Coreless Hollow Fiber Membrane Bundle for Uniform Humidifier Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hollow-fiber membrane bundles for fuel cell humidifiers often include a core that adds weight, cost, and complexity, and removing this core can damage the membrane pattern and reduce efficiency due to potential air bypass and tangling of fibers.
Innovation Solution
A hollow fiber membrane module design without a core, where the core is initially present for winding but later removed, maintaining the helical pattern and allowing for efficient fluid flow without a center void, and a housing structure that accommodates these core-less modules to reduce weight and enhance durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a core is used in the fiber membrane bundle, then the structural stability during winding is improved, but the weight and cost of the bundle increase
Solution Approach 1:
The core is completely removed from the fiber membrane bundle after the helical winding pattern is established. The patent describes removing the core from the completed bundle, resulting in a coreless structure that maintains the desired fiber pattern while eliminating the weight and cost associated with plastic or metal cores.
Solution Approach 2:
The core is temporarily present during the winding process to enable proper helical pattern formation, then removed afterward. This preliminary use of the core allows the fiber membrane to be wound in the correct configuration before the core serves no further purpose and becomes a burden.
2Weight of moving object
If the core is removed from the completed bundle, then the weight and cost are reduced, but the fiber membrane pattern may be damaged or deformed
Solution Approach 1:
The helical winding pattern is fully established around the core before removal. This preliminary formation of the complete desired pattern ensures that the fiber membrane is properly configured and stabilized before the core is taken out, preventing deformation during the removal process.
Solution Approach 2:
The core is removed only after the fiber membrane bundle has been completely wound and stabilized in its final configuration. The patent emphasizes that the core is removed from the completed bundle, ensuring pattern integrity is maintained while achieving weight reduction.
3Weight of moving object
If the core is removed from the bundle, then the weight is reduced, but air may bypass the tortuous path through the bundle, reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The fiber membrane bundle is divided into multiple helically wound layers that create a tortuous path for fluid flow. This segmented, multi-layered structure ensures that fluid must traverse through the membrane surfaces rather than bypassing through a central void, maintaining efficiency even without a core.
Solution Approach 2:
The helical winding pattern creates curved, three-dimensional pathways for fluid flow. This curved configuration ensures uniform fluid distribution across all fiber membranes and prevents direct bypass paths, maintaining flow efficiency while eliminating the core.
4Ease of manufacture
If a helically wound pattern is created for core removal, then the core can be removed, but the packing fraction may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The helical winding pattern is optimized to achieve both core removability and high packing fraction. The specific helical configuration allows the core to be easily removed while maintaining sufficient fiber density and packing, as the curved paths efficiently space the fibers without excessive voids.
Data Source
AI summary
A hollow fiber membrane module without a core is disclosed. The hollow fiber membrane module comprises a plurality of hollow fiber membranes that remain helically wound in an outer region of the hollow fiber membrane bundle absent a core. One or more hollow fiber membrane modules without a core may be positioned in a housing comprising one or more cavities. The housing containing the one or more hollow fiber membrane modules may be provided as a component in a fuel cell humidifier.