Humidifier

Abstract

To provide a humidifier which reduces restrictions of a seal material while improving sealability between a space in which a dry gas is distributed and a space in which a hydrous gas is distributed.SOLUTION: A humidifier A comprises a humidification module Aw, which gives moisture of a hydrous gas to a dry gas, and a housing in which the humidification module Aw is stored. The humidification module Aw comprises: a laminate configured by stacking a plurality of flow distribution plates 10 each including a flow distribution section 14 which distributes flows of the dry gas and the hydrous gas and frame parts 11 and 12 forming hydrous gas supply / exhaust paths Q1 and Q3; a plurality of water exchange films 20 disposed in the flow distribution sections 14 for giving the moisture of the hydrous gas to the dry gas; a seal plate 21 which is disposed in at least a part of the flow distribution sections 14 and seals inflow of the hydrous gas to the dry gas; and an elastic member 22 which is disposed in the frame parts 11 and 12 and held between the flow distribution plates 10 in a stacking direction. A part of the water exchange film 20 is disposed in a recessed space of the flow distribution section 14 which is recessed in the stacking direction with respect to the frame parts 11 and 12.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a humidifier. [Background technology]

[0002] As a humidifier for humidifying gas supplied to a fuel cell, a humidifier having a humidification module in which a plurality of flow distribution plates are stacked and a water exchange membrane is sandwiched between adjacent flow distribution plates is known (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). In such a humidifier, a space through which a water-containing gas flows and a space through which a dry gas flows are formed with the water exchange membrane sandwiched between them, so that moisture from the water-containing gas is given to the dry gas through the water exchange membrane.

[0003] In the humidification module described in Patent Document 1, ridges formed on the flow distribution plates abut against adjacent flow distribution plates to position the flow distribution plates and determine the dimensions of the humidification module in the stacking direction. The flow distribution plates and water exchange membranes, and adjacent flow distribution plates, are fixed with a sealant such as adhesive, sealing the space through which the water-containing gas flows and the space through which the dry gas flows.

[0004] The humidification module described in Patent Document 2 has a dry gas supply channel that supplies dry gas to a space through which dry gas flows, and a moisture-containing gas supply channel that supplies moisture-containing gas to a space through which moisture-containing gas flows. A plurality of such humidification modules are stacked, and a partition is sandwiched between adjacent humidification modules, thereby forming a pressurized space through which dry gas or moisture-containing gas flows between the adjacent humidification modules. The dry gas or moisture-containing gas supplied to this pressurized space presses the humidification modules in the stacking direction, thereby sealing the space through which moisture-containing gas flows and the space through which dry gas flows. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 2023-545154 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-80966 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In the humidifier described in Patent Document 1, multiple flow distribution plates are stacked, and therefore deviations in the overall dimensions of the stack can occur due to dimensional tolerances of the ridges or thermal expansion of the flow distribution plates. Therefore, when the humidifier is subjected to external vibrations, the position of the flow distribution plates in the stacking direction changes, reducing the sealing performance of the stack and the durability of the humidifier. Furthermore, different dimensional and vibration absorption methods are required to suppress the fluctuations in the position of the flow distribution plates.

[0007] Furthermore, in the humidifier described in Patent Document 1, the dry gas supply channel and the wet gas supply channel are provided outside the humidifier. Therefore, if the humidification module cannot be sufficiently pressed along the stacking direction due to the position where these are connected to the humidifier, it may be difficult to properly seal the space through which the wet gas flows and the space through which the dry gas flows, which may result in a problem such as mixing of the wet gas and the dry gas.

[0008] The humidifier described in Patent Document 2 has a pressurized space and a partition, which allows the humidification module to be sufficiently pressed in the stacking direction. This prevents the water-containing gas and the dry gas from mixing. Meanwhile, the humidifier has a sealing portion provided on the same plane as the partition to prevent gas leakage from the dry gas supply path and the water-containing gas supply path. Because the sealing portion must be made of the same material and with the same height as the partition, there is little freedom in selecting the sealing material, which increases material costs.

[0009] In this way, removing the restrictions on the sealing material would reduce the sealing ability between the space through which the dry gas flows and the space through which the water-containing gas flows, while adopting a humidifier structure with high sealing ability would impose restrictions on the sealing material; there was a trade-off between sealing ability and the selection of sealing material.

[0010] Therefore, there is a demand for a humidifier that improves the sealing performance between the space through which the dry gas flows and the space through which the water-containing gas flows, while minimizing the restrictions on the sealing material. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] The characteristic configuration of the humidifier of the present invention is characterized in that it comprises a humidification module that provides moisture from a water-containing gas to a dry gas, and a housing that accommodates the humidification module, wherein the humidification module comprises a stack of multiple distribution plates, each having a distribution section that distributes the dry gas and the water-containing gas and a frame section that forms a water-containing gas supply and discharge path, a plurality of water exchange membranes that are arranged in each of the distribution sections formed on the multiple distribution plates and provide moisture from the water-containing gas to the dry gas, a seal plate that is arranged in at least a portion of the distribution section of each of the multiple distribution plates and seals the flow of water-containing gas into the dry gas, and an elastic member that is arranged in the frame section of each of the multiple distribution plates and is sandwiched in the stacking direction of each of the distribution plates, and a portion of the water exchange membrane is arranged in a concave space of the distribution section that is concave in the stacking direction relative to the frame section.

[0012] According to this configuration, a water-containing gas supply / discharge channel is formed by stacking multiple flow distribution plates each having a frame. The water-containing gas flowing through the water-containing gas supply / discharge channel is supplied to a space in the flow distribution section formed in the flow distribution plate through which the water-containing gas flows. A portion of the water exchange membrane is disposed in a recessed space in the flow distribution section that is recessed in the stacking direction relative to the frame. Therefore, by stacking multiple flow distribution plates, a space surrounded by the water exchange membrane and adjacent flow distribution plates is formed. When dry gas is supplied to this space, moisture from the water-containing gas is imparted to the dry gas through the water exchange membrane. At this time, a seal plate that prevents the water-containing gas from flowing into the dry gas is disposed in at least a portion of the flow distribution section and is sandwiched in the stacking direction of the flow distribution plates. In addition, an elastic member is also disposed in the frame and sandwiched in the stacking direction of the flow distribution plates. This properly seals the space through which the dry gas flows and the space through which the water-containing gas flows in the flow distribution section of the flow distribution plate, thereby preventing the dry gas from flowing into the water-containing gas.

[0013] Furthermore, the elastic member can absorb the dimensional tolerance of the flow distribution plate, thereby reducing the deviation of the overall dimension of the laminate.The elastic member can also absorb vibrations applied to the humidifier, thereby improving the durability of the humidifier.

[0014] Furthermore, since the space through which the dry gas flows and the space through which the water-containing gas flows are sealed by the seal plate and the elastic member, these materials do not need to be of the same height or made of the same material, so there are no restrictions on the materials used for the sealant.

[0015] In this way, the humidifier has improved sealing performance between the space in the flow distribution plate through which the dry gas flows and the space through which the water-containing gas flows, while having fewer restrictions on the sealing material. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] FIG. 3 is a flow path diagram showing the flow path from the humidifier to the fuel cell. [Figure 2] FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional plan view of the humidifier. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the humidification module. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VII-VII in FIG. 5. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the humidifier. [Figure 9] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a water-containing gas supply path of the humidification module. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a dry gas supply path of the humidification module. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a plan view of a seal plate according to another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a humidifier according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, as an example of a humidifier, a humidified gas is supplied to the cathode side of a fuel cell in a vehicle equipped with a fuel cell. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0018] [Overall structure] As shown in Fig. 1, a humidifier A is mounted on, for example, a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) and humidifies air supplied as cathode gas to a fuel cell FC. The fuel cell FC generates electricity through an electrochemical reaction when pressurized air containing oxygen as oxidizing gas is supplied to the cathode side and hydrogen gas is supplied as fuel gas from a fuel gas supply unit B to the anode side. In the fuel cell FC, efficient power generation is maintained by keeping the cathode electrode wet.

[0019] Furthermore, the anode off-gas discharged from the anode side as the fuel cell FC generates electricity contains moisture (water vapor). For this reason, the humidifier A functions to humidify air supplied from the outside by adding the moisture contained in the anode off-gas to the air in the humidification module Aw housed in the housing H, and to maintain the cathode side in a moist state by supplying the humidified air to the cathode side of the fuel cell FC. Hereinafter, the air (cathode gas) may also be referred to as dry gas. Furthermore, the gas discharged from the anode side of the fuel cell FC (cathode off-gas) may also be referred to as water-containing gas.

[0020] As shown in Fig. 2, the humidifier A includes a humidification module Aw and a housing H, with the humidification module Aw housed in the housing H. The humidification module Aw is a stack of multiple flow distribution plates 10. The humidifier A can be used in any position, but in this embodiment, the vertical and lateral positional relationships will be described based on the position shown in Fig. 2.

[0021] 〔housing〕 2, the housing H is rectangular in plan view and includes a main body 1 with a bottom, a lid-like body 2 that is positioned to close the upper opening of the main body 1, and a plurality of bolts 3 that fasten the main body 1 and the lid-like body 2 together. The main body 1 and the lid-like body 2 may be formed from a resin molded body.

[0022] The housing H is structured so that the internal space is sealed regardless of the vertical position of the lid 2 by fitting the sleeve-shaped portion 2a of the lid 2 into the top opening of the main body 1 (see Figure 4). To maintain this sealed state, the main body 1 is provided with a rectangular ring-shaped seal 4 that is flexibly deformable, such as made of rubber or resin, around the periphery of its top opening.

[0023] The humidification module Aw has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and is housed in the internal space of the main body 1, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. When the multiple bolts 3 are tightened in this housed state, pressure from the cover body 2 acts on the humidification module Aw in the stacking direction of the flow distribution plates 10. This brings the bottom wall 1b of the main body 1, the humidification module Aw, and the bottom surface of the cover body 2 into contact, maintaining the multiple flow distribution plates 10 constituting the humidification module Aw in tight contact. A seal plate 6 made of rubber, a flexibly deformable resin, or the like is disposed on the upper surface of the bottom wall 1b to prevent leakage of the water-containing gas from the water-containing gas supply channel Q1 and the water-containing gas discharge channel Q3, which will be described later (see Figure 4).

[0024] The internal space of the main body 1 is formed with dimensions such that the side surface of the humidification module Aw can come into contact with it. As shown in Fig. 3, the main body 1 has a dry gas supply port D1, to which pressurized dry gas (air) is supplied, and a dry gas discharge port D2, from which humidified dry gas (air) is discharged, formed as through-holes in two opposing side walls 1a of the main body 1. Furthermore, inside the side wall 1a in which the dry gas supply port D1 and the dry gas discharge port D2 are formed, recessed spaces are formed that form a dry gas supply path P1 and a dry gas discharge path P3, which will be described later.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 4, the lid-shaped body 2 has a moisture-containing gas supply port W1 to which a moisture-containing gas is supplied and a moisture-containing gas discharge port W2 to discharge the cathode off-gas from which moisture (water vapor) has been removed, which are formed as through-holes in the upper wall.

[0026] In the humidifier A of this embodiment, pressurized air is supplied to the dry gas supply port D1, and the dry gas humidified by the humidifier A is discharged from the dry gas discharge port D2 and supplied to the cathode side of the fuel cell FC. Also, the water-containing gas discharged from the cathode side of the fuel cell FC is supplied to the water-containing gas supply port W1, and the water-containing gas from which moisture has been removed by the humidifier A is discharged from the water-containing gas discharge port W2 (see FIG. 1). Note that the outer surfaces of the main body 1 and the lid-like body 2 may be provided with guides that form flow paths for the water-containing gas or the dry gas.

[0027] [Distribution plate] Next, the flow distribution plate 10 constituting the humidification module Aw will be described. As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the flow distribution plate 10 has a rectangular shape including long and short sides. The flow distribution plate 10 is preferably formed from a resin or the like. The flow distribution plate 10 has a flow distribution section 14 that distributes the dry gas and the moisture-containing gas, and frame sections 11 and 12 that form moisture-containing gas supply and discharge channels (moisture-containing gas supply channel Q1 and moisture-containing gas discharge channel Q3). The frame sections 11 and 12 are formed in a rectangular shape including a first frame section 11 formed at one end of the flow distribution plate 10 in the longitudinal direction and a second frame section 12 formed at the other end in the longitudinal direction. The first frame section 11 and the second frame section 12 are disposed on both sides of the flow distribution section 14. The moisture-containing gas supply channel Q1 is formed between the flow distribution section 14 and the first frame section 11, and the moisture-containing gas discharge channel Q3 is formed between the flow distribution section 14 and the second frame section 12. Hereinafter, the upper side of the flow distribution plate 10 shown in FIG. 5 may be referred to as the front side (an example of the first side), and the lower side may be referred to as the back side (an example of the second side).

[0028] The flow distribution plate 10 has a thin-walled portion 13 formed by cutting out the back surface of the flow distribution portion 14. As a result, a concave space is formed on the back surface of the flow distribution plate 10, recessed in the stacking direction of the flow distribution plates 10 relative to the first frame portion 11 and the second frame portion 12. By stacking such flow distribution plates 10, gaps are formed between adjacent flow distribution plates 10.

[0029] The distribution section 14 has a distribution section main body 15, a supply-side guide portion 16 that guides the water-containing gas supplied from the water-containing gas supply path Q1 to the distribution section main body 15, and a discharge-side guide portion 17 that guides the water-containing gas that has circulated through the distribution section main body 15 to the water-containing gas discharge path Q3. The supply-side guide portion 16 faces the first frame portion 11, and the discharge-side guide portion 17 faces the second frame portion 12. The distribution section main body 15 is formed between the supply-side guide portion 16 and the discharge-side guide portion 17.

[0030] Slits 10s are formed between flow distribution section main body 15 and supply-side guide portion 16, and between flow distribution section main body 15 and discharge-side guide portion 17. By having slits 10s in flow distribution section 14, the water-containing gas that has flowed through supply-side guide portion 16 is more likely to be distributed to the front and back surfaces of flow distribution section main body 15, and the water-containing gas that has flowed through flow distribution section main body 15 is more likely to be distributed to discharge-side guide portion 17.

[0031] As shown in Figure 6, flow distribution unit main body 15 is integrally formed with partition wall 15a that separates its front and back surfaces, and multiple flow straightening ribs 15b that protrude from both the front and back surfaces of partition wall 15a. Multiple flow straightening ribs 15b are formed parallel to the long sides of flow distribution plate 10 so as to direct the water-containing gas supplied from supply-side guide area 16 in a straight line toward discharge-side guide area 17. Partition wall 15a is provided at a position that equally divides thin-walled portion 13 of flow distribution plate 10 along the horizontal plane.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 7 , the supply-side guide portion 16 and the discharge-side guide portion 17 each have a partition wall 16a, 17a separating the front and back surfaces of the supply-side guide portion 16 and the discharge-side guide portion 17, respectively, and a plurality of guide ribs 16b, 17b protruding from the respective partition walls. The partition walls 16a, 17a may be flush with the partition wall 15a, or may be arranged such that the upper surfaces of the partition walls 16a, 17a are lower than the upper surface of the partition wall 15a. The height of the guide ribs 16b, 17b in the stacking direction of the flow distribution plate 10 is smaller than the height of the flow straightening rib 15b extending upward from the partition wall 15a. These dimensions may be the same. Preferably, the supply-side guide portion 16 and the discharge-side guide portion 17 have the same structure.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 5, the first frame portion 11 is formed with a first protruding piece 10a that protrudes outward from the side of the long side of the flow distribution plate 10. Similarly, the second frame portion 12 is formed with a second protruding piece 10b that protrudes outward from the side of the short side of the flow distribution plate 10. The first protruding piece 10a and the second protruding piece 10b are engaged with a first engaging recess Ca or a second engaging recess Cb formed in the main body 1 of the housing H (see FIG. 2). This positions the humidification module Aw in the housing H. Furthermore, the flow distribution plate 10 can be stored in the housing H upside down without any mistake.

[0034] [Humidification module] Next, the humidification module Aw will be described with reference to Figures 4 and 5. The humidification module Aw is formed by stacking a plurality of flow distribution plates 10, water exchange membranes 20, seal plates 21, and elastic members 22.

[0035] As shown in Fig. 5, seal plates 21, 21 are fixed by adhesive or the like to the surfaces of the supply-side guide region 16 and the discharge-side guide region 17 in the flow distribution section 14 of the flow distribution plate 10. In detail, the seal plate 21 is fixed by adhesive or the like to the protruding ends (ends on the surface side) of the guide ribs 16b, 17b and to the surfaces of the outer edges of the long sides of the flow distribution plate 10. The seal plate 21 seals the water-containing gas flowing through the spaces formed in the supply-side guide region 16 and the discharge-side guide region 17 (see Fig. 7).

[0036] A water exchange membrane 20, which is a membrane that allows the permeation of water (water vapor) contained in the water-containing gas, is disposed on a portion of the surface of the seal plates 21 and on the surface of the distribution section main body 15. The seal plates 21, 21 on the side of the distribution section main body 15 partially overlap with the water exchange membrane 20 in a plan view (see FIG. 9). The water exchange membrane 20 is preferably adhered to the surface of the seal plate 21 or the surface of the distribution section main body 15 with an adhesive or an adhesive sheet. The water exchange membrane 20 is also disposed on the back surface of the distribution section 14, on the thin-walled portion 13 that forms the recessed space. As a result, the front and back surfaces of the distribution section 14 are covered with the water exchange membrane 20, and the water-containing gas flows through the space Q2 covered by the water exchange membranes 20 (see FIG. 9).

[0037] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, an elastic member 22 is disposed on the upper surfaces of the first frame 11, the second frame 12, and a portion of the seal plates 21. The seal plates 21 partially overlap the elastic member 22 on the supply-side guide portion 16 or the discharge-side guide portion 17 side in a plan view (see FIG. 9). The elastic member 22 has an annular shape surrounding the water-containing gas supply channel Q1 and the water-containing gas discharge channel Q3. This seals the water-containing gas supply channel Q1 and the water-containing gas discharge channel Q3, preventing the water-containing gas flowing therethrough from leaking out of the humidification module Aw. The elastic member 22 may be made of an elastic material such as a photocurable resin, a thermosetting resin, or rubber. Alternatively, the elastic member 22 may be made of a liquid gasket such as FIPG or CIPG.

[0038] A humidification module Aw is formed by stacking a plurality of flow distribution plates 10, each having a seal plate 21, a water exchange membrane 20, and an elastic member 22, so that the seal plate 21, the water exchange membrane 20, and the elastic member 22 are sandwiched between adjacent flow distribution plates 10 in the stacking direction. In this humidification module Aw, a space P2 through which dry gas flows is formed between adjacent flow distribution plates 10, specifically, between the water exchange membrane 20 arranged on the surface of the flow distribution section 14 and the water exchange membrane 20 arranged in the thin-walled section 13 on the back surface of the adjacent flow distribution plate 10 (see FIG. 9).

[0039] [Humidifier] As shown in Figures 4 and 8, the humidifier module Aw is placed in the main body 1 of the housing H, and the sleeve-shaped portion 2a of the lid-shaped body 2 is fitted into the upper opening of the main body 1, thereby obtaining a humidifier A in which the humidifier module Aw is sealed in the housing H. At this time, pressure is applied from the lid-shaped body 2 in the stacking direction of the humidifier module Aw, which deforms the elastic member 22 sandwiched between adjacent flow distribution plates 10, causing the adjacent flow distribution plates 10 to come into close contact with each other.

[0040] 4, the moisture-containing gas supply passage Q1 of the humidification module Aw formed by the first frame portion 11 is positioned coaxially with the central axis of the moisture-containing gas supply port W1 provided in the lid-shaped body 2. Similarly, the moisture-containing gas discharge passage Q3 of the humidification module Aw formed by the second frame portion 12 is positioned coaxially with the central axis of the moisture-containing gas discharge port W2 provided in the lid-shaped body 2.

[0041] 4 and 9, the water-containing gas supplied from the water-containing gas supply port W1 into the main body 1 passes through the water-containing gas supply path Q1 and flows through the space Q2 formed by the water exchange membranes 20, 20 and the distribution section 14. The water-containing gas that has flowed through the space Q2 passes through the water-containing gas discharge path Q3 and is discharged from the water-containing gas discharge port W2.

[0042] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 8, the side wall 1a of the main body 1 of the housing H has a recess recessed toward the dry gas supply port D1 or the dry gas discharge port D2. This forms a dry gas supply path P1 and a dry gas discharge path P3 between the side wall 1a of the main body 1 of the housing H and the humidification module Aw. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the dry gas supply path P1 of the humidification module Aw. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, dry gas supplied into the main body 1 through the dry gas supply port D1 provided on the side of the main body 1 flows through the dry gas supply path P1 and into the space P2 formed between adjacent flow distribution plates 10. The dry gas that has flowed through the space P2 flows through the dry gas discharge path P3 and is discharged from the dry gas discharge port D2 provided on the side of the main body 1. In this way, moisture is imparted from the water-containing gas flowing through the space Q2 to the dry gas flowing through the space P2 via the water exchange membrane 20, thereby humidifying the dry gas. In this embodiment, humidification is achieved by causing dry gas to flow in a direction intersecting (orthogonal in this embodiment) the flow of water-containing gas along the long sides of the flow distribution plate 10 in a plan view.

[0043] 3, the outer periphery of the flow distribution plate 10 contacts the inner surface of the main body 1. By setting the size of the internal space of the housing H in this manner, the phenomenon of the dry gas supplied from the dry gas supply port D1 flowing short-circuiting to the dry gas discharge port D2 is suppressed. Note that in order to prevent the dry gas from flowing short-circuiting, a sealant that contacts the outer periphery of the flow distribution plate 10 may be provided in the internal space of the case C.

[0044] In this embodiment, the space Q2 is sealed by the seal plate 21 and the elastic member 22, so that the water-containing gas flowing through the supply-side guide portion 16 and supplied to the space Q2 does not leak into the space P2. The elastic member 22 also prevents the water-containing gas flowing through the water-containing gas supply path Q1 and the water-containing gas discharge path Q3 from leaking out of the humidification module Aw. This prevents the water-containing gas from flowing into the dry gas in the humidifier A.

[0045] Furthermore, the seal plate 21 that seals the space Q2 and the elastic member 22 that seals the water-containing gas supply path Q1 and the water-containing gas discharge path Q3 are formed from separate members. This eliminates the need to form the seal plate 21 and the elastic member 22 from the same material and with the same height as in the humidifier described in Patent Document 2, for example, and increases the freedom to select materials for these.

[0046] Furthermore, because elastic members 22 are interposed between the multiple flow distribution plates 10, even if the flow distribution plates 10 are stacked in a non-parallel manner, for example, when there is a dimensional error in the thickness of the longitudinal end positions of the flow distribution plates 10, the elastic members 22 absorb the dimensional error and prevent the multiple flow distribution plates S from being stacked in a non-parallel positional relationship. Also, when vibrations are applied from the outside, the elastic members 22 absorb the vibrations, thereby preventing damage to the flow distribution plates 10 due to the vibrations and preventing a decrease in humidification performance.

[0047] In the above-described embodiment, the following configurations are envisioned. (1) The humidification module Aw includes a humidification module Aw that provides moisture from the water-containing gas to the dry gas, and a housing H that accommodates the humidification module Aw. The humidification module Aw includes a stack of a plurality of flow distribution plates 10, each of which has a flow distribution section 14 that distributes the dry gas and the water-containing gas, and a frame section (first frame section 11, second frame section 12) that forms a water-containing gas supply / discharge path (water-containing gas supply path Q1, water-containing gas discharge path Q3). The stack of a plurality of flow distribution plates 10 includes a plurality of flow distribution sections 14 that distribute the moisture from the water-containing gas to the dry gas. Humidifier A has a number of water exchange membranes 20, a seal plate 21 arranged in at least a part of each distribution section 14 of a plurality of distribution plates 10 and sealing the inflow of water-containing gas into dry gas, and an elastic member 22 arranged in each frame section (first frame section 11, second frame section 12) of the plurality of distribution plates 10 and sandwiched in the stacking direction of each distribution plate 10, and a part of the water exchange membrane 20 is arranged in a recessed space of the distribution section 14 recessed in the stacking direction relative to the frame section (first frame section 11, second frame section 12).

[0048] According to this configuration, multiple flow distribution plates 10 each having a frame portion (first frame portion 11, second frame portion 12) are stacked to form water-containing gas supply / discharge channels (water-containing gas supply channel Q1, water-containing gas discharge channel Q3). The water-containing gas flowing through the water-containing gas supply / discharge channels (water-containing gas supply channel Q1, water-containing gas discharge channel Q3) is supplied to a space Q2 through which the water-containing gas flows by a flow distribution section 14 formed on the flow distribution plate 10. A portion of the water exchange membrane 20 is disposed in a recessed space of the flow distribution section 14 that is recessed in the stacking direction relative to the frame portions (first frame portion 11, second frame portion 12). Therefore, by stacking multiple flow distribution plates 10, a space P2 surrounded by the water exchange membrane 20 and an adjacent flow distribution plate 10 is formed. When dry gas is supplied to this space P2, moisture from the water-containing gas is imparted to the dry gas via the water exchange membrane 20. At this time, a seal plate 21 that blocks the inflow of the water-containing gas into the dry gas is disposed in at least a part of the flow distribution section 14 and is sandwiched in the stacking direction of the flow distribution plate 10. In addition, an elastic member 22 is also disposed in the frame section (first frame section 11, second frame section 12) and is sandwiched in the stacking direction of the flow distribution plate 10. This properly seals the space P2 through which the dry gas flows and the space Q2 through which the water-containing gas flows in the flow distribution section 14 of the flow distribution plate 10, thereby preventing the dry gas from flowing into the water-containing gas.

[0049] Furthermore, the elastic member 22 can absorb the dimensional tolerance of the flow distribution plate 10, thereby reducing deviation in the overall dimension of the laminate. The elastic member 22 can also absorb vibrations applied to the humidifier A, thereby improving the durability of the humidifier A.

[0050] Furthermore, since the space P2 through which the dry gas flows and the space Q2 through which the water-containing gas flows are sealed by the seal plate 21 and the elastic member 22, it is not necessary to configure these materials with the same height or the same material, and therefore there are no restrictions on the materials used for the sealant.

[0051] (2) In the humidifier A of (1), the frame portion is configured such that a first frame portion 11 forming the water-containing gas supply path Q1 and a second frame portion 12 forming the water-containing gas discharge path Q3 are connected to both sides of the distribution portion 14, and it is preferable that the elastic member 22 is arranged in the first frame portion 11 and the second frame portion 12 to surround the water-containing gas supply path Q1 and the water-containing gas discharge path Q3.

[0052] According to this configuration, the moisture-containing gas supplied from the moisture-containing gas supply channel Q1 formed by the first frame portion 11 flows through the space Q2 formed by the flow distribution section 14 and is discharged from the moisture-containing gas discharge channel Q3 formed by the second frame portion 12. The moisture-containing gas supply channel Q1 and the moisture-containing gas discharge channel Q3 are surrounded by the elastic member 22 in the first frame portion 11 and the second frame portion 12, so that gas leakage from the moisture-containing gas supply channel Q1 and the moisture-containing gas discharge channel Q3 can be prevented, and mixing of the moisture-containing gas and the dry gas can be prevented.

[0053] In the humidifier A of (3)(2), the distribution plate 10 is formed in a rectangular shape including long and short sides, and one of the first frame portion 11 or the second frame portion 12 is formed with a first protruding piece 10a protruding from the long side, and the other of the first frame portion 11 or the second frame portion 12 is formed with a second protruding piece 10b protruding from the short side, and it is preferable that the housing H is formed with a first engagement recess Ca that engages with the first protruding piece 10a and a second engagement recess Cb that engages with the second protruding piece 10b.

[0054] According to this configuration, the first protruding piece 10a protruding from one long side of the first frame portion 11 or the second frame portion 12 engages with the first engagement recess Ca formed in the housing H, and the second protruding piece 10b protruding from one short side of the first frame portion 11 or the second frame portion 12 engages with the second engagement recess Cb formed in the housing H, thereby determining the installation position of the humidifying module Aw in the housing H. As a result, even if vibrations are applied to the humidifier A, fluctuations in the position of the humidifying module Aw inside the housing H are suppressed, and the durability of the humidifier A can be improved by the elastic member 22.

[0055] (4) In any one of the humidifiers A of (1) to (3), it is preferable that the concave space is formed on at least one of the first surface of the flow distribution section 14 or the second surface opposite to the first surface.

[0056] According to this configuration, at least one of the first and second surfaces of the flow distribution section 14 is recessed in the stacking direction relative to the frame sections (first frame section 11, second frame section 12), so the separation distance between the flow distribution sections 14, 14 of adjacent flow distribution plates 10, 10 is increased, and the space P2 through which the dry gas flows can be increased. This increases the volume of the space P2 through which the dry gas flows, and therefore the performance of the humidifier A can also be improved.

[0057] Other Embodiments (a) In the above embodiment, the first frame portion 11 and the second frame portion 12 are connected to both sides of the flow distribution portion 14. However, the positions at which the first frame portion 11 and the second frame portion 12 are arranged are not limited to this. The first frame portion 11 and the second frame portion 12 may be arranged, for example, so as to be diagonally positioned on the flow distribution plate 10, or may be triangular in plan view. In this case, the flow straightening ribs 15b of the flow distribution portion 14 do not have to be formed parallel to the long sides of the flow distribution plate 10. Furthermore, the first frame portion 11 and the second frame portion 12 may be connected to each other, or may be formed at one end of the flow distribution plate 10. In this case, the flow distribution portion 14 may be configured so that the water-containing gas supplied from the water-containing gas supply channel Q1 turns back at the other end of the flow distribution plate 10 and flows into the water-containing gas discharge channel Q3.

[0058] (b) In the above embodiment, the flow distribution plate 10 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, but the long sides of the flow distribution plate 10 may be inclined with respect to the long sides of the housing H. In this case, the dry gas supply port D1 and the dry gas discharge port D2 should be provided at the positions where the side wall 1a of the housing H and the flow distribution plate 10 are closest to each other. This makes it possible to equalize the pressure of the dry gas circulating within the space P2 of the humidification module Aw regardless of the flow path.

[0059] (c) In the above embodiment, the seal plate 21 has an annular shape and is arranged in the supply-side guide portion 16 and the discharge-side guide portion 17 of the flow distribution portion 14. However, as shown in FIG. 11 , the seal plate 21 may have a structure that covers the upper surfaces of the frame portions (first frame portion 11 and second frame portion 12) and the upper surfaces of the supply-side guide portion 16 and the discharge-side guide portion 17. The seal plate 21 may be made of aluminum or the like that can be fixed to the flow distribution plate 10 by welding. By integrating the seal plate 21 and the flow distribution plate 10, it is possible to reduce the number of parts.

[0060] (d) In the above embodiment, the first frame portion 11 and the second frame portion 12 form the water-containing gas supply path Q1 or the water-containing gas discharge path Q3, but they may also form the dry gas supply path P1 or the dry gas discharge path P3. Furthermore, dry gas may flow through the space Q2, and water-containing gas may flow through the space P2. Similarly, in the housing H, a water-containing gas supply port W1 and a water-containing gas discharge port W2 may be formed in the side wall 1a of the main body 1, and a dry gas supply port D1 and a dry gas discharge port D2 may be formed in the upper wall of the lid-shaped body 2.

[0061] (e) In the above embodiment, the back surface of the flow distribution plate 10 has the thin-walled portion 13 cut out, but the front surface of the flow distribution portion 14 may be cut out, or both the front and back surfaces may have the thin-walled portion 13 cut out. That is, the flow distribution portion 14 may be recessed in the stacking direction relative to the first frame portion 11 and the second frame portion 12 on the front and back surfaces of the flow distribution plate 10. This increases the volume of the space P2 through which the dry gas flows, thereby enabling efficient humidification of the dry gas.

[0062] (f) In the above embodiment, the first protruding pieces 10a protruding outward from the sides of the long sides of the flow distribution plate 10 are provided on the first frame portion 11, and the second protruding pieces 10b protruding outward from the sides of the short sides are provided on the second frame portion 12. However, the first protruding pieces 10a protruding outward from the sides of the long sides of the flow distribution plate 10 may be provided on the second frame portion 12, or the second protruding pieces 10b protruding outward from the sides of the short sides may be provided on the first frame portion 11. Furthermore, the first protruding pieces 10a or the second protruding pieces 10b may be provided on both the first frame portion 11 and the second frame portion 12, and the number of pieces is not limited. [Industrial Applicability]

[0063] The present invention can be used in a humidifier having a humidification module that provides moisture from a water-containing gas to a dry gas. [Explanation of symbols]

[0064] 10: flow distribution plate, 10a: first protruding piece, 10b: second protruding piece, 11: first frame portion (frame portion), 12: second frame portion (frame portion), 14: flow distribution portion, 20: water exchange membrane, 21: seal plate, 22: elastic member, A: humidifier, Aw: humidification module, C: housing, Ca: first engaging recess, Cb: second engaging recess, Q1: water-containing gas supply channel (water-containing gas supply / exhaust channel), Q3: water-containing gas exhaust channel (water-containing gas supply / exhaust channel)

Claims

1. a humidification module that provides moisture from the water-containing gas to the dry gas; a housing that accommodates the humidification module; The humidification module comprises: a stack of a plurality of flow distribution plates, each of which has a flow distribution section that distributes the dry gas and the water-containing gas and a frame section that forms a water-containing gas supply / discharge path; a plurality of water exchange membranes disposed in the respective flow distribution sections formed on the plurality of flow distribution plates, and which provide moisture from the water-containing gas to the dry gas; a seal plate disposed in at least a portion of each of the flow distribution portions of the plurality of flow distribution plates, and configured to seal the water-containing gas from flowing into the dry gas; an elastic member disposed on each of the frame portions of the plurality of flow distribution plates and sandwiched in the stacking direction of the flow distribution plates; A humidifier in which a portion of the water exchange membrane is disposed in a recessed space of the flow distribution section that is recessed in the stacking direction relative to the frame section.

2. the frame portion has a first frame portion forming a water-containing gas supply path and a second frame portion forming a water-containing gas discharge path connected to both sides of the flow distribution portion, The humidifier according to claim 1 , wherein the elastic member is disposed in the first frame portion and the second frame portion so as to surround the water-containing gas supply channel and the water-containing gas discharge channel.

3. The flow distribution plate is formed in a rectangular shape including long sides and short sides, a first protruding piece protruding from the long side is formed on one of the first frame portion or the second frame portion, and a second protruding piece protruding from the short side is formed on the other of the first frame portion or the second frame portion, 3. The humidifier according to claim 2, wherein the housing is formed with a first engaging recess that engages with the first protruding piece and a second engaging recess that engages with the second protruding piece.

4. A humidifier according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the concave space is formed on at least one of a first surface of the flow distribution section or a second surface opposite to the first surface.

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