TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Components: In the membrane device, the gel facilitates transfer of the gas phase component from the first fluid stream to the second fluid stream by intercepting the gas phase component cm a surface of the nine adjacent to the first fluid stream and transferring the gas phase component to the second fluid stream. The second fluid stream includes a liquid, and the gel at least partially inhibits transfer of the liquid from the second fluid stream to the first fluid stream. The porous support includes a thermoplastic polymer. The membrane is one of a flat sheet membrane, a hollow fiber membrane, and a tubular membrane. The gel includes cross-linked hydrophilic polymers. The cross-linked hydrophilic polymers are substantially entangled in the porous support to prevent migration of the gel out of the pores. The gel includes one of humectants and swelling agents. The porous support includes at least one of surfactants, humectants, salt additives, acid additives, base additives, and polymer additives. The gel includes cross-linked hydrophobic polymers. The cross-linked hydrophobic polymers are substantially entangled in the porous support to prevent migration of the gel out of the pores. The gel includes swelling agents. The porous support includes at least one of surfactants humectants, salt additives, acid additives, base additives, and polymer additives. Preferred Module: In the module, the hydrophilic gel facilitates transfer of water from the humidifying stream across the membrane to the gas and minimizes transfer of the gas across the membrane to the humidifying stream. The hydrophilic gel includes up to 90% water. The permeability of gasses through the membrane including the hydrophilic gel is significantly less than through a similar membrane without gel-filled pores. The module further comprises first flow path ports and second flow path ports; media between the second flow path ports and the membrane to substantially protect the membrane from at least one of particulates, chemicals, and high velocity flow; of the humidifying stream. The gas is an explosive gas and the humidifying stream includes one of humid gas, a mixture of humid gas and liquid droplets, and liquid water. The porous support has a burst strength of up to 1000 pounds per square inch. Preferred Humidifier: In the humidifier, the gel-filled pores allow transfer of water from the second flow path to the first flow path to humidify the reactant. The humidifier further comprises a first flow path outlet leading humidified reactant from the first flow path to the fuel cell, and a second flow path inlet leading humidified exhaust from the fuel cell to the second flow path to replenish the humidifying stream. The gel-filled pores include larger macrovoids and smaller grainy pores. The reactant is an oxidant stream for a cathode of the fuel cell. The reactant is a reductant stream for an anode of the fuel cell. The permeability of gasses through the membrane will gel-filled pores is significantly less than through a similar membrane without gel-filled pores.