Patent · US Expired

Electrochemical hydrogen compressor for electrochemical cell system and method for controlling

US6994929B2 · kind B2 · utility

27Cited by
17References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 22, 2003
Grant dateFeb 7, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 12, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E60/50
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

In one embodiment, an electrochemical cell system comprises: a fuel cell stack comprising a fuel cell having a fuel cell hydrogen inlet and a fuel cell hydrogen outlet, and a first electrochemical hydrogen compressor in fluid communication with the fuel cell hydrogen outlet, wherein the first electrochemical hydrogen compressor comprises electrodes in electrical communication with an electricity source, and a compressed hydrogen outlet in fluid communication with the fuel cell hydrogen inlet. In one embodiment, the method of operating the electrochemical cell system comprises: introducing hydrogen feed to a fuel cell at a feed rate of greater than stoichiometry, directing excess hydrogen from the fuel cell to a first electrochemical hydrogen compressor, electrochemically compressing the excess hydrogen to compressed hydrogen, and recirculating the compressed hydrogen gas to the fuel cell.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.