Membrane element and membrane for humidification of air
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Air humidification devices using water-impermeable and vapor-permeable membranes face inefficiencies due to water cooling during evaporation, requiring high water temperatures for effective humidification and preventing water from cooling too low.
Innovation Solution
A membrane element design featuring a frame with alternating web thickness sections for water passages, allowing for cross-countercurrent flow and enhanced heat and mass transfer, along with watertight membrane attachment for stability and efficient water flow, and additional support structures for reinforcement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If water temperature is increased to maintain effective humidification performance, then humidification efficiency is improved, but energy consumption increases and water cooling during evaporation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The frame is segmented into multiple webs with alternating thickness sections, creating multiple water passages that divide the water flow into parallel streams. This segmentation increases the total heat transfer surface area while distributing the thermal load, enabling efficient humidification at lower water temperatures and reducing overall energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single-channel water flow design to a multi-channel three-dimensional flow structure within the frame. By creating water passages in multiple dimensions through alternating web thickness, the system increases heat and mass transfer efficiency without requiring higher water temperatures, thus reducing energy consumption.
2Temperature
If water flow rate is increased to prevent water from cooling too low, then water temperature maintenance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different sections of the frame have locally optimized properties: alternating web thickness sections create regions of different flow resistance, while support structures are strategically positioned only where needed for membrane stability. This local optimization enables effective water temperature maintenance through enhanced heat transfer without requiring uniformly complex device architecture throughout.
3Productivity
If membrane surface area is increased to enhance humidification performance, then humidification efficiency is improved, but membrane stability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane is divided into multiple segments by the frame webs, with each segment independently supported. This segmentation allows the membrane to maintain large total surface area for efficient humidification while each individual segment remains small and stable, preventing excessive sagging or deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane is implemented as a thin film that is flexible enough to conform to the frame structure but stable enough to maintain its integrity. The frame provides rigid support at regular intervals, allowing the thin membrane film to achieve large surface area while maintaining stability through the supporting framework.
4Speed
If web thickness is reduced to create water passages, then water flow efficiency is improved, but structural strength decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The frame webs exhibit local quality variation with alternating thickness sections: thicker sections provide structural strength and support for membrane attachment, while thinner sections create optimized water passages for efficient flow. This local differentiation enables simultaneous achievement of high water flow velocity and adequate frame strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The frame design employs asymmetric web thickness distribution rather than uniform thickness. By creating alternating thick and thin sections, the structure optimizes both mechanical strength (thick sections) and fluid flow characteristics (thin sections), achieving a balance that symmetric uniform-thickness designs cannot provide.
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 configuration enables efficient water vapor diffusion, prevents dead zones, and allows for stable operation with high water mass flow, maintaining effective humidification performance even with sensitive membranes.
Implementation Method 1
a water impermeable and vapor permeable membrane
Implementation Method 2
a hydrophobic microporous material
Implementation Method 3
the water is greatly cooled at the membrane by the energy required for evaporation
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Membrane element (60) for an air humidification device with a frame and frame webs (61-64) having a front and a back, wherein the frame has an internal web (67) which connects inner side walls of the frame, which web has, over a first section (68), substantially the same thickness (D) as the frame webs and, over a second section (69) of its length, a lesser thickness (D1) than the frame webs.