• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.11a
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• pp.471-473
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• 2006

An object of the present study is to provide a hollow fiber membrane humidifier capable of improving the humidification efficiency while lowering the pressure loss, and is suitably usable for PEMFC(Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell). The performance of PEMFC is decisively dependent on the humidity of the electrolyte membrane(fluorinated membrane) and a humidifier plays an important role in moisturizing electrolyte membrane. Especially this humidifier is adaptable for lower price to promote the commercialization of fuel cell vehicles and is passive type to be power free and to be volumetrically optimized. In this research, we propose the substitutes for the expensive fluorinated materials and the optimum dry-jet wet spinning conditions of hollow fiber membrane to get the fuel cell humidifier. In addition to that we established the standard method of evaluating the moisturizing performance of the humidifier of various materials.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.177-179
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• 2007

An object of the present study is to provide a hollow fiber membrane humidifier capable of improving the humidification efficiency while lowering the pressure loss, and is suitably usable for PEMFC(Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell). The performance of PEMFC is decisively dependent on the humidity of the electrolyte membrane(fluorinated membrane) and a humidifier plays an important role in moisturizing electrolyte membrane. Especially, this humidifier is a passive type(power-free) item and is volumetrically optimized. In this research, we propose the substitutes for the expensive fluorinated humidifier materials and the optimum dry-jet wet spinning conditions of hollow fiber membrane. In addition to that, This study will present an performance of an humidifier and compare computational results with the experimental data.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.98.2-98.2
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• 2011

For optimal performance of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) requires hydration, and the membrane's conductivity depends on water content. A humidifier is required to ensure that the reactant gas, usually hydrogen and air, is hydrated before entering the fuel cell. Dry membrane operation or improper hydration causes performance degradation. Typically, the humidification of a fuel cell is carried out by means of an internal or external humidifier. A membrane humidifier is applied to the external humidification of transportation or residential power generation fuel cell due to its convenience and high performance. In this study, The experiments were constructed with a plate-type membrane humidifier in terms of geometric parameters and operating parameters. The results show that the temperature and pressure, the channel length, the membrane thickness and gas flow rate are critical parameters affecting the performance of the humidifier.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2009.06a
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• pp.345-348
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• 2009

Maintaining proper membrane humidity is crucial to ensure optimal operation of a PEMFC system. A gas-to-gas membrane humidifier is popular technology for external humidification of PEMFC reactant gases. Characteristics of heat and water transfer in shell-and-tube Nafion membrane humidifiers has been experimentally investigated for various dry side inlet temperature of membrane humidifier. The results show that heat flux decreases linearly with dry side inlet temperature of membrane humidifier. The water flux through the membrane varies nonlinearly with the temperature elevation.

• 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.

• 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.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 hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.111-116
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• 2010

In this study, the structural analysis was performed to optimize the membrane humidifier with hollow fiber membrane for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell system. The main design factors were considered by evaluating the humidifying performance according to various structural parameters such as packing density and length. The effects of operation conditions of membrane humidifier were also elucidated experimentally. Results imply that there are optimum points for the packing density and length of humidifier. It was also found that among operation conditions, relative humidity of wet exhaust gas and temperature of dry inlet gas have major effects on the humidifying performance.

• 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.

• 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.