Flow plate for a humidifier

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019260044-A1
Application number	US-201716335882-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 22, 2017
Priority date	Sep 23, 2016
Publication date	Aug 22, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

A flow plate for a humidifier, and to such a humidifier having a plurality of flow plates and water exchange membranes are described. The flow plate has a flow field with a plurality of free-standing support elements, wherein the support elements extend, at least in sections, perpendicular to the flat surface plane of the flow plate. Gas to be humidified or gas giving off moisture flows on the flow field. In the humidifier, the flow plates are arranged in a stack, wherein a membrane composite having at least one water exchange membrane is arranged between each pair of adjacent flow plates in the stack. The support elements improve the performance of the humidifier and therefore the number of flow plates can be reduced, making a lower-weight and space-saving design possible.

First claim

1 - 29 . (canceled)

30 . A flow plate for a humidifier which has a flow field with a plurality of freestanding support elements, wherein the support elements extend, at least in sections, perpendicularly to the flat surface plane of the flow plate.

31 . The flow plate according to claim 30 , wherein the support elements are resilient perpendicular to the flat surface plane.

32 . The flow plate according to claim 30 , wherein the support elements each have a specific width B parallel to the flat surface plane of the flow plate and a specific length L parallel to the flat surface plane of the flow plate, wherein: L≤10·B, and wherein the width B and the length L are each determined at the end of the support elements facing the flow plate.

33 . The flow plate according to claim 32 , wherein the support elements each have a specific height H perpendicular to the flat surface plane of the flow plate, wherein: H≤6·L.

34 . The flow plate according to claim 30 , wherein the support elements each have a specific height H perpendicular to the flat surface plane of the flow plate, wherein: H≤3.0 mm, preferably H≤1.0 mm, particularly preferably H≤0.5 mm.

35 . The flow plate according to claim 32 , wherein: L≤5.0 mm.

36 . The flow plate according to claim 32 , wherein, for a specific maximum distance d max of adjacent support elements parallel to the flat surface plane of the flow plate, the following is true: d max ≤6·L.

37 . The flow plate according to claim 30 , wherein the support elements are formed in a rod-shaped manner, at least in sections.

38 . The flow plate according to claim 30 , wherein an end of the support elements remote from the flow plate is hook-like.

39 . The flow plate according to claim 38 , wherein the hook-like end of the support elements is bent towards the flow plate by more than 90 degrees, relative to a plumb line direction oriented perpendicularly to the flat surface plane.

40 . The flow plate according to claim 30 , wherein the support elements are arranged at periodic distances from one another.

41 . The flow plate according to claim 40 , wherein the support elements are arranged at periodic distances from one another parallel to the flat surface plane of the flow plate along a first direction and along a second direction.

42 . The flow plate according to claim 41 , wherein a first distance between adjacent support elements determined along the first direction is different from a second distance between adjacent support elements determined along the second direction.

43 . The flow plate according to claim 42 , wherein the first direction and the second direction are perpendicular to one another.

44 . The flow plate according to claim 30 , wherein the flow field has a plurality of freestanding support elements, wherein the support elements extend on both surfaces of the flow plate.

45 . The flow plate according to claim 30 , wherein the support elements are manufactured from plastic, including a thermoplastic, and comprise one or more of the following materials: polyamide, polypropylene, polyethylene, vinyl, polyester, polyether ether ketone, polyether sulfone, polyvinyl sulfone, polyamide imide, polyoxyethylene, polyphthalamide.

46 . The flow plate according to claim 30 , wherein the support elements are fabricated from metal, in particular from steel, preferably from stainless steel.

47 . The flow plate according to claim 30 , wherein the number of support elements per unit of area in at least one flow field of a flow plate is at least 20 cm −2 .

48 . The flow plate according to claim 30 , wherein the support elements are arranged on a mat which is arranged parallel to the flat surface plane of the flow plate.

49 . The flow plate according to claim 48 , wherein the support elements and the mat are fabricated from the same material.

50 . The flow plate according to claim 49 , wherein the support elements and the mat are formed in one part.

51 . The flow plate according to claim 30 , further comprising through-openings for conducting a gas through the flow plate, wherein the flow field is fluidically connected to the through-openings.

52 . The flow plate according to claim 30 , wherein the flow plate is formed in one piece.

53 . The flow plate according to claim 30 , wherein the flow plate consists at least of two elements connected to one another, wherein one element terminates the flow plate outwardly in a frame-shaped manner.

54 . The flow plate according to claim 53 , wherein the elements connected to one another are all fabricated from plastic, wherein the elements connected to one another are fabricated from the same plastic.

55 . The flow plate according to claim 53 , wherein at least two elements connected to one another are made of different materials, wherein the frame-shaped element is made of metal or contains metal.

Assignees

• Reinz Dichtungs Gmbh

Inventors

• Buntz Werner
• Glueck Rainer
• Speidel Andre
• Stoehr Thomas

Classifications

• B01D2313/14

  Specific spacers · CPC title

• H01M8/04149 Primary

  by diffusion, e.g. making use of membranes · CPC title

• B01D65/08 Primary

  Prevention of membrane fouling or of concentration polarisation · CPC title

• B01D63/082

  comprising a stack of flat membranes · CPC title

• B01D63/0822

  Plate-and-frame devices · CPC title