Electrochemical compressor based heating element and hybrid hot water heater employing same

Abstract

An electrochemical compressor type heat pump system is described. An electrochemical compressor compresses a mixed gas refrigerant whereby heat from the compression can be used to heat an object. The electrochemical compressor is capable of producing high pressure gas from a mixed fluid system including an electrochemically-active component, such as hydrogen, and at least one refrigerant fluid, for example water. Any suitable proton associable compound, such as any suitable ionic or polar solvent compound, may be used in the mixed gas refrigerant. The electrochemical compressor may be configured in a hot water heater along with a secondary type heating source to produce a hybrid hot water heater.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heating device comprising:
 a. an electrochemical compressor configured to elevate the temperature of a working fluid, comprising:
 i. a membrane electrode assembly comprising:
 1. an anode: 
 2. a cathode; 
 3. a cation exchange membrane located between the anode and cathode; 
 
 ii. a working fluid inlet coupled with said anode; 
 iii. a working fluid outlet coupled with said cathode; 
 iv. a power supply coupled with said anode and said cathode to provide electrical current to said electrochemical compressor; 
   b. a condenser coupled with said working fluid outlet,   
       wherein the working fluid is transferred from the anode to the cathode where it is condensed in the condenser thereby increasing the temperature of the working fluid. 
     
     
         2 . The heating device of  claim 1 , wherein a conduit couples the working fluid outlet with the working fluid inlet to create a closed loop system for the working fluid. 
     
     
         3 . The heating device of  claim 1 , herein the working fluid is a proton associable compound. 
     
     
         4 . The heating device of  claim 1  wherein the working fluid comprises a low molecular weight alcohol. 
     
     
         5 . The heating device of  claim 4 , wherein in the low molecular weight alcohol is methanol. 
     
     
         6 . The heating device of  claim 1 , wherein the working fluid comprises water. 
     
     
         7 . The heating device of  claim 1 , wherein the working fluid comprises ammonia. 
     
     
         8 . The heating device of  claim 1 , wherein the working fluid comprises hydrogen. 
     
     
         9 . The heating device of  claim 1 , wherein the cation exchange membrane comprises perfluorosulfonic acid. 
     
     
         10 . The heating device of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a. an expansion valve: and   b. an evaporator;   
       wherein both the expansion valve and evaporator are configured in the closed loop system, whereby the working fluid is transferred from the electrochemical compressor to the condenser, and from the condenser to the evaporator through the expansion valve, and wherein the device is configured as a heat pump system. 
     
     
         11 . A hot water heater comprising:
 a. a heating device comprising:
 i. an electrochemical compressor configured to elevate the temperature of a working fluid, comprising:
 1. a membrane electrode assembly comprising:
 a. an anode; 
 b. a cathode; 
 c. a cation exchange membrane located between the anode and cathode; 
 
 2. a working fluid inlet coupled with said anode: 
 3. a working fluid outlet coupled with said cathode; 
 4. a power supply coupled with said anode and said cathode to provide electrical current to said electrochemical compressor: 
 
 ii. a condenser coupled with said working fluid outlet, 
   
       wherein the working fluid is transferred from the anode to the cathode where it is condensed in the condenser thereby increasing the temperature of the working fluid, whereby water in the hot water heater is heated by said working fluid. 
     
     
         12 . The hot water heater of  claim 11 , wherein a conduit couples the working fluid outlet with the working fluid inlet to create a closed loop system for the working fluid. 
     
     
         13 . The hot water heater of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a. an expansion valve; and   b. an evaporator;   
       wherein both the expansion valve and evaporator are configured in the closed loop system, whereby the working fluid is transferred from the electrochemical compressor to the condenser, and from the condenser to the evaporator through the expansion valve, and wherein the device is configured as a heat pump system. 
     
     
         14 . The hot water heater of  claim 11  wherein the condenser is configured within the hot water heater. 
     
     
         15 . The hot water heater of  claim 11  wherein a heat sink is coupled with the condenser and the heat sink is configured to transfer heat to water within the hot water heater. 
     
     
         16 . The hot water heater of  claim 11 , further comprising a secondary heat source. 
     
     
         17 . The hot water heater of  claim 16 , wherein the secondary heat source is an electric heater. 
     
     
         18 . The hot water heater of  claim 16 , wherein the secondary heat source is a gas heater. 
     
     
         19 . The hot water heater of  claim 11 , further comprising a control system, whereby the control system regulates the electrical current provided by the power supply. 
     
     
         20 . The hot water heater of  claim 19 , further comprising a temperature sensor configured to measure the temperature of the water in the hot water heater, wherein the temperature sensor is coupled with the control system, whereby the control system regulates the amount of heat produced by the heating device as a function of the temperature of the water in the hot water heater, as measured by the temperature sensor. 
     
     
         21 . The hot water heater of  claim 19 , further comprising a secondary heat source, wherein the control system control regulates the amount of heat produced by the heating device and secondary heat source. 
     
     
         22 . The hot water heater of  claim 21 , further comprising a temperature sensor configured to measure the temperature of the water in the hot water heater, wherein the temperature sensor is coupled with the control system, whereby the control system regulates the amount of heat produced by the heating device and the secondary heat source as a function of the temperature of the water, as measured by the temperature sensor. 
     
     
         23 . The hot water heater of  claim 21 , further comprising a water flow rate sensor configured to measure the amount of water flow from the hot water heater, wherein the water flow rate sensor is coupled with the control system, whereby the control system regulates the amount of heat produced by the heating device and the secondary heat source as a function of the water flow rate, as measured by the water flow rate sensor. 
     
     
         24 . The hot water heater of  claim 21 , further comprising a water level sensor configured to measure the level of water within the hot water heater, wherein the water level sensor is coupled with the control system, whereby the control system regulates the amount of heat produced by the heating device and the secondary heat source as a function of the water level, as measured by the water level sensor.