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US 8,133,629 B2Granted
Fluidic distribution system and related methods
AssigneeSociete BIC
InventorsGerard F McLean, Joerg Zimmermann, Jeremy Schrooten, Paul Sobejko
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Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a fluid distribution system. The system may include one or more electrochemical cell layers, a bulk distribution manifold having an inlet, a cell layer feeding manifold in direct fluidic contact with the electrochemical cell layer and a separation layer that separates the bulk distribution manifold from the cell feeding manifold, providing at least two independent paths for fluid to flow from the bulk distribution manifold to the cell feeding manifold.
Claims42
A fluid distribution system, comprising:
- one or more electrochemical cell layers, each layer having a first side, a second side, and one or more electrochemical cells;
- a bulk distribution manifold configured to store fluid at a first fluid pressure;
- a fluid plenum having one or more regions containing fluid at a second fluid pressure that is less than the first fluid pressure, the fluid plenum in direct fluidic contact with portions of the one or more electrochemical cell layers;
- and
- an array of fluidic controllers having a layered structure and positioned between the bulk distribution manifold and the fluid plenum, the array of fluidic controllers providing at least two independent paths configured to regulate the first fluid pressure emanating from the bulk distribution manifold to the second fluid pressure of the fluid plenum and usable by the one or more electrochemical cell layers.
2 more elements
An electrochemical cell system, comprising:
- one or more electrochemical cell layers, each layer having one or more electrochemical cells including an anode and a cathode, the anodes adjacently arranged on a first side of the one or more electrochemical cell layers to form an anode side and the cathodes adjacently arranged on an opposite second side of the one or more electrochemical cell layers to form a cathode side;
- a bulk distribution manifold configured to store fluid at a first fluid pressure;
- a fluid plenum configured to contain fluid at a second fluid pressure that is less than the first fluid pressure, the fluid plenum in direct fluidic contact with the anode side of the one or more electrochemical cell layers;
- and
- two or more fluidic controllers having a layered structure, including at least two featured layers disposed adjacent to one another, and positioned between the bulk distribution manifold and the fluid plenum, the fluidic controllers configured to regulate the first fluid pressure emanating from the bulk distribution manifold to the second fluid pressure of the fluid plenum and usable by the one or more electrochemical cell layers.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.