Method and system for producing high-pressure hydrogen
AssigneeGiner Electrochemical Systems, LLC
InventorsJohn A. Kosek, José Giner, Anthony B. LaConti
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed are methods and systems for generating hydrogen gas at pressures high enough to fill a hydrogen storage cylinder for stationary and transportation applications. The hydrogen output of an electrochemical hydrogen gas generating device is integrated with an electrochemical hydrogen compressor operating in a high-differential-pressure mode. The compressor brings the hydrogen produced by the gas generating device to the high pressure required to fill the storage cylinder.
Claims29
A system for producing high-pressure hydrogen, comprising:
- (a) a first stack of at least one electrochemical hydrogen generating cell for generating hydrogen at a first pressure, said electrochemical hydrogen generating cell including a first anode and a first cathode;
- and
- (b) integrated with said first stack, a second stack of at least one electrochemical hydrogen compressor cell, said electrochemical hydrogen compressor cell including a second anode, wherein said second anode is a gas-diffusion electrode, a second cathode, and an ionic conductive membrane in intimate contact with and separating said second anode and said second cathode, said second anode oxidizing hydrogen generated by said first stack and said second cathode evolving hydrogen at a second pressure;
- wherein the first pressure is atmospheric or moderate pressure and the second pressure is greater than the first pressure.
A method of producing high-pressure hydrogen in a system including a first stack of at least one electrochemical hydrogen generating cell, said electrochemical hydrogen generating cell including a first anode, a first cathode, and a first ionic conductive membrane in intimate contact with and separating said first anode and said first cathode, and a second stack of at least one electrochemical hydrogen compressor cell, said hydrogen compressor cell including a second anode, a second cathode, and a second ionic conductive membrane in intimate contact with and separating said second anode and said second cathode, the method comprising:
- (a) applying power to said first stack;
- (b) producing protons and electrons at said first anode;
- (c) transporting the protons across said first ionic conductive membrane;
- (d) reducing the protons with externally transported electrons at said first cathode to produce hydrogen at a first pressure;
- (e) feeding the hydrogen produced by said first stack to said second stack;
- (f) oxidizing the hydrogen at said second anode to produce protons and electrons;
- (g) transporting the protons across said second ionic conductive membrane;
- and
- (h) reducing the protons with externally transported electrons at said second cathode to evolve hydrogen at a second pressure;
- wherein the first pressure is atmospheric or moderate pressure and the second pressure is greater than the first pressure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.