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  Electrolysis cell system with cascade sectionUSPTO Application #: 20070007127Title: Electrolysis cell system with cascade section Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electrolysis cell system comprising a cell, a water source disposed in fluid communication with the cell, an electrical source disposed in electrical communication with the cell, and a cascade section disposed in fluid communication with the cell. The cascade section comprises a piping network configured to distribute fluid to a first storage zone, the first storage zone being in fluid communication with a second storage zone. (end of abstract)
Agent: Cantor Colburn, LLP - Proton - Bloomfield, CT, US Inventors: Fred Mitlitsky, John F. Boyle, Luke T. Dalton, Blake Myers, Hassan Obabi, Jason K. Shiepe USPTO Applicaton #: 20070007127 - Class: 204245000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Chemistry: Electrical And Wave Energy, Apparatus, Electrolytic, Cells, Fused Bath, With Feeding And/or Withdrawal Means The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070007127. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/248,479 filed Jan. 22, 2003, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/319,088 filed Jan. 22, 2002, and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/350,639 filed Jan. 22, 2002, all of which are incorporated herein in their entirety. BACKGROUND [0002] This disclosure relates to electrochemical cells, and, more particularly, to a hydrogen fueling system that preferably comprises a cascading system. [0003] Electrochemical cells are energy conversion devices, usually classified as either electrolysis cells or fuel cells. Proton exchange membrane electrolysis cells can function as hydrogen generators by electrolytically decomposing water to produce hydrogen and oxygen gases. Referring to FIG. 1, a section of an anode feed electrolysis cell of the prior art is shown generally at 10 and is hereinafter referred to as "cell 10." Reactant water 12 is fed into cell 10 at an oxygen electrode (anode) 14 to form oxygen gas 16, electrons, and hydrogen ions (protons) 15. The chemical reaction is facilitated by the positive terminal of a power source 18 connected to anode 14 and the negative terminal of power source 18 connected to a hydrogen electrode (cathode) 20. Oxygen gas 16 and a first portion 22 of water are discharged from cell 10, while the protons 15 and second portion 24 of the water migrate across a proton exchange membrane 26 to cathode 20. At cathode 20, hydrogen gas 28 is formed and removed, generally through a gas delivery line. Second portion 24 of water, which is entrained with hydrogen gas, is also removed from cathode 20. [0004] An electrolysis cell system may include a number of individual cells arranged in a stack with reactant water being directed through the cells via input and output conduits formed within the stack structure. The cells within the stack are sequentially arranged, and each one includes a membrane electrode assembly defined by a proton exchange membrane disposed between a cathode and an anode. The cathode, anode, or both may be gas diffusion electrodes that facilitate gas diffusion to the proton exchange membrane. Each membrane electrode assembly is in fluid communication with a flow field positioned adjacent to the membrane electrode assembly. The flow fields are defined by structures that facilitate fluid movement and membrane hydration within each individual cell. [0005] The second portion of water, which is entrained with hydrogen gas, is discharged from the cathode side of the cell and is fed to a phase separation unit to separate the hydrogen gas from the water, thereby increasing the hydrogen gas yield and the overall efficiency of the cell in general. The removed hydrogen gas may be fed directly to a unit for use as a fuel. Alternately, the removed hydrogen gas may be fed to a storage facility, e.g., a cylinder, a tank, or a similar type of containment vessel for its subsequent use as a fuel. [0006] If the hydrogen gas is fed to a storage facility, it may be compressed to more economically utilize space and/or to facilitate its transport. Compression may also be necessary if the final pressure at which the gas is to be utilized is greater than the pressure at which the gas is generated. In such a case, the gas should be generated, compressed to a high pressure, and stored at the high pressure for subsequent use. [0007] While existing electrolysis cell systems are suitable for their intended purposes, there still remains a need for improvements, particularly regarding the storage and dispensing of hydrogen gas at pressures greater than the pressures at which the gas is generated. Therefore, a need exists for an electrolysis cell system that is capable of generating, effectively compressing, storing, and dispensing the gas for final use as a fuel. SUMMARY [0008] Disclosed herein is an electrolysis cell system. The electrolysis cell system comprises a cell, a water source disposed in fluid communication with the cell, an electrical source disposed in electrical communication with the cell, and a cascade section disposed in fluid communication with the cell. The cascade section comprises a piping network configured to distribute fluid to a first storage zone, the first storage zone being in fluid communication with a second storage zone. [0009] The above described and other features are exemplified by the following figures and detailed description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0010] Referring now to the Figures, which are exemplary embodiments, and wherein the like elements are numbered alike: [0011] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an anode feed electrolysis cell of the prior art; [0012] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of an electrolysis cell system in which hydrogen gas can be generated; [0013] FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a hydrogen fueling system that may be disposed in fluid communication with the electrolysis cell system of FIG. 2; and [0014] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of cascading system 76 from FIG. 3. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0015] A cascade system (e.g., a fluid distribution network defined by a piping arrangement) can be employed in a fluid storage and dispensing system. In the cascading system, pressure differentials across the inlets and outlets of the cascading system (as well as across various storage zones within the cascading system) typically provide the driving force for the movement of the hydrogen gas from the storage zones to a dispensing unit for delivery to a hydrogen-powered application. For example, hydrogen gas is dispensed to a receiving vessel first from one of a series of storage tanks. If the pressure in the receiving vessel equalizes with the pressure in the storage tanks at a pressure below the desired pressure, a sequential valve then connects the receiving vessel to a second storage tank, which contains the gas at higher pressure. If necessary, this process is repeated using a third tank. During dispensing, articulation of a valve determines, based on the pressures in each tank, which storage tank the hydrogen gas should be dispensed from. Mass flow sensors typically monitor the total amount of gas dispensed from the tanks. [0016] Referring to FIG. 2, an exemplary embodiment of a hydrogen gas source is an electrolysis cell system, which is shown generally at 30 and is hereinafter referred to as "system 30." System 30 may be generally suitable for generating hydrogen for use as a fuel or for various other applications. While the improvements described below are described in relation to an electrolysis cell, the improvements are applicable to both electrolysis and fuel cells. Furthermore, although the description and Figures are directed to the production of hydrogen and oxygen gas by the electrolysis of water, the apparatus is applicable to the generation of other gases from other reactant materials. [0017] System 30 includes a water-fed electrolysis cell capable of generating hydrogen gas from reactant water. The reactant water utilized by system 30 is stored in a water source 32 and is fed by gravity or pumped through a pump 38 into an electrolysis cell stack 40. The supply line, which is preferably clear, plasticizer-free tubing, includes an electrical conductivity sensor 34 disposed therewithin to monitor the electrical potential of the water, thereby determining its purity and ensuring its adequacy for use in system 30. [0018] Cell stack 40 comprises a plurality of cells similar to cell 10 described above with reference to FIG. 1 that are encapsulated within sealed structures (not shown). The reactant water is received by manifolds or other types of conduits (not shown) that are in fluid communication with the cell components. An electrical source 42 is disposed in electrical communication with each cell within cell stack 40 to provide a driving force for the dissociation of the water. Electrical source 42 is in operative communication with a cell control system (not shown) that controls the operation of system 30. [0019] Oxygen and water exit cell stack 40 via a common stream that recycles the oxygen and water to water source 32 where the oxygen is vented to the atmosphere. The hydrogen stream, which is entrained with water, exits cell stack 40 and is fed to a hydrogen/water separation apparatus 44, hereinafter referred to as "separator 44," where the gas and liquid phases are separated. The exiting hydrogen gas (having a lower water content than the hydrogen stream to separator 44) is further dried at a drying unit 46, which may be, for example, a diffuser, a pressure swing absorber, desiccant, or the like. This wet hydrogen stream can have a pressure of about 1 pounds per square inch (psi) up to and exceeding about 20,000 psi. Preferably the hydrogen stream pressure is about 1 psi to about 10,000 psi, with a pressure of about 100 psi to about 6,000 psi preferred, a pressure of about 1,500 psi to about 2,500 psi more preferred for some applications, and a pressure of about 100 psi to about 275 psi more preferred for other applications. Continue reading... Full patent description for Electrolysis cell system with cascade section Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Electrolysis cell system with cascade section patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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