APPARATUS FOR PUMPING A FLUID

An electrochemically actuated pump and an electrochemical actuator for use with a pump. The pump includes one of various stroke volume multiplier configuration 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 pressurized 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, first and second current collectors in contact with the respective first and second catalyzed electrodes, a first hydrogen gas chamber in fluid communication with the first electrode, and a second hydrogen gas chamber in fluid communication with the second electrode. A controller may reverse the polarity of a voltage source electrically coupled to the current collectors, wherein a first polarity simultaneously decreases the hydrogen gas pressure in the first hydrogen gas chamber and increases the hydrogen gas pressure in the second hydrogen gas chamber, wherein a second polarity simultaneously increases the hydrogen gas pressure in the first hydrogen gas chamber and decreases the hydrogen gas pressure in the second hydrogen gas chamber.