Electrochemical heat pump system
US6553771B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 1, 2000 |
| Grant date | Apr 29, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 1, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25B27/00
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An electrochemical heat pump system comprising an electrochemical pump, refrigerant-based cooling system, and gas-driven compressor. The electrochemical pump is capable of reversibly producing and consuming hydrogen gas. The cooling system comprises a condenser, compressor, and evaporator in thermal communication with an object to be cooled. The compressor comprises a chamber having a fixed volume and a flexible separator that physically divides the chamber into a gas space and a refrigerant space containing vapor refrigerant. As hydrogen gas is produced in the gas space, the flexible separator extends into the refrigerant space thereby expanding the gas space and compressing the vapor refrigerant. As the vapor refrigerant is compressed, it is forced through the condenser where the refrigerant is liquefied. The liquid refrigerant then passes through the evaporator where the liquid refrigerant is evaporated by absorbing heat from the object to be cooled.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.