Variable Density Hollow Fiber Membrane for Fuel Cell Humidification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional membrane humidifiers for fuel cells suffer from reduced humidification efficiency due to uniformly dense hollow fiber membranes, which restrict the penetration of wet air and hinder the diffusion of moisture, leading to inadequate humidification of dry air.
Innovation Solution
A device that adjusts the density of hollow fiber membranes by sequentially mounting division modules with varying section numbers and shapes within the humidification device, inducing changes in differential pressure and velocity of wet air to enhance the distribution of moisture across the membrane bundle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If hollow fiber membranes are densely packed to increase membrane area, then humidification capacity is improved, but wet air penetration and moisture diffusion are restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The housing internal space is divided into multiple sections by partition walls, creating separate compartments for different density regions. This segmentation allows the membrane bundle to be arranged with varying densities along the wet air flow path, enabling both high membrane area and adequate wet air penetration by creating less dense regions that facilitate airflow while maintaining dense regions that provide humidification capacity.
2Device complexity
If hollow fiber membranes are uniformly distributed, then structural simplicity is maintained, but humidification efficiency is reduced due to inadequate wet air distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane bundle is arranged with non-uniform density along the wet air flow path by introducing partition walls that create sections with different membrane densities. The first section has a first density and the second section has a second density different from the first. This local quality variation ensures that wet air can penetrate effectively in less dense regions while still achieving adequate humidification in denser regions, thereby improving overall humidification efficiency without requiring complex external structures.
3Quantity of substance
If membrane density is increased to improve moisture transfer, then humidification capacity increases, but wet air flow distribution becomes uneven
Solution Approach 1:
Partition walls divide the housing internal space into multiple sections, allowing different density configurations in different regions. This segmentation enables the system to maintain stable and uniform wet air flow distribution by creating less dense regions that facilitate airflow, while simultaneously achieving high moisture transfer capacity in denser regions, thus resolving the contradiction between moisture transfer capacity and flow distribution uniformity.
4Ease of manufacture
If single-density membrane bundle is used, then manufacturing is simplified, but humidification performance is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention achieves improved humidification performance by creating local quality variations in membrane density within the same bundle structure. Partition walls are introduced to create sections with different densities along the wet air flow path. This approach maintains relative manufacturing simplicity by using a single bundle structure that is modified through internal partitioning rather than requiring completely separate manufacturing processes for different density regions, thus balancing ease of manufacture with improved humidification performance.
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 approach allows for uniform penetration of wet air into the central part of the hollow fiber membrane bundle, significantly improving the humidification efficiency of dry air by adjusting the density of the membranes along the length direction.
Implementation Method 1
moisture in the wet air may be separated by capillary action of each hollow fiber membrane 106 and the separated moisture may be condensed while passing through the capillary of the hollow fiber membrane 106
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a device for adjusting humidification gas of a membrane humidification device of a fuel cell. In particular, the device is adapted to induce changes in differential pressure and velocity of the wet air for each division module and to improve the humidification efficiency by sequentially mounting the division modules divided into various numbers to the interior of a housing of the membrane humidification device, thereby adjusting the density of the hollow fiber membrane filled in each division module.