CATALYTIC HUMIDIFIER AND HEATER FOR THE FUEL STREAM OF A FUEL CELL

摘要

A method and apparatus are provided for humidifying fuel, and optionally oxidant, supplied to a fuel cell system (62) which can be a single fuel cell or a multiciplicity of fuel cells, A catalytic reactor (50) is provided, which is supplied with a portion of the fuel (74) and the oxidant (80). The fuel is supplied in excess of the oxidant to the catalytic reactor, so as to generate a stream of fuel which is both heated and humidified. For a closed system, a heated and humidified fuel flow, and optionally a heated and humidified oxidant flow, are mixed with additional flows of these gases supplied to the fuel cell.