Patent ID: 8769972

Claim:
A refrigeration system that conveys heat from a first heat reservoir at a relatively low temperature to a second heat reservoir at relatively high temperature, the refrigeration system defining a closed loop that contains a working fluid, at least part of the working fluid being circulated through the closed loop, the refrigeration system comprising: a first heat transfer device that transfers heat from the first heat reservoir to the working fluid, a second heat transfer device that transfers heat from the working fluid to the second heat reservoir, an expansion valve between the first and second heat transfer devices that reduces pressure of the working fluid, a conduit system and an electrochemical compressor between the first and second heat transfer devices; wherein the electrochemical compressor comprises: one or more electrochemical cells electrically connected to each other through a power supply, each electrochemical cell comprising a gas pervious anode, a gas pervious cathode, an electrolyte disposed between and in intimate electrical contact with the cathode and the anode; an electrochemical compressor input, an electrochemical compressor output, wherein at least one of said one or more electrochemical cells comprises an electrochemical compressor bypass conduit; wherein the working fluid comprises: a condensable refrigerant that bypasses the electrochemical process; and an electrochemically active fluid that participates in the electrochemical process within the electrochemical compressor wherein said conduit system receives at least one electrochemically-active fluid of said working fluid from said electrochemical compressor output and, other components of the working fluid from said electrochemical compressor bypass conduit, wherein said conduit system has a geometry that enables at least a portion of the received working fluid to be imparted with a gain in kinetic energy as it moves through the conduit system.