• Membrane Journal
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.326-334
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• 2010

In this study, characterization and performance of membrane humidifier using membrane distillation was evaluated for moisture of fuel gas in the PEMFC. The data were expressed dew point. The best results show $51.19^{\circ}C$ at $60^{\circ}C$ of water temperature, $54.22^{\circ}C$ at 900 mL/min and $60.03^{\circ}C$ at 100 strands. The mass transfer modelling of membrane humidifier were able to predict humidification of fuel gases for operating PEMFC. When the membrane humidifier was applied to the 100 W stack, it showed stable voltage and power. The volume of membrane humidifier was small however, showed better performance than bubble humidifier.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.361-369
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• 2011

The effect of an increase in the temperature of inlet air on the performance of a membrane humidifier for a PEMFC (Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell) vehicle was investigated both experimentally and numerically. A shell-and-tube type 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 was also conducted in simplified geometry of a single tube to explain this nonlinear behavior. The simulation revealed that the local water flux varies nonlinearly and dramatically along the tube. The analysis was based on the inverse relationship between the increase in temperature and decrease in relative humidity, both of which seriously affect the water conductivity of the membrane.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.37 no.9
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• pp.815-821
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• 2013

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.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.473-480
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• 2011

The proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell system is critically dependent on the humidity, which should be properly maintained over the entire operating range. A membrane humidifier is used for the water management in the PEMFC because of the membrane humidifier's reliable performance and zero parasitic power loss. In the PEMFC system, the membrane humidifier is required to provide appropriate humidity for the design point of the fuel cell. Although the performance of the fuel cell depends on the performance of the humidifier, few studies have provided a systematic analysis of the humidifier. We carry out an experimental analysis of the membrane humidifier using a vapor condensation bottle. The dry air pressure, water flow temperature, and air flow rate were chosen as the operating parameters. The results show that the time constant for the dynamic response of the membrane humidifier is relatively short, but additional analysis should be carried out.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 2012

The efficiency and life time of the Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) system is critically affected by incoming gas with humidity which should be maintained properly at normal operating conditions. Typically, incoming gas of automotive fuel cell is humidified by external humidifier but the characteristics of device is rarely reported. In this study, characteristics of water transfer in the membrane humidifiers have been experimentally investigated for flow rates of gas and for different flow arrangement under steady state condition. At first, capability of mass transfer through the membrane is examined at constant temperature. Then, the temperature distribution effect on the capability of mass transfer is tested over various inlet conditions. In summary, this research presents the mass transfer capability of hydrophilic membrane over various operating conditions.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.503-511
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• 2013

The humidifying supply gas is important in terms of the performance efficiency and membrane life improvement of a PEM fuel cell. A planar membrane humidifier is classified as a cross-flow and counter-flow type depending on the flow direction, and heat and mass transfer occur between the plate and the membrane. In this study, the changes in heat and mass transfer for various inlet temperatures and flow rates are compared according to the flow direction by using the sensible and latent ${\varepsilon}$-NTU method. The obtained results indicate that the counter flow shows higher heat and mass transfer performance than the cross flow at a low flow rate, and the difference in performance decreases as the flow rate increases. Furthermore, changes in the mass transfer performance decrease considerably with a nonlinear increase in the inlet temperature, and variations of the heat transfer performance are small.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2010.11a
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• pp.78.2-78.2
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• 2010

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.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society for Energy Engineering kosee Conference
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• 1994.11a
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• pp.23-27
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• 1994

고분자 전해질형 연료전지의 성능을 향상시키기 위하여 막-전극 어셈블리 제조시 hot-pressing 온도와 압력조건을 변화시켜며 단위전지 성능을 관찰하였으며 이에 대한 분석은 열무게분석법(TGA), 기공도, 이온투과계수 등을 사용하였다. 또한 전지의 작동온도 및 압력을 변화시켜가며 전지의 성능을 관찰하였다. 성능 실험은 가습기의 온도와 cell의 온도, 압력을 변화시켜가며 측정하였다.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.33 no.8
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• pp.596-603
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• 2009

The performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is seriously changed by the humidification condition which is intrinsic characteristics of the PEMFC. Typically, the humidification of fuel cell is carried out with internal or external humidifier. A membrane humidifier is applied to the external humidification of residential power generation fuel cell due to its convenience and high performance. In this study, a simple static model is constructed to understand the physical phenomena of the membrane humidifier in terms of geometric parameters and operating parameters. The model utilizes the concept of shell and tube heat exchanger but the model is also able to estimate the mass transport through the membrane. Model is constructed with FORTRAN under Matlab/$Simulink^{(R)}$ $\Box$environment to keep consistency with other components model which we already developed. Results shows that the humidity of wet gas and membrane thickness are critical parameters to improve the performance of the humidifier.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2010.11a
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• pp.88.2-88.2
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• 2010

고분자전해질연료전지(PEMFC)의 성능은 고분자막의 이온전도도에 따라 큰 영향을 받으며 가습조건에 따라 연료의 수화정도에 비례하여 증가하는 경향을 보인다. 현재 고분자막을 가습하는 방법에는 여러 가지가 있는데, PEMFC에 많이 사용되고 있는 Bubbler 형태의 가습장치는 고온이 필요하며 가습 효율이 수동적인 단점을 가지고 있다. 이에 비해서 막을 이용한 가습방법은 스택의 냉각시스템을 이용하여 가습 시, 별도의 에너지가 필요하지 않다. 이에 본 연구에서는 비교적 저온에서도 가습 효율이 증대하고 시스템 간소화의 장점을 가진 막가습기를 제작하여 고분자전해질 연료전지에서 열 및 습도조절에 대한 효율성을 비교 연구하였다. 막가습기에 사용된 가습막의 두께에 따른 가습도 변화 및 유로 구조에 따른 압력강화를 관찰하였으며 막가습기를 판형 모듈 형태로 제작하여 고분자전해질연료전지에 적용하여 성능을 평가하였다.