Drainage system and process for operating a regenerative electrochemical cell system
AssigneeProton Energy Systems, Inc.
InventorsDean Halter, Spyros Nomikos
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electrochemical cell system comprises: a fuel cell module comprising a fuel cell outlet, an electrolysis module comprising an electrolysis water inlet in fluid communication with a water storage device and a hydrogen gas outlet in fluid communication with a hydrogen storage device, and a drainage system disposed downstream of the fuel cell hydrogen outlet and upstream of the water storage device and configured to remove water from the electrochemical cell system upon water within the water storage device attaining a selected level.
Claims15
An electrochemical cell system, comprising:
- a fuel cell module comprising a fuel cell outlet;
- an electrolysis module comprising an electrolysis water inlet in fluid communication with a water storage device and a hydrogen gas outlet in fluid communication with a hydrogen storage device;
- and
- a drainage system disposed downstream of the fuel cell hydrogen outlet and upstream of the water storage device and configured to remove water from the electrochemical cell system upon water within the water storage device attaining a selected level.
An electrochemical cell system, comprising:
- a fuel cell module comprising a fuel cell outlet comprising a first conduit in fluid communication with a water storage device;
- an electrolysis module comprising an electrolysis water inlet in fluid communication with the water storage device;
- and
- a drainage system disposed downstream of the fuel cell hydrogen outlet and configured to remove water from the electrochemical cell system, wherein the drainage system comprises a conduit in fluid communication with the water storage device and at least one of a drain and a holding tank, wherein the conduit has a first end disposed at or about an upper portion of the water storage device and a second end in fluid communication with the drain or holding tank.
A method for operating an electrochemical cell system, comprising:
- introducing feed hydrogen from a hydrogen storage system to a fuel cell hydrogen electrode and introducing oxygen to a fuel cell oxygen electrode;
- generating electricity and byproduct water;
- directing the byproduct water to a water storage device;
- and
- diverting all or a portion of the byproduct water to a drain or to a holding tank when a byproduct water level reaches a selected level within the water storage device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.