VENTING APPARATUS AND SYSTEM

A hydrogen separator apparatus for an electrochemical cell is disclosed. The apparatus includes a separation chamber in fluid communication with the electrochemical cell, a product conduit in fluid communication with the separation chamber, and a controllable purge path in fluid communication with the separation chamber. The controllable purge path is disposed at a bottom of the separation chamber such that in response to normal operation of the cell, the controllable purge path is exposed to liquid water and only during start up and shut down of the cell is the controllable purge path exposed to hydrogen gas. The controllable purge path is responsive to a plurality of conditions corresponding to operation of the electrochemical cell.