Method and device for humidifying air with the aid of a microporous membrane
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air humidifiers using water-impermeable and water-vapor-permeable membranes are inefficient with low water temperatures, leading to excessive cooling and calcification, limiting their application and humidification performance.
Innovation Solution
An air humidifier design with a hydrophobic membrane where the water mass flow is significantly higher than the water vapor mass flow, allowing efficient humidification at low temperatures and preventing calcification, using a factor greater than 5, and incorporating a cross-countercurrent arrangement for enhanced heat and mass transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If water temperature is kept low to reduce energy consumption, then energy efficiency is improved, but water cooling at the membrane becomes excessive and humidification performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the water flow rate parameter to be significantly higher than conventional systems. By increasing the water flow rate while maintaining low water temperature, the system prevents excessive cooling at the membrane surface, thereby maintaining good humidification performance without requiring high energy input for water heating
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies excessive action by using a water flow rate that is much higher than the minimum required for evaporation. This excessive water flow ensures that the membrane surface is continuously supplied with warm water, preventing excessive cooling and maintaining high humidification efficiency even at low inlet water temperatures
2Productivity
If water temperature is increased to prevent excessive cooling and maintain humidification performance, then humidification performance is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the water flow rate parameter to compensate for low water temperature. Instead of increasing water temperature to maintain humidification performance, the system increases water flow rate, which prevents excessive cooling at the membrane and maintains performance without the energy penalty of heating water
3Productivity
If water flow rate is increased to prevent excessive cooling, then humidification performance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements a dynamic control system that automatically adjusts the water flow rate based on operating conditions. The control unit monitors parameters such as water temperature and humidification demand, and dynamically adjusts the water flow rate to maintain optimal performance, eliminating the need for complex manual adjustment mechanisms
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 enables effective humidification with moderately heated water, reduces energy consumption, prevents biofilm formation, and ensures hygiene by maintaining a homogeneous temperature and concentration distribution, thus expanding the application areas of air humidifiers.
Implementation Method 1
a microporous membrane which is impermeable to water but permeable to water vapor
Implementation Method 2
a hydrophobic membrane where the water mass flow is significantly higher than the water vapor mass flow
Implementation Method 3
the water is greatly cooled at the membrane by the energy required for evaporation
Implementation Method 4
the water mass flow flowing past the membrane in kg/h is selected to be a factor X greater than the water vapor mass flow emerging from the membrane
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an air humidifier device (10) comprising a hydrophobic microporous membrane (1) as a separator between the water and the air to be humidified, wherein the volumetric flow of water over time is set to be greater by factor X than the volumetric flow of steam. This allows air to be humidified with water at a low temperature, without disruption.