Apparatus for pumping a fluid

摘要

An electrochemically actuated pump and an electrochemical actuator for use with a pump. The pump includes one of various stroke volume multiplier configurations with the pressure of a pumping fluid assisting actuation of a driving fluid bellows. The electrochemical actuator has at least one electrode fluidically coupled to the driving fluid chamber of the first pump housing and at least one electrode fluidically coupled to the driving fluid chamber of the second pump housing. Accordingly, the electrochemical actuator selectively pressurizes hydrogen gas within a driving fluid chamber. The actuator may include a membrane electrode assembly including an ion exchange membrane with first and second catalyzed electrodes in contact with opposing sides of the membrane, and first and second hydrogen gas chambers in fluid communication with the first and second electrodes, respectively. A controller may reverse the polarity of a voltage source electrically coupled to the current collectors.

主权项

1. A pump head operable with a driving fluid, comprising:
a moveable element that separates a driving fluid chamber and a pumping fluid chamber, wherein an inlet check valve is disposed to allow unidirectional fluid communication of a pumping fluid into the pumping fluid chamber, and an outlet check valve is disposed to allow unidirectional fluid communication of the pumping fluid out of the pumping fluid chamber, wherein the moveable element is mechanically displaced by the driving fluid or the pumping fluid and is a piston comprising a first rigid plate and a second rigid plate coupled to the first rigid plate by a shaft, and the first and second rigid plates each have a surface area in a plane perpendicular to the axial direction, wherein the surface area of the first rigid plate in fluid communication with the driving fluid is less than the surface area of the second rigid plate in fluid communication with the pumping fluid; and first and second control valves in fluid communication with the driving fluid chamber and selectively operable to establish the driving fluid chamber in fluid communication with a driving fluid source or vacuum, wherein the driving fluid and the pumping fluid are not in fluid communication.