Backflow suppression system

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a backflow suppression system for an electrochemical device, the system comprising: an orifice plate arranged to be connected in an outlet pipeline of an electrochemical device, the orifice plate comprising a restricted orifice for restricting fluid flow through the pipeline: a valve arranged to be connected in the outlet pipeline between the electrochemical device and the orifice plate, the valve being operable to regulate fluid flow along the outlet pipeline; at least one sensor arranged to be connected along the outlet pipeline; and a controller arranged to receive information relating to readings of the sensor and to operate the valve in dependence on the information. The present disclosure also relates to a system comprising the backflow suppression system and at least one electrochemical device.

1 . A backflow suppression system for an electrochemical device, the system comprising:
 an orifice plate arranged to be connected in an outlet pipeline of an electrochemical device, the orifice plate comprising a restricted orifice for restricting fluid flow through the pipeline;   a valve arranged to be connected in the outlet pipeline between the electrochemical device and the orifice plate, the valve being operable to regulate fluid flow along the outlet pipeline;   at least one sensor arranged to be connected along the outlet pipeline; and   a controller arranged to receive information relating to readings of the sensor and to operate the valve in dependence on the information.   
     
     
         2 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is arranged to be connected in the outlet pipeline between the valve and the orifice plate. 
     
     
         3 . A system according to  claim 1 , comprising at least one further valve arranged to be connected in an inlet pipeline and/or a further outlet pipeline of an electrochemical device, the at least one further valve being operable to regulate fluid flow along the inlet pipeline and/or a further outlet pipeline. 
     
     
         4 . A system according to  claim 3 , wherein the controller is arranged to operate the at least one further valve in dependence on the information relating to readings of the sensor. 
     
     
         5 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is arranged to operate the valve and/or at least one further valve between an open position and a closed position in dependence on the information relating to readings of the sensor. 
     
     
         6 . A system according to  claim 5 , wherein in the open position the valve or at least one further valve is arranged to enable fluid flow therethrough. 
     
     
         7 . A system according to  claim 5 , wherein in the closed position the valve or at least one further valve is arranged to prevent or restrict fluid flow therethrough. 
     
     
         8 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is arranged to operate the valve and/or at least one further valve when it is determined from the information relating to readings of the sensor that a parameter of the fluid flow exceeds a threshold value or falls outside a pre-set range. 
     
     
         9 . A system according to  claim 8 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises any one or more of: a pressure sensor; a flow rate sensor; and/or a temperature sensor. 
     
     
         10 . A system according to  claim 9 , wherein the controller is arranged to operate the valve and/or at least one further valve when it is determined from the information relating to readings of the sensor that the pressure, flow rate, and/or a temperature of the fluid in the pipeline exceeds a threshold value or falls outside a pre-set range. 
     
     
         11 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the valve or at least one further valve is a check valve; or   the diameter of the restricted orifice is less than or equal to 3 mm.   
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A system comprising:
 a backflow suppression system according to  claim 1 ;   at least one electrochemical device, the device comprising:
 first and second compartments separated by a divider, the first compartment configured to operate at a first pressure and the second compartment arranged to operate at a second pressure; 
 an outlet from the second compartment; and 
 an outlet pipeline connected to the outlet from the second compartment, 
   wherein the orifice plate is connected in the outlet pipeline, the valve is connected in the outlet pipeline between the electrochemical device and the orifice plate, and the sensor is connected along the outlet pipeline.   
     
     
         14 . A system according to  claim 13 , wherein the second pressure is:
 higher than the first pressure; or   substantially equal to the pressure in the outlet pipeline between the electrochemical device and the orifice plate.   
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A system according to  claim 13 , wherein the divider is a polymeric membrane. 
     
     
         17 . A system according to  claim 13 , comprising multiple electrochemical devices and, for each device, the outlet pipeline connected to the outlet of its second compartment is connected to a shared outlet manifold arranged to receive fluid from the devices via the outlet pipelines. 
     
     
         18 . A system according to  claim 17 , wherein the system comprises a backflow suppression system for each respective electrochemical device. 
     
     
         19 . A system according to  claim 18 , wherein the orifice plate, valve, and sensor of the backflow suppression system for each device are connected in or along the respective outlet pipeline of that device, between the device and the shared outlet manifold. 
     
     
         20 . A system according to  claim 13 , comprising multiple electrochemical devices, wherein each device comprises:
 an inlet pipeline connected to an inlet of the first compartment and to a shared inlet manifold arranged to supply fluid to the first compartment; and/or   a further outlet pipeline connected to an outlet of the first compartment and to a shared outlet manifold arranged to receive fluid from the first compartment.   
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A system according to  claim 20 , wherein the backflow suppression system comprises at least one further valve arranged to be connected in an inlet pipeline and/or a further outlet pipeline of an electrochemical device, the at least one further valve being operable to regulate fluid flow along the inlet pipeline and/or a further outlet pipeline, and
 wherein the at least one further valve of the backflow suppression system comprises at least one further valve connected:
 in the inlet pipeline connected to the inlet of the first compartment, between the electrochemical device and the shared inlet manifold arranged to supply fluid to the first compartment; and/or 
 in the outlet pipeline connected to the outlet of the first compartment, between the electrochemical device and the shared outlet manifold arranged to receive fluid from the first compartment. 
   
     
     
         23 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrochemical device is an electrolyser, preferably an AEM electrolyser, more preferably an AEM electrolyser operating with a dry-cathodic half cell. 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . (canceled)