Solid-State Electro-Chemical Compressor

Abstract

The present invention relates to a solid-state electro-chemical compressor, including a number of electro-chemical cell packages, of which each cell includes a low-pressure fluid inlet, a high-pressure fluid outlet, a membrane, arranged between the low-pressure fluid inlet and the high-pressure fluid outlet, a pair of an anode, arranged at the low-pressure fluid inlet and a cathode, arranged at the high-pressure fluid outlet side, wherein all pairs of anodes and cathodes of a cell package are connected in series to a common electric power supply; and wherein all low-pressure fluid inlets of a cell package are coupled to a common low-pressure fluid inlet and all high-pressure fluid outlets of a cell package are coupled to a common high-pressure fluid outlet wherein the common high-pressure fluid outlets of the respective cell packages are coupled to a main fluid outlet.

Claims

1. A solid-state electro-chemical compressor, comprising: Several electro-chemical cell packages, of which each cell comprises: A low-pressure fluid inlet; A high-pressure fluid outlet; A membrane, arranged between the low-pressure fluid inlet and the high-pressure fluid outlet; A pair of: An anode, arranged at the low-pressure fluid inlet; A cathode, arranged at the high-pressure fluid outlet side; wherein all pairs of anodes and cathodes of a cell package are connected in series to a common electric power supply; and wherein all low-pressure fluid inlets of a cell package are coupled to a common low-pressure fluid inlet; all high-pressure fluid outlets of a cell package are coupled to a common high-pressure fluid outlet; wherein the common high-pressure fluid outlets of the respective cell packages are coupled to a main fluid outlet.

2. The compressor according to claim 1, wherein the common high-pressure fluid outlets of the cell packages are coupled to a main fluid outlet via a check valve that allows fluid flow in the direction from the common high-pressure outlet to the main fluid outlet only.

3. The compressor according to claim 1, wherein the common low-pressure fluid inlets of the cell packages are coupled to a main fluid inlet.

4. The compressor according to claim 1, wherein the common electric power supplies of various cell packages are all separate power supplies.

5. The compressor according to claim 1, wherein the power supplies are provided with a monitor, for monitoring electric properties of the cells.

6. The compressor according to claim 1, wherein the respective anodes and cathodes of the cell package are available as external contacts.

7. The compressor according to claim 5, wherein at least one cell comprises a temperature and/or pressure sensor, and the monitor is configured for registering a temperature and a pressure of said at least one cell.

8. The compressor according to claim 1, wherein the power supply is configured for setting a cell package power optimal for powering the cell package.

9. The compressor according to claim 1, wherein the power supply is configured for reconditioning the cell package, particularly to remove water by reversing a current direction or allowing water redistribution at low or zero current densities.

10. The compressor according to claim 1, wherein a cell package comprises at least 8 cells.

11. The compressor according to claim 1, wherein the electric power supply is configured for operation at 0.6-5.0.

12. The compressor according to claim 1, wherein at least the series connected electro-chemical cells are arranged in a common housing.

13. The compressor according to claim 12, wherein all cells are arranged in the common housing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0017] The invention will now be elucidated into more detail with reference to the following FIGURE, in which a schematic overview of a state electro-chemical compressor of the invention is given.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] FIG. 1 shows a solid-state electro-chemical compressor 1 according to the present invention, comprising a number of multiple electro-chemical cell packages 2, 3, of which each cell 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 comprises a respective low-pressure fluid inlet 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23 and a high-pressure fluid outlet 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, a membrane 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, arranged between the low-pressure fluid inlet and the high-pressure fluid outlet, and a pair of a cathode 53, 61, 63 (not all are visible), arranged at the low-pressure fluid inlet and an anode, 44, 54, 60, 62 (not all are visible), arranged at the high-pressure fluid outlet side wherein all pairs of anodes 44-62 and cathodes 45-63 of a cell package 2, 3 are electrically connected in series to a common electric power supply 64, 65 and wherein all low-pressure fluid inlets 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23 of a cell package are coupled to a common low-pressure fluid inlet 66, 67 and all high-pressure fluid outlets 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 of a stack package are coupled to a common high-pressure fluid outlet 68, 69 wherein the common high-pressure fluid outlets of the respective cell packages are coupled to a main fluid outlet 70.

[0019] As visible in Detail A, a structure of anode 60, a high-pressure outlet 32, a membrane 42, a low-pressure fluid inlet 22 and a cathode 61 forms a cell 12. Anodes and cathodes of adjacent cells (61, 62) may be electrically coupled, or even be formed by one integrated piece. For enabling detailed electro technical information about individual cells, the anodes and cathodes of cells in a cell package or coupled anodes and cathodes of cells in a package may be provided with external electric contacts, for measuring purposes. These contacts may be connected to the respective power supplies, in particular to a monitor thereof. In the depicted embodiment, the common high-pressure fluid outlets 68, 69 of the cell packages are coupled to a main fluid outlet via a check valve 71, 72 that allows fluid flow in the direction from the common high-pressure outlet 68, 69 to the main fluid outlet 70 only. The common low-pressure fluid inlets 66, 67 may also be coupled to a main fluid inlet (not depicted).

[0020] The common electric power supplies 64, 65 of various cell packages are separate power supplies. In the examples shown, packages are made of 5 cells, but preferably a cell package comprises at least 8 cells, so that the electric power supply can be configured for operation of at least 0.6 volt. The scope of the invention is not limited to the described embodiment, which is an example only, but defined by the following claims.