US-12620608-B2 - Fuel cell humidifier

US12620608B2US 12620608 B2US12620608 B2US 12620608B2US-12620608-B2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fuel cell humidifier including: a humidifying module for humidifying dry gas, supplied from outside, by using wet gas discharged from a fuel cell stack; and a first cap coupled to one end of the humidifying module, wherein the humidifying module includes a mid-case, and at least one cartridge which is disposed in the mid-case and accommodates a plurality of hollow fiber membranes. The fuel cell humidifier further includes a first packing member airtightly coupled to at least one end of the humidifying module through mechanical assembly so that the first cap may fluidly communicate with only the hollow fiber membranes, wherein the first packing member tightly adheres to the cartridge by using the pressure of at least one among the dry gas and wet gas.

Inventors

Do Woo Kim
Hyoung Mo YANG
In Ho Kim
Na Hyun AHN

Assignees

KOLON INDUSTRIES, INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20201127
Priority Date: 20191129

Claims (18)

1 . A humidifier for fuel cells, the humidifier comprising: a humidifying module configured to humidify dry gas supplied from outside using wet gas discharged from a fuel cell stack; and a first cap coupled to one end of the humidifying module, wherein the humidifying module comprises: a mid-case; and at least one cartridge disposed in the mid-case, the cartridge being configured to receive a plurality of hollow fiber membranes, the humidifier further comprises a first packing member airtightly coupled to at least one end of the humidifying module through mechanical assembly such that the first cap fluidly communicates with only the hollow fiber membranes, the first packing member is brought into tight contact with the cartridge using pressure of at least one of dry gas and wet gas, wherein the first packing member comprises: a first inner surface disposed so as to face an interior of the mid-case; a first inner groove formed in the first inner surface, the first inner groove being configured to receive wet gas located in the mid-case; and a first inner member configured to contact the cartridge between the first inner groove and the cartridge, and the first inner member is pressed toward the cartridge depending on pressure of wet gas received in the first inner groove, whereby the first inner member is brought into tight contact with the cartridge.
2 . The humidifier according to claim 1 , wherein the first packing member comprises: a first outer surface disposed so as to face the first cap; a first outer groove formed in the first outer surface, the first outer groove being configured to receive dry gas located between the first cap and the cartridge; and a first outer member configured to contact the cartridge between the first outer groove and the cartridge, and the first outer member is pressed toward the cartridge depending on pressure of dry gas received in the first outer groove, whereby the first outer member is brought into tight contact with the cartridge.
3 . The humidifier according to claim 2 , wherein the first packing member comprises a first outer protrusion configured to contact the mid-case between the first outer groove and the mid-case, and wherein the first outer protrusion is pressed toward the mid-case depending on pressure of dry gas received in the first outer groove, whereby the first outer protrusion is brought into tight contact with the mid-case.
4 . The humidifier according to claim 1 , wherein the first packing member comprises a first inner protrusion configured to contact the mid-case between the first inner groove and the mid-case, and the first inner protrusion is pressed toward the mid-case depending on pressure of wet gas received in the first inner groove, whereby the first inner protrusion is brought into tight contact with the mid-case.
5 . The humidifier according to claim 1 , wherein the first packing member comprises: an extension member extending toward the mid-case; a catching groove formed in the extension member; and a catching member disposed outside of the mid-case, a portion of the mid-case being inserted into the catching groove.
6 . The humidifier according to claim 5 , wherein the first cap comprises a first pushing member configured to push the extension member toward the mid-case.
7 . The humidifier according to claim 1 , wherein the cartridge, in plural, is coupled to the mid-case, and the humidifying module comprises a second packing member disposed between the cartridges, the second packing member being configured to hermetically seal between the cartridges.
8 . The humidifier according to claim 7 , wherein the second packing member comprises: a second outer surface disposed so as to face the first cap; a second outer groove formed in the second outer surface; and a plurality of second outer members configured respectively to contact the cartridges between the second outer groove and the cartridges, and the second outer members are pressed toward the cartridges depending on pressure of dry gas received in the second outer groove, whereby the second outer members are brought into tight contact with the cartridges, respectively.
9 . The humidifier according to claim 7 , wherein the second packing member comprises: a second inner surface disposed so as to face an interior of the mid-case; a second inner groove formed in the second inner surface; and a plurality of second inner members configured respectively to contact the cartridges between the second inner groove and the cartridges, and the second inner members are pressed toward the cartridges depending on pressure of wet gas received in the second inner groove, whereby the second inner members are brought into tight contact with the cartridges, respectively.
10 . The humidifier according to claim 7 , wherein the first packing member and the second packing member are integrally formed.
11 . The humidifier according to claim 1 , wherein the first packing member comprises: a first outer groove configured to receive dry gas located between the first cap and the cartridge; a first outer member configured to be pressed toward the cartridge so as to be brought into tight contact with the cartridge depending on pressure of dry gas received in the first outer groove; a first outer protrusion disposed between the first outer groove and the mid-case; and an extension member extending from the first outer protrusion toward the mid-case, the first cap comprises: a first pushing member configured to push the extension member toward the mid-case; and a first pushing protrusion protruding from the first pushing member, and the first pushing protrusion presses the extension member toward the mid-case to bring the extension member into tight contact with the mid-case.
12 . The humidifier according to claim 1 , wherein the cartridge comprises: a first potting portion configured to fix one side of each of the hollow fiber membranes; and a first support coupled to the first potting portion, the first packing member comprises: a first outer groove configured to receive dry das located between the first cap and the cartridge; a first outer member configured to be pressed toward the cartridge so as to be brought into tight contact with the cartridge depending on pressure of dry gas received in the first outer groove; and a first packing body having the first outer groove formed therein, the first packing body is compressed between the mid-case and the first support as a result of interference fit, whereby the first packing body is brought into tight contact with the first support.
13 . A humidifier for fuel cells, the humidifier comprising: a humidifying module configured to humidify dry gas supplied from outside using wet gas discharged from a fuel cell stack; and a first cap coupled to one end of the humidifying module, wherein the humidifying module comprises: a mid-case; and at least one cartridge disposed in the mid-case, the cartridge being configured to receive a plurality of hollow fiber membranes, the humidifier further comprises a first packing member airtightly coupled to at least one end of the humidifying module through mechanical assembly such that the first cap fluidly communicates with only the hollow fiber membranes, the first packing member is brought into tight contact with the cartridge using pressure of at least one of dry gas and wet gas, the humidifying module comprises a first elastic member coupled to the first packing member, and the first elastic member brings the first packing member into tight contact with the cartridge using elastic force thereof, wherein the first packing member comprises: a first outer surface disposed so as to face the first cap; a first outer groove formed in the first outer surface; and a first outer member configured to contact the cartridge between the first outer groove and the cartridge and the first elastic member is inserted into the first outer groove to bring the first outer member into tight contact with the cartridge.
14 . The humidifier according to claim 13 , wherein the humidifying module comprises a second elastic member coupled to the first packing member, the first packing member comprises: a first inner surface disposed so as to face an interior of the mid-case; a first inner groove formed in the first inner surface; and a first inner member configured to contact the cartridge between the first inner groove and the cartridge, and the second elastic member is inserted into the first inner groove to bring the first inner member into tight contact with the cartridge.
15 . The humidifier according to claim 13 , wherein the first packing member comprises: a first inner surface disposed so as to face an interior of the mid-case; a first inner groove formed in the first inner surface; and a first inner member configured to contact the cartridge between the first inner groove and the cartridge, and the first elastic member is inserted into the first inner groove to bring the first inner member into tight contact with the cartridge.
16 . The humidifier according to claim 13 , wherein the first packing member comprises a first packing body disposed between the mid-case and the cartridge, and the first elastic member is disposed in the first packing body to bring the first packing body into tight contact with the cartridge.
17 . The humidifier according to claim 13 , wherein the cartridge, in plural, is coupled to the mid-case, the humidifying module comprises a second packing member disposed between the cartridges, the second packing member being configured to hermetically seal between the cartridges, the humidifying module comprising the first elastic member in plural, the first packing member comprises: a first outer surface disposed so as to face the first cap; a first outer groove formed in the first outer surface; and a first outer member configured to contact the cartridge between the first outer groove and the cartridge, the second packing member comprises: a second outer surface disposed so as to face the first cap; a second outer groove formed in the second outer surface; and a plurality of second outer members configured respectively to contact the cartridges between the second outer groove and the cartridges, and the first elastic members are inserted respectively into the first outer groove and the second outer groove to bring the first packing member and the second packing member into tight contact with the cartridges, respectively.
18 . A humidifier for fuel cells the humidifier comprising: a humidifying module configured to humidify dry gas supplied from outside using wet gas discharged from a fuel cell stack; and a first cap coupled to one end of the humidifying module, wherein the humidifying module comprises: a mid-case; and at least one cartridge disposed in the mid-case, the cartridge being configured to receive a plurality of hollow fiber membranes, the humidifier further comprises a first packing member airtightly coupled to at least one end of the humidifying module through mechanical assembly such that the first cap fluidly communicates with only the hollow fiber membranes, the first packing member is brought into tight contact with the cartridge using pressure of at least one of dry gas and wet gas, the first packing member comprises: a first outer groove configured to receive dry gas located between the first cap and the cartridge; and a first packing body having the first outer groove formed therein, and the first cap comprises a first supporting member inserted into the first outer groove, the first supporting member being configured to support the first packing body.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a National Stage of International Application No. PCT/KR2020/017078 filed Nov. 27, 2020, claiming priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0156903 filed Nov. 29, 2019, Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0157111 filed Nov. 29, 2019 and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0157214 filed Nov. 29, 2019, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to a humidifier for fuel cells configured to supply humidified gas to a fuel cell. BACKGROUND ART A fuel cell has advantages in that it is possible to continuously generate electricity as long as hydrogen and oxygen are supplied, unlike a general chemical cell, such as a dry cell or a storage cell, and in that there is no heat loss, whereby efficiency of the fuel cell is about twice as high as efficiency of an internal combustion engine. In addition, the fuel cell directly converts chemical energy generated by combination of hydrogen and oxygen into electrical energy, whereby the amount of contaminants that are discharged is small. Consequently, the fuel cell has advantages in that the fuel cell is environmentally friendly and in that a concern about depletion of resources due to an increase in energy consumption can be reduced. Based on the kind of an electrolyte that is used, such a fuel cell may be classified as a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), a phosphoric acid fuel cell (PAFC), a molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC), a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), or an alkaline fuel cell (AFC). These fuel cells are operated fundamentally by the same principle, but are different from each other in terms of the kind of fuel that is used, operating temperature, catalyst, and electrolyte. Among these fuel cells, the polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is known as being the most favorable to a transportation system as well as small-scale stationary power generation equipment, since the polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell is operated at a lower temperature than the other fuel cells and the output density of the polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell is high, whereby it is possible to miniaturize the polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell. One of the most important factors in improving the performance of the polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is to supply a predetermined amount or more of moisture to a polymer electrolyte membrane or a proton exchange membrane (PEM) of a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) in order to retain moisture content. The reason for this is that, if the polymer electrolyte membrane or the proton exchange membrane is dried, power generation efficiency is abruptly reduced. 1) A bubbler humidification method of filling a pressure-resistant container with water and allowing a target gas to pass through a diffuser in order to supply moisture, 2) a direct injection method of calculating the amount of moisture to be supplied that is necessary for fuel cell reaction and directly supplying moisture to a gas stream pipe through a solenoid valve, and 3) a membrane humidification method of supplying moisture to a gas fluid bed using a polymer separation membrane are used as methods of humidifying the polymer electrolyte membrane or the proton exchange membrane. Among these methods, the membrane humidification method, which provides water vapor to air that is supplied to the polymer electrolyte membrane or the proton exchange membrane using a membrane configured to selectively transmit only water vapor included in off-gas in order to humidify the polymer electrolyte membrane or the proton exchange membrane, is advantageous in that it is possible to reduce the weight and size of a humidifier. When a module is formed, a hollow fiber membrane having large transmission area per unit volume is suitable for a permselective membrane used in the membrane humidification method. That is, when a humidifier is manufactured using a hollow fiber membrane, high integration of the hollow fiber membrane having large contact surface area is possible, whereby it is possible to sufficiently humidify the fuel cell even at a small capacity, it is possible to use a low-priced material, and it is possible to collect moisture and heat included in off-gas discharged from the fuel cell at a high temperature and to reuse the collected moisture and heat through the humidifier. FIG. 1 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a conventional humidifier for fuel cells. As illustrated in FIG. 1, a conventional membrane humidification type humidifier 100 includes a humidifying module 110, in which moisture exchange is performed between air supplied from the outside and off-gas discharged from a fuel cell stack (not shown), and caps 120 coupled respectively to opposite ends of the humidifying module 110. One of the caps 120 transmits air supplied from the outside to the humidifying module 110, and the other