Patents by Inventor Sondra Hellstrom

Sondra Hellstrom has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11958061
    Abstract: An electrostatic charging air cleaning device. The device includes a pre-charger configured to generate a corona discharge to electrostatically charge particulate matter in an air stream. The device further includes a separator downstream from the pre-charger configured to convey the electrostatically charged particulate matter and formed of an insulative material. The device also includes a collection electrode configured to receive and to absorb the conveyed electrostatically charged particulate matter. The collection electrode includes a substrate material and a coating layer coated onto the substrate material. The coating layer includes a carbon black material and a polymeric binder. The substrate material is a metal plate including mechanical perforations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Metzger, Saravanan Kuppan, Sondra Hellstrom, Nathan Craig, Christina Johnston, Jake Christensen
  • Patent number: 11884561
    Abstract: A device for removing chloride-containing salts from water includes a container configured to contain saline water, a first electrode arranged in fluid communication with the saline water, and a power source. The first electrode includes a conversion material that is substantially insoluble in the saline water and has a composition that includes at least two or more of aluminum, chlorine, copper, iron, oxygen, and potassium. The composition varies over a range with respect to a quantity of chloride ions per formula unit. The power source supplies current to the first electrode in a first operating state so as to induce a reversible conversion reaction in which the conversion material bonds to the chloride ions in the saline water to generate a treated water solution. The conversion material dissociates the chloride ions therefrom into the saline water solution in a second operating state to generate a wastewater solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Mordechai C. Kornbluth, Jonathan Mailoa, Soo Kim, Georgy Samsonidze, Boris Kozinsky, Saravanan Kuppan, Sondra Hellstrom, Nathan Craig
  • Patent number: 11884560
    Abstract: A water softening device includes a container configured to contain water, first and second electrodes arranged in fluid communication with the water, and a power source. The first electrode includes a conversion material that has a first composition and a second composition coexisting with the first composition. The first composition includes calcium ions bonded thereto and the second composition includes sodium ions bonded thereto. The power source supplies current in a first operating state such that the second composition exchanges sodium ions for calcium ions in the water to generate a soft water solution. The first and second electrodes are connected in a second operating state such that the first composition exchanges calcium ions for sodium ions in the water to generate a wastewater solution. The conversion material undergoes a reversible conversion reaction to convert between the first and second compositions within the water stability window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Mordechai C. Kornbluth, Jonathan Mailoa, Soo Kim, Georgy Samsonidze, Boris Kozinsky, Saravanan Kuppan, Sondra Hellstrom, Nathan Craig
  • Patent number: 11834354
    Abstract: A desalination battery includes a first electrode, a second electrode, an intercalation compound contained in the first electrode, a container configured to contain a saline water solution, and a power source. The intercalation compound includes at least one of a metal oxide, a metalloid oxide, a metal oxychloride, a metalloid oxychloride, and a hydrate thereof with each having a ternary or higher order. The first and second electrodes are configured to be arranged in fluid communication with the saline water solution. The power source is configured to supply electric current to the first and second electrodes in different operating states to induce a reversible intercalation reaction within the intercalation compound. The intercalation compound reversibly stores and releases target anions from the saline water solution to generate a fresh water solution in one operating state and a wastewater solution in another operating state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Soo Kim, Mordechai Kornbluth, Jonathan Mailoa, Georgy Samsonidze, Michael Metzger, Saravanan Kuppan, Sondra Hellstrom, Boris Kozinsky, Nathan Craig
  • Patent number: 11820681
    Abstract: A desalination device includes a container, first and second electrodes, an anion exchange membrane (AEM), and a power source. The container contains saline water that has an elevated concentration of dissolved salts. The AEM separates the container into first and second compartments into which the first and second electrodes, respectively, are arranged. The AEM has a continuous porous structure and a plurality of negatively-charged oxygen functional groups coupled to the porous structure. The power source is configured to selectively apply a voltage to one of the first and second electrodes. The AEM has a selective permeability when the voltage is applied such that cations in the saline water solution have a first diffusion rate d1 therethrough and anions in the saline water solution have a second diffusion rate d2 therethrough. The first diffusion rate d1 is less than the second diffusion rate d2 and greater than or equal to zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Soo Kim, Jonathan Mailoa, Mordechai Kornbluth, Georgy Samsonidze, Michael Metzger, Saravanan Kuppan, Sondra Hellstrom, Boris Kozinsky, Nathan Craig
  • Publication number: 20230365443
    Abstract: A desalination method that may be used to reduce limescale buildup in desalination electrodes. The desalination method includes providing an electrode including a first material having at least one compound of a formula before a desalination step. The formula is AxFeyCuz(CN)6, where A is Na, Li or K, 0.1?x?2, 1?y, and z?2. The desalination method further includes exchanging A in AxFeyCuz(CN)6 with Ca to form a second material from the first material during the desalination step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Soo KIM, Mordechai KORNBLUTH, Saravanan KUPPAN, Sondra HELLSTROM, Michael METZGER, Charles TUFFILE
  • Publication number: 20230202886
    Abstract: A deionization battery cell including a first electrode compartment containing a first intercalation host electrode and includes a first water stream compartment in fluid communication with the first electrode compartment. The deionization battery cell further includes a second electrode compartment containing a second intercalation host electrode and a second water stream compartment in fluid communication with the second electrode compartment. The deionization battery cell also includes an ion exchange membrane assembly including a plurality of anion exchange membranes separated from each other, and from one or more cation exchange membranes positioned between the anion exchange membranes, by a plurality of intervening water stream compartments. The first and second water stream compartments are separated from one another by the ion exchange membrane assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2023
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: Michael METZGER, Soo KIM, Saravanan KUPPAN, Sondra HELLSTROM, Jake CHRISTENSEN
  • Patent number: 11597663
    Abstract: An electrochemical water cleaning device including one or more deionization cells having a membrane electrode assembly including a first electrode compartment separated by an anion exchange membrane from a second electrode compartment, each of the first and second compartments configured to contain an intercalation host electrode, a first water stream compartment separated by the membrane electrode assembly from a second water stream compartment, each of the first and second water stream compartments configured to contain a saline water solution and arranged to be in respective fluid communication with the first and second electrode compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Metzger, Soo Kim, Saravanan Kuppan, Sondra Hellstrom, Jake Christensen
  • Patent number: 11597661
    Abstract: A device for removing ions from a flow of water includes a first electrode and a counter-electrode opposite the first electrode in the flow of water. The first electrode contains at least one material which is capable of intercalating one or both of Mg2+ and Ca2+ ions in the flow of water. The counter-electrode can include a material capable of binding to anions in the flow of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Sondra Hellstrom, Michael Metzger, Saravanan Kuppan, Jake Christensen
  • Publication number: 20230068559
    Abstract: A separator for an electrochemical deionization cell for removing ions from a solution stream. The separator includes an anion exchange membrane layer formed from an anion exchange membrane material. The anion exchange membrane layer has a first surface and an opposing second surface. The separator further includes a porous layer adjacent to the anion exchange membrane layer and formed from a porous material. The porous layer has a first surface and an opposing second surface. The first surface of the porous layer is adjacent to the first surface of the anion exchange membrane layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Jake CHRISTENSEN, Münir M. BESLI, Saravanan KUPPAN, Sondra HELLSTROM
  • Publication number: 20230064773
    Abstract: A water treatment system centrally communicates and controls one or more water treatment devices to regulate the use of the one or more water treatment devices. The water treatment system is configured to enable a localized, on-demand supply of purified water throughout a building or a network of buildings. The water treatment system may control a degree of purity (e.g., water hardness or concentration of dissolved salts) via mixing of purified and unpurified water streams in a controllable ratio (e.g., via one or more controllable valves or one or more tunable water softening units).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Jake CHRISTENSEN, Sondra HELLSTROM, Soo KIM, Michael METZGER, Saravanan KUPPAN
  • Publication number: 20230063865
    Abstract: An electrochemical deionization system that maintains an operating temperature range of a solution stream (e.g., seawater or brackish water) flowing through the cells of the electrochemical deionization system. Maintaining the operating temperature range is targeted at prolonging the lifetime of the system and increasing the overall performance of the electrochemical deionization system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Jake CHRISTENSEN, Münir M. BESLI, Saravanan KUPPAN, Sondra HELLSTROM
  • Publication number: 20230067116
    Abstract: Water deionization systems based on electrochemical water desalination or softening using a capacitive or intercalative deionization devices including a stack of electrochemical cells. Each cell includes first and second electrodes and an ion exchange membrane. Each cell includes inlet and outlet channels with control valves that control the separation of the source water into brine (e.g., concentration) and clean water (e.g., purification) streams. The deionization device or module may include multiple electrochemical cells connected electrically in series, parallel or a combination of both. The cells may also be in serial, parallel, or combined fluid communication. The output water of one or more streams from each cell or collection of cells may be recirculated and combined with one or more input water streams to improve the electrochemical energy efficiency of the cells. The electrochemical cells at different rows may have varying electrode thickness, area and loading of the active material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Jake CHRISTENSEN, Vikram PANDE, Münir M. BESLI, Saravanan KUPPAN, Sondra HELLSTROM
  • Publication number: 20230054443
    Abstract: An electrode for use in a device configured to remove ions from a solution. The electrode includes an intercalation material including a binary transition metal Prussian blue analogue compound, a ternary transition metal Prussian blue analogue compound, or a combination thereof. The binary compound may have a general formula: AxByCz[Fe(CN)6], where A=Li, Na, or K; B=Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, or Zn; C=Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, or Zn; 0?x?1; 0?y?1; and 0?z?1. The ternary compound may have the general formula: AxByCzDw[Fe(CN)6], where A=Li, Na, or K; B=Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, or Zn; C=Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, or Zn; D=Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, or Zn; 0?x?1; 0?y?1; 0?z?1; 0?w?1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2021
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Inventors: Münir M. BESLI, Saravanan KUPPAN, Vikram PANDE, Sondra HELLSTROM, Jake CHRISTENSEN
  • Publication number: 20230059547
    Abstract: A device for removing ions from a solution. The device includes first and second intercalation hosts, an anion exchange membrane, a first compartment extending between the first intercalation host and the anion exchange membrane, and a second compartment extending between the second intercalation host and the anion exchange membrane. The first and/or second intercalation hosts include a mixture of first and second intercalation materials. The first and/or second intercalation hosts may include layers (e.g., alternating layers) of the first and second intercalation materials. The first and second intercalation materials are different.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2021
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Inventors: Münir M. BESLI, Saravanan KUPPAN, Sondra HELLSTROM, Jake CHRISTENSEN
  • Publication number: 20230048716
    Abstract: A device for removing ions from a solution. The device includes first and second end plates, an anion exchange membrane positioned between the first and second end plates, a first multiple of two or more first cation intercalation electrodes positioned between the first end plate and the anion exchange membrane, and one or more second intercalation electrodes positioned between the second end plate and the anion exchange membrane. The first multiple of two or more first cation intercalation electrodes and the one or more second intercalation electrodes are configured to receive an electric bias of current or voltage such that the first multiple of two or more first cation intercalation electrodes and the one or more second intercalation electrodes store and release ions from the solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Saravanan KUPPAN, Münir M. BESLI, Sondra HELLSTROM, Jake CHRISTENSEN
  • Publication number: 20230047164
    Abstract: An electrostatic charging air cleaning device. The device includes a pre-charger configured to generate a corona discharge to electrostatically charge particulate matter in an air stream. The device further includes a separator downstream from the pre-charger configured to convey the electrostatically charged particulate matter and formed of an insulative material. The device also includes a collection electrode configured to receive and to absorb the conveyed electrostatically charged particulate matter. The collection electrode includes a substrate material and a coating layer coated onto the substrate material. The coating layer includes a carbon black material and a polymeric binder. The substrate material is a metal plate including mechanical perforations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Michael METZGER, Saravanan KUPPAN, Sondra HELLSTROM, Nathan CRAIG, Christina JOHNSTON, Jake CHRISTENSEN
  • Publication number: 20230050274
    Abstract: A device for removing ions from a solution. The device includes first and second flow channels between an anion exchange membrane and first and second flow plates, respectively. The first flow channel has a first land volume positioned between the first land regions and the anion exchange membrane. The first flow channel has a first channel volume positioned between the anion exchange membrane and the first channel regions and spaced apart from the anion exchange membrane. The second flow channel has a second land volume positioned between the second land regions and the anion exchange membrane. The second flow channel has a second channel volume positioned between the anion exchange membrane and the second channel regions and spaced apart from the anion exchange membrane. The device also includes an intercalation material positioned within the first land and channel volumes or the second land and channel volumes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Saravanan KUPPAN, Münir M. BESLI, Sondra HELLSTROM, Jake CHRISTENSEN
  • Patent number: 11524304
    Abstract: A method of forming a collection electrode for an electrostatic charging air cleaning device. The method includes forming a slurry including a carbon black powder material, a polymeric binder material and a liquid solvent material. The method further includes applying the slurry to a substrate material. The method also includes curing the slurry to obtain a coating layer on the substrate material to form the collection electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Metzger, Saravanan Kuppan, Sondra Hellstrom, Nathan Craig, Christina Johnston, Jake Christensen
  • Patent number: 11527754
    Abstract: A solid-state composite electrode includes active electrode particles, ionically conductive particles, and electrically conductive particles. Each of the ionically conductive particles is at least partially coated with an isolation material that inhibits inter-diffusion of the ionically conductive particles with the active electrode particles. A battery cell includes a first current collector, a solid electrolyte layer, a first solid-state composite electrode having ionically conductive particles coated with an isolation material and positioned between the first current collector and the solid electrolyte layer, a second current collector, and a second electrode positioned between the solid electrolyte layer and the second current collector. A method of forming a solid-state composite electrode includes mixing together active electrode particles and electrically conductive particles with ionically conductive particles that are each at least partially coated with an isolation material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: John F. Christensen, Nathan P. Craig, Sondra Hellstrom, Boris Kozinsky, Saravanan Kuppan