Nonlinear variation of performance for a NAFION membrane humidifier with inlet temperature elevation

입구 온도에 따른 나피온 막 가습기 성능의 비선형적 변화

Effect of temperature elevation of inlet air on performance of a membrane humidifier for PEMFC vehicle application was investigated both experimentally and numerically. A shell-and-tube typed gas-to-gas humidifier with Nafion membrane was tested. The experimental result showed that water transfer varies nonlinearly with the temperature elevation. Numerical analysis based on detailed modeling is also conducted on a single tube geometry to explain this nonlinear behavior. The simulation revealed that the local water flux varies nolineary and dramatically along the tube. Analysis is based on competing role of temperature increase and relative humidity decrease, both of which seriously affect water conductivity of the membrane.