Electrochemical Heat Transfer System

Abstract

A heat transfer system includes a working fluid and an electrochemical compressor. The working fluid is made up of a polar solvent that primarily acts as a condensable refrigerant and hydrogen that primarily acts as an electrochemically-active component. The electrochemical compressor includes an inlet fluidly coupled to an evaporator to receive the working fluid; an outlet fluidly coupled to a condenser; and one or more electrochemical cells electrically connected to each other through a power supply. Each electrochemical cell includes a gas pervious anode, a gas pervious cathode, and an electrolytic membrane disposed between and in intimate electrical contact with the cathode and the anode to pass the working fluid.

1 . A system comprising: a working fluid comprising a polar solvent other than water that primarily acts as a condensable refrigerant and hydrogen that primarily acts as an electrochemically-active component; and an electrochemical compressor including: an inlet fluidly coupled to an evaporator to receive the working fluid; an outlet fluidly coupled to a condenser; and one or more electrochemical cells electrically connected to each other through a power supply, each electrochemical cell comprising a gas pervious anode, a gas pervious cathode, and an electrolytic membrane disposed between and in intimate electrical contact with the cathode and the anode to pass the working fluid. 
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electrolytic membrane comprises a solid electrolyte. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the working fluid comprises water. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the polar solvent and the water are a coexisting fluid that is transported with the hydrogen across the electrolytic membrane. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: a condenser that transfers heat from a first heat reservoir to the working fluid, an evaporator that transfers heat from the working fluid to a second heat reservoir, and an expansion valve between the condenser and the evaporator that reduces pressure of the working fluid, wherein the electrochemical compressor is between the condenser and the evaporator. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the polar solvent comprises methanol. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the mole fraction of hydrogen in the working fluid is less than or equal to about 0.10 and the mole fraction of polar solvent in the working fluid is between about 0.55-0.75. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the mole fraction of hydrogen in the working fluid is less than or equal to about 0.05 by mass and the mole fraction of polar solvent in the working fluid is between about 0.60-0.80. 
     
     
         9 . A method of transferring heat using a working fluid that is circulated through and contained within a closed loop, the method comprising: increasing a pressure of at least hydrogen of the working fluid by oxidizing the hydrogen at an anode, conducting the oxidized hydrogen across an electrolyte, and reducing the hydrogen at a cathode; and propelling a mixture of a polar solvent other than water and water with the hydrogen across the anode, electrolyte, and cathode. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising: conveying heat from a first heat reservoir at a relatively low temperature to a second heat reservoir at relatively high temperature by circulating the working fluid through the closed loop that is thermally coupled to the first heat reservoir at a first portion and is thermally coupled to the second heat reservoir at a second portion, the conveying comprising: transferring heat from at least the polar solvent of the working fluid at the second loop portion to the second heat reservoir including liquefying at least some of the polar solvent of the working fluid; reducing a pressure of the at least partially liquefied working fluid by expanding the working fluid at a substantially constant enthalpy; and transferring heat from the first heat reservoir to at least the polar solvent of the working fluid at the first loop portion including vaporizing at least some of the polar solvent of the working fluid. 
     
     
         11 . A heat transfer system that conveys heat from a first heat reservoir at a relatively low temperature to a second heat reservoir at a relatively high temperature, the heat transfer system defining a closed loop that contains a working fluid, at least part of the working fluid being circulated through the closed loop, the heat transfer system comprising: a working fluid that comprises a polar solvent other than water that primarily acts as a condensable refrigerant; and hydrogen that primarily acts as an electrochemically-active component; an evaporator that transfers heat from the first heat reservoir to the working fluid; a condenser that transfers heat from the working fluid to the second heat reservoir; an expansion valve between the evaporator and the condenser that reduces pressure of the working fluid; and an electrochemical compressor between the evaporator and the compressor, the electrochemical compressor comprising one or more electrochemical cells electrically connected to each other through a power supply, each electrochemical cell comprising a gas pervious anode, a gas pervious cathode, and an electrolytic membrane disposed between and in intimate electrical contact with the cathode and the anode through which the working fluid is passed. 
     
     
         12 . The heat transfer system of  claim 11 , further comprising a control system that is connected to a power supply of the electrochemical compressor and to at least one sensor that senses a temperature associated with the first heat reservoir. 
     
     
         13 . The heat transfer system of  claim 11 , wherein the first heat reservoir is an ambient environment within building at a relatively low temperature and the second heat reservoir is an ambient environment external to the building and at a relatively high temperature. 
     
     
         14 . The heat transfer system of  claim 11 , wherein the first heat reservoir is an ambient environment internal to an air duct of a building and the second heat reservoir is an ambient environment external to the air duct of the building. 
     
     
         15 . The heat transfer system of  claim 11 , wherein the first heat reservoir is a component of an integrated electronic circuit and the second heat reservoir is an ambient environment around the integrated electronic circuit. 
     
     
         16 . The heat transfer system of  claim 11 , wherein the first heat reservoir is a component of a laser and the second heat reservoir is an ambient environment around the laser. 
     
     
         17 . The heat transfer system of  claim 11 , wherein the first heat reservoir is an ambient environment internal to a sealed cooler and the second heat reservoir is an ambient environment external to the sealed cooler. 
     
     
         18 . The heat transfer system of  claim 11 , wherein the first heat reservoir is an ambient environment internal to a food storage container and the second heat reservoir is an ambient environment external to the food storage container. 
     
     
         19 . The heat transfer system of  claim 11 , wherein the first heat reservoir is an ambient environment internal to a pharmaceutical storage container and the second heat reservoir is an ambient environment external to the pharmaceutical storage container. 
     
     
         20 . The heat transfer system of  claim 11 , wherein the first heat reservoir is an ambient environment internal to a sealed portable cooler and the second heat reservoir is an ambient environment external to the sealed portable cooler.