Patent ID: 7592083

Claim:
A device comprising: a proton exchange membrane fuel cell configured to combine an oxidant and a reductant; an oxidant delivery assembly fluidly coupled to said fuel cell, said oxidant delivery assembly configured to manipulate at least one property of oxidant delivered from an oxidant source and prior to use thereof in said fuel cell, said oxidant delivery assembly comprising: a compressor; a heat exchanger; a water vapor transfer unit fluidly coupled to said heat exchanger to define a sequential flowpath therethrough; and a housing defining a chamber therein such that said compressor, heat exchanger and water vapor transfer unit are substantially positioned in said chamber to define an integrated unit thereby, wherein said compressor is configured to pressurize at least a portion of a hollow space defined within said chamber with oxidant from said oxidant source, said heat exchanger is configured to transfer heat from oxidant within said chamber to an exhaust fluid produced by said fuel cell, and said water vapor transfer unit is configured to transfer water vapor from said exhaust fluid to said oxidant in said chamber; and a controller configured to monitor and selectively vary the extent to which said oxidant delivery assembly modifies the oxidant.