Fuel Cell Membrane Humidifier Inlet Sizing for Lower Pressure Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fuel cell membrane humidifiers face inefficiencies due to differential pressure loss in humidification modules, which reduces humidification efficiency and power generation performance.
Innovation Solution
A fuel cell membrane humidifier design with a mid-case and cartridges containing hollow fiber membranes, where the second fluid inlet's cross-sectional area is optimized to be greater than or equal to the cartridge's area minus the membrane area, and an active bypass portion with a flexible valve adjusts flow rates to prevent pressure loss, ensuring efficient moisture exchange.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If hollow fiber membranes are packed densely in cartridges to increase permeable area, then humidification efficiency is improved, but differential pressure loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a single-dimension linear flow path to a multi-dimensional radial flow path by arranging hollow fiber membranes in cylindrical cartridges. The second fluid flows radially through the membrane bundle from the outer periphery toward the center, creating a three-dimensional flow pattern that increases the effective permeable area while distributing pressure drop more evenly across the membrane surface, thereby improving humidification efficiency without excessive pressure loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs nested cartridges containing multiple bundles of hollow fiber membranes arranged concentrically within the mid-case. This nested configuration allows multiple membrane bundles to be packed in a compact volume, increasing the total permeable area available for moisture transfer while maintaining a manageable flow path length that limits differential pressure loss.
2Volume of moving object
If cartridge cross-sectional area is reduced to compact the humidifier size, then device miniaturization is achieved, but flow rate capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses radial flow configuration in cylindrical cartridges to maximize the use of cross-sectional area. The second fluid enters at the outer periphery and flows radially inward, utilizing the entire cross-sectional area of the cartridge for moisture transfer. This radial arrangement allows compact cartridge dimensions while maintaining high flow rate capability, as the flow path length remains relatively short despite the compact size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the membrane assembly into multiple separate cartridges, each containing a bundle of hollow fiber membranes. These cartridges are arranged in parallel within the mid-case, allowing the total flow rate capability to be distributed across multiple independent flow paths. This segmentation enables compact individual cartridge sizes while achieving high overall flow rate capability through parallel processing.
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
This design enhances humidification efficiency by minimizing differential pressure loss and maintaining optimal flow rates, thereby improving power generation performance and reducing material costs.
Implementation Method 1
a membrane that selectively transmits only the water vapor contained in off-gas
Implementation Method 2
an active bypass portion with a flexible valve adjusts flow rates
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a fuel cell membrane humidifier which may improve humidification efficiency by preventing a differential pressure loss in a humidification module. A disclosed fuel cell membrane humidifier performs moisture exchange between a first fluid and a second fluid and includes a mid-case, a second fluid inlet configured to introduce the second fluid into the mid-case, a second fluid outlet configured to discharge the second fluid to outside, and at least one cartridge arranged in the mid-case and accommodating a plurality of hollow fiber membranes. A cross-sectional area of the second fluid inlet is formed to be greater than or equal to an inner cross-sectional area of the at least one cartridge excluding a cross-sectional area occupied by the plurality of hollow fiber membranes accommodated in the at least one cartridge.