Abstract: A micro-electro-mechanical device includes an ion exchange polymer coated onto a surface or within pores of a micro-electro-mechanical portion. The micro-electro-mechanical device may be an electrode, a sensor or a cantilever. The ion exchange polymer may comprise an additive, such as an inorganic particle or powder or a metal-organic framework compound. Gases may react with the ionomer and create voltage and/or current which can be measured. The incorporation of ion exchange polymer with a MEM to produce electrode can provide interesting chemical, mechanical and electrical properties, which may have promise in sensor application and some other applications. The ion exchange polymer may be either cation exchange polymer or anion exchange polymer. The ion exchange polymer can be chemically cross-linked, or reinforced by support material or additive.

Abstract: A composite ion exchange membrane is made by combining ionomer with porous polyolefin, such as polyethylene or polypropylene. The composite ion exchange membrane may be used in the core of an energy recovery ventilator. The core of the energy recovery ventilator may comprise corrugated or pleated supports for supporting the composite ion exchange membrane. The air flow into the energy recovery ventilator may be modified to actively create non-laminar flow.

Abstract: A heat exchanger incorporates a metal hydride heat exchanger and mitigates the fluid mixing process, and thus greatly improves the heat transfer efficiency and heat recovery processes. The metal hydride heat exchanger has a container for the metal hydride that has a large aspect ratio. A plurality of high aspect container for the metal hydride may be coupled with a manifold.

Abstract: An electrochemical neuromorphic organic device (ENODe) memristor has improved performance and lower power requirements through the use of highly conductive polymers, including ionomer, such as sulfonated tetrafluoroethylene based fluoropolymer-copolymer. These ionomers may be more conductive and may have a low equivalent weight. The ionomer may be reinforced with a support material, such as a thin porous polymer. The thickness of the layer may be reduced to no more than about 50 microns and in some cases no more than 5 microns. Other ionomer polymers include highly functionalized styrene-butadiene copolymers and biphynl based ionomers.

Abstract: An environment control system utilizes oxygen and humidity control devices that are coupled with an enclosure to independently control the oxygen concentration and the humidity level within the enclosure. An oxygen depletion device may be an oxygen depletion electrolyzer cell that reacts with oxygen within the cell and produces water through electrochemical reactions. A desiccatting device may be g, a dehumidification electrolyzer cell, a desiccator, a membrane desiccator or a condenser. A controller may control the amount of voltage and/or current provided to the oxygen depletion electrolyzer cell and therefore the rate of oxygen reduction and may control the amount voltage and or current provided to the dehumidification electrolyzer cell and therefore the rate of humidity reduction. The oxygen level may be determined by the measurement of voltage and a limiting current of the oxygen depletion electrolyzer cell. The enclosure may be a food or artifact enclosure.

Abstract: An electrochemical system utilizes an anion conducting layer disposed between an anode and a cathode for transporting a working fluid. The working fluid may include carbon dioxide that is dissolved in water and is partially converted to carbonic acid that is equilibrium with bicarbonate anion. An electrical potential across the anode and cathode creates a pH gradient that drives the bicarbonate anion across the anion conducting layer to the cathode, wherein it is reformed into carbon dioxide. Therefore, carbon dioxide is pumped across the anion conducting layer.

Abstract: An electrochemical system having an electrochemical compressor with an operating voltage that is controlled by a controller is described. The operating voltage between a first and second electrodes separated by an ion conducting material, such as a proton conducting polymer, may be oscillated in a waveform. The controller may reduce the voltage to low pressure side of the electrochemical compressor to initiate electrolysis for a set time interval and then may change the operating voltage to operate the electrochemical cell in a compressor mode. When the electrochemical cell is operating in an electrolysis mode, in situ hydrogen is produced on the low pressure side that may be used as a electrochemically active component of the working fluid when the electrochemical cell is switched to a compressor mode. The controller may have a control program that automatically controls the operating waveform as a function of sensor input.

Abstract: An environment control system utilizes oxygen and humidity control devices that are coupled with an enclosure to independently control the oxygen concentration and the humidity level within the enclosure. An oxygen depletion device may be an oxygen depletion electrolyzer cell that reacts with oxygen within the cell and produces water through electrochemical reactions. A desiccating device may be g, a dehumidification electrolyzer cell, a desiccator, a membrane desiccator or a condenser. A controller may control the amount of voltage and/or current provided to the oxygen depletion electrolyzer cell and therefore the rate of oxygen reduction and may control the amount of voltage and/or current provided to the dehumidification electrolyzer cell and therefore the rate of humidity reduction. The oxygen level may be determined by the measurement of voltage and a limiting current of the oxygen depletion electrolyzer cell. The enclosure may be a food or artifact enclosure.

Abstract: An electrochemical compression system utilizes a preheater to heat an electrochemically active working fluid to a superheated temperature delta prior compression. Heating the electrochemically active working fluid to a superheated temperature ensures there will be no condensation before the fluid reaches the condenser and therefore increases efficiency and effectiveness of the system. A preheater may be configured in a chamber upstream of the electrochemical compressor and one or more valves may control the delivery of the superheated fluid to the compressor. A preheater may be configured in an enclosure, having a valve at the inlet and outlet and retain the electrochemically active fluid at a superheated temperature. A preheater may be configured within or attached to a gas diffusion media, flow-filed or current collector and may be in direct communication with the fluid.

Abstract: A water purification system utilizes an ionomer membrane and mild vacuum to draw water from source water through the membrane. A water source may be salt water or a contaminated water source. The water drawn through the membrane passes across the condenser chamber to a condenser surface where it is condensed into purified water. The condenser surface may be metal or any other suitable surface and may be flat or pleated. In addition, the condenser surface may be maintained at a lower temperature than the water on the water source side of the membrane. The ionomer membrane may be configured in a cartridge, a pleated or flat plate configuration. A latent heat loop may be configured to carry the latent heat of vaporization from the condenser back to the water source side of the ionomer membrane. The source water may be heated by a solar water heater.

Abstract: A regenerative fuel cell produces hydrogen that is stored in a reservoir on the storage side of a membrane electrode assembly when operating in a hydrogen pumping mode and this stored hydrogen is reacted and moved back through the membrane electrode assembly to form water when operating in a fuel cell mode. A metal hydride forming alloy may be configured in the hydrogen storage reservoir and may be coupled to the membrane electrode assembly. An integral metal hydride electrode having a metal hydride forming alloy may be configured on the storage side of the membrane electrode assembly and may have a catalyst or an ion conductive media incorporated therewith.

Abstract: An electrochemical compression system utilizes an electrolyzer to electrolyze an electrochemically active working fluid, at a first pressure, into decomposition products that are reformed back into said electrochemically active working fluid by a fuel cell, at a higher pressure. Water may be electrolyzed into hydrogen and oxygen and stored in reservoir tanks at an elevated pressure and subsequently provided to a fuel cell for reforming. The hydrogen is provided to the anode side of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell and the oxygen is provided to the cathode side. Water is reformed on the cathode side of the fuel cell at a higher pressure than the inlet to the electrolyzer. This pressure differential enable flow of the electrochemically active working fluid through a conduit from the cathode to the electrolyzer. This flow of fluid may be used in a heat transfer system.

Abstract: An anion exchange membrane is made by mixing 2 trifluoroMethyl Ketone [nominal] (1.12 g, 4.53 mmol), 1 BiPhenyl (0.70 g, 4.53 mmol), methylene chloride (3.0 mL), trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TFSA) (3.0 mL) to produce a pre-polymer. The pre-polymer is then functionalized to produce an anion exchange polymer. The pre-polymer may be functionalized with trimethylamamine in solution with water. The pre-polymer may be imbibed into a porous scaffold material, such as expanded polytetrafluoroethylene to produce a composite anion exchange membrane.

Abstract: An electrochemical sensor for determining carbon dioxide gas concentration and electrochemical compressor for pumping carbon dioxide are constructed using an anion exchange membrane, catalyst film, and two electrodes. For the sensor, the membrane is compressed between the two electrodes and a voltage reading is output to a computer that then correlates the reading to a carbon dioxide concentration. For the compressor, the membrane is compressed between two plates and current is passed through the plates to pump carbon dioxide through.

Abstract: An electrochemical oxygen pump moves or pumps oxygen molecules with a unique anion conducting layer comprising an anion conducting polymer. These pumps can either be used as high precision oxygen flow meters or as oxygen filters. The system can be plumbed to have air as the inlet and the pump will, selectively pump oxygen out, offering another way to remove oxygen from the air, along with distillation or pressure swing absorption.

Abstract: An electrochemical compressor system, such as an electrochemical refrigeration system includes a sealed vessel that reduces leak issues related to the electrochemical cell. The sealed vessel may be molded or formed from a polymer or a composite polymer having reinforcing materials, such as fibers therein. The sealed vessel may be plated with metal to reduce gas permeation through the wall of the vessel and to accommodate and improve the attachment of conduits, including metal conduits thereto. A metal conduit may be brazed onto a vessel and the brazing material may be selected for polymer to metal joining and for reduced contamination potential of the system. The electrochemical compressor system incorporates a leak sensor configured at least partially within the sealed rigid vessel that measures the pressure within the vessel.

Abstract: A cooling systems utilizes an organic ionic salt composition for dehumidification of an airflow. The organic ionic salt composition absorbs moisture from an inlet airflow to produce an outlet airflow with a reduce moisture from that of the inlet airflow. The organic ionic salt composition may be regenerated, wherein the absorbed moisture is expelled by heating with a heating device. The heating device may be an electrochemical heating device, such as a fuel cell, an electrochemical metal hydride heating device, an electrochemical heat pump or compressor, or a condenser of a refrigerant cycle, which may utilize an electrochemical pump or compressor. The efficiency of the cooling system may be increased by utilization of the waste heat the cooling system. The organic ionic salt composition may circulate back and forth or in a loop between a conditioner, where it absorbs moisture, to a regenerator, where moisture is desorbed by heating.

Abstract: A refrigeration system is provided which utilizes an electrochemical compressor to circulate a refrigerant through a condenser and an evaporator. The refrigerant is a mixed refrigerant that includes a working fluid and an electrochemically active fluid. The working fluid includes a mixture of water and a carbohydrate liquid to increase the vapor pressure of the refrigerant and enable more efficient operation of the refrigeration system.

Abstract: A desalination system employs vacuum to evaporate heated water through a separator material. The evaporated water is then passed through a heat exchanger wherein the heat is exchanged with an inflow of water to the system to heat the incoming water and greatly increase the overall system efficiency. The incoming water heated in the heat exchanger may then be passed to a heater to further heat the water before being provided to an evaporator. A vacuum is drawn across a separator material in the evaporator to produce evaporated water vapor that is purified. This water vapor is then provided to the heat exchanger, wherein the water vapor is condensed and the incoming water is heated. An ozone disinfecting system may produce ozone that is mixed with the condensed water to produce a purified and disinfected water that is suitable for consumption.

Abstract: An environment control system utilizes oxygen and humidity control devices that are coupled with an enclosure to independently control the oxygen concentration and the humidity level within the enclosure. An oxygen depletion device may be an oxygen depletion electrolyzer cell that reacts with oxygen within the cell and produces water through electrochemical reactions. A desiccating device may be g, a dehumidification electrolyzer cell, a desiccator, a membrane desiccator or a condenser. A controller may control the amount of voltage and/or current provided to the oxygen depletion electrolyzer cell and therefore the rate of oxygen reduction and may control the amount of voltage and/or current provided to the dehumidification electrolyzer cell and therefore the rate of humidity reduction. The oxygen level may be determined by the measurement of voltage and a limiting current of the oxygen depletion electrolyzer cell. The enclosure may be a food or artifact enclosure.