Claims
- 1. An electrochemical cell, comprising:
a) a high pressure side electrode; b) a low pressure side electrode; c) a membrane disposed between and in intimate contact with said high pressure side electrode and said low pressure side electrode; d) means for providing a low pressure flow field; e) means for providing a high pressure flow field; and f) an electrically conductive pressure pad located adjacent to and in intimate contact with said high pressure flow field.
- 2. An electrochemical cell as in claim 1, wherein said pressure pad maintains substantially uniform pressure on said high pressure flow field.
- 3. An electrochemical cell as in claim 1, wherein said pressure pad is compatible with the electrochemical cell and can function in pressures exceeding 2,000 p.s.i.
- 4. An electrochemical cell as in claim 1, wherein said pressure pad comprises a support material and an electrically conductive material.
- 5. An electrochemical cell as in claim 4, wherein said support material is a fluorosilicone, fluoroelastomer, or mixture thereof.
- 6. An electrochemical cell as in claim 4, wherein said electrically conductive material is steel.
- 7. An electrochemical cell as in claim 4, wherein said electrically conductive material is a stainless steel, a nickel, cobalt, carbon, refractory metal, precious metal, or a mixture or alloy thereof.
- 8. An electrochemical cell as in claim 1, wherein said means for providing a low pressure flow field is a low pressure screen pack located adjacent to and in intimate contact with said low pressure side electrode.
- 9. An electrochemical cell as in claim 1, wherein said means for providing a high pressure flow field is a high pressure screen pack located adjacent to and in intimate contact with said high pressure side electrode.
- 10. An electrochemical cell as in claim 1, wherein said pressure pad is compatible with the electrochemical cell and can function in pressures exceeding 5,000 p.s.i.
- 11. An electrochemical cell as in claim 1, wherein said pressure pad comprises one or more layers of conductive material interwoven with an elastomer, said layers each having a porosity.
- 12. An electrochemical cell as in claim 11, wherein said conductive material is carbon.
- 13. An electrochemical cell as in claim 11, wherein said elastomer is a fluorosilicone, fluoroelastomer, or combinations thereof.
- 14. An electrochemical cell as in claim 11, wherein said pressure pad has a gradient of porosity.
- 15. An electrochemical cell as in claim 14, wherein said layers of differing porosity form said gradient.
- 16. An electrochemical cell as in claim 11, wherein the high pressure field operates at above 2000 p.s.i.
- 17. An electrochemical cell, comprising:
a) a high pressure side electrode; b) a low pressure side electrode; c) a membrane disposed between and in intimate contact with said high pressure side electrode and said low pressure side electrode; d) a low pressure flow field; e) a high pressure flow field; and f) an electrically conductive pressure pad located adjacent to and in intimate contact with said high pressure flow field.
- 18. An electrochemical cell as in claim 17, wherein said pressure pad maintains substantially uniform pressure on said high pressure flow field.
- 19. An electrochemical cell as in claim 17, wherein said pressure pad is compatible with the electrochemical cell and can function in pressures exceeding 2,000 p.s.i.
- 20. An electrochemical cell as in claim 17, wherein said pressure pad comprises a support material and an electrically conductive material.
- 21. An electrochemical cell as in claim 20, wherein said support material is a fluorosilicone, fluoroelastomer, or mixture thereof.
- 22. An electrochemical cell as in claim 20, wherein said electrically conductive material is steel.
- 23. An electrochemical cell as in claim 20, wherein said electrically conductive material is a stainless steel, a nickel, cobalt, carbon, refractory metal, precious metal, or a mixture or alloy thereof.
- 24. An electrochemical cell as in claim 17, wherein said means for providing a low pressure flow field is a low pressure screen pack located adjacent to and in intimate contact with said low pressure side electrode.
- 25. An electrochemical cell as in claim 17, wherein said means for providing a high pressure flow field is a high pressure screen pack located adjacent to and in intimate contact with said high pressure side electrode.
- 26. An electrochemical cell as in claim 17, wherein said pressure pad is compatible with the electrochemical cell and can function in pressures exceeding 5,000 p.s.i.
- 27. An electrochemical cell as in claim 17, wherein said pressure pad comprises one or more layers of conductive material interwoven with an elastomer, said layers each having a porosity.
- 28. An electrochemical cell as in claim 27, wherein said conductive material is carbon.
- 29. An electrochemical cell as in claim 27, wherein said elastomer is a fluorosilicone, fluoroelastomer, or combinations thereof.
- 30. An electrochemical cell as in claim 27, wherein said pressure pad has a gradient of porosity.
- 31. An electrochemical cell as in claim 30, wherein said layers of differing porosity form said gradient.
- 32. An electrochemical cell as in claim 26, wherein the high pressure field operates at above 2000 p.s.i
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/413,782 filed Oct. 7, 1999, which claims priority to and incorporates by reference U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/114,559 filed Dec. 31, 1998.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60114559 |
Dec 1998 |
US |
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09413782 |
Oct 1999 |
US |
Child |
09835502 |
Apr 2001 |
US |