US 12,233,380 B2
Environmental control system utilizing an anion conducting membrane
Jacob Zerby, Dover, DE (US); Bamdad Bahar, Georgetown, DE (US); and Sai Yellamilli, Milford, DE (US)
Filed by FFI IONIX IP, INC., Wilmington, DE (US)
Filed on Nov. 27, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/520,515.
Application 18/520,515 is a continuation of application No. 17/790,120, granted, now 11,826,698, previously published as PCT/US2020/067471, filed on Dec. 30, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/974,880, filed on Dec. 30, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2024/0165555 A1, May 23, 2024
Int. Cl. B01D 53/32 (2006.01); B01D 53/02 (2006.01); B01D 53/14 (2006.01)
CPC B01D 53/326 (2013.01) [B01D 53/02 (2013.01); B01D 53/1475 (2013.01); B01D 2257/104 (2013.01); B01D 2257/504 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An environmental control system comprising:
a cathode enclosure containing a cathode enclosure gas;
a carbon dioxide removal electrolysis cell comprising:
a) an anion conducting membrane;
b) an anode configured on an anode side of the carbon dioxide removal electrolysis cell and comprising:
i) an anode catalyst layer;
ii) a current collector;
iii) an electrolyte in fluid communication with anode catalyst layer;
c) a cathode configured on a cathode side of the carbon dioxide electrolysis cell and comprising:
i) a cathode catalyst layer;
ii) a cathode gas in fluid communication with the cathode catalyst layer;
iii) an inlet coupled with the cathode enclosure;
iv) an outlet;
an oxygen depletion electrolysis cell comprising:
a) an anion conducting membrane;
b) an anode configured on an anode side of the oxygen depletion electrolysis cell and comprising:
i) an anode catalyst layer;
ii) a current collector;
iii) an electrolyte in fluid communication with anode catalyst layer;
c) a cathode configured on a cathode side of the oxygen depletion electrolysis cell and comprising:
i) a cathode catalyst layer;
ii) a cathode gas in fluid communication with the cathode catalyst layer:
iii) an inlet coupled with the outlet of the carbon dioxide removal electrolysis cell;
iv) an outlet coupled with the cathode enclosure;
wherein the cathode enclosure gas is fed to the inlet of the cathode of the carbon dioxide removal cell as an inlet gas and is reacted on the cathode of the carbon dioxide removal cell to produce a reduced carbon dioxide gas having a reduced carbon dioxide concentration from a carbon dioxide concentration of said inlet gas;
wherein the reduced carbon dioxide gas passes from the outlet of the cathode of the carbon dioxide removal cell to the inlet of the cathode of the oxygen depletion cell; and
wherein the reduced carbon dioxide gas reacts on the cathode of the oxygen depletion electrolysis cell to produce an outlet gas having a reduced oxygen concentration from an oxygen concentration of the reduced carbon dioxide gas;
wherein the outlet gas passes from the outlet of the oxygen depletion electrolysis cell to the cathode enclosure; and
wherein the environmental control system effectively reduces both carbon dioxide and oxygen levels in the cathode enclosure.