Three-Dimensional Simulation of Flow Channel for Performance Enhancement of Electrolyte Membrane Dehumidifiers

Electrolyte membrane dehumidification is an ideal method for accurate humidity control in small chambers because of its simple and compact structure. To achieve higher dehumidification performance, it is necessary to enhance mass transfer for the system. Recently, porous metal fiber has been considered as an alternative flow field due to its three-dimensional pores, high porosity, and enhanced electrical conductivity. The porous metal fiber flow channels with different porosity were proposed and a 3D model for porous metal fiber flow channel with close to real aperture structure was established. By numerically analyzing the effects of porous metal fiber flow channel with different porosity on the operation performance (moisture removal rate, current/temperature/humidity distribution, Ret and system energy utilization efficiency), the optimal porosity was determined to be 0.55, which improved the moisture removal rate and Sherwood number by about 15% and 28% for electrolyte membrane dehumidifiers. The system energy utilization efficiency was increased greatly, up to 4.55 x 10-2 g/(J<middle dot>m2). Furthermore, compared with the original flow channel, the current density uniformity increased from 0.025 to 0.133. The average temperature inside the dehumidification components was reduced by about 8 degrees C. This research is significant for promoting the further industrialization application of electrolyte membrane dehumidification technology.