Membrane Humidifier Plate Design with Polymeric Ribbons
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing membrane humidifiers for fuel cells are bulky, costly, and time-consuming to assemble due to the need for webs and adhesives to support flow channels, increasing material and manufacturing costs and dimensions.
Innovation Solution
A membrane humidifier plate design featuring a planar top and bottom layer with elongate polymeric ribbons forming flow channels, eliminating the need for a web and adhesive, and incorporating sealing bars for assembly, reducing material usage and assembly time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If webs and adhesives are used to support flow channels in membrane humidifiers, then structural stability is improved, but plate dimensions, material costs, and assembly time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the web component from the traditional membrane humidifier structure. Instead of using a web to support the flow channels, the invention uses self-supporting corrugated plates where the corrugations themselves provide the necessary structural support, eliminating the need for separate web and adhesive components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by using corrugations only in specific areas where structural support is needed, rather than using a continuous web across the entire plate. The corrugated portions provide localized support where required, while maintaining overall plate stability without excessive material usage.
2Strength
If webs and adhesives are used to support flow channels, then structural integrity is maintained, but material costs and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the adhesive layer and web components from the assembly, relying instead on the inherent structural integrity of the corrugated plate design to maintain flow channel support and overall structural strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the structural support function and flow channel definition into a single integrated corrugated plate structure. The corrugations serve dual purposes: providing mechanical support and defining the flow paths, eliminating the need for separate web and adhesive components.
3Reliability
If traditional membrane humidifier designs with webs and adhesives are used, then flow channel support is adequate, but assembly time and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the adhesive application step and web installation step from the assembly process. The corrugated plates are designed to be assembled directly without adhesives, significantly reducing assembly time and manufacturing complexity while maintaining flow channel support.
Solution Approach 2:
The corrugated plates are designed to be self-supporting and self-aligning during assembly. The corrugations naturally provide the necessary support and positioning, eliminating the need for adhesive application and complex assembly procedures, thereby reducing assembly time.
4Loss of substance
If polymeric ribbons are used to form flow channels instead of traditional structures, then material usage is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the flow channel definition and structural support functions into the corrugated plate structure itself. The ribbons are integrated into the corrugation design, eliminating the need for separate support structures and reducing the number of components that require precise placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The corrugated plate design provides localized support exactly where the ribbons are positioned, rather than requiring uniform precision across the entire plate. The corrugations are formed only in the specific areas needed to support the flow channels, reducing overall manufacturing precision requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A plate for a membrane humidifier for a fuel cell system is disclosed, wherein the plate includes a top layer formed from a diffusion medium and a bottom layer formed from a diffusion medium with an array of substantially planar elongate ribbons disposed therebetween.