Thermo-electrochemical converter with pressure exchange energy recovery

An electrochemical cell comprising:

• a working fluid;
• a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) including a first electrode, a second electrode, and a proton-exchange membrane sandwiched between the first and second electrodes, the first and second electrodes being electrically connected to an external load;
• a first chamber in fluid communication with the first electrode and containing the working fluid at a first pressure;
• a second chamber in fluid communication with the second electrode and containing the working fluid at a second pressure greater than the first pressure;
• a first conduit in fluid communication with the first chamber;
• a second conduit in fluid communication with the second chamber;
• an exchange fluid;
• a heating vessel configured to heat the exchange fluid contained therein;
• a third conduit in fluid communication with the heating vessel and configured to provide the exchange fluid to the heating vessel at a third pressure;
• a fourth conduit in fluid communication with the heating vessel and configured to receive the exchange fluid from the heating vessel at a fourth pressure greater than the third pressure;
• and
• an energy recovery device in fluid communication with the first, second, third, and fourth conduits and configured to transfer at least one of energy or pressure from the exchange fluid flowing from the fourth conduit to the third conduit to the working fluid flowing from the first conduit to the second conduit.