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;   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; and   an energy recovery cell, wherein the electrochemically active fluid exhausted from the second outlet is in fluid communication with the energy recovery cell and is combined with the working fluid exhausted from the first outlet downstream of the energy recovery cell.   
     
     
         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 energy recovery cell is disposed within the housing of the electrochemical compressor. 
     
     
         5 . 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 upstream of the electrochemical cell. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the energy recovery cell comprises an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte disposed between and in electrical contact with the anode and the cathode. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigeration system of  claim 6 , wherein the electrolyte comprises a woven polymer material. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigeration system of  claim 6 , wherein the anode comprises a platinum plate and the cathode comprises a platinum plate. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the energy recovery cell is in electrical communication with a power supply of the electrochemical compressor. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , further comprising an expansion device disposed between the phase separator and the evaporator. 
     
     
         11 . An appliance, comprising:
 a housing defining a compartment; and   a refrigeration system in communication with the compartment for cooling the chamber, 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; 
 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; and 
 an energy recovery cell, wherein the electrochemically active fluid exhausted from the second outlet is in fluid communication with the energy recovery cell and is combined with the working fluid exhausted from the first outlet downstream of the energy recovery cell. 
   
     
     
         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 energy recovery cell is disposed within the housing of the electrochemical compressor. 
     
     
         15 . 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 upstream of the electrochemical cell. 
     
     
         16 . The appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the energy recovery cell comprises an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte disposed between and in electrical contact with the anode and the cathode. 
     
     
         17 . The appliance of  claim 16 , wherein the electrolyte comprises a woven polymer material. 
     
     
         18 . The appliance of  claim 16 , wherein the anode comprises a platinum plate and the cathode comprises a platinum plate. 
     
     
         19 . The appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the energy recovery cell is in electrical communication with a power supply of the electrochemical compressor. 
     
     
         20 . The appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the refrigeration system further comprises an expansion device disposed between the phase separator and the evaporator.