Membrane Humidifier Stack With Elastic Compression Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Membrane humidifiers in fuel cell systems face challenges due to dynamic and thermal loads, which cause stress on the adhesive bonds between membranes, requiring an elastic yet robust solution to maintain sealing and minimize mechanical stress.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a compressible element made of elastically deformable material, such as foam, within the membrane stack to compensate for temperature-related changes and maintain the adhesive bond, ensuring the membranes remain securely glued and sealed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the membranes are rigid to minimize mechanical stress on the adhesive bond, then the mechanical stress is reduced, but the adhesive bond cannot compensate for temperature-related length changes
Solution Approach 1:
A compression element made of elastically deformable material is introduced as an intermediary component between the rigid membranes. This compression element absorbs temperature-related length changes through its elastic deformability, preventing these changes from being transmitted to the adhesive bond between membranes, thus protecting the adhesive bond while allowing the membranes to remain rigid
Solution Approach 2:
The compression element changes its physical parameters (length, volume) in response to temperature variations. By utilizing the elastic deformability of the compression element, the system accommodates thermal expansion and contraction of the membrane stack without subjecting the adhesive bond to excessive mechanical stress
2Reliability
If the adhesive bond is elastic to compensate for length changes, then temperature-related length changes are compensated, but the sealing performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The compression element serves as a mediator that absorbs thermal expansion and contraction, allowing the adhesive bond to maintain its primary sealing function without needing excessive elasticity. By placing the compression element between the thermal load and the adhesive bond, the adhesive bond can remain relatively rigid while still maintaining reliable sealing, preventing air mixing between supply and exhaust streams
3Adaptability or versatility
If the membranes are flexible to accommodate dynamic load, then the dynamic load is absorbed, but the mechanical stress on the adhesive bond increases
Solution Approach 1:
The compression element acts as an intermediary that absorbs dynamic loads through its elastic deformability. This prevents direct transmission of dynamic stresses to the adhesive bond between membranes, allowing the membranes to maintain flexibility for accommodating dynamic loads while protecting the adhesive bond from excessive mechanical stress
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 compressible element effectively absorbs temperature-related changes, extending the service life of the membrane stack by maintaining the adhesive bond and ensuring airtight sealing without mixing of supply and exhaust air.
Implementation Method 1
at least one compression element made of an elastically deformable material... A temperature-related change in the length of the membrane stack defined in the stacking direction within the support cage can be compensated by the respective compression element
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a membrane humidifier for a fuel cell system with a membrane stack with a plurality of flat membranes and at least one com-pression element made of an elastically deformable material. The compression element can compensate for a temperature-related change in the mem-brane stack. The invention also relates to the membrane stack for the membrane humidifier.