Patents Examined by Harry D. Wilkins, III
  • Patent number: 11891711
    Abstract: The present document describes an electrolytic cell comprising a protective layer comprising elemental copper covering at least in part or all of a refractory material assembly covering an interior surface thereof. Also described is a copper oxide containing composition comprising copper oxide and any one of a reducing agent and a binder. Also described is a method of protecting a refractory material assembly covering an interior surface of an electrolytic cell, comprising covering at least in part, or all of the refractory material assembly with a copper sheet, a structure comprising elemental copper, a copper oxide, an elemental copper comprising composite material, a copper oxide containing composition and combinations thereof, to provide a protective layer comprising elemental copper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Inventor: Ghislain Gonthier
  • Patent number: 11885029
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a system for forming ammonia, the system comprising: an anode; a cathode in electrical communication with the anode; and a catalyst material positioned in an electrical communication pathway between the cathode and the anode, the catalyst material comprising a plurality of nanoparticles comprising at least one of a conductor and a semiconductor, each of the nanoparticles comprising an interior cavity, wherein the system is configured to use nitrogen and water to generate ammonia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Mohammadreza Nazemi, Mostafa A. El-Sayed
  • Patent number: 11883779
    Abstract: Method and system for electrochemically compressing hydrogen. In one embodiment, the system includes a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) that includes a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM), an anode, and a cathode. First and second gas diffusion media are positioned adjacent the cathode and anode, respectively. A humidifying membrane is positioned next to the second gas diffusion medium on a side opposite the anode. A water supply is connected to the humidifying membrane, and a hydrogen gas supply is connected to the second gas diffusion medium. A hydrogen gas collector including a back pressure regulator is connected to the first gas diffusion medium. Separators, positioned on opposite sides of the MEA, are connected to a power source. In use, hydrogen is electrochemically pumped across the MEA and collected in the hydrogen gas collector. The PEM is kept properly humidified by the humidifying membrane, which releases water into the second gas diffusion medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: PLUG POWER INC.
    Inventors: Monjid Hamdan, Cortney Mittelsteadt, Matthew Weaver, Robert Stone
  • Patent number: 11885033
    Abstract: Disclosed are an electrode structure including: an electrode plate; and a flow path guide disposed on one side of the electrode plate along the circumference of the electrode plate, and an electrolyzer including the electrode structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: TECHWIN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Boong Ik Jung, Jung Sik Kim, Tae Shin Cho, Dong Hyuck Choi, Tae Woo Kim
  • Patent number: 11879178
    Abstract: An electrochemical device of an embodiment includes: an electrochemical cell including a first electrode having a first flow path, a second electrode having a second flow path, and a separating membrane sandwiched between the first electrode and the second electrode; a gas-liquid separation tank which is connected to the first flow path of the first electrode and to which a product produced at the first electrode and water permeating from the second electrode to the first electrode are sent at an operation time; and a water sealing pipe which is connected to a liquid portion of the gas-liquid separation tank, and to send water in the gas-liquid separation tank to the first flow path of the first electrode at a stop time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ENERGY SYSTEMS & SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Norihiro Yoshinaga, Ryota Kitagawa, Shinichi Sekiguchi
  • Patent number: 11873565
    Abstract: There is provided an energy management method, comprising steps of conducting (304) electric energy from an energy production plant (110, 112, 114, 140) to an energy storage facility (120, 220), applying, in the energy storage facility (120, 220), the received electric energy on a chemical compound (222) to separate the chemical compound to a first component (224) and a second component (226), and storing (306), in the energy storage facility (120, 220), the first component and the second component separately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Tercosys Oy
    Inventors: Ari Järvinen, Harri Sopo
  • Patent number: 11873567
    Abstract: An electrolyzer has an electrolytic cell with a membrane that surrounds an interior channel. The electrolytic cell also has a first electrode positioned in the interior channel such that the membrane surrounds the first electrode. The electrolytic cell also includes a second electrode positioned such that the membrane is located between the first electrode and the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: H2U Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Nathan Saul Lewis
  • Patent number: 11866836
    Abstract: A distributed hydrogen generating fence is formed from a plurality of electrolysis units and fence posts. Each unit includes one or more PV cells, an associated electrolysis system powered by electricity generated by the one or more PV cells, and a feed header for feeding water and an electrolyte to the electrolysis system. The electrolysis system is inside the feed header, and is operable to produce hydrogen and oxygen. The units are located between and are supported by mutually adjacent fence posts. The feed header extends in an inclined manner between the mutually adjacent fence posts. A gas header conducts at least the hydrogen from each of the plurality of units to a first remote facility. The fence includes openings allowing the passage of animals, people or vehicles. The openings can be controlled by a gate, or a grate laid across a hole in the ground spanning the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Woodside Energy Technologies Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Shannon O'Rourke
  • Patent number: 11859300
    Abstract: Methods and electroplating systems for controlling plating electrolyte concentration on an electrochemical plating apparatus for substrates are disclosed. A method involves: (a) providing an electroplating solution to an electroplating system; (b) electroplating the metal onto the substrate while the substrate is held in a cathode chamber of an electroplating cell of electroplating system; (c) supplying the make-up solution to the electroplating system via a make-up solution inlet; and (d) supplying the secondary electroplating solution to the electroplating system via a secondary electroplating solution inlet. The secondary electroplating solution includes some or all components of the electroplating solution. At least one component of the secondary electroplating solution has a concentration that significantly deviates from its target concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Zhian He, Shantinath Ghongadi, Quan Ma, Hyungjun Hur, Cian Sweeney, Quang Nguyen, Rezaul Karim, Jingbin Feng
  • Patent number: 11851774
    Abstract: A carbon dioxide electrolytic device according to an embodiment includes: an electrolysis cell including a reduction electrode, an oxidation electrode, a gas flow path supplying gas containing CO2 to the reduction electrode, a liquid flow path supplying an electrolytic solution containing water to the oxidation electrode, and a diaphragm separating the reduction electrode from the oxidation electrode; a first supply path connected to the gas flow path; a first discharge path connected to the gas flow path; a first moisture content detecting unit installed in the first discharge path to detect a moisture content in the gas flowing in the first discharge path; a moisture content adjusting unit configured to adjust a moisture content supplied to the reduction electrode; and a control unit configured to control the moisture content adjusting unit based on a detection signal of the first moisture content detecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Ryota Kitagawa, Yusuke Kofuji, Akihiko Ono, Yuki Kudo, Jun Tamura, Satoshi Mikoshiba
  • Patent number: 11851779
    Abstract: Electrolytic cells for electrolysis of water, the electrolytic cells including two sub-cells, one containing the anode, the other the cathode. The electrolytic cells are configured so that at least the hydrogen formed due to electrolysis is passed through a deflection tube and into an electrolyte outside of the electrolytic sub-cell. This configuration serves as a security measure to prevent a flashback of a combustion reaction, and makes the presence of a separate bubbler superfluous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: GLOCK ÖKOENERGIE GMBH
    Inventor: Gaston Glock
  • Patent number: 11846032
    Abstract: Catalyst systems employing inexpensive and readily-available protic co-catalysts to increase a proton reduction rate in a hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) are described herein. The protic co-catalysts function to increase the rate without being consumed in the process of water splitting to hydrogen and oxygen. They may simultaneously serve to stabilize the pH of the water and be the electrolyte to carry the current for the electrolytic splitting of water. The protic co-catalysts also decrease the overpotential energy requirement for the process of water splitting. These protic co-catalysts can be used with both heterogeneous and homogenous catalysts, as well as assist photocatalysis and other processes for the reduction of protons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
    Inventors: Dennis Lichtenberger, Richard S. Glass, Dong-Chul Pyun, William Brezinski, Kayla Clary, Metin Karayilan
  • Patent number: 11840589
    Abstract: To provide a perfluoropolymer capable of producing an electrolyte membrane excellent in mechanical strength in high temperature environments; as well as a liquid composition, polymer electrolyte membrane, membrane electrode assembly and polymer electrolyte water electrolyzer, obtainable by using the perfluoropolymer. The perfluoropolymer of the present invention contains perfluoromonomer units, does not substantially contain units having a halogen atom other than a fluorine atom, does not substantially contain units having a ring structure, and has acid-type sulfonic acid groups, wherein the perfluoromonomer units contain at least one type of units A selected from the group consisting of perfluorovinyl ether units and perfluoroallyl ether units; the ion exchange capacity is from 0.9 to 1.4 milliequivalent/gram dry resin; and the storage modulus at 120° C. is at least 100 MPa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: AGC Inc.
    Inventors: Takeshi Hirai, Daisuke Jomuta, Chikaya Tamitsuji
  • Patent number: 11834749
    Abstract: A process for the separation of electrolyte from the carbon in a solid carbon/electrolyte cathode product formed at the cathode during molten carbonate electrolysis. The processes allows for easy separation of the solid carbon product from the electrolyte without any observed detrimental effect on the structure and/or stability of the resulting solid carbon nanomaterial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: C2CNT LLC
    Inventors: Stuart Licht, Gad Licht
  • Patent number: 11821096
    Abstract: A device and method for preparing high-purity titanium powder by continuous electrolysis are provided. The method includes: electrolyzing a titanium-containing conductive ceramic anode and a rotatable cathode in a fused salt electrolytic tank; continuously transferring titanium powder deposited on a surface of the cathode by the rotatable cathode to a position above the fused salt; scraping the titanium powder by a discharging scraper, and collecting; filtering the titanium powder, and recovering the fused salt; cooling separated titanium powder, washing with deoxygenated and deionized water, and vacuum-drying to obtain final titanium powder. The device includes a fused salt electrolysis mechanism, a continuous titanium powder collection mechanism, a filtering mechanism, a washing mechanism, and a vacuum-drying mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG HAIHONG HOLDING GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Haixian Chen, Jiapei Cao
  • Patent number: 11821094
    Abstract: A process for the separation of electrolyte from the carbon in a solid carbon/electrolyte cathode product formed at the cathode during molten carbonate electrolysis. The processes allows for easy separation of the solid carbon product from the electrolyte without any observed detrimental effect on the structure and/or stability of the resulting solid carbon nanomaterial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: C2CNT LLC
    Inventors: Stuart Licht, Gad Licht
  • Patent number: 11814740
    Abstract: An electrolyzer has an electrolytic cell with a membrane that surrounds an interior channel. The electrolytic cell also has a first electrode positioned in the interior channel such that the membrane surrounds the first electrode. The electrolytic cell also includes a second electrode positioned such that the membrane is located between the first electrode and the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: H2U Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Nathan Saul Lewis
  • Patent number: 11795072
    Abstract: An electrolyzed water generator includes anode, cathode, and cation exchange membrane provided between anode and cathode so as to be in contact with at least one of anode and cathode. Gaps in which a flow of water occurs are present between cation exchange membrane and at least one of anode and cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenichiro Inagaki, Shunsuke Mori, Minoru Nagata, Mami Kuroda, Tetsuya Maekawa
  • Patent number: 11799110
    Abstract: Provided herein are anode and/or cathode pan assemblies comprising unique manifold, outlet tube, and/or baffle plate configurations; electrochemical cell and/or electrolyzer containing the anode and/or the cathode pan assemblies; and methods to use and manufacture the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Verdagy, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas H. McWaid, Ryan J. Gilliam
  • Patent number: 11788195
    Abstract: A carbon dioxide reduction device of the present invention is a carbon dioxide reduction device comprising a first electrode; at least any one of an electrolyte solution and an ion conducting membrane; and a second electrode, wherein the first electrode is a porous electrode having a porous carbon, and the porous carbon has at least one type of metal-nonmetal element bond represented by M-R, in which M represents a metal element of Groups 4 to 15, and R represents a nonmetal element of Groups 14 to 16.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: SEKISUI CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Naohiro Fujinuma