Fuel Cell Humidifier Bypass Drainage for Condensate Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel cell humidifiers fail to effectively prevent condensate water from flowing into the fuel cell stack, leading to efficiency degradation due to design limitations in handling condensate water generated in hollow fiber membranes and exposure to freezing conditions.
Innovation Solution
A fuel cell humidifier design incorporating a bypass tube to redirect condensate water from the first cap to the housing, combined with a condensation induction portion and a rib or screw thread inside the air outlet port to prevent condensate water from entering the fuel cell stack, and a configuration that increases relative humidity to remove condensate water effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If a communicating tube is used to transfer condensate water from the liquid pool area to the lead-in manifold, then condensate water accumulation in the downstream head is improved, but condensate water generated in hollow fiber membranes and discharged at high pressure still flows directly into the fuel cell stack without being collected
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the condensate water removal function into two parts: (1) the communicating tube handles condensate water in the liquid pool area of the downstream head, and (2) the bypass tube handles condensate water discharged from the hollow fiber membranes. This segmentation ensures that both sources of condensate water are captured and redirected to the off-gas, preventing them from flowing into the fuel cell stack.
Solution Approach 2:
The bypass tube acts as an intermediary structure that intercepts condensate water discharged from the hollow fiber membranes at high pressure and redirects it to the off-gas flow path. This intermediary mechanism prevents the direct discharge of condensate water into the fuel cell stack while maintaining the humidification function.
2Ease of manufacture
If the communicating tube is exposed to the outside environment, then condensate water transfer from the liquid pool area is simplified, but the condensate water inside the tube freezes in extremely cold environments, hindering condensate water drainage
Solution Approach 1:
The communicating tube and bypass tube are nested within the housing structure, with the bypass tube positioned to receive condensate water from the hollow fiber membranes and redirect it to the off-gas. This nested configuration protects the condensate water transfer path from external cold environments, preventing freezing while maintaining effective condensate water drainage.
3Power
If high-purity hydrogen is supplied to the anode and atmospheric air to the cathode, then power generation efficiency is improved, but condensate water is generated in the humidifier that degrades power generation efficiency when it flows into the fuel cell stack
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the harmful effect of condensate water generation into a manageable process by designing the bypass tube to intercept and redirect the condensate water to the off-gas flow. This transforms the potential harm of condensate water flowing into the fuel cell stack into a controlled drainage process that maintains power generation efficiency while preserving the necessary humidification function.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Prevents condensate water from entering the fuel cell stack, thereby maintaining power generation efficiency and preventing freezing issues in cold environments by effectively managing condensate water through the bypass tube and condensation induction mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
a bypass tube configured to transfer condensate water generated in an internal space of the first cap or flowing into the internal space of the first cap from the hollow fiber membranes, to an internal space of the housing through which the off-gas flows
Implementation Method 2
a condensation induction portion formed to extend from the air outlet port to expand the humidified air and induce condensation of the condensate water while slowing down the speed thereof
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a fuel cell humidifier which can prevent condensate water from entering a running fuel cell stack. A fuel cell humidifier according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a humidification module; a first cap having an air discharge port for supplying air humidified by the humidification; a second cap having an air inlet port for receiving the air supplied from the outside; a bypass tube for transferring condensate water, which is generated in the interior space of the first cap or flows into the interior space of the first cap from the hollow fiber membranes, to the interior space of the housing where the off-gas flows; and a condensation inducing part extending from the air discharge port to expand the humidified air so as to induce condensation of condensate water while slowing down the speed thereof.