Patents Examined by Ciel P Contreras
  • Patent number: 11959182
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are precursor compounds, composite electrodes comprising the same, and methods of making and use thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignees: THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA, THE ADMINISTRATORS OF THE TULANE EDUCATIONAL FUND
    Inventors: Pravin Shinde, James Donahue, Patricia R. Fontenot, Arunava Gupta, Shanlin Pan
  • Patent number: 11952671
    Abstract: An electrochemical hydrogen pump includes at least one hydrogen pump unit including an electrolyte membrane, an anode on one main surface of the electrolyte membrane, a cathode on the other main surface of the electrolyte membrane, an anode separator on the anode, and a cathode separator on the cathode, the at least one hydrogen pump unit transferring, to the cathode, hydrogen supplied to the anode and pressurizing the hydrogen, a first fixing member for preventing movement of the cathode separator in a direction in which the cathode separator is stacked, a first end plate on the anode separator at one end in the stacking direction, a second end plate on the cathode separator at the other end in the stacking direction, and a first gas flow channel through which hydrogen in the cathode is supplied to a first space between the second end plate and the cathode separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kunihiro Ukai, Norihiko Kawabata, Osamu Sakai, Hidenobu Wakita, Jin Zhang, Yukimune Kani
  • Patent number: 11946149
    Abstract: Apparatus for producing alkali hydroxide and method for operating apparatus for producing alkali hydroxide are provided. A cooling chamber through which a coolant can pass is constructed by placing a separation wall in a cathode chamber on a side opposite to an ion-exchange membrane, and a flow rate adjuster, such as manual valves, which can adjust the supply flow rate of the coolant is placed in each unit cell. The electrolytic temperature of each unit cell is regulated at an optimum operating temperature depending on the current density by adjusting the flow rate of the coolant without individually adjusting the flow rate of salt water supplied to the unit cell or the concentration of the salt water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignees: TOAGOSEI CO., LTD., KANEKA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsutomu Ohnishi, Tsugiyoshi Osakabe, Tatsurou Yamashita, Takuya Shimura, Mikihito Sugiyama, Yukinori Iguchi
  • Patent number: 11946150
    Abstract: An electrochemical reaction device in an embodiment includes: a reaction unit including a first accommodation part to accommodate carbon dioxide and a second accommodation part to accommodate an electrolytic solution containing water; a reduction electrode to reduce the carbon dioxide; an oxidation electrode to oxidize the water; a power supply to pass current between the reduction electrode and the oxidation electrode; a pressure regulator to regulate a pressure in the first accommodation part; a reaction product detector to detect at least one of an amount and a kind of a substance produced at the reduction electrode; and a controller to control the pressure regulator based on a detection signal of the reaction product detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Ryota Kitagawa, Asahi Motoshige, Yoshitsune Sugano, Masakazu Yamagiwa, Jun Tamura, Yuki Kudo, Akihiko Ono, Satoshi Mikoshiba
  • Patent number: 11939688
    Abstract: Photoelectrochemical (PEC) technology for the conversion of solar energy into chemicals may require cost-effective photoelectrodes to efficiently and stably drive anodic and/or cathodic half-reactions to complete the overall reactions for storing solar energy in chemical bonds. Apparatus and systems incorporating effectively transparent metal catalysts enable the design and/or implementation of PEC devices for light harvesting. Triple-junction photocathodes with the triangular catalyst grids are provided to improve the efficiency of the photocathodes to generate renewable fuel from sunlight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Wen-Hui Cheng, Harry A. Atwater, Rebecca Saive, Matthias H. Richter, Sisir Yalamanchili, Michael D. Kelzenberg, Kelly McKenzie
  • Patent number: 11746428
    Abstract: Disclosed is an end assembly for use in a unipolar filter press electrolyser, where the unipolar filter press electrolyser has a filter press stack. The end assembly of the unipolar filter press electrolyser includes an end plate component having two apertures, the two apertures being alignable with channels formed in the filter press stack. The two apertures include a first aperture configured to receive a stream of liquid electrolyte and gases from the filter press stack, and a second aperture configured to receive a stream of recirculated liquid electrolyte. In addition, the end assembly includes an end clamp configured to apply a clamping force on the end plate component to securely retain the filter press stack. The end clamp includes one gas offtake port to extract gases from the stream of liquid electrolyte and gases from the first aperture and discharge the gases out of the unipolar filter press electrolyser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: KEY DH IP INC./IP STRATEGIQUES DH, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew T. B. Stuart, Raynald G. Lachance, Edward D. B. Stuart, Jaideep S. Spal
  • Patent number: 11724939
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a process for making a carbanogel buckypaper product. Such carbanogel buckypaper product may be imparted with enhanced properties as compared to other buckypaper products. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the carbanogel can be generated by an electrolysis process that can transform a carbon-containing gas into a carbon nanomaterial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Direct Air Capture, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart Licht, Gad Licht
  • Patent number: 11725291
    Abstract: An environment control system utilizes oxygen and humidity control devices that are coupled with an enclosure to independently control the oxygen concentration and the humidity level within the enclosure. An oxygen depletion device may be an oxygen depletion electrolyzer cell that reacts with oxygen within the cell and produces water through electrochemical reactions. A desiccating device may be g, a dehumidification electrolyzer cell, a desiccator, a membrane desiccator or a condenser. A controller may control the amount of voltage and/or current provided to the oxygen depletion electrolyzer cell and therefore the rate of oxygen reduction and may control the amount of voltage and/or current provided to the dehumidification electrolyzer cell and therefore the rate of humidity reduction. The oxygen level may be determined by the measurement of voltage and a limiting current of the oxygen depletion electrolyzer cell. The enclosure may be a food or artifact enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: FFI IONIX IP, INC.
    Inventors: Bamdad Bahar, Jacob Zerby
  • Patent number: 11717788
    Abstract: An environment control system utilizes oxygen and humidity control devices that are coupled with an enclosure to independently control the oxygen concentration and the humidity level within the enclosure. An oxygen depletion device may be an oxygen depletion electrolyzer cell that reacts with oxygen within the cell and produces water through electrochemical reactions. A desiccating device may be g, a dehumidification electrolyzer cell, a desiccator, a membrane desiccator or a condenser. A controller may control the amount of voltage and/or current provided to the oxygen depletion electrolyzer cell and therefore the rate of oxygen reduction and may control the amount of voltage and/or current provided to the dehumidification electrolyzer cell and therefore the rate of humidity reduction. The oxygen level may be determined by the measurement of voltage and a limiting current of the oxygen depletion electrolyzer cell. The enclosure may be a food or artifact enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: FFI Ionix IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Bamdad Bahar, Kryiacos Zachary, Jacob Zerby
  • Patent number: 11708284
    Abstract: The invention relates to bio-electrochemical systems for the generation of methane from organic material and for reducing chemical oxygen demand and nitrogenous waste through denitrification. The invention further relates to an electrode for use in, and a system for, the adaptive control of bio-electrochemical systems as well as a fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Cambrian Innovation, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Silver, Justin Buck, Noah Taylor
  • Patent number: 11702753
    Abstract: The invention generally relates an apparatus for generation of hydrogen and oxygen gases by utilizing seawater. The invention also relates to a method of making hydrogen and oxygen gas by utilizing anion exchange membranes and seawater. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: University of Alaska Fairbanks
    Inventor: Andrew McDonnell
  • Patent number: 11680327
    Abstract: A platform technology that uses a novel membrane electrode assembly, including a cathode layer, an anode layer, a membrane layer arranged between the cathode layer and the anode layer, the membrane conductively connecting the cathode layer and the anode layer, in a COx reduction reactor has been developed. The reactor can be used to synthesize a broad range of carbon-based compounds from carbon dioxide and other gases containing carbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Twelve Benefit Corporation
    Inventors: Kendra P. Kuhl, Etosha R. Cave, George Leonard
  • Patent number: 11679998
    Abstract: The invention of the current application is directed to a wastewater treatment apparatus. The invention includes a divided membrane electrochemical cell including an anode contained within a anode compartment and cathode contained within a cathode compartment. The anode compartment and said cathode compartment are separated by a proton selective membrane. The invention also includes a voltage source, and a liquid-gas separator. The invention is an economically viable electrochemical advanced oxidation system that can cost-effectively treat recalcitrant COD with low energy, without the necessity for chemicals, and reduce or prevent sludge production in a single step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: OxByEl Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Colleen Legzdins
  • Patent number: 11649165
    Abstract: In an aspect, an electrochemical hydrogen isotope recycling apparatus for recycling a feedstream comprising a single isotope of hydrogen, comprising: an electrochemical recycling unit, the unit comprising an anode; a cathode; an isotope-treated, cation exchange membrane operatively disposed between the anode and cathode, the isotope-treated, cation exchange membrane having heavy water containing the isotope of hydrogen therein, the unit configured to receive the feedstream containing the single isotope of hydrogen; wherein the single isotope is deuterium or tritium and when the single isotope is deuterium, the heavy water comprises D2O and when the single isotope is tritium, the heavy water is T2O.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: SUSTAINABLE INNOVATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Daryl Ludlow, Glenn Eisman, Trent M. Molter
  • Patent number: 11648509
    Abstract: A system and method for inerting a protected space is disclosed. Process water is delivered to an anode of an electrochemical cell comprising the anode and a cathode separated by a separator comprising a proton transfer medium. A portion of the process water is electrolyzed at the anode to form protons and oxygen, and the protons are transferred across the separator to the cathode. Process water is directed through a process water fluid flow path including a gas outlet and a gas discharge valve in operative fluid communication with the gas outlet. Air is delivered to the cathode and oxygen is reduced at the cathode to generate oxygen-depleted air, and the oxygen-depleted air is directed from the cathode of the electrochemical cell along an inerting gas flow path to the protected space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jonathan Rheaume
  • Patent number: 11643738
    Abstract: Provided is an electrolysis arrangement including a plurality of electrolytic units, wherein each electrolytic unit includes an electrolytic cell and an AC-DC power converter configured to provide DC power for that electrolytic cell; a plurality of electrolytic assemblies, wherein each electrolytic assembly includes a number of electrolytic units; at least one wind turbine including an electrical generator with a number of armature windings, wherein each armature winding provides AC power to one electrolytic assembly; and a converter unit controller configured to regulate the AC-DC power converters of the electrolytic units on the basis of the power output of an electrical generator. A method of operating such an electrolysis arrangement is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Inventors: Erik Groendahl, Mogens Lund, Jan Thisted
  • Patent number: 11638900
    Abstract: A system and method of inerting a protected space is disclosed. In the system and method, process water is delivered to an anode of an electrochemical cell comprising the anode and a cathode separated by a separator comprising a proton transfer medium. A portion of the process water is electrolyzed at the anode to form protons and oxygen, and the protons are transferred across the proton transfer medium. Process water is directed to a baffle to form de-gassed process water and the de-gassed process water is recycled to the anode. Air is delivered to the cathode and oxygen is reduced at the cathode to generate oxygen-depleted air. The oxygen-depleted air is directed from the cathode of the electrochemical cell along an inert gas flow path to the protected space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jonathan Rheaume
  • Patent number: 11634829
    Abstract: The invention relates to production of alloys based on aluminum. A method is proposed for producing aluminum-based alloys by electrolysis, according to which low-consumable anode of aluminum pot is used as a source of alloying elements. At the same time, in order to optimize master alloy consumption, one of the following options is chosen: dissolution of alloying elements from slightly soluble anodes; adding oxides and/or fluorides and/or carbonates of alloying elements to electrolyte melt of aluminum pot; simultaneous dissolution of alloying elements from slightly soluble anodes with addition of oxides and/or fluorides and/or carbonates of alloying elements to electrolyte melt of aluminum pot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: OBSHCHESTVO S OGRANICHENNOY OTVETSTVENNOST'YU “OBEDINENNAYA KOMPANIYA RUSAL INZHENERNO-TEKHNOLOGICHESKIY TSENTR”
    Inventors: Viktor Khrist'yanovich Mann, Aleksandr Olegovich Gusev, Dmitriy Aleksandrovich Simakov
  • Patent number: 11629418
    Abstract: An electrolytic reactor comprises at least one electrolytic cell with an anode compartment and a cathode compartment separated by a separator, in particular a semipermeable membrane. The anode compartment comprises an inlet and an outlet for anolyte at opposed ends, said inlet and outlet being connected with each other via an anolyte circulation pipe equipped with a storage means for anolyte, an anolyte vessel and at least one adsorption filter for adsorbing molecular impurities. When molecular impurities comes from the cathode compartment through the separator, the electrolytic reactor acts also as a cleaning device for the catholyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Sedo Engineering SA
    Inventors: David Crettenand, Grégoire Chappot, Ludovic Chappot, Herbert Gübeli
  • Patent number: 11629416
    Abstract: A fluid electrolysis apparatus includes: a body part which includes an inlet port and an outlet port formed thereon and is provided with an inner space through which a fluid introduced through the inlet port passes to be discharged through the outlet port; an electrode part mounted in the inner space and including a first electrode plate and a second electrode plate, to which external powers of opposite polarity are applied, respectively, wherein the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate are alternately arranged while being spaced apart from each other, to form a plurality of fluid channels between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate; and a conductive connection terminal part integrally formed with the body part so that at least a portion of a body thereof is embedded in the body part to apply external power to the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Inventor: Won Kee Sung