Numerical Study of Membrane Humidifier Performance with Single-Channel Serpentine Configuration on Both Wet Dry Sides

The simplest and most prevalent method for water management inside the proton-exchange-membrane fuel cells is the moisturization of reactant gases before fuel cell entrance. To this end, membrane humidifiers with such distinct specifications as structural simplicity, electric power non-consumption, and lack of moving parts were used. This paper presents a study of such humidifier and a proposal to build single serpentine flow channel on the wet and dry sides to increase gas retention duration on the membrane surface. The humidifier s numerical 3D modeling was used to analyze several parameters, including water volume passage through the membrane, flow velocity inside channels, the gas temperature on the dry and wet sides, and pressure drop inside channels. According to the results, water moves from the wet side to the dry side through the membrane and water concentration increases along the channel on the dry side; such that the water concentration on the output in the dry side reaches 2.8 moles per cubic meters. Although serpentine flow channels cause more pressure drop compared to parallel channels, the long gas retention duration inside the channels on both dry and wet sides, the performance of humidifier in terms of heat transfer and (water) mass transfer will improve.