Electrochemical refrigeration systems and appliances

Abstract

Refrigeration systems and appliances are provided. A refrigeration system includes a refrigerant, the refrigerant including a working fluid and an electrochemically active fluid. The refrigeration system further includes a condenser, an evaporator, and an electrochemical compressor in fluid communication with the condenser and the evaporator. The refrigeration system can further include various components which advantageously reduce the energy consumption and increase the predicatability and efficiency of the refrigeration system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigeration system, comprising:
 a refrigerant, the refrigerant comprising a working fluid and an electrochemically active fluid;   a condenser;   an evaporator;   an electrochemical compressor in fluid communication with the condenser and the evaporator, the electrochemical compressor comprising a housing and an electrochemical cell disposed within the housing; and   a phase separator in fluid communication with the condenser and the evaporator and disposed downstream of the condenser, the phase separator comprising an inlet, a first outlet and a second outlet, the first outlet configured to exhaust the working fluid, the second outlet configured to exhaust the electrochemically active fluid,   wherein the working fluid exhausted from the first outlet is flowed through the evaporator and the electrochemically active fluid exhausted from the second outlet bypasses the evaporator.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the working fluid is water. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the electrochemically active fluid is hydrogen. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the electrochemically active fluid exhausted from the second outlet is combined with the working fluid exhausted from the first outlet downstream of the evaporator. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigeration system of  claim 4 , wherein the electrochemically active fluid exhausted from the second outlet is combined with the working fluid exhausted from the first outlet upstream of the electrochemical compressor. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the phase separator comprises a vessel extending between a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the first outlet is defined in the bottom surface and the second outlet is defined in the top surface. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , further comprising an expansion device disposed between the phase separator and the evaporator. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigeration system of  claim 7 , wherein the expansion device is a valve. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the electrochemical cell comprising an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte disposed between and in electrical contact with the anode and the cathode. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigeration system of  claim 9 , wherein the electrochemical cell further comprises a cathode gas space on a nonelectrolyte side of the cathode and an anode gas space on a nonelectrolyte side of the anode. 
     
     
         11 . An appliance, comprising:
 a housing defining a compartment; and   a refrigeration system in communication with the compartment for heating or cooling the compartment, the refrigeration system comprising:
 a refrigerant, the refrigerant comprising a working fluid and an electrochemically active fluid; 
 a condenser; 
 an evaporator; 
 an electrochemical compressor in fluid communication with the condenser and the evaporator, the electrochemical compressor comprising a housing and an electrochemical cell disposed within the housing; and 
 a phase separator in fluid communication with the condenser and the evaporator and disposed downstream of the condenser, the phase separator comprising an inlet, a first outlet and a second outlet, the first outlet configured to exhaust the working fluid, the second outlet configured to exhaust the electrochemically active fluid, 
 wherein the working fluid exhausted from the first outlet is flowed through the evaporator and the electrochemically active fluid exhausted from the second outlet bypasses the evaporator. 
   
     
     
         12 . The appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the working fluid is water. 
     
     
         13 . The appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the electrochemically active fluid is hydrogen. 
     
     
         14 . The appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the electrochemically active fluid exhausted from the second outlet is combined with the working fluid exhausted from the first outlet downstream of the evaporator. 
     
     
         15 . The appliance of  claim 14 , wherein the electrochemically active fluid exhausted from the second outlet is combined with the working fluid exhausted from the first outlet upstream of the electrochemical compressor. 
     
     
         16 . The appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the phase separator comprises a vessel extending between a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the first outlet is defined in the bottom surface and the second outlet is defined in the top surface. 
     
     
         17 . The appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the refrigeration system further comprises an expansion device disposed between the phase separator and the evaporator. 
     
     
         18 . The appliance of  claim 17 , wherein the expansion device is a valve. 
     
     
         19 . The appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the electrochemical cell comprising an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte disposed between and in electrical contact with the anode and the cathode. 
     
     
         20 . The appliance of  claim 19 , wherein the electrochemical cell further comprises a cathode gas space on a nonelectrolyte side of the cathode and an anode gas space on a nonelectrolyte side of the anode.