Electrochemical compressor utilizing an electrolysis
US10087532B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 14, 2015 |
| Grant date | Oct 2, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 21, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/50
- WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
An electrochemical compression system utilizes an electrolyzer to electrolyze an electrochemically active working fluid, at a first pressure, into decomposition products that are reformed back into said electrochemically active working fluid by a fuel cell, at a higher pressure. Water may be electrolyzed into hydrogen and oxygen and stored in reservoir tanks at an elevated pressure and subsequently provided to a fuel cell for reforming. The hydrogen is provided to the anode side of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell and the oxygen is provided to the cathode side. Water is reformed on the cathode side of the fuel cell at a higher pressure than the inlet to the electrolyzer. This pressure differential enable flow of the electrochemically active working fluid through a conduit from the cathode to the electrolyzer. This flow of fluid may be used in a heat transfer system.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.