ELECTROCHEMICALLY DRIVEN HEAT PUMP

TO FACILITATE IMPROVED DESIGN OF HIGH EFFICIENCY HEATING AND COOLING EQUIPMENT, AN INNOVATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM TO INVESTIGATE THE ELECTROCHEMICALLY DRIVEN HEAT PUMP (EDHP) CONCEPT IS PROPOSED. THE EDHP CONCEPT (U. S. PATENT 4,593,534) REPLACES THE MECHANICAL COMPRESSOR OF AN AIR CONDITIONING OR REFRIGERATION SYSTEM WITH AN ELECTROCHEMICAL COMPRESSOR. THE WORKING FLUID MUST BE ELECTROACTIVE SO THAT SUPPLYING POWER TO THE SYSTEM, THE WORKING FLUID IS CONSUMED AT THE LOW PRESSURE ELECTRODE AND IS REGENERATED AT THE OTHER, HIGH PRESSURE ELECTRODE. THIS APPROACH IS BASED ON FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGY WHICH HAS BEEN DEVELOPED ALMOST TO COMMERCIALIZATION, WITH SPONSORSHIP BY DOE AND OTHER AGENCIES. IT MUST BE POINTED OUT THAT THE PROPOSED CONCEPT OF THE EDHP AVOIDS A MOST TROUBLESOME COMPONENT OF THE CONVENTIONAL HEAT PUMP, NAMELY A MECHANICAL PUMP, AND A MOST TROUBLESOME COMPONENT OF THE CONVENTIONAL FUEL CELL, NAMELY THE OXYGEN ELECTRODE WHICH IS RELATIVELY INEFFICIENT AND CORROSION PRONE.