Gas/liquid phase separator for electrolysis cell
AssigneeProton Energy Systems, Inc.
InventorsRobert H. Byron, Jr., Michael J. Brown
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A gas/liquid phase separator for an electrolysis cell includes a vessel and a float in operable communication with each other. The vessel includes a fluid inlet and first and second fluid outlets. A fluid stream comprising gas and liquid is received in the vessel through the fluid inlet, and at least a portion of the gas exits the vessel through the second fluid outlet. The float is configured to interface with the first fluid outlet and either maintain or prevent fluid communication across the first fluid outlet when the float is in at least partial contact with the first fluid outlet.
Claims20
A gas producing system, comprising:
- an electrochemical cell;
- a liquid feed in fluid communication with said electrochemical cell, said electrochemical cell electrochemically converts said liquid feed into one or more outputs;
- an energy source configured for providing energy to said electrochemical cell;
- and
- a gas/liquid separator in fluid communication with said electrochemical cell, at least one of said outputs being a multi phase mixture fed to said gas/liquid separator, said gas/liquid separator comprising a vessel comprising a fluid inlet, a first fluid outlet, and a second fluid outlet, and a float within said vessel, said float interfacing said first fluid outlet to at least partially prevent fluid removal through said first fluid outlet when said float is at least in partial contact with said first fluid outlet, said first fluid outlet having a diameter determined by the ratio of a buoyant force FB of said float to an output force FO at said first fluid outlet, said ratio being between about 0.5 and about 0.95.
A gas producing system, comprising:
- an electrochemical cell;
- a liquid feed source disposed in fluid communication with said electrochemical cell;
- an energy source configured to provide energy to said electrochemical cell;
- a phase separation apparatus disposed in fluid communication with said electrochemical cell and configured to receive a multi-phase output from said electrochemical cell, said phase separation apparatus having a liquid outlet;
- a float disposed within said phase separation apparatus;
- and
- a double spring poppet assembly in communication with said float, said poppet assembly disposed in said phase separation apparatus and comprising,
- a poppet configured to effectuate intermittent sealing communication with said liquid outlet of said phase separation apparatus,
- an upper spring disposed in resilient communication with said poppet and said float, and
- a lower spring fixedly mounted and disposed in resilient communication with said poppet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.