Compression apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11932953-B2
Application number	US-202117346423-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 14, 2021
Priority date	Jan 8, 2020
Publication date	Mar 19, 2024
Grant date	Mar 19, 2024

Abstract

A compression apparatus includes an electrolyte membrane, an anode on a principal surface of the electrolyte membrane, a cathode on another principal surface of the electrolyte membrane, an anode separator on the anode, a cathode separator on the cathode, and a voltage applicator. Upon the voltage applicator applying a voltage between the anode and the cathode, protons are extracted from an anode fluid fed to the anode to migrate to the cathode through the electrolyte membrane and compressed hydrogen is produced. The cathode separator has a first O-ring groove formed in a cathode-side principal surface of the cathode separator to surround a region of the cathode-side principal surface which faces the cathode. The compression apparatus includes a first O-ring held by the first O-ring groove and a face seal disposed on an outer periphery of a region of an anode-side principal surface of the anode separator which faces the anode.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A compression apparatus comprising:
an electrolyte membrane;
an anode disposed on a principal surface of the electrolyte membrane;
a cathode disposed on another principal surface of the electrolyte membrane;
an anode separator disposed on the anode;
a cathode separator disposed on the cathode;
a frame body arranged to surround an outer periphery of the electrolyte membrane; and
a voltage applicator that applies a voltage between the anode and the cathode,
wherein, upon the voltage applicator applying the voltage, the compression apparatus causes protons extracted from an anode fluid fed to the anode to migrate to the cathode through the electrolyte membrane and produces compressed hydrogen,
wherein the cathode separator has a first O-ring groove formed in a cathode-side principal surface of the cathode separator, the cathode-side principal surface being directed toward the cathode, so as to surround a region of the cathode-side principal surface, the region facing the cathode,
wherein the compression apparatus comprises a first O-ring held by the first O-ring groove and a face seal disposed on an outer periphery of a region of an anode-side principal surface of the anode separator, the anode-side principal surface being directed toward the anode, the region facing the anode, and
wherein the face seal is arranged to face a region of the anode-side principal surface of the electrolyte membrane, the anode-side principal surface of the electrolyte membrane being directed toward the anode, the region in which the anode is not disposed, and the face seal is arranged to face an anode-side principal surface of the frame body, the anode-side principal surface of the frame body being directed toward the anode.

2. The compression apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first O-ring groove is arranged to face a region of a cathode-side principal surface of the electrolyte membrane, the cathode-side principal surface being directed toward the cathode, the region in which the cathode is not disposed.

3. The compression apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the anode separator has a manifold hole formed therein, and
wherein the face seal is arranged to surround the manifold hole of the anode separator.

4. The compression apparatus according to claim 3 ,
wherein the face seal has a through-hole, which is communicated with the manifold hole formed in the anode separator.

5. The compression apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the second O-ring is arranged to abut against the frame body.

6. The compression apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the anode and cathode separators are formed as a single member.

7. The compression apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the anode and cathode separators are formed as separate members,
wherein a third O-ring groove is formed in a principal surface of the anode separator, the principal surface being a principal surface opposite to the anode-side principal surface of the anode separator, so as to surround a manifold hole formed in the anode separator, and
wherein the compression apparatus comprises a third O-ring held by the third O-ring groove.

8. The compression apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the anode separator, the frame body, and the face seal are stacked on top of one another.

9. The compression apparatus according to claim 8 ,
wherein the face seal, the electrolyte membrane, and the frame body are in direct contact with each other.

Assignees

• Panasonic Ip Man Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kakuwa Takashi
• Kita Hiromi
• Sakai Osamu

Classifications

• F16J15/102

  characterised by material · CPC title

• F16J15/064

  the packing combining the sealing function with other functions · CPC title

• C25B15/02

  Process control or regulation · CPC title

• C25B9/19 Primary

  with diaphragms · CPC title

• C25B9/65

  Means for supplying current; Electrode connections; Electric inter-cell connections · CPC title