# US 7,744,733 B2 · Gas venting system

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- Number: US 7,744,733 B2
- Document ID: US7744733B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/681,956
- Filed: 2007-03-05
- Published: 2008-09-11
- Granted: 2010-06-29
- Earliest claimed: 2007-03-05
- Assignees: Proton Energy Systems, Inc.
- Inventors: Amjad Khan; Ken Wayne Dreier; Lawrence Clinton Moulthrop; Erik James White
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7744733B2

## CPC

- H01M 8/2475: Enclosures, casings or containers of fuel cell stacks
- H01M 8/04253: {Means for solving freezing problems}
- H01M 2008/1095: {Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes}
- Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A system to vent a moist gas stream is disclosed. The system includes an enclosure and an electrochemical cell disposed within the enclosure, the electrochemical cell productive of the moist gas stream. A first vent is in fluid communication with the electrochemical cell for venting the moist gas stream to an exterior of the enclosure, and a second vent is in fluid communication with an interior of the enclosure and in thermal communication with the first vent for discharging heated air to the exterior of the enclosure. At least a portion of the discharging heated air is for preventing freezing of the moist gas stream within the first vent.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system to vent a moist gas stream comprising:
an enclosure;
an electrochemical cell disposed within the enclosure, the electrochemical cell productive of the moist gas stream;
a first vent in fluid communication with the electrochemical cell for venting the moist gas stream to an exterior of the enclosure; and
a second vent in fluid communication with an interior of the enclosure and in thermal communication with the first vent for discharging heated air to the exterior of the enclosure, at least a portion of the discharging heated air for preventing freezing of the moist gas stream within the first vent.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the second vent is in thermal communication with the first vent via at least one of:
the second vent disposed surrounding the first vent;
the first vent disposed surrounding the second vent;
the second vent disposed adjacent the first vent; and
the second vent disposed proximate the first vent.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein:
the electrochemical cell is an electrolysis cell.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein:
the moist gas stream comprises hydrogen gas.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising:
a temperature sensor disposed proximate the enclosure, the temperature sensor productive of a signal representative of a temperature proximate the enclosure.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, wherein:
the temperature sensor is disposed within the interior of the enclosure and is productive of a signal representative of a temperature of the interior of the enclosure.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, further comprising:
a controller receptive of the signal; and
a fan disposed proximate the enclosure, the fan responsive to the controller to circulate air and maintain a defined temperature within the enclosure.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, further comprising:
a heater disposed proximate the enclosure, the heater responsive to the controller to generate heat and maintain the defined temperature within the enclosure.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising:
a storage container disposed within the enclosure, the storage container in fluid communication with the electrochemical cell.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein:
the storage container contains water.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, further comprising:
a vent temperature sensor in thermal communication with at least one of the first vent and the moist gas stream, the vent temperature sensor productive of a signal representative of a vent temperature of at least one of the first vent and the moist gas stream;
wherein the controller is receptive of the signal representative of the vent temperature; and
wherein at least one of the heater and the fan are responsive to the controller to maintain an operating vent temperature.

### Claim 12

An electrochemical cell system comprising:
an enclosure;
an electrochemical cell disposed within the enclosure, the electrochemical cell productive of a moist gas stream;
a venting system to vent the moist gas stream, the venting system comprising:
a first vent in fluid communication with the electrochemical cell for venting the moist gas stream to an exterior of the enclosure; and
a second vent in fluid communication with an interior of the enclosure and in thermal communication with the first vent for discharging heated air to the exterior of the enclosure, at least a portion of the discharging heated air for preventing freezing of the moist gas stream within the first vent.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the second vent is in thermal communication with the first vent via at least one of:
the second vent disposed surrounding the first vent;
the first vent disposed surrounding the second vent;
the second vent disposed adjacent the first vent; and
the second ventdisposed proximate the first vent.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein:
the electrochemical cell is an electrolysis cell.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein:
the moist gas stream comprises hydrogen gas.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, further comprising:
a temperature sensor disposed proximate the enclosure, the temperature sensor productive of a signal representative of a temperature proximate the enclosure.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The system of claim 16, wherein:
the temperature sensor is disposed within the interior of the enclosure and is productive of a signal representative of a temperature within the enclosure.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The system of claim 16, further comprising:
a controller receptive of the signal; and
a fan disposed proximate the enclosure, the fan responsive to the controller to circulate air and maintain a defined temperature within the enclosure.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The system of claim 17, further comprising:
a heater disposed proximate the enclosure, the heater responsive to the controller to generate heat and maintain the defined temperature within the enclosure.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The system of claim 18, further comprising:
a vent temperature sensor in thermal communication with at least one of the first vent and the moist gas stream, the vent temperature sensor productive of a signal representative of a vent temperature of at least one of the first vent and the moist gas stream;
wherein the controller is receptive of the signal representative of the vent temperature; and
wherein at least one of the heater and the fan are responsive to the controller to maintain an operating vent temperature.