Mass transfer characteristics of the hydrophilic membrane with the isolation of heat transfer effect by isothermal bath

•We designed a laboratory scale planar membrane humidifier.•The water transport characteristics of the membrane were examined under isothermal condition.•The design parameters of membrane humidifier were operating temperature and operating pressure.

The efficiency and lifetime of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) system is critically affected by the humidity of incoming gas which should be maintained properly for normal operating conditions. But the experimental characteristics of the humidifier are rarely reported. Water transport through the hydrophilic membrane is a coupled phenomenon of heat and mass transport. In this study, a laboratory scale test bench is designed to investigate the characteristics of water transport through the hydrophilic membrane. The mass transfer capability of the hydrophilic membrane is evaluated over various flow rates, temperature, pressure, and flow arrangements. In the experiment, the test bench is submerged in a constant temperature bath in order to isolate the effect of temperature variation between dry air and humid air. The results show the water transport of the hydrophilic membrane is significantly affected by operating temperature and operating pressure. Additionally, the flow arrangement demonstrates a minor effect but it should be considered along with the heat transfer effect.