Patents Examined by Ciel P Thomas
  • Patent number: 10577698
    Abstract: The electrochemical reactors disclosed herein provide novel oxidation and reduction chemistries and employ increased mass transport rates of materials to and from the surfaces of electrodes therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Clean Chemistry, Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne E. Buschmann
  • Patent number: 10570031
    Abstract: A hydrogen-enriched water generator and dispenser includes a main casing, a hydrogen water generator supported in the main casing, and a water tank. The hydrogen water generator includes a magnetic field generator and an electrode arrangement supported in the main casing. The water tank is adapted for storing a predetermined amount of regular water. The magnetic field generator is arranged to deliver electromagnetic wave having ultra-long wavelength to the regular water stored in the water tank upon electrolyzing and ionizing by the electrode arrangement, so that the regular water is electrolyzed and ionized to contain a predetermined amount of hydrogen ions for direct consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Inventor: Hongkai Zhang
  • Patent number: 10550484
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of generating organic compounds and an organic-compound-generating system capable of efficiently generating organic-compounds even under a low-temperature environment by controlling a pH of an aqueous solution within a range from 5 to 10 during electrolysis in a case generating organic compounds by electrolyzing the aqueous solution containing carbon dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignees: CHIYODA CORPORATION, The University of Tokyo
    Inventors: Dai Takeda, Akihiro Mutou, Chikako Hashimoto, Jun Matsumoto, Katsushi Fujii, Masakazu Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 10550486
    Abstract: An electrochemical hydrogen pump includes: an electrolyte membrane; a cathode catalyst layer provided on one principal surface of the electrolyte membrane; an anode catalyst layer provided on the other principal surface of the electrolyte membrane; a pair of separators which include gas flow paths and which are provided so as to sandwich the cathode catalyst layer and the anode catalyst layer; and a voltage application portion applying a voltage between the cathode catalyst layer and the anode catalyst layer. In the electrochemical hydrogen pump, the one principal surface is disposed at an upper side in the gravity direction, and the cathode catalyst layer has a hydrophilic property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuuichi Yakumaru, Atsuo Okaichi
  • Patent number: 10550485
    Abstract: Disclosed is a pipe-type electrolysis cell including: a pair of terminal electrodes including an outer electrode and an inner electrode that are electrically connected to each other at respective first ends thereof and separated from each other at respective second ends thereof; and a bipolar electrode installed between the terminal electrodes and electrically insulated the terminal electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Techwin Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Boong Ik Jung, Jung Sik Kim, Hyun Su Shin, Min Yong Kim
  • Patent number: 10538854
    Abstract: Provided is a copper-nickel alloy electroplating apparatus which is capable of stably forming a copper-nickel plated coating on a workpiece with a uniform composition and which enables a plating bath to be used for a long period. The present invention provides a copper-nickel alloy electroplating apparatus (1), comprising: a cathode chamber (4) in which a workpiece (5) is to be placed; an anode chamber (6); an anode (7) placed in the anode chamber; an electrically conductive diaphragm (14) placed to separate the cathode chamber and the anode chamber from each other; a cathode chamber oxidation-reduction potential adjusting tank (8) for adjusting the oxidation-reduction potential of a plating liquid in the cathode chamber; an anode chamber oxidation-reduction potential adjusting tank (10) for adjusting the oxidation-reduction potential of a plating liquid in the anode chamber; and a power supply unit (36) that provides an electric current to flow between the workpiece and the anode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: DIPSOL CHEMICALS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Sakurai, Kazunori Ono, Akira Hashimoto, Satoshi Yuasa
  • Patent number: 10533257
    Abstract: A photochemical electrode includes a conductive oxide. Fermi energy of the conductive oxide is higher than a first energy minimum of a first band having a lowest energy and is lower than a second energy minimum of a second band having a higher energy than the first band among bands whose curvatures are positive in reciprocal space. The first energy minimum and the second energy minimum are at the same point of wave vector. A difference between the second energy minimum and the first energy minimum is not less than 1 eV nor more than 3 eV, and is smaller than a difference between the first energy minimum and an energy maximum of a band having a highest energy among bands whose curvatures are negative.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: John David Baniecki, Toshihisa Anazawa, Yoshihiko Imanaka
  • Patent number: 10519556
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for recycling waste carbide, wherein the waste carbide is directly used as anode and electrolyzed in the molten salt, comprising the following steps: 1) the vacuum dehydrating of the molten salt electrolyte; 2) electrolyzing the waste carbide, which is used as anode, and an inert electrode, which is used as cathode in the molten salt electrolyte with the electrolysis temperature of 350˜1000° C.; 3) separating and collecting the metal powder obtained by electrolysis from molten salt medium. According to the technical solutions of the present invention, tungsten and cobalt ions can be dissolved from the anode material-waste carbide directly into the molten salt medium and deposited on the cathode plate with being driven by the electrolysis voltage, to obtain the metal powder particles. The tungsten, cobalt and other products obtained by electrolysis can be used as carbide materials, high temperature structural materials, weapons materials, photocatalytic materials, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: BEIJING UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Zuoren Nie, Xiaoli Xi
  • Patent number: 10513790
    Abstract: A dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma apparatus for synthesizing metal particles is provided. The DBD plasma apparatus includes an electrolyte vessel for receiving an electrolyte solution comprising metal ions; an electrode spaced-apart from the electrolyte vessel; a dielectric barrier interposed between the electrolyte vessel and the electrode such that, when the electrolyte solution is present in the electrolyte vessel, the dielectric barrier and an upper surface of the electrolyte solution are spaced-apart from each other and define a discharge area therebetween; and gas inlet and outlet ports in fluid communication with the discharge area such that supplying gas in the discharge area while applying an electrical potential difference between the electrode and the electrolyte solution cause a plasma to be produced onto the electrolyte solution, the plasma interacting with the metal ions and synthesizing metal particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: UNIVERSITÉ LAVAL
    Inventors: Marc-André Fortin, Mathieu Bouchard, Christian Sarra-Bournet, Stéphane Turgeon
  • Patent number: 10513788
    Abstract: A cell includes a pot shell defining an opening through which an anode block is designed to be moved, said anode block being suspended from an anode support forming with said anode block an anode assembly mobile in relation to the pot shell, and a confinement chamber defining a closed volume above said opening for the containment of the gases generated during the production of aluminum, the anode support being connected to an electrical conductor to supply an electrolysis current to the anode block, the anode assembly is fully contained in the confinement chamber, and in that the electrical connection between the mobile electrical conductor and the anode support is made within the confinement chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Rio Tinto Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: Olivier Martin, Christian Duval, Steeve Renaudier, Benoit Bardet
  • Patent number: 10508347
    Abstract: A photovoltaic apparatus comprising: at least one photovoltaic surface electrically connected to a set of photovoltaic electrodes; and a chemical reactor electrically connected to the set of photovoltaic electrodes. The chemical reactor enables N pairwise fluid contacts among k chemical fluids, with k?2 and N?4 and comprises: a reaction layer extending in a plane subtended by two directions; N chemical cells, each including two circuit portions, designed for enabling circulation of two of the k chemical fluids, respectively, the two circuit portions intersecting each other, thereby enabling one pairwise fluid contact for the two of the k chemical fluids; and a fluid distribution circuit comprising: k sets of inlet orifices sequentially alternating along lines parallel to one of the two directions; and k sets of outlet orifices sequentially alternating along lines parallel to the inlet orifices, and wherein, each circuit portion connects an inlet orifice to an outlet orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Werner Escher, Patrick Ruch
  • Patent number: 10505199
    Abstract: A method of treating a carbon electrode includes heat treating a carbon-based electrode in an environment that is above approximately 325° C. and that includes an oxidizing gas, and prior to use of the carbon-based electrode in an electro-chemical battery device, soaking the carbon-based electrode in an oxidizer solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Robert Mason Darling
  • Patent number: 10501855
    Abstract: Described here is a method for improving the catalytic activity of an electrocatalyst, comprising subjecting the electrocatalyst to 1-10 galvanostatic lithiation/delithiation cycles, wherein the electrocatalyst comprises at least one transition metal oxide (TMO) or transition metal chalcogenide (TMC). Also described here is an electrocatalyst and a water-splitting device comprising the electrocatalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Yi Cui, Haotian Wang
  • Patent number: 10494726
    Abstract: An electrolytic device of an embodiment has a solution or gas containing water and carbon dioxide, a first electrode oxidizing the water to produce oxygen, a second electrode and a third electrode reducing the carbon dioxide to produce a carbon compound, and a power supply applying current across the first electrode and the second and third electrodes. A composing material of the second electrode has an ionization tendency larger than a composing material of the third electrode. The third electrode mainly reduces the carbon dioxide to produce a first carbon compound, and the second electrode mainly reduces the first carbon compound to produce a second carbon compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Yuki Kudo, Satoshi Mikoshiba, Akihiko Ono, Jun Tamura, Ryota Kitagawa, Masakazu Yamagiwa, Yoshitsune Sugano
  • Patent number: 10494724
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a photochemical reaction device includes: a solar cell; an electrolytic tank having a first tank storing a first solution including an oxidant and/or reductant of a redox medium and a second tank storing a second solution including water and/or proton; a first electrode set in the first tank, connected to a positive electrode of the solar cell through a first switching element, and connected to a negative electrode of the solar cell through a second switching element; and a second electrode set in the second tank, connected to the positive electrode of the solar cell through a third switching element, and connected to the negative electrode of the solar cell through a fourth switching element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Akihiko Ono, Satoshi Mikoshiba, Yuki Kudo, Ryota Kitagawa, Jun Tamura, Chingchun Huang
  • Patent number: 10487415
    Abstract: There is provided a method of adjusting a plating apparatus and a measuring apparatus that can obtain position adjustment amounts/a position adjustment amount of a substrate holder, an anode holder, a regulation plate, and/or a paddle without carrying out plating treatment. There is provided the method of adjusting the plating apparatus that has a plating bath configured to be able to hold the substrate holder, the anode holder, and an electric field adjusting plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jumpei Fujikata, Masashi Shimoyama, Yuji Araki, Mizuki Nagai
  • Patent number: 10483047
    Abstract: An electrochemical reaction device includes: an electrolytic solution tank including a first storage part storing a first electrolytic solution and a second storage part storing a second electrolytic solution; a reduction electrode immersed in the first electrolytic solution; and an oxidation electrode immersed in the second electrolytic solution. The second electrolytic solution contains a substance to be oxidized. The first electrolytic solution has a first liquid phase containing water and a second liquid phase containing an organic solvent and being in contact with the first liquid phase. At least one liquid phase of the first liquid phase or the second liquid phase contains a substance to be reduced and is in contact with the reduction electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Akihiko Ono, Satoshi Mikoshiba, Ryota Kitagawa, Jun Tamura, Yoshitsune Sugano
  • Patent number: 10472724
    Abstract: Disclosed here is a method of operating a chemical reaction device that includes the steps of determining the presence of surplus power more than a demand, and determining the presence of solar energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Akihiko Ono, Satoshi Mikoshiba, Yuki Kudo, Ryota Kitagawa, Jun Tamura, Chingchun Huang
  • Patent number: 10465304
    Abstract: A compound green-energy purification device includes a casing having a water inlet port and a gas outlet port, a filtration module arranged in the casing and includes a first filtration assembly and a second filtration assembly, an electrolysis unit arranged in the casing, and a separation base arranged in the casing and located between the filtration module and the electrolysis unit. The separation base includes a pipe and at least one hole formed therein such that the hole is located in a bottom of the separation base. Water is supplied through the water inlet port and flows through the hole of the separation base into the electrolysis unit to allow the electrolysis unit to heat and convert the water into steam, which moves through the pipe, the first filtration assembly, and the second filtration assembly so as to separate the water and the gas from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Inventors: Bo-Yu Huang, Bing-Hua Huang
  • Patent number: 10465303
    Abstract: A producing system of reduction product of carbon dioxide includes a chemical reaction apparatus including an oxidation reaction electrolytic bath and a reduction reaction electrolytic bath, the chemical reaction apparatus configured to generate a reduction product by reducing carbon dioxide, an electrolytic solution supply unit supplying an electrolytic solution to the reduction reaction electrolytic bath, a carbon dioxide supply unit configured to dissolve carbon dioxide into the electrolytic solution, the carbon dioxide supply unit serving to sustain a reduction reaction in the reduction reaction electrolytic bath, and a separation unit configured to separate the reduction product from the electrolytic solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Jun Tamura, Satoshi Mikoshiba, Yuki Kudo, Akihiko Ono, Ryota Kitagawa, Masakazu Yamagiwa, Yoshitsune Sugano