Humidifier device and method of forming the same

Abstract

A humidifier of the present invention includes a bundle of hollow porous tubes made of synthetic material disposed in a housing having a plurality of inlet and outlet ports. The humidifier of the present invention is used to control humidity in a fuel cell and is used in various industrial applications. A method of producing the humidifier is disclosed herein.

1 . A humidifier device for a fuel cell adaptable for balancing fluids therein, said humidifier comprising: 
 a tubular housing presenting a central axis and having terminal ends and a pair of housing ports;    a pair of caps covering each of said terminal ends with each said cap exposed to a cap port;    a plurality of polymer tubes each presenting terminal openings with said polymer tubes being adjacent one and another and disposed in said tubular housing for processing and balancing fluids introduced therein thereby controlling humidity inside said humidifier; and    a pair of rings for peripherally affixing said plurality of polymer tubes about said terminal opening thereby expanding said polymer tubes extending beyond said rings with said polymer tubes abutting said tubular housing thereby eliminating gaps between said tubular housing and said polymer tubes for balancing fluids therethrough.    
   
   
       2 . A humidifier device as set forth in  claim 1  including an adhesive compound at least partially extending internally into each of said terminal openings of each said polymer tube and externally covering at least part of each said polymer tubes at said terminal openings for withstanding pressure of fluids in each said polymer tubes as said polymer tubes process and balance fluids introduced therein.  
   
   
       3 . A humidifier device as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said adhesive compound is epoxy adhesive.  
   
   
       4 . A humidifier device as set forth in  claim 4  wherein said tubular housing presents an annular wall integrally extending a main portion for aligning said unitary member and a pair of fittings extending generally perpendicular to said central axis at each of said terminal ends.  
   
   
       5 . A humidifier device as set forth in  claim 4  wherein each said pair of fittings further extend to cap engaging portions, respectively, extending generally parallel said central axis with each of said rings disposed between said polymer tubes forming a unitary member and each said cap engaging portions with each said cap engaging portions presenting a mechanical connection with said caps.  
   
   
       6 . A humidifier device as set forth in  claim 1  including a plurality of fitting tubes mechanically engaged with said housing ports and said cap port for receiving fluids into said and releasing fluid from said humidifier device.