The efficiency and life time of the proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell system is critically changed with its humidity which should be maintained properly during dynamic operation. Membrane humidifier is used for the water management of the PEMFC...
The efficiency and life time of the proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell system is critically changed with its humidity which should be maintained properly during dynamic operation. Membrane humidifier is used for the water management of the PEMFC due to its reliable performance and the feature of zero parasitic power loss. In the PEMFC system, membrane humidifier is required to regulate proper humidity level for the design point of the fuel cell. During transient operation of the PEMFC system, it is difficult to control the humidity of the PEMFC system properly. However, few literatures are reported for the dynamic response of the membrane humidifier even though it is very important for durability of the system. In this study, we presented the performance variation of the membrane humidifier during transient conditions. Dry air pressure, water flow temperature, and air flow rate were chosen as the operating parameters. Results shows that time constant for dynamic response of membrane humidifier is small enough. Flow rate and differential pressure between dry air and water are important factor in the performance of membrane humidifier.