Ventilation system for hydrogen generating electrolysis cell

• US 20030148171A1
• Filed: 01/22/2003
• Published: 08/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Proton Energy Systems, Inc. (NEL ASA)
• Original Assignee: Proton Energy Systems, Inc. (NEL ASA)
• Inventors: Obahi, Hassan, Mitlitsky, Fred, Myers, Blake, Boyle, John F., Shiepe, Jason K., Dalton, Luke T.
• Application Number:
  US10/248,473
• Publication Number:
  US 20030148171A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/53
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 15/00 Operating or servicing cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04014 Heat exchange using gaseous fluids; Heat exchange by combustion of reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04059 Evaporative processes for the cooling of a fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04768 of the coolant
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/186 by electrolytic decomposition of the electrolytic solution or the formed water product
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A ventilation system for an electrochemical cell includes a control unit, a sensor disposed in informational communication with the control unit, and a fan disposed in operable communication with the control unit. The sensor is configured to sense a condition within the ventilation system, and the fan is operable in response to information received at the sensor.

Claims

1. A gas producing system, comprising:

an electrochemical cell;

a gas storage facility disposed in fluid communication with the electrochemical cell; and

a ventilation system disposed in fluid communication with the electrochemical cell and the gas storage facility, the ventilation system comprising a first zone in which a first pressure is maintained and a second zone in which a second pressure is maintained, the second pressure being less than the first pressure.

2. The gas producing system of claim 1, wherein the electrochemical cell produces hydrogen gas.

3. The gas producing system of claim 1, wherein the gas storage facility is a gas cylinder.

4. The gas producing system of claim 1, wherein the ventilation system comprises a fan for maintaining the first pressure in the first zone and the second pressure in the second zone.

5. The gas producing system of claim 1, wherein the ventilation system further comprises a closable opening in fluid communication with an external environment, wherein the closable opening is adapted to open when the second pressure within the second zone is greater than about 1 pound per square inch above atmospheric pressure.

6. A ventilation system for an electrochemical cell, the ventilation system comprising:

a control unit;

a sensor disposed in informational communication with the control unit, the sensor being configured to sense a condition within the ventilation system; and

a fan disposed in operable communication with the control unit, the fan being operable in response to information received at the sensor to provide a positive airflow through the ventilation system and into an external environment.

7. The ventilation system of claim 6, wherein the fan is configured to maintain a positive pressure across zones defined within the ventilation system.

8. The ventilation system of claim 6, wherein the sensor comprises a pressure sensor, a gas sensor, an airflow sensor, temperature sensor, or combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing sensors.

9. The ventilation system of claim 6, wherein the electrochemical cell is a hydrogen gas producing electrolysis cell.

10. A ventilation system for a hydrogen-producing electrolysis cell disposed in fluid communication with a hydrogen storage facility, the ventilation system comprising:

a cabinet defining a first zone and a second zone;

a sensor disposed at the cabinet;

a control unit disposed in informational communication with the sensor; and

a fan adapted to provide an airflow to the cabinet and to maintain a positive pressure across the first and second zones, the fan being disposed in informational communication with the control unit and being controllable in response to a signal received at the sensor, and wherein the pressure in the first zone is greater than a pressure in the second zone.

11. The ventilation system of claim 10, further comprising a hydrogen dispensing unit disposed within the second zone and in fluid communication with the hydrogen storage facility.

12. The ventilation system of claim 11, further comprising a hydrogen dispensing operator interface disposed in communication with the hydrogen dispensing unit.

13. The ventilation system of claim 10, wherein the cabinet is defined by a skeletal support structure having a panel disposed thereover.

14. The ventilation system of claim 10, further comprising a third zone, wherein the third zone houses a fluidly sealed electrical section, a fan, and an exhaust port, wherein the fan is adapted to maintain a positive pressure within the fluidly sealed electrical section.

15. The ventilation system of claim 10, wherein the hydrogen gas storage facility comprises a tapered ceiling plate and a vent disposed along an outer defining edge of the cabinet and the tapered ceiling plate.

16. The ventilation system of claim 15, wherein the hydrogen gas storage facility is disposed in airflow communication with an external environment adjacent to the cabinet, the airflow communication being effected through fixed openings disposed in a panel enclosing the hydrogen gas storage facility and the vent disposed along the outer defining edge of the cabinet and the tapered ceiling plate.

17. The ventilation system of claim 10, wherein the cabinet further comprises a closable opening in fluid communication with the second zone and is adapted to be closed upon an equalization of a pressure within the second zone and an environment adjacent to the cabinet, and opened upon the pressure within the second zone being greater than a pressure at the environment adjacent to the cabinet.

18. The ventilation system of claim 17, wherein the closable opening is configured to open when the pressure within the second zone exceeds the pressure at the environment adjacent to the cabinet by about one pound per square inch.

19. A ventilation system for a hydrogen storage facility disposed in fluid communication with a hydrogen-producing electrolysis cell, the ventilation system comprising:

means for sensing a condition at the hydrogen storage facility; and

means for providing a purging of the hydrogen storage facility disposed in operable communication with the means for sensing the condition at the hydrogen storage facility.

20. The ventilation system of claim 19, further comprising means for maintaining a positive pressure in an electrical section fluidly sealed from the system.