TY - JOUR
T1 - Physical properties measurement and performance comparison of membranes for planar membrane humidifiers
AU - Chen, Chen Yu
AU - Chang, Yu Hsuan
AU - Li, Chun Han
AU - Chang, Chih Chang
AU - Yan, Wei Mon
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2019/6
Y1 - 2019/6
N2 - The research and development of humidifiers is important to proton exchange membrane fuel cell systems. The water exchange membrane is a key component to the planar membrane humidifier. In this work, two types of low-cost membrane, the pervaperation (PV) membrane and the reverse osmosis (RO) membrane, are selected as the research targets. Their physical properties and humidification performance are tested and compared with the Nafion®-212 membrane. The ex-situ tests indicate that the order of air permeability is RO membrane > Nafion® 212 membrane > PV membrane, and the order of water vapor permeability is RO membrane ∼ Nafion® 212 membrane > PV membrane. From the in-situ tests, the order of humidification performance is Nafion® 212 membrane > RO membrane > PV membrane at all air flow rates. The DPATs with the RO and PV membranes are roughly 1–2 °C and 2–3 °C higher than that with the Nafion® 212 membrane, respectively. The highest WRRs obtained at 30 L/min with the Nafion® membrane, RO membrane and the PV membrane are about 53%, 48% and 42%, respectively. The Nafion® membrane is most energy-efficient because it has the highest COP. Moreover, the PV and RO membranes are equally energy-efficient when considering both the water transfer performance and the power loss.
AB - The research and development of humidifiers is important to proton exchange membrane fuel cell systems. The water exchange membrane is a key component to the planar membrane humidifier. In this work, two types of low-cost membrane, the pervaperation (PV) membrane and the reverse osmosis (RO) membrane, are selected as the research targets. Their physical properties and humidification performance are tested and compared with the Nafion®-212 membrane. The ex-situ tests indicate that the order of air permeability is RO membrane > Nafion® 212 membrane > PV membrane, and the order of water vapor permeability is RO membrane ∼ Nafion® 212 membrane > PV membrane. From the in-situ tests, the order of humidification performance is Nafion® 212 membrane > RO membrane > PV membrane at all air flow rates. The DPATs with the RO and PV membranes are roughly 1–2 °C and 2–3 °C higher than that with the Nafion® 212 membrane, respectively. The highest WRRs obtained at 30 L/min with the Nafion® membrane, RO membrane and the PV membrane are about 53%, 48% and 42%, respectively. The Nafion® membrane is most energy-efficient because it has the highest COP. Moreover, the PV and RO membranes are equally energy-efficient when considering both the water transfer performance and the power loss.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2019.03.027
DO - 10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2019.03.027
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85062453988
SN - 0017-9310
VL - 136
SP - 393
EP - 403
JO - International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer
JF - International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer
ER -