Combination fuel cell and ion pump, and methods and infrastructure systems employing same

A combination fuel cell and hydrogen pump comprising:

• a first electrochemical cell comprising an anode inlet for receiving fuel, an anode outlet for exhausting fuel, a cathode inlet for receiving oxidant, a cathode outlet for exhausting oxidant, a purified hydrogen outlet for discharging purified hydrogen, and a first electrical connector and a second electrical connector;
• a second electrochemical cell comprising an anode inlet for receiving fuel, an anode outlet for exhausting fuel, a cathode inlet for receiving oxidant, a cathode outlet for exhausting at least one of oxidant and purified hydrogen, and a first electrical connector and a second electrical connector;
• and
• a valve disposed between said first electrochemical cell and said second electrochemical cell, said valve comprising a first passageway for transferring fuel from said first electrochemical cell to said second electrochemical cell, a second passageway for transferring exhaust fuel from said second electrochemical cell to said first electrochemical cell, a third passageway for controlling transfer of oxidant from said first electrochemical cell to said second electrochemical cell, a fourth passageway for controlling transfer of exhaust oxidant from said second electrochemical cell to said first electrochemical cell, and a fifth passageway for controlling transfer of purified hydrogen from said second electrochemical cell to said purified hydrogen outlet.

A method for generating electricity and purifying oxygen, the method comprising:

• providing an electrochemical cell comprising an anode inlet for receiving fuel, an anode outlet for exhausting fuel, a cathode inlet for receiving oxidant, and a cathode outlet for exhausting at least one of oxidant and purified oxygen, said electrochemical cell comprising a solid oxide electrochemical cell;
• and
• operating the electrochemical cell to generate electricity;
• and operating the electrochemical cell to purify oxygen.

An oxygen infrastructure system comprising:

• a combination fuel cell and ion pump comprising:
• an electrochemical cell comprising an anode inlet for receiving fuel, an anode outlet for exhausting fuel, a cathode inlet for receiving oxidant, a cathode outlet for exhausting oxidant and purified oxygen, and a first electrical connector and a second electrical connector;
• and
• a controller for applying an electrical load to said first and said second electrical connectors wherein said electrochemical cell acts as a fuel cell to generate electricity, and applying an electrical potential to said first and said second electrical connectors wherein said electrochemical cell acts as an oxygen pump to purify oxygen;
• a storage tank for storing purified oxygen from said combination fuel cell and ion pump;
• and
• a reformer for supplying fuel to said combination fuel cell and ion pump.

A method for generating electricity and purifying oxygen, the method comprising:

• providing an electrochemical cell comprising an anode inlet for receiving fuel, an anode outlet for exhausting fuel, a cathode inlet for receiving oxidant, and a cathode outlet for exhausting oxidant and purified oxygen;
• operating the electrochemical cell to generate electricity;
• operating the electrochemical cell to purify oxygen;
• and
• wherein the operating the electrochemical cell to purify oxygen comprises blocking fuel to said anode inlet and applying an electrical potential to the electrochemical cell to purify oxygen.