Thermo-electrochemical converter

A thermo-electrochemical converter comprising:

• a working fluid;
• a first membrane electrode assembly and a second membrane electrode assembly coupled to the first membrane electrode assembly, each of the first and second membrane electrode assemblies including a first porous electrode operating at a first pressure, a second porous electrode operating at a second pressure which is higher than the first pressure, and an ion conductive membrane sandwiched therebetween, the first membrane electrode assembly working to compress the working fluid and the second membrane electrode assembly working to expand the working fluid;
• a first conduit containing the working fluid and operating at a first pressure and a second conduit containing the working fluid and operating at a second pressure which is higher than the first pressure, the first conduit being coupled to the first porous electrodes of each of the first and second membrane assemblies to enable the flow of the working fluid between the first porous electrodes, the second conduit being coupled to the second porous electrodes of each of the first and second membrane assemblies to enable the flow of the working fluid between the second porous electrodes;
• a first heat transfer member coupled to the first porous electrode of the first membrane electrode assembly, the first heat transfer member thermally interfacing with and facilitating heat transfer from a surface constituting a low-pressure side of the first membrane electrode assembly;
• a second heat transfer member coupled to the first porous electrode of the second membrane electrode assembly, the second heat transfer member thermally interfacing with and facilitating heat transfer to a surface constituting a low-pressure side of the second membrane electrode assembly;
• a heat sink coupled to the low-pressure side of the first membrane electrode assembly;
• and
• a heat source coupled to the low-pressure side of the second membrane electrode assembly.