Regenerative electrochemical cell system and method for use thereof

#This disclosure relates generally to electrochemical cell systems, and especially relates to regenerative electrochemical cell systems.

#Electrochemical cells are energy conversion devices, usually classified as either electrolysis cells or fuel cells. A proton exchange membrane electrolysis cell can function as a hydrogen generator by electrolytically decomposing water to produce hydrogen and oxygen gas, and can function as a fuel cell by electrochemically reacting hydrogen with oxygen to generate electricity. Referring to FIG. 1, which is a partial section of a typical anode feed electrolysis cell 100, process water 102 is fed into cell 100 on the side of an oxygen electrode (anode) 116 to form oxygen gas 104, electrons, and hydrogen ions (protons) 106. The reaction is facilitated by the positive terminal of a power source 120 electrically connected to anode 116 and the negative terminal of power source 120 connected to a hydrogen electrode (cathode) 114. The oxygen gas 104, and a portion of the process water 108, exit cell 100, while protons 106 and water 110 migrate across a proton exchange membrane 118 to cathode 114 where hydrogen gas 112 is formed. The hydrogen gas 112 and the migrated water 110 exit cell 100 from the cathode side of the cell 100.

#Another typical water electrolysis cell using the same configuration as is shown in FIG. 1 is a cathode feed cell, wherein process water is fed on the side of the hydrogen electrode. A portion of the water migrates from the cathode across the membrane to the anode where hydrogen ions and oxygen gas are formed due to the reaction facilitated by connection with a power source across the anode and cathode. A portion of the process water exits the cell at the cathode side without passing through the membrane, while some excess water, as well as oxygen gas, exit the cell at the anode side.

#Referring now to the drawings, which are meant to be exemplary and not limiting, and wherein like elements are numbered alike:

#FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a prior art electrochemical cell;

#FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram representing a regenerative electrochemical cell system; and

#A regenerative electrochemical cell system (herein also referred to as “regen-system”) is described, comprising an electrolysis module and a fuel cell module. This regen-system can maintain an uninterrupted power supply to numerous applications, including residential and commercial. Some possible commercial applications include telecommunications industry (e.g., outside plants, cell towers, and the like), computers (e.g., individual computers, a network of computers, and the like) individual businesses, office parks, cable (e.g., telephone, internet, and the like), the power grid, and the like. Some possible residential uses include individual homes, neighborhoods, villages, and the like. This regen-system can also be employed to enable peak-shaving, i.e., during peak usage times, various units can be engaged to supply power to a given area (home, community, commercial entity/group, etc.), such that the grid power can be re-directed to other areas needing additional power. For example, a telecommunication company can sell power from their cell tower back-up regen-system to the power company, thereby supplying the neighborhood located near the cell tower. Since the cell tower back-up regen-system typically remains idle (e.g., the regen-system is idle for greater than 98% of the time the regen-system is at the cell tower site), the power company is assisted with local power, the consumers avoid blackouts/brownouts, and the telecommunication company generates revenue from an otherwise idle system.

#Use of the regen-system in a peak-shaving mode would entail operable communications between the regen-system (e.g., the owners/operators of the regen-system, and/or directly in operable communication with the regen-system) and the power grid, operable communication between the grid operators and the regen-system, and other various centralized or distributed utility control and monitoring systems. The regen-system may also be connected to utility systems responsible for metering and billing functions for the purpose of revenue reconciliation. Peak-shaving may be performed as a method to assist the main power source in time of high demand or, alternately, may be advantageously used more often whenever the cost of peak versus non-peak energy will provide the regen-system owner with a net-positive revenue source. In operation, the operator would engage (turn on), remotely or manually, the regen-system such that electricity would be supplied from the regen-system to a desired area, for a desired period of time or until regeneration the of the regen-system is needed to replenish various reactants (e.g., hydrogen). Note, regeneration during electricity production is also possible.

#During operation of the regen-system, i.e., when power is desired, hydrogen gas (e.g., from a hydrogen storage) and oxygen gas (e.g., from the surrounding atmosphere, from the oxygen/water storage device, or from an oxygen storage, as well as from combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing oxygen sources) are supplied to the fuel cell module. Within the fuel cell, hydrogen ions, formed at the anode, migrate across the electrolyte to the cathode where they react with oxygen to form water. Meanwhile the electrons, released during the hydrogen ion formation, pass through an external load, producing electricity (i.e., power). The water produced at the cathode, can be vented to the atmosphere or passed through a phase separator to recover the water, prior to venting the oxygen, nitrogen, and any other gases, to the atmosphere. The recovered water can be directed to a water storage device. Power generation will continue until the hydrogen source is exhausted or the power is no longer required. Reasons for ending power generation may include, for example, the restoration of the grid power, restoration of renewable energy sources (such as solar, wind, wave power, or the like), or the determination that peak-shaving is no longer cost effective or no longer required.