Fuel Cell Membrane Humidifier Cap Venting for Pressure Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fuel cell membrane humidifiers face pressure buildup issues due to abnormal operation, breakage of hollow fiber membranes, or clogging, which can lead to damage if dry gas is not properly discharged.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a pressure regulator with a buffer housing, an opening and closing member, and an elastic member that compresses or expands according to dry gas pressure, allowing for the controlled discharge of dry gas through a dry gas discharge hole to regulate pressure and prevent damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of stationary object
If a membrane humidifier is used to humidify fuel cell gas, then the humidifier can be lightweight and miniaturized with high integration, but pressure buildup can occur due to abnormal operation, breakage, or clogging leading to potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure regulator is pre-installed in the cap of the membrane humidifier to proactively prevent pressure buildup before it causes damage. The regulator includes a discharge hole and opening/closing member that are prepared in advance to release excess pressure automatically when needed, ensuring the humidifier can handle abnormal operations safely
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure regulator acts as a protective mechanism that cushions against potential pressure damage. By providing a pressure relief pathway through the discharge hole and controllable opening/closing member, the system prepares in advance for pressure anomalies, preventing catastrophic failure from breakage or clogging events
2Productivity
If the hollow fiber membranes are broken or passages are clogged, then moisture exchange efficiency decreases, but pressure inside the humidifier increases causing potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure regulator serves as an intermediary safety mechanism between the membrane humidifier's moisture exchange function and the potential harmful pressure effects. When membranes break or passages clog, reducing moisture exchange efficiency, the pressure regulator intermediates by providing an alternative pressure relief pathway through its discharge hole, preventing the harmful pressure buildup that would otherwise damage the system
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure regulator extracts the pressure management function from the main humidifier body and places it in the cap. This separate pressure relief system can operate independently to discharge excess pressure through its dedicated discharge hole, even when the main moisture exchange pathways are blocked or damaged
3Stability of the object's composition
If pressure is not regulated during abnormal operation, then system integrity is compromised, but adding complex pressure control systems increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure regulator merges the pressure control function with the existing cap structure of the membrane humidifier. By integrating the discharge hole, opening/closing member, and spring mechanism into the cap assembly rather than adding a separate complex pressure control system, the design maintains system integrity while minimizing additional complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure regulator is designed as a self-regulating system where the spring-loaded opening/closing member automatically responds to pressure changes. The spring provides the restoring force that opens the discharge hole when pressure exceeds the spring force, and closes it when pressure normalizes, eliminating the need for external control systems or additional complexity
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
The solution effectively adjusts dry gas pressure by discharging it externally, preventing damage to the membrane humidifier during abnormal operations, ensuring the system's integrity and performance.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member formed in the opening and closing member and an inner wall of the buffer housing and compressing or expanding according to the pressure of the dry gas in the cap
Implementation Method 2
a membrane humidifying method for humidifying a polymer electrolyte membrane by supplying water vapor to gas to be supplied to the polymer electrolyte membrane, by use of a membrane which selectively allows only water vapor included in off-gas to pass therethrough
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a fuel cell membrane humidifier capable of regulating dry gas pressure in the fuel cell membrane humidifier by discharging dry gas to an outside according to the dry gas pressure in the membrane humidifier and a fuel cell system including the same, andthe fuel cell membrane humidifier according to an embodiment of the present disclosureincludes: a mid-case; a cap fastened to the mid-case and having a dry gas discharge hole through which dry gas is discharged; and a pressure regulator formed in the cap and partially opening the dry gas discharge hole according to pressure of dry gas in the cap to regulate the pressure of the dry gas in the cap.