Transport Rate of Liquid Water and Saturated Water Vapors across Polymer Proton-Exchange Membranes

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Dependences of the transport rate of liquid water and saturated water vapor across commercial membranes (Nafion, MF-4SK) and proton-exchange membranes synthesized by the authors (PVDF, PP, UHMWPE, PTFE films modified with sulfonated polystyrene) on the membrane thickness have been studied. It has been found that at room temperature (17–25°C), the transport rate of liquid water and saturated water vapor across the membranes into an air stream hardly depends on the membrane type and thickness (60–240 μm), with the transport rate of saturated vapor being almost an order of magnitude below that of liquid water contacting one of the membrane surfaces. The fact that the flux of water and water vapor across the membrane does not depend on membrane thickness under conditions of maximum moistening suggests that the flow resistance is determined by the resistance at the feed and permeate interfaces. If one of the membrane surfaces is in contact with liquid water, the transport rate is equal to the rate of water removal from the permeate surface of the membrane; in the case of contact with saturated vapor, the transport rate is determined by the rate of water sorption from the vapor phase by the membrane. The results can be used to optimize the operation of fuel cells based on polymer proton-exchange membranes.