Patents Examined by Ciel P Contreras
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Patent number: 11286572Abstract: The preferred embodiment of the invention provides a gas generator comprising an ion membrane electrolytic cell and an atomized/volatile gas mixing tank. The ion membrane electrolytic cell comprises an ion exchange membrane, a cathode chamber and an anode chamber. An anode electrode is set in the anode chamber, and a cathode electrode is set in the cathode chamber. The ion exchange membrane is set between the anode chamber and the anode chamber. When water is electrolyzed by the ion membrane electrolytic cell, oxygen is generated by the anode electrode and hydrogen is generated by the cathode electrode. The atomized/volatile gas mixing tank coupled to the ion membrane electrolytic cell accepts the hydrogen generated from the ion membrane electrolytic cell and generates an atomized gas to mix with the hydrogen for generating a healthy gas.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2016Date of Patent: March 29, 2022Inventor: Hsin Yung Lin
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Patent number: 11280010Abstract: A membrane module and method of making are provided, including a mold therefor. Exemplarily, the module, which comprises a membrane around which is formed a frame, is adapted for use with an electrochemical apparatus. The membrane comprises a fabric made from a synthetic fiber such as nylon, where the nylon is woven into ripstop nylon fabric. The frame, which comprises, exemplarily, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or polypropylene, includes a wedge-shaped portion to facilitate collection of evolved gases and which provides support to the membrane as well as support to internal electrodes. The mold is adapted to suspend and secure the membrane during formation of the module and to provide a module which secures the membrane within the frame after formation of the module.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2019Date of Patent: March 22, 2022Inventor: Christopher M. McWhinney
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Patent number: 11236864Abstract: A system, method and apparatus to transport and distribute hydrogen, store energy at scale, and interconnect locations where large quantities of “green” hydrogen can be produced most advantageously, with cities, towns and rural communities where hydrogen is needed as a clean transportation fuel, industrial feedstock, power source, and for long-term storage of electrical power. A hydrogen distribution pipeline enables use of natural gas, oil and other existing pipelines to transport hydrogen to one or more distribution points; and in one embodiment, integrates a lighter-than-air airship to transport hydrogen between locations where pipelines don't exist or are impractical.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2020Date of Patent: February 1, 2022Assignee: H2 Clipper, Inc.Inventors: James M. Ewan, Robert H. Shelton, Rinaldo S. Brutoco
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Patent number: 11225420Abstract: Various embodiments relate to an electrochemical cell for removal of materials from water and methods of using the same. A method of removing phosphorus from water includes immersing an electrochemical cell in water including phosphorus to form treated water including a salt that includes the phosphorus. The electrochemical cell includes an anode including Mg, Al, Fe, Zn, or a combination thereof, a cathode including Cu, Ni, Fe, or a combination thereof. The method includes separating the salt including the phosphorus from the treated water, to form separated water having a lower phosphorus concentration than the water including phosphorus.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2021Date of Patent: January 18, 2022Assignee: Phosphorus Free Water Solutions, LLCInventors: Carlos Borras, Donald A. Luke
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Patent number: 11213785Abstract: An electrochemical system utilizes an anion conducting layer disposed between an anode and a cathode for transporting a working fluid. The working fluid may include carbon dioxide that is dissolved in water and is partially converted to carbonic acid that is equilibrium with bicarbonate anion. An electrical potential across the anode and cathode creates a pH gradient that drives the bicarbonate anion across the anion conducting layer to the cathode, wherein it is reformed into carbon dioxide. Therefore, carbon dioxide is pumped across the anion conducting layer.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2019Date of Patent: January 4, 2022Assignee: Xergy Inc.Inventors: Bamdad Bahar, Jacob Zerby
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Patent number: 11211176Abstract: Spent nuclear fuel is added to an electro-reduction cell, wherein the electro-reduction cell includes a halide salt electrolyte, and anode, and a cathode including an alloy of uranium and a first metal forming a low melting point alloy with uranium, the first metal being one or more of: iron; chromium; nickel; manganese; and cobalt. The spent nuclear fuel is electrochemically reduced at a potential sufficient to reduce plutonium and lanthanides in the spent nuclear fuel, to form a molten alloy of the first metal, uranium and higher actinides present in the spent nuclear fuel. The alloy is extracted from the electro-reduction cell while uranium oxide is present in the electro-reduction cell. The spent nuclear fuel includes uranium oxide and at least 1 mol of lanthanides per tonne of uranium in the spent nuclear fuel, and the electro-reduction cell is operated at a temperature above the melting point of the alloy.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2019Date of Patent: December 28, 2021Inventor: Ian Richard Scott
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Patent number: 11186917Abstract: Disclosed herein are precursor compounds, composite electrodes comprising the same, and methods of making and use thereof.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2019Date of Patent: November 30, 2021Assignees: THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA, THE ADMINISTRATORS OF THE TULANE EDUCATIONAL FUNDInventors: Pravin Shinde, James Donahue, Patricia R. Fontenot, Arunava Gupta, Shanlin Pan
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Patent number: 11186915Abstract: The invention relates to an electrolysis system to conduct oxidation and reduction reactions, comprising one or more electrolytic cells, with each one of them being formed by at least a pair of electrodes and an electrolyte provided between said electrodes, wherein the assembly of said one or more electrolytic cells defines an electrolyzer; and an energy source that supplies an electrical signal to the electrolyzer; wherein said electrolytic cell is built in the form of a capacitor of cylindrical plates, wherein said cylindrical plates are defined by the electrodes of the electrolytic cell formed by tubes arranged in a substantially concentric way within each other, thus defining a central electrode, an outer electrode and a space between electrodes, wherein the central electrode corresponds to the anode of the capacitor, the outer electrode to the cathode of the capacitor and the electrolyte to the dielectric means of the capacitor; wherein the electrical signal received by the electrolytic cell or cells thaType: GrantFiled: August 11, 2017Date of Patent: November 30, 2021Inventor: Jorge Garcés Barón
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Patent number: 11183705Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for Converting chemical energy into electrical energy, or electrical energy into chemical energy, having at least one electrochemically active, planar cell (2) that is held securely between coaxial annular disks (10a, 10b, 10c, 10d) of an electrically insulating support frame (10), through which a supply structure with Channels (22, 23, 13, 33) for process media extends to the cell (2). A free spatial region (8a, 8b) is present on either side of the cell (2) in the axial direction, which region is bounded in the radial direction by at least one of the annular disks (10a, 10b). The spatial regions (8a, 8b) are open toward a pressure Chamber (5) via at least one passage (42a, 42b) through the corresponding annular disk (10a, 10b). When the device (1) is in Operation, the pressure Chamber (5) is filled with a pressurized medium, as a consequence of which the cells are compressed.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2017Date of Patent: November 23, 2021Assignee: WESTFAELISCHE HOCHSCHULE GELSENKIRCHEN BOCHOLT RECKLINGHAUSENInventors: Michael Brodmann, Cristian Mutascu, Pit Podleschny, Ulrich Rost, Jeffrey Roth, Christoph Sagewka, Florian Wirkert
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Patent number: 11136679Abstract: Photoelectrochemical cells for the oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid and/or 2,5-diformylfuran are provided. Also provided are methods of using the cells to carry out the electrochemical and photoelectrochemical oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid and/or 2,5-diformylfuran.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2020Date of Patent: October 5, 2021Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research FoundationInventors: Kyoung-Shin Choi, Hyun Gil Cha
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Patent number: 11136682Abstract: The invention relates to an electrolytic cell (1) for the production of aluminium (2) including collector bars structure modifications (13,14,15,16) under the cathode (4), namely a copper collector bar held in a U-shaped profile or directly embedded into the cathode. This leads to an optimized current distribution in the liquid aluminium metal (2) and/or inside the carbon cathode allowing for operating the cell at lower voltage. The lower voltage results from either a lower anode to cathode distance (ACD), and/or to lower voltage drop inside the carbon cathode from liquid metal to the end of the collector bar.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2015Date of Patent: October 5, 2021Assignee: NOVALUM SAInventors: Rene Von Kaenel, Gualtiero Spinetti
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Patent number: 11136686Abstract: Systems and methods for coating a metallic component are provided. In one embodiment, a metallic coating may be disposed in a plating bath comprising AlBr3. The metallic coating may be coupled with, or configured as, a working electrode. A counter electrode formed of aluminum may be disposed within the plating bath. An electric current may be applied between the two electrodes resulting in the electrodeposition of aluminum on the metallic component. In one particular embodiment, the plating bath may include LiBr, KBr and CsBr, with AlBr3 being present in an amount of approximately 80 percent or greater by weight. Various types of metals may be coated with aluminum using embodiments of the present disclosure. Additionally, the methods and systems described herein are amenable to coating of complex geometries.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2016Date of Patent: October 5, 2021Assignee: BATTELLE ENERGY ALLIANCE, LLC.Inventors: Prabhat K. Tripathy, Guy L. Fredrickson, Eric J. Dufek, Laura A. Wurth, J. Stephen Herring
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Patent number: 11131030Abstract: Various embodiments include an electrolysis cell with a housing with an anode and a gas diffusion electrode connected as cathode. The gas diffusion electrode has an electrolyte side and a gas side and separates the electrolyte space from a gas space for a reaction gas. There is a support body disposed in the gas space with a contact surface in contact with the gas diffusion electrode. The gas space comprises a first channel system and a second channel system. The first channel system and the second channel system run separately from one another and thus form two separate volumes of the gas space. The first channel system and the second channel system each have openings in the contact surface of the support body.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2017Date of Patent: September 28, 2021Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY GLOBAL GMBH & CO. KGInventors: Erhard Magori, Kerstin Wiesner-Fleischer, Philippe Jeanty, Oliver von Sicard, Angelika Tawil, Van An Du
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Patent number: 11124886Abstract: A platform technology that uses a novel membrane electrode assembly including a cathode layer comprising a reduction catalyst and a first anion-and-cation-conducting polymer, an anode layer comprising an oxidation catalyst and a cation-conducting polymer, a membrane layer comprising a cation-conducting polymer, the membrane layer arranged between the cathode layer and the anode layer and 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.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2020Date of Patent: September 21, 2021Assignee: Opus 12 IncorporatedInventors: Kendra P. Kuhl, Etosha R. Cave, George Leonard
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Patent number: 11118281Abstract: Ionic liquid bath plating systems, methods, and plating anodes are provided for depositing metallic layers over turbomachine components and other workpieces. In an embodiment, the method includes placing workpieces in a plurality of cell vessels such that the workpieces are at least partially submerged in plating solution baths, which are retained within the cell vessels when the plating system is filled with a selected non-aqueous plating solution. After plating anodes are positioned adjacent the workpieces in the plating solution baths, the plurality of cell vessels are enclosed with lids such that the plurality of cell vessels contain vessel headspaces above the plating solution baths. A first purge gas is then injected into the plurality of cell vessels to purge the vessel headspaces. The workpieces and the plating anodes are then energized to deposit metallic layers on selected surfaces of the workpieces utilizing an ionic liquid bath plating process.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2019Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: HONEYWELL INETRNATIONAL INC.Inventors: James Piascik, Vincent Chung, Lee Poandl
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Patent number: 11111590Abstract: System and methods for producing lithium metal from an anodic half-cell and a cathodic half-cell with a lithium permeable membrane therebetween.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2018Date of Patent: September 7, 2021Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLCInventors: John N. Hryn, Patricia Anne Ignacio-deLeon, Li Tang, Daniel Yoav Arenas
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Patent number: 11098413Abstract: To reduce fluctuation of the liquid level of plating solution caused by the operation of a paddle. A plating apparatus for plating a substrate is provided. The plating apparatus includes: a plating bath configured to store plating solution; a paddle that is arranged in the plating bath and configured to stir the plating solution; and a liquid level fluctuation reducing member that is arranged in the plating bath, has a flow path through which the plating solution passes, and is configured to increase a flow velocity of the plating solution passing through the flow path to attenuate energy of waves formed by the plating solution.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2018Date of Patent: August 24, 2021Assignee: EBARA CORPORATIONInventors: Shao Hua Chang, Tomonori Hirao
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Patent number: 11098412Abstract: An apparatus and a method for the metallization of an object including placing the object in an electrolyte, placing an anode in contact with the electrolyte, placing a metallization contact of a cathode in contact with the object, applying an electrical tension between the anode and the cathode, wherein the metallization contact is displaced in relation to the object during the metallization of the object to achieve a complete and continuous metallization of the object's surface.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2019Date of Patent: August 24, 2021Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbHInventors: Lidija Rafailovich, Sonja Nixon, Catherine Haas, Tomislav Tri{hacek over (s)}ovic, Hans Peter Karnthaler
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Patent number: 11091781Abstract: Systems and methods for fixing carbon using bacteria are described. In one embodiment, a system includes a reactor chamber with a solution contained therein. The solution may include hydrogen (H2), carbon dioxide (CO2), bioavailable nitrogen, and a chemolithoautotrophic bacteria. The system may also include a pair of electrodes that split water contained within the solution to form the hydrogen. Additionally, the system may be operated so that a concentration of the bioavailable nitrogen in the solution is below a threshold nitrogen concentration to cause the chemolithoautotrophic bacteria to produce a product.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2020Date of Patent: August 17, 2021Inventors: Brendan Cruz Colón, Chong Liu, Marika Ziesack, Pamela Ann Silver, Daniel G. Nocera
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Patent number: 11060195Abstract: An electrolyzer or unitized regenerative fuel cell has a flow field with at least one channel, wherein the cross-sectional area of the channel varies along at least a portion of the channel length. In some embodiments the channel width decreases along at least a portion of the length of the channel according to a natural exponential function. The use of this type of improved flow field channel can improve performance and efficiency of operation of the electrolyzer device.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2017Date of Patent: July 13, 2021Assignee: Loop Energy Inc.Inventors: Sean Michael MacKinnon, Matthew Paul Paone, Raoul Jacob Kingma, Greg John Montie