USPTO Patent Granted for Fuel Cell Humidifier Mold Mitigation

ChangeBridge: Patent Grants - Batteries (H01M)

Published March 24th, 2026

Detected March 26th, 2026

Summary

The USPTO has granted a patent (US12586798B2) to Cevizdere LLC for methods and apparatus to mitigate mold formation in fuel cell humidifiers. The invention involves reducing oxygen concentration or generating hydrogen peroxide within the humidifier upon system shutdown.

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What changed

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has granted patent US12586798B2 to Cevizdere LLC. This patent covers novel methods and apparatus designed to reduce mold formation and accumulation in membrane-based humidifiers used in Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell systems. Key aspects of the invention include reducing oxygen concentration and/or generating hydrogen peroxide within the humidifier when the fuel cell system is shut down, potentially through the introduction of hydrogen or the use of a catalyst.

This patent grant is primarily an intellectual property development and does not impose new regulatory obligations on manufacturers or operators of fuel cell systems. However, it may influence future product design and development in the fuel cell industry, particularly concerning humidifier maintenance and longevity. Companies involved in fuel cell technology may wish to review the patent details to understand potential licensing opportunities or to inform their own research and development efforts.

Source document (simplified)

← USPTO Patent Grants

Methods and apparatus for mold mitigation in fuel cell humidifiers

Grant US12586798B2 Kind: B2 Mar 24, 2026

Assignee

Cevizdere LLC

Inventors

Sean Michael Mackinnon, Matthew Guenther, Claudette Kennette

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for reducing the tendency for mold formation and accumulation in membrane-based humidifiers used in PEM fuel cell systems can include reducing the oxygen concentration and/or generating hydrogen peroxide within the humidifier upon shutdown of a fuel cell system. In some embodiments, a fuel cell system comprises valves and lines located and operable to facilitate introduction of hydrogen into the humidifier upon shutdown of the system. In some embodiments, a fuel cell humidifier comprises a catalyst for promoting the generation of hydrogen peroxide from hydrogen and oxygen, and/or comprises acidic gas transport layers.