Method and system for producing high-pressure hydrogen

A system for producing high-pressure hydrogen, comprising:

• (a) a first stack of at least one electrochemical hydrogen generating cell for generating hydrogen at a first pressure, said electrochemical hydrogen generating cell including a first anode and a first cathode;
• and
• b) integrated with said first stack, a second stack of at least one electrochemical hydrogen compressor cell, said electrochemical hydrogen compressor cell including
• a second anode, wherein said second anode is a gas-diffusion electrode,
• a second cathode that is a solid metallic film cathode having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein at least one surface is roughened and/or comprises deposited or particulate material including one or more noble metals or transition metals to accelerate atomic hydrogen transport through the film,
• and an ionic conductive membrane in intimate contact with and separating said second anode and said second cathode, wherein said ionic conductive membrane is in contact with said inner surface of said solid metallic film,
• said second anode capable of oxidizing hydrogen generated by said first stack and said second cathode capable of directly generating hydrogen atoms at said inner surface of said solid metallic film by direct reaction of water or hydrogen ions in said ionic conductive membrane with electrons to form atomic hydrogen without formation of hydrogen gas, and evolving hydrogen at a second pressure at said outer surface of said solid metallic film,
• wherein the first pressure is atmospheric or moderate pressure and the second pressure is greater than the first pressure.

A system for producing high-pressure hydrogen, comprising:

• (a) a first stack of at least one electrochemical hydrogen generating cell for generating hydrogen at a first pressure, said electrochemical hydrogen generating cell including
• a first anode,
• a first cathode, and
• a proton-exchange membrane or solid alkaline membrane in intimate contact with and separating said first anode and said first cathode;
• and
• (b) integrated with said first stack, a second stack of at least one electrochemical hydrogen compressor cell, said electrochemical hydrogen compressor cell including
• a second anode, wherein said second anode is a gas-diffusion electrode,
• a second cathode that is a solid metallic film cathode having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein at least one surface is roughened and/or comprises deposited or particulate material including one or more noble metals or transition metals to accelerate atomic hydrogen transport through the film, and
• an ionic conductive membrane in intimate contact with and separating said second anode and said second cathode, wherein said ionic conductive membrane is in contact with said inner surface of said solid metallic film,
• said second anode capable of oxidizing hydrogen generated by said first stack and said second cathode capable of directly generating hydrogen atoms at said inner surface of said solid metallic film by direct reaction of water or hydrogen ions in said ionic conductive membrane with electrons to form atomic hydrogen without formation of hydrogen gas, and evolving hydrogen at a second pressure at said outer surface of said solid metallic film, wherein the first pressure is atmospheric or moderate pressure and the second pressure is greater than the first pressure.

A method of producing high-pressure hydrogen in a system including a first device for generating hydrogen at a first pressure, and a second device including at least one electrochemical hydrogen compressor cell, said hydrogen compressor cell including a gas-diffusion anode, a solid metallic film cathode having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein at least one surface is roughened and/or comprises deposited or particulate material including one or more noble metals or transition metals to accelerate atomic hydrogen transport through the film, and an ionic conductive membrane in intimate contact with and separating said anode and said cathode, wherein said ionic conductive membrane is in contact with said inner surface of said solid metallic film, the method comprising:

• (a) operating said first device to produce hydrogen at a first pressure;
• (b) feeding the hydrogen produced by said first device to said second device;
• (c) generating hydrogen atoms at said inner surface of said solid metallic film by direct reaction of water or hydrogen ions in said ionic conductive membrane with electrons to form atomic hydrogen without formation of hydrogen gas;
• (d) transporting the hydrogen atoms through said solid metallic film to said outer surface of said solid metallic film;
• and
• (e) combining the hydrogen atoms at said outer surface of said solid metallic film to produce hydrogen at a second pressure,
• wherein the first pressure is atmospheric or moderate pressure and the second pressure is greater than the first pressure.