# US 2015/0144501 A1 · Method and Apparatus for Conditioning Hydrogen > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2015/0144501 A1 - Document ID: US20150144501A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/540,437 - Filed: 2014-11-13 - Published: 2015-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2013-11-26 - Assignees: Robert Bosch GmbH - Applicants: Robert Bosch GmbH - Inventors: Annika Utz; Kai Weeber; Dietmar Steiner - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20150144501A1 ## CPC - C25B 1/04: by electrolysis of water - C01B 3/503: characterised by membranes - C25B 9/19: with diaphragms - C25B 9/73: of the filter-press type - C01B 2203/0405: Purification by membrane separation - C01B 2203/0495: the impurity being water - H01M 8/04201: {Reactant storage and supply, e.g. means for feeding, pipes} - Y02E 60/36: Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis - Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells - C25B: ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR (anodic or cathodic protection C23F13/00; single-crystal growth C30B) - C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C} - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A method for conditioning hydrogen includes positioning hydrogen on a suction side of an electrochemical compressor. The hydrogen includes at most a fractional amount of an extraneous species. The electrochemical compressor includes a first electrode on a suction side and a second electrode on a pressure side and is configured to apply an electrical potential between the first and second electrodes. The method further includes transporting ions of the hydrogen through a membrane of the electrochemical compressor via the electrical potential in order to increase a hydrogen partial pressure on the pressure side of the electrochemical compressor and such that the extraneous species remains on the suction side of the electrochemical compressor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for conditioning hydrogen, comprising: positioning hydrogen on a suction side of an electrochemical compressor that includes a first electrode on a suction side of the electrochemical compressor, a second electrode on a pressure side of the electrochemical compressor, and a membrane positioned between the first and second electrodes, wherein: the hydrogen includes at most a fractional amount of an extraneous species; and the electrochemical compressor is configured to generate an electrical potential between the first and second electrodes; and transporting ions of the hydrogen through the membrane via the electrical potential in order to increase a hydrogen partial pressure on the pressure side of the electrochemical compressor, such that the extraneous species remains on the suction side of the electrochemical compressor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein: the hydrogen is positioned on the suction side of the electrochemical compressor by using electrical energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen; and the extraneous species is water vapor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein transporting the hydrogen ions includes producing at least one of (i) a predetermined pressure, (ii) a predetermined temperature, and (iii) a predetermined purity of hydrogen on the pressure side of the electrochemical compressor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein transporting the hydrogen ions includes applying a direct voltage to the first and second electrodes. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the transportation of the hydrogen ions through the membrane is quasi-isothermal. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising storing hydrogen produced on the pressure side of the electrochemical compressor in a pressure accumulator. ### Claim 7 An apparatus for conditioning hydrogen, comprising: an electrochemical compressor that includes: a first electrode on a suction side of the electrochemical compressor; a second electrode on a pressure side of the electrochemical compressor; and a membrane positioned between the first and second electrodes; wherein the electrochemical compressor is configured to generate an electrical potential between the first and second electrodes such that: hydrogen ions from hydrogen positioned at the suction side of the electrochemical compressor are transported through the membrane to the pressure side of the electrochemical compressor in order to increase a hydrogen partial pressure on the pressure side of the electrochemical compressor; and an extraneous species remains on the suction side of the electrochemical compressor; and a device configured to position hydrogen on the suction side of the electrochemical compressor, wherein the hydrogen includes at most a fractional amount of the extraneous species. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein: the device is an electrolyzer configured to split water into hydrogen and oxygen using electrical energy; and the extraneous species is water vapor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein: the electrochemical compressor further includes at least one further membrane having a further first electrode on a suction side and a further second electrode on a pressure side; and the at least one further membrane is arranged in series with the first electrode, the membrane, and the second electrode, and is configured to increase the hydrogen partial pressure in steps from the suction side of the electrochemical compressor to the pressure side of the electrochemical compressor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the membrane includes a polymer electrolyte. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the membrane includes a drain configured to carry out the extraneous species. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a pressure accumulator configured to store hydrogen produced on the pressure side of the electrochemical compressor.