Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B (대한기계학회논문집B)

The Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers (대한기계학회)
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Experimental Evaluation of Hydrophilic Membrane Humidifier with Isolation of Heat Transfer Effect

친수성 막을 통한 수분 전달 특성 연구

  • Received : 2013.02.07
  • Accepted : 2013.06.03
  • Published : 2013.09.01
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Abstract

The efficiency and lifetime of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) system is critically affected by the humidity of the incoming gas, which should be maintained properly under normal operating conditions. Typically, the incoming gas of a fuel cell is humidified by an external humidifier, but few studies have reported on the device characteristics. In this study, a laboratory-scale planar membrane humidifier is designed to investigate the characteristics of water transport through a hydrophilic membrane. The planar membrane humidifier is immersed in a constant temperature bath to isolate the humidifier from the effect of temperature variations. The mass transfer capability of the hydrophilic membrane is first examined under isothermal conditions. Then, the mass transfer capability is investigated under various conditions. The results show that water transport in the hydrophilic membrane is significantly affected by the flow rate, operating temperature, operating pressure, and flow arrangement.

고분자 전해질 연료전지(이하 PEMFC) 시스템의 효율과 수명은 유입되는 공기의 습도에 직접적인 영향을 받는다. 그러므로 공기는 정상 운전조건에서 적절한 습도를 유지시켜 주어야 한다. 하지만 가습 장치의 특성들에 대해서는 연구가 부족한 상태이다. 본 연구에서는 정상상태에서 다양한 입구조건에 따른 막 가습기의 수분전달 특성을 알아보기 위해 실험을 수행하였다. 실험에 이용할 평판형 막 가습기를 제작하였으며, 실험에 적합한 환경을 조성하였다. 우선 일정한 온도 조건하에서 막을 통과하는 수분 전달 능력을 실험하였고 이후 다양한 입구 조건에 따른 수분 전달 특성을 알아보았다. 본 실험에서 사용된 입구조건의 변수는 건공기와 습공기의 유량, 작동온도, 작동압력 및 유동배열이 있으며 각각의 입구 조건이 가습기의 성능에 미치는 영향을 논의하였다.

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References

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