MEMBRANE HUMIDIFIER FOR FUEL CELL

Abstract

The present invention relates to a membrane humidifier for a fuel cell, which can prevent a decrease in humidification efficiency due to a pressure difference between the inside and outside of a membrane humidifier, the membrane humidifier for a fuel cell, according to an embodiment of the present invention, comprising: a middle case having a module insertion part inside; a cap case coupled to the middle case; a hollow fiber membrane module inserted to the module insertion part; and a pressure buffer part between the inner wall of the middle case and the module insertion part.

Claims

1. A fuel cell membrane humidifier comprising: a middle case having a module insertion unit therein; a cap case coupled to the middle case; a hollow fiber membrane module inserted into the module insertion unit; and a pressure buffer unit disposed between an inner wall of the middle case and the module insertion unit.

2. The fuel cell membrane humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the module insertion unit comprises an outermost partition wall spaced apart from the inner wall of the middle case, and the pressure buffer unit is constituted by a space between the outermost partition wall and the inner wall of the middle case.

3. The fuel cell membrane humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the module insertion unit comprises a plurality of partition walls, the plurality of partition walls include an outermost partition wall disposed nearest to the inner wall of the middle case and an inner partition wall disposed more centrally compared to the outermost partition wall, and the pressure buffer unit is constituted by a space between the outermost partition wall and the inner wall of the middle case.

4. The fuel cell membrane humidifier according to claim 2, further comprising a connection portion disposed between the outermost partition wall and the inner wall of the middle case, the connection portion being configured to divide the space into first and second spaces, the first and second spaces being isolated from each other.

5. The fuel cell membrane humidifier according to claim 3, further comprising a connection portion disposed between the outermost partition wall and the inner wall of the middle case, the connection portion being configured to divide the space into first and second spaces, the first and second spaces being isolated from each other.

6. The fuel cell membrane humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the hollow fiber membrane module comprises at least one hollow fiber membrane bundle constituted by a plurality of integrated hollow fiber membranes or at least one hollow fiber membrane cartridge having a plurality of hollow fiber membranes housed therein.

7. A fuel cell membrane humidifier comprising a middle case and a cap case coupled to the middle case, wherein the middle case comprises a middle case body having a hollow fiber membrane module inserted therein and a middle case cover detachably coupled to the middle case body, and a space between the middle case body and the middle case cover constitutes a pressure buffer unit.

8. The fuel cell membrane humidifier according to claim 7, wherein the middle case body is provided in at least one side surface thereof with at least one fluid window.

9. The fuel cell membrane humidifier according to claim 7, wherein the middle case cover comprises a fluid inlet configured to allow a fluid to be introduced therethrough or a fluid outlet configured to allow a fluid to be discharged therethrough.

10. The fuel cell membrane humidifier according to claim 7, wherein the hollow fiber membrane module comprises at least one hollow fiber membrane bundle constituted by a plurality of integrated hollow fiber membranes or at least one hollow fiber membrane cartridge having a plurality of hollow fiber membranes housed therein.

11. The fuel cell membrane humidifier according to claim 10, wherein the hollow fiber membrane module comprises a plurality of hollow fiber membrane cartridges, and a plurality of partition walls are formed in the middle case body.

12. The fuel cell membrane humidifier according to claim 2, wherein the hollow fiber membrane module comprises at least one hollow fiber membrane bundle constituted by a plurality of integrated hollow fiber membranes or at least one hollow fiber membrane cartridge having a plurality of hollow fiber membranes housed therein.

13. The fuel membrane humidifier according to claim 3, wherein the hollow fiber membrane module comprises at least one hollow fiber membrane bundle constituted by a plurality of integrated hollow fiber membranes or at least one hollow fiber membrane cartridge having a plurality of hollow fiber membranes housed therein.

14. The fuel cell membrane humidifier according to claim 4, wherein the hollow fiber membrane module comprises at least one hollow fiber membrane bundle constituted by a plurality of integrated hollow fiber membranes or at least one hollow fiber membrane cartridge having a plurality of hollow fiber membranes housed therein.

15. The fuel cell membrane humidifier according to claim 5, wherein the hollow fiber membrane module comprises at least one hollow fiber membrane bundle constituted by a plurality of integrated hollow fiber membranes or at least one hollow fiber membrane cartridge having plurality of hollow fiber membrane housed therein.

16. The fuel cell membrane humidifier according to claim 8, wherein the hollow fiber membrane module comprises at least one hollow fiber membrane bundle constituted by a plurality of integrated hollow fiber membranes or at least one hollow fiber membrane cartridge having a plurality of hollow fiber membranes housed therein.

17. The fuel cell membrane humidifier according to claim 16, wherein, the hollow fiber membrane module comprises a plurality of hollow fiber membrane cartridges, and a plurality of partition walls are formed in the middle case body.

18. The fuel cell membrane humidifier according to claim 9, wherein the hollow fiber membrane module comprises at least one hollow fiber membrane bundle constituted by a plurality of integrated hollow fiber membranes or at least one hollow fiber membrane cartridge having a plurality of hollow fiber membranes housed therein.

19. The cell membrane humidifier according to claim 18, wherein, the hollow fiber membrane module comprises a plurality of hollow fiber membrane cartridges, and a plurality of partition walls are formed in the middle case body.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0030] FIGS. 1 to 4 are views illustrating problems with a conventional fuel cell membrane humidifier.

[0031] FIGS. 5 to 8 are views showing various forms of a fuel cell membrane humidifier according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0032] FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a portion of a middle case of a fuel cell membrane humidifier according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0033] FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing the state in which a hollow fiber membrane module is disposed in the middle case of the fuel cell membrane humidifier according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0034] FIGS. 11 and 12 are sectional views showing a fuel cell membrane humidifier according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

BEST MODE

[0035] The present disclosure may be changed in various manners and may have various embodiments, wherein specific embodiments will be illustrated and described in detail in the following detailed description. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments, and it should be understood that the present disclosure includes all modifications, equivalents, or substitutions included in the idea and technical scope of the present disclosure.

[0036] The terms used in the present disclosure are provided only to describe the specific embodiments, and do not limit the present disclosure. Singular forms are intended to include plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In the present disclosure, it should be understood that the terms “includes,” “has,” etc. specify the presence of features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof described in the specification, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof. Hereinafter, fuel cell membrane humidifiers according to embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0037] FIGS. 5 to 8 are views showing various forms of a fuel cell membrane humidifier according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, the fuel cell membrane humidifier according to the embodiment of the present disclosure (hereinafter referred to as a “membrane humidifier”) includes a middle case 110 and cap cases 120.

[0038] The middle case 110 is coupled to the cap cases 120 to define the external appearance of the membrane humidifier. Each of the middle case 110 and the cap cases 120 may be made of hard plastic, such as polycarbonate, or metal. The lateral sectional shape of each of the middle case 110 and the cap cases 120 may be a polygon, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The polygon may be a rectangle, a square, a trapezoid, a parallelogram, a pentagon, or a hexagon, and corners of the polygon may be round. Alternatively, the lateral sectional shape of each of the middle case and the cap cases may be a circle, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The circle may be an oval. FIGS. 5 to 8 show exemplary shapes of the membrane humidifier. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0039] The middle case 110 is provided with a second fluid inlet 111, through which a second fluid is introduced, and a second fluid outlet 112, through which the second fluid is discharged. A hollow fiber membrane module F, in which a plurality of hollow fiber membranes are housed, is disposed in the middle case 110. Depending on design, reference numeral 111 may indicate the second fluid outlet, through which the second fluid is discharged, and reference numeral 112 may indicate the second fluid inlet, through which the second fluid is introduced. That is, one of reference numeral 111 and reference numeral 112 may indicate the second fluid inlet, and the other may indicate the second fluid outlet. In the following description, reference numeral 111 indicates the second fluid inlet, and reference numeral 112 indicates the second fluid outlet. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0040] The hollow fiber membrane module F may include a hollow fiber membrane bundle constituted by a plurality of integrated hollow fiber membranes, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, or may include hollow fiber membrane cartridges C, in each of which hollow fiber membranes or hollow fiber membrane bundles are housed, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7. FIGS. 5 and 7 exemplarily show that the hollow fiber membrane module F is constituted by a plurality of hollow fiber membrane cartridges C. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The hollow fiber membrane module F may be constituted by a single hollow fiber membrane cartridge. Hereinafter, the present disclosure will be described by way of example based on the membrane humidifier of FIG. 5, configured such that the hollow fiber membrane module F is constituted by a plurality of hollow fiber membrane cartridges C and such that the lateral sectional shape of the membrane humidifier is a polygon; however, technical features of the present disclosure are substantially equally applicable to the membrane humidifiers of FIGS. 6 to 8. In addition, cartridges C, each of which has a circular or rectangular sectional shape, are exemplarily shown; however, the shape of each of the cartridges C is not limited thereto.

[0041] The cap cases 120 are coupled to opposite ends of the middle case 110. The cap cases 120 are provided with fluid introduction and discharge ports 121, one of which is a first fluid inlet and the other of which is a first fluid outlet. A first fluid introduced through the fluid introduction and discharge port 121 of one of the cap cases 120 flows through a hollow portion of each of the hollow fiber membranes housed in each of the hollow fiber membrane cartridges C (see FIG. 1) and is then discharged outside through the fluid introduction and discharge port 121 of the other cap case 120. Each of the hollow fiber membranes may be a hollow fiber membrane made of, for example, Nafion, polyetherimide, polyphenylsulfone, polyimide (PI), polysulfone (PS), or polyethersulfone (PES).

[0042] Each of the hollow fiber membrane cartridges C may be provided at one end thereof with a first mesh unit M1 (see FIG. 1) configured to allow the second fluid introduced into the membrane humidifier through the second fluid inlet 111 to be introduced into the hollow fiber membrane cartridge C therethrough, and may be provided at the other end thereof with a second mesh unit M2 (see FIG. 1) configured to allow the second fluid that has undergone moisture exchange in the hollow fiber membrane cartridge C to be discharged from the hollow fiber membrane cartridge C therethrough. Each of the hollow fiber membrane cartridges C is inserted into a module insertion unit 210 such that opposite side surfaces of the hollow fiber membrane cartridge are interposed between neighboring partition walls 211 and 212 (see FIG. 9). In addition, optionally, catching protrusions (not shown) may be formed at the opposite side surfaces of each of the hollow fiber membrane cartridges C, and when each of the hollow fiber membrane cartridges C is inserted into the module insertion unit 210, the catching protrusions may be caught by the partition walls 211 and 212 constituting the module insertion unit 210.

[0043] Each of the hollow fiber membrane cartridges C or the hollow fiber membrane bundles is provided at opposite ends thereof with potting units P configured to bind the hollow fiber membranes and to fill gaps between the hollow fiber membranes. As a result, the opposite ends of the hollow fiber membrane module F are blocked by the potting units P, whereby a flow channel configured to allow the second fluid to pass therethrough is defined in the hollow fiber membrane module. The potting units P not only may fill the gaps between the hollow fiber membranes but also may fix the hollow fiber membrane module F to the middle case 110. Each of the potting units P is made of a known material, and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted from this specification.

[0044] FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a portion of a middle case 110 of a fuel cell membrane humidifier according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 9, a module insertion unit 210 and a pressure buffer unit 220 are formed in the middle case 110.

[0045] A hollow fiber membrane cartridge C, in which a plurality of hollow fiber membranes are housed, is inserted into the module insertion unit 210. The module insertion unit 210 may include a plurality of partition walls 211 and 212 configured such that each of a plurality of hollow fiber membrane cartridges C can be inserted into the module insertion unit therebetween.

[0046] An inner wall 110a of the middle case is spaced apart from the partition wall 212, which constitutes the outermost wall of the module insertion unit 210. A space S between the outermost partition wall 212 and the inner wall 110a of the middle case forms a pressure buffer unit 220. The pressure buffer unit 220 may further include a connection portion 221 disposed between the outermost partition wall 212 and the inner wall 110a of the middle case. The connection portion 221 may be formed along the circumference of the outermost partition wall 212. The connection portion 221 divides the space S into first and second spaces, which are isolated from each other, to isolate a fluid flow space A and a fluid flow space B from each other such that a fluid introduced into one of the fluid flow spaces through a corresponding one of the fluid introduction and discharge ports 121 flows to the other fluid flow space only through the hollow fiber membrane cartridges C.

[0047] Meanwhile, in the case in which the hollow fiber membrane module F is constituted by a single hollow fiber membrane cartridge C, the inner partition wall 211 may be omitted. In this case, the module insertion unit 210 may include only the outermost partition wall 212.

[0048] The pressure buffer unit 220 constructed as described above allows pressures at opposite sides of the outermost partition wall 212 to be substantially equal to each other. Since no pressure gradient is formed at opposite sides of the outermost partition wall 212 due to the pressure buffer unit 220, the outermost partition wall 212 is not deformed.

[0049] In connection therewith, referring to FIG. 10, each hollow fiber membrane cartridge C is disposed between the between neighboring partition walls 211 and 211, a second fluid, discharged from a fuel cell stack (not shown) and introduced into second fluid inlet 111, is introduced into the cartridge C through the first mesh unit M1, flows outside the hollow fiber membranes, at which time moisture exchange occurs, and is discharged out of the cartridge through the second mesh unit M2. At this time, the pressure P1 of the fluid flowing through the hollow fiber membrane cartridge C is uniform, whereby pressures at opposite sides of the inner partition wall 211 are balanced, and therefore the inner partition wall 211 is not deformed.

[0050] Meanwhile, a second fluid having high pressure P1 flows through the hollow fiber membrane cartridge C at one side of the outermost partition wall 212, and a second fluid having high pressure P1′ that does not flow through the hollow fiber membrane cartridge C flows at the other side of the outermost partition wall. Since the pressures of the second fluid flowing at opposite sides of the outermost partition wall 212 are substantially equal to each other (P1=P1′), pressures at opposite sides of the outermost partition wall 212 are balanced, and therefore the outermost partition wall 212 is not deformed. A pressure gradient may be formed due to the difference between the pressure P1′ of the second fluid flowing in the pressure buffer unit 220 and atmospheric pressure P2 outside the middle case 110, whereby the inner wall 110a of the middle case may be deformed in an outward direction. However, such deformation has no substantial influence on the outermost partition wall 212, and the connection portion 221 inhibits this deformation (i.e. the fluid flow spaces A and B are still isolated from each other by the connection portion 221), whereby the flow of the second fluid through the pressure buffer unit 220 may be prevented. Airtightness between the outermost partition wall 212 and the hollow fiber membrane cartridge C is maintained, and therefore the second fluid is prevented from being discharged between the outermost partition wall 212 and the hollow fiber membrane cartridge C. Meanwhile, the second fluid introduced into the pressure buffer unit 220 turns at the connection portion 211, and then flows in the hollow fiber membrane cartridge C.

[0051] Unlike the conventional art, therefore, no gap is formed between the fiber membrane cartridge C and the outermost partition wall 212, and therefore it is possible to prevent the fluid in the fluid flow space A from flowing to the fluid flow space B not via the hollow fiber membrane module F. As a result, it is possible to prevent a decrease in humidification efficiency.

[0052] Hereinafter, a fuel cell membrane humidifier according to another embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. FIGS. 11 and 12 are sectional views showing a fuel cell membrane humidifier according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0053] In the fuel cell membrane humidifier according to this embodiment, a middle case 110 includes a middle case body 110a and a middle case cover 110b. In the previous embodiment described above, the second fluid inlet 111, through which the second fluid is introduced, and the second fluid outlet 112, through which the second fluid is discharged, are formed at opposite ends of the middle case 110. In contrast, in this embodiment, the middle case 110 includes a pair of middle case covers 110b, in which a second fluid inlet 111 and a second fluid outlet 112 are formed, wherein the middle case covers 110b are detachably coupled to the middle case body 110a. The middle case body 110a and the middle case covers 110b are provided with a fastening structure in which the middle case body and the middle case covers are detachably coupled to each other by assembly. For example, an insertion recess (not shown) may be formed in the middle case body 110a, and an insertion protrusion (not shown) may be formed on each of the middle case covers 110b, whereby the middle case body and the middle case covers are detachably coupled to each other through interference fitting. Alternatively, the middle case body and the middle case covers are detachably coupled to each other through screw engagement.

[0054] A hollow fiber membrane module including at least one hollow fiber membrane bundle or at least one hollow fiber membrane cartridge constituted by a plurality of hollow fiber membranes is disposed in the middle case body 110a, and at least one fluid window 113 configured to allow the second fluid, introduced through the second fluid inlet 111 formed in one of the middle case covers 110b, to flow in the middle case body 110a and to allow the second fluid, introduced through the second fluid outlet 112 formed in the other middle case cover 110b, to flow in the middle case body 110a is formed in at least one side surface of the middle case body 110a.

[0055] A fluid window 113 may be formed at each of one side and the other side of the middle case body 110a, as shown in FIG. 11, or a plurality of fluid windows 113 may be formed at one side of the middle case body 110a, as shown in FIG. 12.

[0056] Each of the middle case covers 110b includes a second fluid inlet 111 or a second fluid outlet 112. In the figure, the second fluid inlet 111 or the second fluid outlet 112 is shown as being formed in the center of each of the middle case cover 110b. However, the position of the second fluid inlet 111 or the second fluid outlet 112 may be changed depending on design. That is, the position of the second fluid inlet 111 or the second fluid outlet 112 may be changed depending on design environments, such as installation positions and installation spaces of the fuel cell and the fuel cell membrane humidifier. At this time, the second fluid inlet 111 and the second fluid outlet 112 may be located at opposite sides of the middle case body 110a, as shown in FIG. 11, or the second fluid inlet 111 and the second fluid outlet 112 may be located at only one side of the middle case body 110a, as shown in FIG. 12.

[0057] In this embodiment, a plurality of inner partition walls 211 are formed in the middle case body 110a, and a portion of the outer appearance of the middle case body 110a performs the function of the outermost partition wall 212. Hollow fiber membrane cartridges C are inserted between one inner partition wall 211 and another inner partition wall 211 and between one inner partition wall 211 and the outermost partition wall 212. The inner partition wall 211 and the outermost partition wall 212 define a module insertion unit 210, and the space S between the middle case body 110a and each of the middle case covers 110b (more specifically, the space between the outermost partition wall 212 and each of the middle case covers 110b) performs the function of a pressure buffer unit 220.

[0058] Meanwhile, in the case in which the hollow fiber membrane module F is constituted by a single hollow fiber membrane cartridge, the inner partition wall 211 may be omitted. In this case, the module insertion unit 210 may include only the outermost partition wall 212.

[0059] The pressure buffer unit 220 allows pressures at opposite sides of the outermost partition wall 212 to be substantially equal to each other. Since no pressure gradient is formed at opposite sides of the outermost partition wall 212 due to the pressure buffer unit 220, the outermost partition wall 212 is not deformed.

[0060] In connection therewith, referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, a second fluid, discharged from a fuel cell stack (not shown) and introduced into the second fluid inlet 111, is introduced into the cartridge C, flows outside the hollow fiber membranes, at which time moisture exchange is performed, and is discharged out of the cartridge. At this time, the pressure P1 of the fluid flowing through the hollow fiber membrane cartridge C is uniform, whereby pressures at opposite sides of the inner partition wall 211 are balanced, and therefore the inner partition wall 211 is not deformed.

[0061] A second fluid having high pressure P1 flows through the hollow fiber membrane cartridge C at one side of the outermost partition wall 212, and a second fluid introduced into the second fluid inlet 111 flows at the other side of the outermost partition wall (the space S). Since the fluids are the same, pressures at opposite sides of the outermost partition wall 212 are balanced, and therefore the outermost partition wall 212 is not deformed.

[0062] Meanwhile, a high-pressure fluid flows in the space S constituting the pressure buffer unit 220, and there is atmospheric pressure P2 outside each middle case cover 110b. As a result, a pressure gradient is formed due to the difference therebetween, whereby the middle case cover 110b is deformed in an outward direction. However, such deformation has no substantial influence on the outermost partition wall 212, which is a portion of the external appearance of the middle case body 110a. Consequently, airtightness between the outermost partition wall 212 and the hollow fiber membrane cartridge C is maintained, and therefore the second fluid is prevented from being discharged between the outermost partition wall 212 and the hollow fiber membrane cartridge C. That is, the second fluid introduced into the second fluid inlet 111 does not flow from the fluid flow space A to the fluid flow space B. As a result, it is possible to prevent a decrease in humidification efficiency.

[0063] Although embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, it will be apparent to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains that the present disclosure can be variously modified and altered through addition, change, deletion, or supplement of components without departing from the idea of the present disclosure recited in the following claims and that such modifications and alterations fall within the scope of right of the present disclosure.