Experimental study on performance of a planar membrane humidifier for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack

• Published in: Journal of power sources Vol. 215; pp. 69 - 76
• Main Authors: Hwang, Jenn Jiang, Chang, Wei Ru, Kao, Jenn Kun, Wu, Wei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.10.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Dew point; Dew point approach temperature; Direct energy conversion and energy accumulation; Drying; Electrical engineering. Electrical power engineering; Electrical power engineering; Electrochemical conversion: primary and secondary batteries, fuel cells; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Equipments for energy generation and conversion: thermal, electrical, mechanical energy, etc; Exact sciences and technology; Flow rate; Fuel cell; Fuel cells; Inlet temperature; Inlets; Membrane humidifier; Membranes; Stacks; Water recovery ratio; Water recovery ratio; Membrane humidifier; Fuel cell; Dew point approach temperature; Water; Performance evaluation; Polymer electrolytes; Parametric analysis; Stacking; Polymer solid electrolyte; Experimental study; Water vapor; Electrochemical characteristic; Pressure drop; Humidification; Reliability; Proton exchange membrane fuel cells; Recovery (properties); Planar technology
• ISSN: 0378-7753; 1873-2755
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2012.04.051

Experiments are conducted to evaluate the performance of a planar membrane humidifier for a PEM fuel cell stack. The humidification performance of the humidifier adopted here includes the dew point approach temperature (DPAT), water recovery ratio (WRR), and water vapor transfer rate (WVTR). Parametric studies involve the dry inlet temperature, the wet inlet dew point, and the flow rate across the humidifier. Results show that increasing the flow rate across the humidifier linearly increases its pressure drop. However, the DPAT increases sharply at high flow rates (>350 SLPM) due to the inadequate WVTR limited by the humidifier size. In addition, increasing the wet inlet dew point reduces the humidification performance by increasing the DPAT and reducing in the WRR. Moreover, an increase in the dry inlet temperature could reduce the DPAT at the low flow rate of 100 SLPM, but does not affect the DPAT at the high flow rate of 450 SLPM. Furthermore, the electrochemical performance of the stack–humidifier assembly is only 10% less than that of the stack tested on a commercial test station. Stability test reveals a satisfactory reliability of the present membrane humidifier as well. ► The water recovery ratio represents well the humidification performance of a membrane humidifier. ► The DPAT of the membrane humidifier decreases with increasing the wet inlet dew point. ► The stack–humidifier assembly is 10% less than the stack in the electrochemical performance. ► The stability and reliability of the membrane humidifier are acceptable.