JP2010107099A - Humidifying apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a humidifying apparatus reducible in cost, regarding the humidifying apparatus including an inlet/outlet of a humidifying fluid and an inlet/outlet of a humidified fluid. <P>SOLUTION: An inlet of air passing inside hollow fiber membranes 12, and an outlet of cathode off-gas passing outside, are formed on one end side of a case 21 holding a hollow fiber membrane bundle 11. An outlet of air passing inside the hollow fiber membranes 12, and an inlet of cathode off-gas passing outside, are formed on the other end side. The humidifying apparatus is constituted such that the position relationship between an opening 21a and an opening 21c on one end side of the case 21 is the same as the position relationship between an opening 21b and an opening 21d on the other end of the case 21. An end face 21a1 of the opening 21a and an end face 21c1 of the opening 21c are arranged within the same plane, and an end face 21b1 of the opening 21b and an end face 21d1 of the opening 21d are arranged within the same plane. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a humidifying device including a humidifying fluid inlet / outlet and a humidifying fluid inlet / outlet.

For example, a humidifier that exchanges moisture by flowing different fluids inside and outside the hollow fiber membrane, such as a hollow fiber membrane, has an outlet and an inlet for the humidified fluid and an outlet and an inlet for the humidified fluid, respectively. (See Patent Documents 1 and 2). In such a humidifier, a pipe for supplying the humidified fluid to the humidifier, a pipe for discharging the humidified fluid, a pipe for supplying the humidified fluid, and a pipe for discharging the humidified fluid are required. Therefore, a total of four joint members are required.
JP-A-8-273687 (FIGS. 3 and 4) Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2002-147802 (FIG. 1)

  However, in the humidifier as described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, four joint members are required, at least a case for housing the hollow fiber membrane, a joint communicating with the inside of the hollow fiber membrane, and the hollow fiber membrane This requires a joint mold that communicates with the outside of the metal, resulting in high costs.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a humidifier capable of reducing costs.

  The present invention accommodates the exchange membrane, and the openings of the first fluid inlet / outlet through the one side of the exchange membrane and the second fluid inlet / outlet through the other side of the exchange membrane are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the exchange membrane. An aligned case, and a joint member provided at both ends of the case and provided with a connecting portion corresponding to each opening, and viewed from the exchange membrane side on one end side of the case The positional relationship between the opening on the inlet side of the first fluid and the opening on the outlet side of the second fluid is such that the opening on the outlet side of the first fluid viewed from the exchange membrane side at the other end of the case The positional relationship is the same as the positional relationship with the opening on the inlet side of the second fluid.

  According to this, the mold of the joint member attached to the opening on the inlet side of the first fluid on the one end side of the case and the opening on the outlet side of the second fluid, and the outlet side of the first fluid on the other end side of the case Since the same mold can be used for the mold of the joint member attached to the opening of the second fluid and the opening on the inlet side of the second fluid, the types of molds can be reduced. As a result, mold costs can be reduced and productivity can be improved.

  In addition, an end surface joined to the joint member in the opening on the inlet side of the first fluid and the opening on the outlet side of the second fluid, and the opening on the outlet side of the first fluid and the second fluid End faces joined to the joint member in the opening on the inlet side are respectively disposed in the same plane.

  According to this, it becomes possible to join a joint member easily by planarizing the surface where a joint member is joined, and it can improve productivity.

  The positional relationship between the opening on the inlet side of the first fluid and the opening on the outlet side of the second fluid is such that the opening on the outlet side of the first fluid and the opening on the inlet side of the second fluid It is characterized by a positional relationship and a line-symmetrical positional relationship.

  According to this, since the respective openings on the inlet side and the outlet side of the second fluid, which tend to be thick, are positioned on the same side with respect to the case by making line symmetry, the humidifier can be thinned. Become.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the humidification apparatus which can reduce cost can be provided.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example when the humidifying device of the present embodiment is applied to a fuel cell system, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the humidifying device of the present embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a fuel cell system 100 in which the humidifying device 1 of this embodiment is incorporated is mounted on a fuel cell vehicle (moving body) (not shown), and includes a fuel cell stack 110, a hydrogen tank 121, an air compressor. 131, the humidifier 1 etc. are provided.

  The fuel cell stack 110 is a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC), and a plurality of single cells formed by sandwiching MEA (Membrane Electrode Assembly) with separators (not shown) are stacked. Has been configured. The MEA includes an electrolyte membrane (solid polymer membrane) and a cathode and an anode that sandwich the membrane. Each separator is formed with an anode flow path 111 and a cathode flow path 112 formed of grooves and through holes.

  In the fuel cell stack 110, hydrogen is supplied from the hydrogen tank 121 to the anode via the pipe 121 a and the anode flow path 111, and oxygen-containing air is supplied from the air compressor 131 that sucks outside air, the pipe 131 a, and a humidifier. 1. When supplied to the cathode via the pipe 131b and the cathode flow path 112, an electrode reaction occurs on the catalyst (Pt or the like) contained in the anode and the cathode, and the fuel cell stack 110 is in a state capable of generating power.

  The fuel cell stack 110 in a state where power can be generated in this way and an external load (for example, a motor for traveling) are electrically connected, and when the current is taken out, the fuel cell stack 110 generates power.

  Further, the anode off gas discharged from the anode channel 111 is discharged to the diluter 132 through the pipe 121b. On the other hand, the cathode offgas discharged from the cathode channel 112 is discharged to the diluter 132 via the pipe 131c, the humidifier 1, and the pipe 132a, and the diluter 132 dilutes unconsumed hydrogen in the anode offgas. It has become. The diluted gas is discharged out of the vehicle via the pipe 132b. The cathode off gas is humid due to water vapor (water) generated by the electrode reaction at the cathode. In addition, since a part of the generated water vapor passes through the electrolyte membrane to the anode side, the anode off gas is also humid.

  The humidifier 1 humidifies the air (first fluid) to be humidified from the air compressor 131 toward the cathode channel 112 with the humid cathode offgas (second fluid) discharged from the cathode channel 112.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the humidifier 1 includes a case 21 in which the hollow fiber membrane bundle 11 is accommodated, and joint members 22 and 23.

  The case 21 is a rectangular tube-shaped container that accommodates the hollow fiber membrane bundle 11, and has an inlet of dry air (first fluid) from the air compressor 131 (see FIG. 1) at the rear end, which is an end in the longitudinal direction. And an opening 21b serving as an outlet for air (first fluid) after humidification to the cathode of the fuel cell stack 110 (see FIG. 1) is formed at the front end. The case 21 is made of, for example, a hard resin such as PC (polycarbonate) or PPO (polyphenylene oxide), or a metal such as aluminum.

  The hollow fiber membrane bundle 11 accommodated in the case 21 is made of polyimide or the like, and a plurality of (for example, several thousand or more) straw-like hollow fiber membranes (exchange membranes) 12 having moisture permeability are bundled. It is what was done. Further, the hollow fiber membrane bundle 11 is formed so as to have substantially the same length as the length of the case 21 in the longitudinal direction (front-rear direction). The flow direction of the air (first fluid) inside (one surface side) of the hollow fiber membrane 12 corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the exchange membrane. Moreover, both ends of the front and rear of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 11 are provided between the outer peripheral surfaces of the hollow fiber membranes 12 and the hollow fiber membranes 12 via potting portions 13 and 13 (sealing portions) formed of epoxy resin or the like. The space between the outer peripheral surface and the inner wall surface of the case 21 is closed.

  Further, an opening 21c serving as an outlet for the cathode off gas (second fluid) is integrally formed on the upper surface of the rear end of the case 21. The opening 21 c communicates with the outside of each hollow fiber membrane 12 through a through hole 21 s (see FIG. 3) formed on the peripheral surface of the case 21. In addition, an opening 21d serving as an inlet for cathode offgas (second fluid) is integrally formed on the lower surface of the front end of the case 21. The opening 21d communicates with the outside (other surface side) of each hollow fiber membrane 12 through a through hole 21t (see FIG. 3) formed in the peripheral surface of the case 21.

  In addition, an end face 21a1 facing rearward that constitutes the peripheral edge of the opening 21a is formed in a substantially rectangular frame shape in a planar shape. Further, the rear end face 21c1 constituting the peripheral portion of the opening 21c is formed in a substantially round frame shape in a planar shape. The end surface 21a1 and the end surface 21c1 are formed as continuous surfaces and are configured to be located in the same plane.

  Similarly, the front end face 21b1 that forms the peripheral edge of the opening 21b is formed in a substantially rectangular frame shape in a planar shape. Further, an end surface 21d1 directed forward that constitutes the peripheral edge of the opening 21d is formed in a substantially round frame shape and in a planar shape. The end surface 21b1 and the end surface 21d1 are formed as continuous surfaces and are configured to be located in the same plane.

  Therefore, the positional relationship between the opening 21a and the opening 21c on the rear end side of the case 21 is formed so as to be the same as the positional relationship between the opening 21b and the opening 21d on the front end side. That is, the shape of the end surface formed by the end surface 21a1 of the opening 21a on the rear end side of the case 21 and the end surface 21c1 of the opening 21c is the end surface 21b1 of the opening 21b on the front end side of the case 21 and the end surface 21d1 of the opening 21d. Are formed so as to be the same shape as the shape of the end face formed by inverting the top and bottom.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the joint member 22 is provided on the rear end side of the case 21, and an air inlet portion 22 a corresponding to the opening portion 21 a of the case 21 and an opening portion using the same hard resin or metal as the case 21. 21c and the corresponding off-gas outlet part 22b are integrally formed.

  The air inlet 22a has a recess 22a1 with a concave surface facing forward. The recess 22a1 has a substantially square frame-shaped contact surface 22a2 that faces the end surface 21a1. The air inlet 22a is formed with a circular connecting portion 22a3 that communicates with the inside of the recess 22a1 and is connected to the pipe 131a (see FIG. 1). Therefore, the air supplied from the pipe 131a via the connection portion 22a3 spreads in the recess 22a1 of the air inlet portion 22a and is introduced into the inside of each hollow fiber membrane 12 formed in the opening portion 21a.

  The off-gas outlet portion 22b has an opening 22b1 facing the opening 21c on the front end side, and a circular connection portion 22b3 connected to the pipe 132a (see FIG. 1) on the rear end side so as to protrude rearward. Yes. The peripheral portion of the opening 22b1 has a substantially annular contact surface 22b2 that faces the end surface 21c1 of the opening 21c.

  Further, the contact surfaces 22a2 and 22b2 are formed as surfaces that are continuous with each other, and are configured to be located in the same plane. Therefore, the contact surface 22a2 comes into surface contact with the end surface 21a1, and the contact surface 22b2 comes into surface contact with the end surface 21c1 (see FIG. 3).

  On the other hand, the joint member 23 has the same shape as the joint member 22, and an air outlet portion 23a and an off-gas inlet portion 23b are integrally formed. The air outlet portion 23a has a concave portion 23a1 whose concave surface faces rearward. The recess 23a1 has a substantially square frame-shaped contact surface 23a2 that faces the end surface 21b1. The air outlet 23a is formed with a circular connecting portion 23a3 that communicates with the inside of the recess 23a1 and is connected to the pipe 131b (see FIG. 1).

  The off-gas inlet portion 23b has an opening 23b1 facing the opening 21d on the rear end side, and a circular tubular connection portion 23b3 connected to the pipe 131c (see FIG. 1) on the front end side. Yes. The peripheral edge of the opening 23b1 has a substantially annular contact surface 23b2 facing the end surface 21d1 of the opening 21d.

  Note that pipes 131a, 132a, 131b, and 131c are connected to the connection portions 22a3 and 22b3 of the joint member 22 and the connection portions 23a3 and 23b3 of the joint member 23, respectively. In addition, at this time, piping 131a, 132a, 131b, 131c is each fixed through a hose band, for example.

  Further, the end surfaces 21a1 and 21c1 of the case 21 and the contact surfaces 22a2 and 22b2 of the joint member 22 are joined to each other by welding or the like in a state where the surfaces contact each other. The end surfaces 21b1 and 21d1 of the case 21 are also fixed to each other by welding or the like with the contact surfaces 23a2 and 23b2 of the joint member 23. Note that the type of welding can be selected as appropriate, such as laser welding, according to the resin or metal material used for the case 21 or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in the humidifier 1 described above, the dried air from the air compressor 131 (see FIG. 1) passes through the recess 22 a 1 from the connection portion 22 a 3 of the air inlet portion 22 a of the humidifier 1. After passing through the inside of the yarn membrane 12 and flowing through each hollow fiber membrane 12 forward, it passes through the recess 23a1 of the air outlet portion 23a and flows out from the connection portion 23a3. The humidified air flowing out from the connecting portion 23a3 is supplied to the cathode of the fuel cell stack 110 through the pipe 131b (see FIG. 1).

  The cathode offgas discharged from the cathode of the fuel cell stack 110 flows from the connection portion 23b3 of the offgas inlet portion 23b through the pipe 131c (see FIG. 1). The cathode offgas that has flowed into the offgas inlet portion 23b passes through the opening 21d of the case 21, passes through the outside of each hollow fiber membrane 12 from the through hole 21t, and flows rearwardly outside each hollow fiber membrane 12. And it flows out from the connection part 22b3 of the off-gas outlet part 22b through the opening part 21c from the through-hole 21s of the case 21. FIG. The cathode off gas that has flowed out of the connecting portion 22b3 is supplied to the diluter 132 through the pipe 132a.

  Since each of the hollow fiber membranes 12 has an infinite number of capillaries, water vapor contained in the cathode offgas (second fluid) introduced to the outside of the hollow fiber membrane 12 in the humidifier 1 is generated in the capillaries. By condensing and moving to the inside of the hollow fiber membrane 12, moisture is passed to the dried air (first fluid). With such a mechanism, the moisture in the cathode off-gas is supplied to the air in the humidifying device 1 to become humidified air. In the present embodiment, humidified air (first fluid) flows inside the hollow fiber membrane 12 and humidified air (second fluid) flows outside the hollow fiber membrane 12 as an example. However, the humidified air (first fluid) may flow outside the hollow fiber membrane 12 and the humidified air (second fluid) may flow inside the hollow fiber membrane 12.

  As described above, according to the humidifying device 1 of the present embodiment, the opening 21a into which air is introduced and the opening 21c from which the cathode off gas is discharged are arranged on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the case 21. An opening 21b through which air is discharged and an opening 21d through which cathode off-gas is introduced are disposed at the other end of the opening, an end surface formed by the end surface 21a1 of the opening 21a and the end surface 21c1 of the opening 21c, and the opening By making the end surface formed by the end surface 21b1 of 21b and the end surface 21d1 of the opening 21d into the same shape, the joint member 22 and the joint member 23 can be made the same shape. Thereby, it is possible to make one type of mold for forming the joint members 22 and 23, one type of mold for the joint members 22 and 23 and one type of mold for the case 21 in total 2 The humidifying device 1 can be configured with various types of molds. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the cost by reducing the number of molds. Furthermore, conventionally, it was possible to reduce the number of joint members 22 and 23 that had to be attached to four joint members including an air inlet portion, an air outlet portion, an off-gas inlet portion, and an off-gas outlet portion. Therefore, the frequency | count of welding can be reduced and productivity at the time of attaching the joint members 22 and 23 to the case 21 can be improved.

  In addition, since one end surface 21a1, 21c1 of the case 21 and the other end surface 21b1, 21d1 are flattened, the welding surface is flattened and the case 21 and the joint members 22, 23 are easily welded. It becomes possible to improve productivity.

  In the present embodiment, the shape of the end surface 21a1 of the opening 21a, the shape of the end surface 21c1 of the opening 21c, and the shape of the end surface 21b1 of the opening 21b and the end surface 21d1 of the opening 21d are P points (see FIG. 3). The case of the point-symmetrical relationship as a reference has been described as an example, but it is not limited to point-symmetry, and the shape of the end surfaces 21a1, 21c1 and the shape of the end surfaces 21b1, 21d1 may be the same, The other end surfaces 21b1, 21d1 may be inclined with respect to the one end surface 21a1, 21c1.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a humidifying device according to another embodiment. The humidifier 30 of this embodiment has a configuration in which an inlet and an outlet for the cathode off gas are provided on the same surface side. In addition, about the structure same as the said humidification apparatus 1, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  That is, the humidifier 30 is formed by integrally forming an opening 21 e serving as an inlet for the cathode offgas (second fluid) on the upper surface of the front end of the case 41. The opening 21 e is configured to communicate with the outside of each hollow fiber membrane 12 through a through hole 21 u formed in the peripheral surface of the case 41. In addition, the joint member 23 attached to the front end side of the case 41 has the same shape as the joint member 23 of the humidifying device 1 and is simply turned upside down. Therefore, the end surface 21e1 of the opening 21e is joined in a state of being in contact with the end surface 23b2 of the joint member 23.

  According to the humidifier 30 configured as described above, by providing the opening 21e on the same upper surface side as the opening 21c, the size in the vertical direction (thickness direction) can be reduced, and the humidifier 30 can be made compact. It becomes possible to configure.

  The humidifier 30 has been described by taking line symmetry with respect to the symmetry line S as an example, but is not limited thereto, and the shapes of the end faces 21a1, 21c1 and the shapes of the end faces 21b1, 21e1 are as follows. If it is the same shape, it will not be limited to this embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, the humidifiers 1 and 30 have been described by taking a rectangular shape as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to such a shape, and may be applied to other shapes such as a cylindrical shape. Good.

  In the present embodiment, the single humidifier 1 or 30 has been described as an example, but a plurality of humidifiers 1 or 30 may be combined. That is, the cases 21 and 41 in which the hollow fiber membrane bundles 11 are accommodated are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction, for example, and the shape of the end face on one end side formed by the plurality of cases 21 and 41 and the shape of the end face on the other end side Are made the same shape, the joint members at both ends can be formed by one type of mold, and the number of molds can be reduced and the productivity can be improved.

  In the present embodiment, the hollow fiber membrane 12 is described as an example of the exchange membrane. However, the membrane is not limited to this, and may be a flat membrane shape or a spiral shape exchange membrane.

It is a block diagram which shows an example at the time of applying the humidification apparatus of this embodiment to a fuel cell system. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the humidification apparatus of this embodiment. It is the sectional view on the AA line of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the humidification apparatus of another embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1,30 Humidifier 11 Hollow fiber membrane (exchange membrane)
12 Hollow fiber membrane bundle 13 Potting part 21, 41 Case 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d Opening part 21a1, 21b1, 21c1, 21d1 End face 22, 23 Joint member 22a3, 22b2, 23a3, 23b2 Connection part

Claims (3)

A case that accommodates the exchange membrane and has openings of the first fluid inlet / outlet passing through one side of the exchange membrane and the second fluid inlet / outlet passing through the other side of the exchange membrane aligned in the longitudinal direction of the exchange membrane; ,
A joint member provided at both ends of the case and provided with a connecting portion communicating with each opening;
The positional relationship between the opening on the inlet side of the first fluid and the opening on the outlet side of the second fluid as viewed from the exchange membrane side on one end side of the case is the exchange membrane side on the other end of the case. A humidifier configured to have the same positional relationship as the positional relationship between the opening on the outlet side of the first fluid and the opening on the inlet side of the second fluid as viewed from above.   An end surface joined to the joint member in an opening on the inlet side of the first fluid and an opening on the outlet side of the second fluid, and an opening on the outlet side of the first fluid and an inlet side of the second fluid 2. The humidifier according to claim 1, wherein end faces of the openings of the joint member that are joined to the joint member are arranged in the same plane.   The positional relationship between the opening on the inlet side of the first fluid and the opening on the outlet side of the second fluid is the positional relationship between the opening on the outlet side of the first fluid and the opening on the inlet side of the second fluid. The humidifying device according to claim 1, wherein the humidifying device is in a line-symmetric positional relationship.

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