Process water gas management of electrolyzer system with membrane

A system for providing inerting gas to a protected space, comprising:

• a process water source;
• an electrochemical cell comprising a cathode and an anode separated by a separator comprising a proton transfer medium;
• a power source arranged to provide a voltage differential between the anode and the cathode;
• a cathode fluid flow path in operative fluid communication with the cathode between a cathode fluid flow path inlet and a cathode fluid flow path outlet;
• an anode fluid flow path in operative fluid communication with the anode, between an anode fluid flow path inlet and an anode fluid flow path outlet, the anode fluid flow path connected to the process water source;
• a cathode supply fluid flow path between an air source and the cathode fluid flow path inlet, and an inerting gas flow path in operative fluid communication with the cathode fluid flow path outlet and the protected space;
• an anode supply fluid flow path between a process water source and the anode fluid flow path inlet;
• a process water fluid flow path in operative fluid communication with the anode fluid flow path inlet and the anode fluid flow path outlet;
• and
• a membrane separator disposed in the process water fluid flow path and connected to anode fluid flow path outlet and provides water with oxygen removed from it to the anode fluid flow path inlet, the membrane separator including:
• a membrane including a first side in operative fluid communication with the process water fluid flow path and a second side in operative fluid communication with a first gas outlet.