Simulation of Heat and Mass Transfer Characteristics for the Optimal Operating Conditions of a Gas-to-Gas Membrane Humidifier with Porous Metal Foam

Hyesoo Jang, Myoung-Hwan Kim, Sang-Kyun Park, Yul-Seong Kim and Byung Chul Choi
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Hyesoo Jang: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
Myoung-Hwan Kim: Division of Marine Engineering, Korea Maritime and Ocean University, Busan 49112, Korea
Sang-Kyun Park: Division of Marine Information Technology, Korea Maritime and Ocean University, Busan 49112, Korea
Yul-Seong Kim: Department of Logistics System Engineering, Korea Maritime and Ocean University, Busan 49112, Korea
Byung Chul Choi: R&D Center, Korean Register of Shipping, Busan 46762, Korea

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 19, 1-19

Abstract: The shell-and-tube type gas-to-gas membrane humidifier used with air supply to polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell supplies heat and vapor through a membrane and does not require an additional power source. Packing porous metal foam in the flow path of the membrane humidifier can result in higher heat and mass transfer efficiencies due to heat conduction through metal. In this study, the influence of various operating conditions and types of porous metal foams on the transport characteristics of the membrane humidifier are evaluated by simulation. The main factor causing the improvement of heat and mass transfer is the high conductivity of the porous metal foam, which is significantly correlated with the type of material used, compression ratio, and pore diameter. Additionally, the heat and mass transfer changes significantly when the flow velocity and channel size change due to the effect of the metal foam becoming more pronounced.

Keywords: porous metal foam; gas-to-gas membrane humidifier; polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell; heat transfer; mass transfer (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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