Electrochemical hydrogen compressor

[2] A multi-stage electrochemical hydrogen compressor incorporates membrane-electrode-assemblies (MEAs) separated by proton exchange membranes (PEMs) in series to reach higher pressures, when a current is passed through the MEA protons and electrons are generated at the anode.

The protons are electrochemically driven across the membrane to the cathode, after which they combine with the rerouted electrons to form hydrogen, which is fed to the hydrogen compressor to be oxidized at the anode of each cell to form protons and electrons.

With electrochemical compression of hydrogen a pressure of 14500 psi (1000 bar) is achieved, this world record was set by HyET from the Netherlands in 2011.

They have also been applied into novel refrigeration systems to pressurize hydrogen for absorption into metal hydrides or to pressurize other working fluids (such as refrigerants)[5] as demonstrated by Xergy Inc. winners of the global GE's Ecomagination awards for 2011.

These electrochemical compressors are noiseless, scalable, modular and highly efficient without the use of CFC's.

Diagram 1. Low pressure hydrogen separates into protons and electrons at the anode and the protons are electrochemically driven across the PEM to re-combine at the cathode — producing hydrogen under pressure. [ 3 ]