Thermodynamics modeling of heat and vapor transfer in the shell- and- tube membrane humidifier: a gas- to- gas type

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Abstract

Water management plays an important role in the performance of polymer fuel cells. Humidifying the reactant gases before entering the fuel cell and adjusting the wet content are among the most important ways for water management. In this study, a membrane humidifier of a gas-gas type has been modeled. The governing equations included mass conservation as well as energy and vapor transfer equations solved by numerical methods and validated by experimental data available in relevant scientific articles. Then, the effect of operating parameters such as flow rate, temperature and relative humidity of the inlet gases and geometric parameters such as thickness, diameter and number of tubes on performance of humidifier have been studied. The results show that, in the same inlet mass flow rate in both wet and dry side, outlet wet gas temperature, heat transfer rate and vapor transfer rate in the counter flow are greater than the parallel flow, therefore the results for this humidifier are provided. In counter flow humidifier, by increasing inlet dry gas temperature, the rate of heat transfer and vapor transfer rate will decrease and also increasing relative humidity of inlet dry gas will reduces the vapor transfer rate and has negligible impact on outlet wet gas temperature and heat transfer rate. Finally, increasing the thickness, length and number of membrane tubes can have negligible impact on the heat transfer rate as well.

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References

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Journal of Solid and Fluid Mechanics
Volume 5, Issue 3 - Serial Number 3
September and October 2015
Pages 223-236

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