Sealed water vapor transfer unit assembly with integrated load transferring structure

Abstract

A water vapor transfer unit assembly is disclosed, the water vapor transfer unit assembly including a plurality of water vapor transfer units having a fluid permeable membrane and a plurality of supports disposed within a sealing frame adjacent an end plate of a fuel cell stack, wherein the sealing frame is adapted to provide support to the end plate and a fuel cell stack of the fuel cell stack system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A water vapor transfer unit assembly comprising:
 a sealing frame configured to be disposed in a fuel cell stack system adjacent an end plate of a fuel cell stack thereof;   a plurality of water vapor transfer units disposed in said sealing frame; and   a plurality of supports disposed in said sealing frame intermediate said water vapor transfer units, wherein said supports are configured to support the end plate of the fuel cell stack.   
     
     
         2 . The water vapor transfer unit assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said supports are integrally formed with said sealing frame. 
     
     
         3 . The water vapor transfer unit assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said supports are separately formed from said sealing frame. 
     
     
         4 . The water vapor transfer unit assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of water vapor transfer unit end plates disposed between said water vapor transfer units and said sealing frame. 
     
     
         5 . The water vapor transfer unit assembly of  claim 4 , wherein said sealing frame cooperates with said water vapor transfer end plates to seal said water vapor transfer units with said sealing frame. 
     
     
         6 . The water vapor transfer unit assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a sealant disposed between said sealing frame and said water vapor transfer units. 
     
     
         7 . The water vapor transfer unit assembly of  claim 6 , wherein said sealant is one of a polymeric material, a metallic material, an epoxy resin, and a b-stage adhesive. 
     
     
         8 . The water vapor transfer unit assembly of  claim 6 , wherein said sealant cooperates with said sealing frame and said water vapor transfer units to create a substantially fluid tight seal. 
     
     
         9 . A water vapor transfer unit assembly comprising:
 a sealing frame disposed in a fuel cell stack system adjacent an end plate of a fuel cell stack thereof;   a plurality of water vapor transfer units disposed in said sealing frame; and   a plurality of supports disposed in said sealing frame between said water vapor transfer units, wherein said supports are load bearing members for the fuel cell stack and provide compressive load-bearing support to the end plate of the fuel cell stack, and wherein the end plate is configured to be a non-load bearing member for the fuel cell stack.   
     
     
         10 . The water vapor transfer unit assembly of  claim 10 , wherein said supports are integrally formed with said sealing frame. 
     
     
         11 . The water vapor transfer unit assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said supports are separately formed from said sealing frame. 
     
     
         12 . The water vapor transfer unit assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of water vapor transfer unit end plates disposed between said water vapor transfer units and said sealing frame. 
     
     
         13 . The water vapor transfer unit assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said sealing frame cooperates with said water vapor transfer end plates to seal said water vapor transfer units with said sealing frame. 
     
     
         14 . The water vapor transfer unit assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising a sealant disposed between said sealing frame and said water vapor transfer units. 
     
     
         15 . The water vapor transfer unit assembly of  claim 14 , wherein said sealant is one of a polymeric material, a metallic material, an epoxy resin, and a b-stage adhesive. 
     
     
         16 . The water vapor transfer unit assembly of  claim 14 , wherein said sealant cooperates with said sealing frame and said water vapor transfer units to create a substantially fluid tight seal.