgas humidification section  36  or the water in the water humidification section  37  are not mutually mixed. 
         [0090]    Furthermore, because the sealing sections  35  can be provided in the procedure of forming the gaps  314  among the plurality of hollow fiber membranes  31  and injecting the sealing medium  312  into the gaps  314  at almost the central part in the longitudinal direction, and then simultaneously performing the injection of the fitting sealing medium  312  into the mold  313  and the ejection of air, the manufacturing of the hollow fiber membrane module  301  is easy. 
         [0091]    Moreover, as described above, the reformed gas is first humidified in the offgas humidification section  36 , and is secondly humidified in the water humidification section  37 . By humidifying the reformed gas with offgas first, the humidity of the offgas can be greatly reduced in comparison with the case of humidifying the reformed gas with water first. Because the reformed gas is humidified by the water in advance in the case of performing the humidification by the water, the quantity of the reformed gas to be humidified in the offgas humidification section decreases, and the decreased quantity of the humidity of the offgas in the offgas humidification section falls. When the offgas is ejected from the offgas humidification section, the offgas is sent to the offgas combustor to be burned there, and the water molecules separated from the offgas is ejected to the outside of the power generation system. Accordingly, the quantity of the offgas to be ejected is desirably set to be little as much as possible. The humidity of the offgas can fall relatively greatly in the offgas humidification section by performing the humidification in the order of the above embodiment. 
       Second Embodiment 
       [0092]      FIG. 4A  is a planar sectional view of the humidification device  3 , and  FIG. 4B  is a sectional view as viewed from the direction of arrows at the time of cutting the humidification device  3  along a cutting plane line IV-IV. 
         [0093]    Incidentally, the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment mentioned above in that two hollow fiber membrane modules  301 A and  302 A are housed along the longitudinal direction in a case  32 A in the humidification device  3 A, and has the other reforming apparatus  2  and the fuel cell  4  constituting the power generation apparatus  100  and having the configurations similar to those of the first embodiment. Accordingly the descriptions of the components having the similar configurations are omitted. Incidentally, the components corresponding to those of the above first embodiment are denoted by reference numerals with a letter “A” at the end of the numerals. 
         [0094]    The humidification device  3 A comprises two hollow fiber membrane modules  301 A and  302 A and a case  32 A housing the hollow fiber membrane modules  301 A and  302 A therein. The case  32 A comprises a case body  321 A and a cover  322 A similarly to the first embodiment. A reformed gas supply tube  341 A and a reformed gas ejection tube  342 A are connected to the case  32 A. 
         [0095]    The two hollow fiber membrane modules  301 A and  302 A are housed with a predetermined space between them in the longitudinal direction in the hollow  33 A of the case  32 A, and sealing sections  35 A are provided at both the end portions of each of the hollow fiber membrane modules  301 A and  302 A. Consequently, the hollow enclosed by the sealing sections  35 A provided at both the end portions of the hollow fiber membrane module  301 A on the left side and the inner wall surface  331 A of the hollow  33 A is used as the offgas humidification section  36 A (one humidity adjusting section), and the hollow enclosed by the sealing sections  35 A provided at both the end portions of the hollow fiber membrane module  302 A on the right side and the inner wall surface  331 A of the hollow  33 A is used as the water humidification section  37 A (one of the other humidity adjusting section). 
         [0096]    Moreover, the length in the longitudinal direction of the offgas humidification section  36 A is longer than that of the water humidification section  37 A, and the region in which the reformed gas is humidified by the offgas is made to be larger than the region in which the reformed gas is humidified by the water. 
         [0097]    Furthermore, because the space between the sealing section  35 A at the right end part of the hollow fiber membrane module  301 A on the left side and the sealing section  35 A at the left end part of the hollow fiber membrane module  302 A on the right side communicates with the hollow of the hollow fiber membranes  31 A, only the reformed gas can flow. Moreover, each of the space between the sealing section  35 A at the left end part of the hollow fiber membrane module  301 A on the left side and the inner wall surface  331 A forming the left end part of the hollow  33 A, and the space between the sealing section  35 A at the right end part of the hollow fiber membrane module  302 A on the right side and the inner wall surface  331 A forming the right end part of the hollow  33 A communicates with the hollow of the hollow fiber membranes  31 A, and consequently only the reformed gas can flow. 
         [0098]    The offgas humidification section  36 A is provided with an offgas supply tube  381 A and an offgas ejection tube  382 A similarly to the first embodiment, and the water humidification section  37 A is provided with a water supply tube  391 A and a water ejection tube  392 A. Incidentally, the positional relations among the offgas supply tube  381 A, the offgas ejection tube  382 A, the water supply tube  391 A and the water ejection tube  392 A are the order of the offgas supply tube  381 A, the offgas ejection tube  382 A, the water supply tube  391 A and the water ejection tube  392 A in order from the left similarly to the first embodiment. 
         [0099]    Consequently, the water molecules included in the offgas supplied from the offgas supply tube  381 A to the offgas humidification section  36 A transfer to the inside of the hollow fiber membranes  31 A to humidify the reformed gas, and after that the water molecules are ejected from the offgas ejection tube  382 A. Moreover, also the water molecules included in the water supplied from the water supply tube  391 A to the water humidification section  37 A transfer to the inside of the hollow fiber membranes  31 A to humidify the reformed gas, and after that the water molecules are ejected from the ejection tube  392 A. 
         [0100]    Incidentally, the method of manufacturing the hollow fiber membrane modules  301 A and  302 A is the method similar to that of the first embodiment except for forming the sealing sections  35  formed at both the end portions of the hollow fiber membrane module  301  of the first embodiment, and consequently the description of the method of the present embodiment is omitted. In particular, the length of the hollow fiber membrane module  301 A is formed to be longer than that of the hollow fiber membrane module  302 A. 
         [0101]    Then, both of the manufactured hollow fiber membrane modules  301 A and  302 A are inserted in the concave portion of the case body  321 A with a predetermined space along the longitudinal direction thereof after the application of an adhesive and sealing medium to the sealing sections  35  formed at both of their end portions, and the cover  322 A is fastened to the case body  321 A with an adhesive, or O-rings or the like and screws. Incidentally, the gaps among the case body  322 A, the inner wall surface of the cover  322 A and each of the sealing sections  35 A are hermetically sealed with the above adhesive and sealing medium, and the space between the humidification device  3 A and the outside thereof is hermetically sealed with the above adhesive, or the O-rings or the like. 
         [0102]    Next, the operation of the humidification device  3 A is described. 
         [0103]    The reformed gas supplied from the selective oxidation reactor  23  to the offgas humidification section  36 A in the hollow  33 A of the case  32 A through the reformed gas supply tube  341 A is first supplied into the hollow of each of the hollow fiber membranes  31 A on the hollow fiber membrane module  301 A on the left side in the humidification device  3 A. On the other hand, the offgas is supplied from the offgas supply tube  381 A to the offgas humidification section  36 A, and the water molecules in the offgas is taken in from the outside of the hollow fiber membranes  31 A to their inner parts and the hydrogen in the reformed gas in the hollow of the hollow fiber membranes  31 A is humidified by the offgas. The humidified hydrogen again flows into the hollow of each of the hollow fiber membranes  31 A of the hollow fiber membrane module  302 A on the right side through the space formed between the sealing section  35 A at the right end part of the hollow fiber membrane module  301 A on the left side and the sealing section  35 A at the left end part of the hollow fiber membrane module  302 A on the right side. Moreover, the offgas supplied from the offgas supply tube  381 A is ejected to the offgas ejection tube  382 A by the pressure difference in the case  32 A. 
         [0104]    Furthermore, water is supplied from the water supply tube  391 A to the water humidification section  37 A, and water molecules is taken in from the outside of the hollow fiber membranes  31 A to their inner parts by the water and the water molecules transfers in the hollow fiber membranes  31 A of the hollow fiber membrane module  302 A on the right side. Thereby, the hydrogen humidified by the offgas is further humidified. Then, the humidified hydrogen is ejected from the right end part of the hollow fiber membrane module  302 A on the right side to the outside of the case  32 A through the reformed gas ejection tube  342 A. After that, the hydrogen is supplied to the fuel cell  4 . Moreover, the water supplied from the water supply tube  391 A is ejected to the water ejection tube  392 A by the pressure difference in the case  32 A. 
         [0105]    As above, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, in the humidification device  3 A, because the two hollow fiber membrane modules  301 A and  302 A are housed in the hollow  33 A along the longitudinal direction thereof and the sealing sections  35 A are severally provided at both the end portions of each of the hollow fiber membrane modules  301 A and  302 A, the spaces enclosed by the sealing sections  35 A at both the end portions of each hollow fiber membrane modules  301 A and  302 A are used as the offgas humidification section  36 A and the water humidification section  37 A, respectively. Consequently, the offgas supplied to the offgas humidification section  36 A and the water supplied to the water humidification section  37 A are not mixed with each other. First, the hydrogen in the reformed gas supplied into the hollow fiber membranes  31 A is humidified by the offgas in the offgas humidification section  36 A, and after that the hydrogen is humidified by the water in the water humidification section  37 A. In this manner, the humidification by both of the offgas and the water can be easily realized in the one humidification device  3 A, and desired humidity can be obtained (in the range of from several tens percents to one hundred percents). As a result, the hydrogen in the humidified reformed gas can be used as the fuel of the fuel cell  4 . 
         [0106]    Moreover, only by housing the hollow fiber membrane modules  301 A and  302 A provided with the sealing sections  35 A at both of their end portions into the hollow  33 A along the longitudinal direction thereof, the hollow  33 A can be easily partitions into the offgas humidification section  36 A and the water humidification section  37 A with high airtightness, and there is no necessity of providing individual apparatus of a humidification device for offgas and a humidification device for water. Consequently, the humidification apparatus  3 A can be easily adapted to the prior art, and the introducing cost thereof and the developing cost thereof can be reduced. 
         [0107]    Moreover, by suitably changing the lengths of the hollow fiber membrane modules  301 A and  302 A themselves, the sizes of the offgas humidification section  36 A and the water humidification section  37 A can be changed, and consequently the control of humidity becomes easy. 
         [0108]    Moreover, because the sealing sections  35  are provided at both the end portions of each of the hollow fiber membrane modules  301 A and  302 A, the reformed gases supplied from the end portions of the hollow fiber membrane modules  301 A and  302 A into the hollows in the hollow fiber membranes  31 , and the offgas in the offgas humidification section  36 A or the water in the water humidification section  37 A are not mutually mixed. 
       Third Embodiment 
       [0109]      FIG. 5A  is a planar sectional view of a humidification device  3 B, and  FIG. 5B  is a sectional view as viewed from the direction of arrows at the time of cutting the humidification device  3 B along a cutting plane line V-V. 
         [0110]    Incidentally, the third embodiment differs from the first embodiment mentioned above in that the shape of a hollow  33 B in a case  32 B in the humidification device  3 B is a letter U when it is seen as a plane, and in that two hollow fiber membrane modules  301 B and  302 B are housed along the crosswise direction in the hollow  33 B like that. The third embodiment has the other reforming apparatus  2  and the fuel cell  4  constituting the power generation apparatus  100  and having the configurations similar to those of the first embodiment. Accordingly the descriptions of the components having the similar configurations are omitted. Incidentally, the components corresponding to those of the above first embodiment are denoted by reference numerals with a letter “B” at the ends of the numerals. In the following, the crosswise direction means the direction forming a right angle to the longitudinal direction. 
         [0111]    The humidification device  3 B comprises the two hollow fiber membrane modules  301 B and  302 B and the case  32 B housing the hollow fiber membrane modules  301 B and  302 B therein. The case  32 B comprises a case body  321 B extending in the longitudinal direction and having a concave portion on the top surface thereof, and a cover  322 B covering the case body  321 B. The concave portion of the case body  321 B is covered by the cover  322 B, and thereby the hollow  33 B is formed in the inner part of the case body  321 B. Moreover, a reformed gas supply tube  341 B and a reformed gas ejection tube  342 B are connected to the case  32 B. 
         [0112]    A partition wall (partition)  332 B is formed at a part near the front surface from the central part in the crosswise direction in the hollow  33 B along the longitudinal direction, and thereby a part of the hollow  33 B is partitioned in the crosswise direction, and two hollow portions  333 B and  334 B are arranged in the crosswise direction to be formed to communicate with each other in the crosswise direction. The hollow  33 B formed in this way is shaped to be a letter U when it is seen as a plane. 
         [0113]    Incidentally, in the third embodiment, reformed gas is supplied from the reformed gas supply tube  341 B connected to the left end part of a first hollow portion  333 B facing the back surface side between the two hollow portions  333 B and  334 B arranged in the crosswise direction, and humidified hydrogen is ejected from the reformed gas ejection tube  342 B connected to the left end part of the second hollow portion  334 B facing the front surface side. 
         [0114]    Moreover, the hollow fiber membrane modules  301 B and  302 B are housed in the first hollow portion  333 B and the second hollow portion  334 B, respectively. Incidentally, the first hollow portion  333 B has a width (the length in the crosswise direction) wider than that of the second hollow portion  334 B, and consequently the width of the hollow fiber membrane module  301 B housed in the first hollow portion  333 B is formed to be wider than that of the hollow fiber membrane module  302 B housed in the second hollow portion  334 B. 
         [0115]    Moreover, sealing sections  35 B are provided at both the end portions of each of the hollow fiber membrane modules  301 B and  302 B. Consequently, the hollow enclosed by the sealing sections  35 B provided at both the end portions of the hollow fiber membrane module  301 B in the first hollow portion  333 B, the inner wall surface  331 B of the first hollow portion  333 B, and the partition  332 B is used as an offgas humidification section  36 B (one humidity adjusting section), and the hollow enclosed by the sealing sections  35 B provided at both the end portions of the hollow fiber membrane module  302 B in the second hollow portion  334 B, the inner wall surface  331 B in the second hollow portion  334 B, and the partition  332 B is used as the water humidification section  37  (one of the other humidity adjusting section). Consequently, the offgas humidification section  36 B is formed to have a width wider than that of the water humidification section  37 B, and the region in which the humidification is performed by the offgas is formed to be larger than the region in which the humidification is performed by the water. 
         [0116]    Furthermore, because the space between the sealing section  35 B at the right end part of the hollow fiber membrane module  301 B in the first hollow portion  333 B and the sealing section  35 B at the right end part of the hollow fiber membrane module  302 B in the second hollow portion  334 B communicates with the hollow of the hollow fiber membranes  31 B, only the reformed gas can flow. Moreover, each of the space between the sealing section  35 B at the left end part of the hollow fiber membrane module  301 B in the first hollow portion  333 B and the inner wall surface  331 B forming the left end part of the first hollow portion  333 B, and the space between the sealing section  35 B at the left end part of the hollow fiber membrane module  302 B in the second hollow portion  334 B and the inner wall surface  331 B forming the left end part of the second hollow portion  334 B communicates with the hollow of the hollow fiber membranes  31 B, and consequently only the reformed gas can flow. 
         [0117]    The offgas humidification section  36 B is provided with an offgas supply tube  381 B and an offgas ejection tube  382 B similarly to the first embodiment, and the water humidification section  37 B is provided with a water supply tube  391 B and a water ejection tube  392 B. Incidentally, the positional relations among the offgas supply tube  381 B, the offgas ejection tube  382 B, the water supply tube  391 B and the water ejection tube  392 B are different from those of the first embodiment. That is, the offgas supply tube  381 B and the offgas ejection tube  382 B are provided on the back surface of the case body  321 B, and the water supply tube  391 B and the water ejection tube  392 B are provided on the front surface of the case body  321 B. Then, the positional relations are the order, from the left in the longitudinal direction of the case body  321 B, of the offgas supply tube  381 B, the water ejection tube  392 B, the offgas ejection tube  382 B and the water supply tube  391 B. 
         [0118]    Consequently, the water molecules included in the offgas supplied from the offgas supply tube  381 B to the offgas humidification section  36 B transfer to the inside of the hollow fiber membranes  31 B to humidify the reformed gas, and after that the water molecules are ejected from the offgas ejection tube  382 B. Moreover, also the water molecules included in the water supplied from the water supply tube  391 B to the water humidification section  37 B transfer to the inside of the hollow fiber membranes  31 B to humidify the reformed gas, and after that the water molecules are ejected from the ejection tube  392 B. 
         [0119]    Incidentally, the method of manufacturing the hollow fiber membrane modules  301 B and  302 B is the method similar to that of the first embodiment except for forming the sealing sections  35  formed at both the end portions of the hollow fiber membrane module  301  of the first embodiment, and consequently the description of the method of the present embodiment is omitted. In particular, the hollow fiber membrane module  301 B housed in the first hollow portion  333 B is formed to have a width wider than that of the hollow fiber membrane module  302 B housed in the second hollow portion  334 B using more hollow fiber membranes  31 B than those to be used for the hollow fiber membrane module  302 B. 
         [0120]    Then, both of the manufactured hollow fiber membrane modules  301 B and  302 B are inserted in the first hollow portion  333 B of the case body  321 B and the second hollow portion  334 B thereof, respectively, after the application of an adhesive and sealing medium to the sealing sections  35  formed at both of their end portions, and the cover  322 B is fastened to the case body  321 B with an adhesive, or O-rings or the like and screws. Incidentally, the gaps between the inner wall surface of the case body  321 B and the cover  322 B, and each of the sealing sections  35   b  are hermetically sealed with the above adhesive and sealing medium, and the space between the humidification device  3 B and the outside thereof is hermetically sealed with the above adhesive, or the O-rings or the like. 
         [0121]    Next, the operation of the humidification device  3 B is described. 
         [0122]    The reformed gas supplied from the selective oxidation reactor  23  to the offgas humidification section  36 B in the hollow  33 B of the case  32 B through the reformed gas supply tube  341 B is first supplied into the hollow of each of the hollow fiber membranes  31 B of the hollow fiber membrane module  301 B in the first hollow portion  333 B in the humidification device  3 B. On the other hand, the offgas is supplied from the offgas supply tube  381 B to the offgas humidification section  36 B, and the water molecules in the offgas is taken in from the outside of the hollow fiber membranes  31 B to their inner parts and the hydrogen in the reformed gas in the hollows of the hollow fiber membranes  31 B is humidified by the offgas. The humidified hydrogen again flows into the hollow of each of the hollow fiber membranes  31 B of the hollow fiber membrane module  302 B through the space formed between the sealing section  35 B at the right end part of the hollow fiber membrane module  301 B and the sealing section  35 B at the right end part of the hollow fiber membrane module  302 B. Moreover, the offgas supplied from the offgas supply tube  381 B is ejected to the offgas ejection tube  382 B by the pressure difference in the case  32 B. 
         [0123]    Furthermore, water is supplied from the water supply tube  391 B to the water humidification section  37 B, and water molecules is taken in from the outside of the hollow fiber membranes  31 B to their inner parts by the water and the water molecules transfers in the hollow fiber membranes  31 B of the hollow fiber membrane module  302 B. Then, the hydrogen humidified by the offgas is further humidified. The humidified hydrogen is ejected from the left end part of the hollow fiber membrane module  302 B to the outside of the case  32 A through the reformed gas ejection tube  342 B. After that, the hydrogen is supplied to the fuel cell  4 . Moreover, the water supplied from the water supply tube  391 B is ejected to the water ejection tube  392 B by the pressure difference in the case  32 B. 
         [0124]    As above, according to the third embodiment of the present invention, a part of the hollow  33 B of the case  32 B is partitioned in the width direction in the humidification device  3 B; thereby the first hollow portion  333 B and the second hollow portion  334 B are formed to be arranged in the width direction and to communicate with each other in the width direction; the hollow fiber membrane modules  301 B and  302 B are housed in the hollow portions  333 B and  334 B, respectively; and the sealing sections  35 B are severally provided at both the end portions of each of the hollow fiber membrane modules  301 B and  302 B. Consequently, the spaces enclosed by the sealing sections  35 B at both the end portions of each of the hollow fiber membrane modules  301 B and  302 B are used as the offgas humidification section  36 B and the water humidification section  37 B, respectively. Consequently, the offgas supplied to the offgas humidification section  36 B and the water supplied to the water humidification section  37 B are not mixed with each other. First, the hydrogen in the reformed gas supplied into the hollow fiber membranes  31 B is humidified by the offgas in the offgas humidification section  36 B, and after that the hydrogen is humidified by the water in the water humidification section  37 B. In this manner, the humidification by both of the offgas and the water can be easily realized in the one humidification device  3 B, and desired humidity can be obtained (in the range of from several tens percents to one hundred percents). As a result, the hydrogen in the humidified reformed gas can be used as the fuel of the fuel cell  4 . 
         [0125]    Moreover, only by housing the hollow fiber membrane modules  301 B and  302 B provided with the sealing sections  35 B at both of their end portions into the first hollow portion  333 B and the second hollow portion  334 B, respectively, which are provided to be arranged in the width direction, the hollow  33 B can be easily partitions into the offgas humidification section  36 B and the water humidification section  37 B with high airtightness, and there is no necessity of providing individual apparatus of a humidification device for offgas and a humidification device for water. Consequently, the humidification apparatus  3 B can be easily adapted to the prior art, and the introducing cost thereof and the developing cost thereof can be reduced. 
         [0126]    Moreover, by suitably changing the lengths of the hollow fiber membrane modules  301 B and  302 B themselves, the sizes of the offgas humidification section  36 B and the water humidification section  37 B can be changed, and consequently the control of humidity becomes easy. 
         [0127]    Moreover, because the sealing sections  35  are provided at both the end portions of each of the hollow fiber membrane modules  301 B and  302   b , the reformed gases supplied from the end portions of the hollow fiber membrane modules  301 B and  302 B into the hollows in the hollow fiber membranes  31 B, and the offgas in the offgas humidification section  36 B or the water in the water humidification section  37 B are not mutually mixed. 
         [0128]    Furthermore, the hollow fiber membrane modules  301 B and  302 B are housed in the first hollow portion  333 B and the second hollow portion  334 B, which are arranged in the width direction, respectively, and the lengths of the hollow fiber membrane modules  301 B and  302 B can be made to be longer than those of the hollow fiber membrane modules  301 ,  301 A and  302 A of the first and the second embodiments. Consequently, the fine adjustment of humidity becomes easy. 
         [0129]    Incidentally, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, but can be suitably changed within the range of not departing the spirit thereof. 
         [0130]    For example, although it is not shown, in the third embodiment, the hollow fiber membrane modules  301 B and  302 B are made to be housed in the first hollow portion  333 B and the second hollow portion  334 B, respectively, but one hollow fiber membrane module may be housed so as to span the first hollow portion  333 B and the second hollow portion  334 B and a sealing sections is provided at almost the central part in the longitudinal direction as in the hollow fiber membrane module  301  of the first embodiment to partition the offgas humidification section and the water humidification section. 
         [0131]    Moreover, as shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B , by providing two or more sealing sections  35  at almost the central part in the first embodiment, three or more humidity adjusting sections may be provided. By providing three or more hollow fiber membrane modules in the second embodiment, three or more humidity adjusting sections may be provided. In these cases, by using three or more kinds of fluids as the need arises, the humidity of a humidity-adjusted fluid such as a reformed gas can be adjusted to be desired humidity, and such a modified embodiment can be adapted to the prior art. Consequently, the introducing cost thereof and the developing cost thereof can be reduced. Incidentally, the gas including the unreacted hydrogen that is not used in the reaction of the above electrochemical reaction formula (4) at the fuel electrode in the fuel cell  4  may be used as a third humidity adjustment fluid. 
         [0132]    Moreover, although the partition wall  332 B is provided in the hollow  33 B to partition the hollow  33 B so as to form the two hollow portions  333 B and  334 B in the width direction in the third embodiment, a further partition wall may be provided to form three or more hollow portions (not shown). In this case, the lengths of the offgas humidification section  36 B and the water humidification section  37 B can be made to be further longer, and the improvement of the humidify performance thereof can be attained. 
         [0133]    Moreover, although the first to the third embodiments adopt the configuration of performing the humidification by the offgas first, and performing the humidification by water after that, the reverse configuration of performing the humidification by water first and performing humidification by offgas after that may be adopted. 
         [0134]    Moreover, although the humidification devices  3 ,  3 A and  3 B in the above first to the third embodiments are connected to the reforming apparatus  2  to humidify the reformed gas including hydrogen produced by the reforming apparatus  2 , they may humidify the air including the oxygen to be supplied to the fuel cell  4 . 
         [0135]    Furthermore, although the gas including the water vapor, unreacted oxygen and the like that have been produced by the air electrode of the fuel cell  4  (in accordance with the above electrochemical reaction formula (5)) is used as the offgas to be supplied to the gas humidification device  3 , the gas is not limited to the above ones, but the gas including the unreacted hydrogen that is not used in the reaction of the above electrochemical reaction formula (4) at the fuel electrode in the fuel cell  4  may be used. 
         [0136]    Moreover, although any of the first to the third embodiments allows the reformed gas to flow as the humidity-adjusted fluid to be humidified into the insides of the hollow fiber membranes, the offgas may flow as the humidity-adjusted fluid to be dehumidified (dried) in the inside of the hollow fiber membranes. In this case, for example, the reformed gas is made to flow in the region made to be the offgas humidification section  36  (the one humidity adjusting section), and the air is made to flow in the region made to be the water humidification section  37  (one of the other humidity adjusting section) in the first embodiment. Thereby, in each of the humidity adjusting sections, water molecules transfers from the inside of the hollow fiber membranes  31  to the outside, and the offgas is dehumidified. Consequently, the humidity is adjusted. 
         [0137]    All of the disclosures including the patent specification, the claims, the attached drawings and the abstract of Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-116821 filed Apr. 20, 2006 are herein incorporated by reference. 
         [0138]    Although various typical embodiments have been shown and described, the present invention is not limited to those embodiments. Consequently, the scope of the present invention can be limited only by the following claims.