Patent ID: 7172827

Claim:
A fuel cell with integrated humidification, comprising: a fuel cell unit with an anode; a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) and a cathode; a feed line to the cathode for gas containing O 2 , preferably air; a discharge line for cathode waste gas containing water vapor; a feed line to the anode for fuel gas containing H 2 ; a discharge line for anode waste gas containing water vapor; a first humidification unit for the gas containing O 2 optionally a second humidification unit for the fuel gas containing H 2 , wherein the first humidification unit includes a first heat exchanger through which the feed line for gas containing O 2 and the discharge line for cathode waste gas containing water vapor are guided, wherein the discharge line downstream of the first heat exchanger is connected to the feed line upstream of the first heat exchanger through a first condensate separator and a first capillary tube and the first capillary tube runs into a Venturi nozzle installed in the feed line and optionally a pump installed in the feed line; and optionally a second humidification unit for the fuel gas containing H 2 , wherein the second humidification unit includes a second heat exchanger through which the feed line for fuel gas containing H 2 and the discharge line for anode waste gas containing water vapor are guided, wherein the discharge line downstream of the second heat exchanger is connected to the feed line upstream of the second heat exchanger through a second condensate separator and a second capillary tube and the second capillary tube runs into a Venturi nozzle installed in the feed line and optionally a pump installed in the feed line.