Patents by Inventor Ai-Quoc Pham

Ai-Quoc Pham 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).

  • Publication number: 20240141510
    Abstract: A method of making a material for capturing carbon dioxide from the earth's atmosphere, comprises producing an acid and a base with an electrochemical acid-base generator; dissolving a mineral in the acid to produce a mineral rich solution, separating silica from the mineral rich solution to form a silica depleted solution; adding a first portion of the base to the silica depleted solution to remove impurities by precipitation, adding a second portion of the base until ferrous hydroxide (Fe(OH)2) precipitates, then pausing base addition and removing the ferrous hydroxide precipitate from the solution. Then adding a third portion of the base to the iron-depleted solution to precipitate magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2) and/or calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2022
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Applicant: ELECTRASTEEL, INC.
    Inventors: Ai Quoc PHAM, Sandeep NIJHAWAN, Kevin GALLOWAY, Adolfredo ALVAREZ, Philip WAGNER, Steven FATUR
  • Publication number: 20230374683
    Abstract: Methods and systems for dissolving an iron-containing ore are disclosed. For example, a method of processing and dissolving an iron-containing ore comprises: thermally reducing one or more non-magnetite iron oxide materials in the iron-containing ore to form magnetite in the presence of a reductant, thereby forming thermally-reduced ore; and dissolving at least a portion of the thermally-reduced ore using an acid to form an acidic iron-salt solution; wherein the acidic iron-salt solution comprises protons electrochemically generated in an electrochemical cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Applicant: ELECTRASTEEL, INC.
    Inventors: Ai Quoc PHAM, Sandeep NIJHAWAN, Adolfredo ALVAREZ, Steven FATUR
  • Publication number: 20230366115
    Abstract: Methods and systems for producing are disclosed. A method for producing iron, for example, comprises: providing an iron-containing ore to a dissolution subsystem comprising a first electrochemical cell; wherein the first anolyte has a different composition than the first catholyte; dissolving at least a portion of the iron-containing ore using an acid to form an acidic iron-salt solution having dissolved first Fe3+ ions; providing at least a portion of the acidic iron-salt solution to the first cathodic chamber; first electrochemically reducing said first Fe3+ ions in the first catholyte to form Fe2+ ions; transferring the formed Fe2+ ions from the dissolution subsystem to an iron-plating subsystem having a second electrochemical cell; second electrochemically reducing a first portion of the transferred formed Fe2+ ions to Fe metal at a second cathode of the second electrochemical cell; and removing the Fe metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Ai Quoc PHAM, Sandeep NIJHAWAN, Adolfredo ALVAREZ, Colleen WALLACE, Steven FATUR
  • Patent number: 11767604
    Abstract: Methods and systems for producing are disclosed. A method for producing iron, for example, comprises: providing an iron-containing ore to a dissolution subsystem comprising a first electrochemical cell; wherein the first anolyte has a different composition than the first catholyte; dissolving at least a portion of the iron-containing ore using an acid to form an acidic iron-salt solution having dissolved first Fe3+ ions; providing at least a portion of the acidic iron-salt solution to the first cathodic chamber; first electrochemically reducing said first Fe3+ ions in the first catholyte to form Fe2+ ions; transferring the formed Fe2+ ions from the dissolution subsystem to an iron-plating subsystem having a second electrochemical cell; second electrochemically reducing a first portion of the transferred formed Fe2+ ions to Fe metal at a second cathode of the second electrochemical cell; and removing the Fe metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: ELECTRASTEEL, INC.
    Inventors: Ai Quoc Pham, Sandeep Nijhawan, Adolfredo Alvarez, Colleen Wallace, Steven Fatur
  • Patent number: 11753732
    Abstract: Methods and systems for dissolving an iron-containing ore are disclosed. For example, a method of processing and dissolving an iron-containing ore comprises: thermally reducing one or more non-magnetite iron oxide materials in the iron-containing ore to form magnetite in the presence of a reductant, thereby forming thermally-reduced ore; and dissolving at least a portion of the thermally-reduced ore using an acid to form an acidic iron-salt solution; wherein the acidic iron-salt solution comprises protons electrochemically generated in an electrochemical cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: ELECTRASTEEL, INC.
    Inventors: Ai Quoc Pham, Sandeep Nijhawan, Adolfredo Alvarez, Steven Fatur
  • Publication number: 20230231213
    Abstract: In an aspect, provided is an alkaline rechargeable battery comprising: i) a battery container sealed against the release of gas up to at least a threshold gas pressure, ii) a volume of an aqueous alkaline electrolyte at least partially filling the container to an electrolyte level; iii) a positive electrode containing positive active material and at least partially submerged in the electrolyte; iv) an iron negative electrode at least partially submerged in the electrolyte, the iron negative electrode comprising iron active material; v) a separator at least partially submerged in the electrolyte provided between the positive electrode and the negative electrode; vi) an auxiliary oxygen gas recombination electrode electrically connected to the iron negative electrode by a first electronic component, ionically connected to the electrolyte by a first ionic pathway, and exposed to a gas headspace above the electrolyte level by a first gas pathway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2023
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Inventors: Ai Quoc PHAM, Sandeep NIJHAWAN, Aswin K. MANOHAR, Kevin Van GALLOWAY, Chenguang YANG, Eric E. BENSON, Lang MCHARDY, Tim RACKERS
  • Patent number: 11611115
    Abstract: In an aspect, provided is an alkaline rechargeable battery comprising: i) a battery container sealed against the release of gas up to at least a threshold gas pressure, ii) a volume of an aqueous alkaline electrolyte at least partially filling the container to an electrolyte level; iii) a positive electrode containing positive active material and at least partially submerged in the electrolyte; iv) an iron negative electrode at least partially submerged in the electrolyte, the iron negative electrode comprising iron active material; v) a separator at least partially submerged in the electrolyte provided between the positive electrode and the negative electrode; vi) an auxiliary oxygen gas recombination electrode electrically connected to the iron negative electrode by a first electronic component, ionically connected to the electrolyte by a first ionic pathway, and exposed to a gas headspace above the electrolyte level by a first gas pathway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: FORM ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Ai Quoc Pham, Sandeep Nijhawan, Aswin K. Manohar, Kevin Van Galloway, Chenguang Yang, Eric E. Benson, Lang McHardy, Tim Rackers
  • Publication number: 20220380919
    Abstract: Methods and systems for producing are disclosed. A method for producing iron, for example, comprises: providing an iron-containing ore to a dissolution subsystem comprising a first electrochemical cell; wherein the first anolyte has a different composition than the first catholyte; dissolving at least a portion of the iron-containing ore using an acid to form an acidic iron-salt solution having dissolved first Fe3+ ions; providing at least a portion of the acidic iron-salt solution to the first cathodic chamber; first electrochemically reducing said first Fe3+ ions in the first catholyte to form Fe2+ ions; transferring the formed Fe2+ ions from the dissolution subsystem to an iron-plating subsystem having a second electrochemical cell; second electrochemically reducing a first portion of the transferred formed Fe2+ ions to Fe metal at a second cathode of the second electrochemical cell; and removing the Fe metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Applicant: ELECTRASTEEL, INC.
    Inventors: Ai Quoc PHAM, Sandeep NIJHAWAN, Adolfredo ALVAREZ, Colleen WALLACE, Steven FATUR
  • Publication number: 20220380918
    Abstract: Methods and systems for dissolving an iron-containing ore are disclosed. For example, a method of processing and dissolving an iron-containing ore comprises: thermally reducing one or more non-magnetite iron oxide materials in the iron-containing ore to form magnetite in the presence of a reductant, thereby forming thermally-reduced ore; and dissolving at least a portion of the thermally-reduced ore using an acid to form an acidic iron-salt solution; wherein the acidic iron-salt solution comprises protons electrochemically generated in an electrochemical cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Applicant: ELECTRASTEEL, INC.
    Inventors: Ai Quoc PHAM, Sandeep NIJHAWAN, Adolfredo ALVAREZ, Steven FATUR
  • Publication number: 20200365953
    Abstract: In an aspect, provided is an alkaline rechargeable battery comprising: i) a battery container sealed against the release of gas up to at least a threshold gas pressure, ii) a volume of an aqueous alkaline electrolyte at least partially filling the container to an electrolyte level; iii) a positive electrode containing positive active material and at least partially submerged in the electrolyte; iv) an iron negative electrode at least partially submerged in the electrolyte, the iron negative electrode comprising iron active material; v) a separator at least partially submerged in the electrolyte provided between the positive electrode and the negative electrode; vi) an auxiliary oxygen gas recombination electrode electrically connected to the iron negative electrode by a first electronic component, ionically connected to the electrolyte by a first ionic pathway, and exposed to a gas headspace above the electrolyte level by a first gas pathway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Applicant: STAQ ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Ai Quoc PHAM, Sandeep NIJHAWAN, Aswin K. MANOHAR, Kevin Van GALLOWAY, Chenguang YANG, Eric E. BENSON, Lang McHARDY, Tim RACKERS
  • Publication number: 20150155727
    Abstract: Methods, systems and structures for monitoring, managing electrolyte concentrations in redox flow batteries are provided by introducing a first quantity of a liquid electrolyte into a first chamber of a test cell and introducing a second quantity of the liquid electrolyte into a second chamber of the test cell. The method further provides for measuring a voltage of the test cell, measuring an elapsed time from the test cell reaching a first voltage until the test cell reaches a second voltage; and determining a degree of imbalance of the liquid electrolyte based on the elapsed time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Inventors: On Kok Chang, David Andrew Sopchak, Ai Quoc Pham, Kimio Kinoshita
  • Publication number: 20150155586
    Abstract: Loss of flow battery electrode catalyst layers during self-discharge or charge reversal may be prevented by establishing and maintaining a negative electrolyte imbalance during at least parts of a flow battery's operation. Negative imbalance may be established and/or maintained actively, passively or both. Actively establishing a negative imbalance may involve detecting an imbalance that is less negative than a desired threshold, and processing one or both electrolytes until the imbalance reaches a desired negative level. Negative imbalance may be effectively established and maintained passively within a cell by constructing a cell with a negative electrode chamber that is larger than the cell's positive electrode chamber, thereby providing a larger quantity of negative electrolyte for reaction with positive electrolyte.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Inventors: Ai Quoc PHAM, On Chang, Sumitha Durairaj
  • Publication number: 20150147609
    Abstract: Various methods of rebalancing electrolytes in a redox flow battery system include various systems using a catalyzed hydrogen rebalance cell configured to minimize the risk of dissolved catalyst negatively affecting flow battery performance. Some systems described herein reduce the chance of catalyst contamination of RFB electrolytes by employing a mediator solution to eliminate direct contact between the catalyzed membrane and the RFB electrolyte. Other methods use a rebalance cell chemistry that maintains the catalyzed electrode at a potential low enough to prevent the catalyst from dissolving.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Ai Quoc PHAM, On Kok Chang
  • Publication number: 20150104724
    Abstract: Embodiments of redox flow battery rebalancing systems include a system for reacting an unbalanced flow battery electrolyte with a rebalance electrolyte in a first reaction cell. In some embodiments, the rebalance electrolyte may contain ferrous iron (Fe2+) which may be oxidized to ferric iron (Fe3+) in the first reaction cell. The reducing ability of the rebalance reactant may be restored in a second rebalance cell that is configured to reduce the ferric iron in the rebalance electrolyte back into ferrous iron through a reaction with metallic iron.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: On Kok CHANG, Ai Quoc Pham
  • Publication number: 20150086896
    Abstract: Methods, systems and structures for monitoring, managing electrolyte concentrations in redox flow batteries are provided by introducing a first quantity of a liquid electrolyte into a first chamber of a test cell and introducing a second quantity of the liquid electrolyte into a second chamber of the test cell. The method further provides for measuring a voltage of the test cell, measuring an elapsed time from the test cell reaching a first voltage until the test cell reaches a second voltage; and determining a degree of imbalance of the liquid electrolyte based on the elapsed time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: On Kok CHANG, David Andrew Sopchak, Ai Quoc Pham, Kimio Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 8980454
    Abstract: Various methods of rebalancing electrolytes in a redox flow battery system include various systems using a catalyzed hydrogen rebalance cell configured to minimize the risk of dissolved catalyst negatively affecting flow battery performance. Some systems described herein reduce the chance of catalyst contamination of RFB electrolytes by employing a mediator solution to eliminate direct contact between the catalyzed membrane and the RFB electrolyte. Other methods use a rebalance cell chemistry that maintains the catalyzed electrode at a potential low enough to prevent the catalyst from dissolving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Enervault Corporation
    Inventors: Ai Quoc Pham, On Kok Chang
  • Patent number: 8980484
    Abstract: Methods, systems and structures for monitoring, managing electrolyte concentrations in redox flow batteries are provided by introducing a first quantity of a liquid electrolyte into a first chamber of a test cell and introducing a second quantity of the liquid electrolyte into a second chamber of the test cell. The method further provides for measuring a voltage of the test cell, measuring an elapsed time from the test cell reaching a first voltage until the test cell reaches a second voltage; and determining a degree of imbalance of the liquid electrolyte based on the elapsed time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Enervault Corporation
    Inventors: On Kok Chang, David Andrew Sopchak, Ai Quoc Pham, Kimio Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 8916281
    Abstract: Embodiments of redox flow battery rebalancing systems include a system for reacting an unbalanced flow battery electrolyte with a rebalance electrolyte in a first reaction cell. In some embodiments, the rebalance electrolyte may contain ferrous iron (Fe2+) which may be oxidized to ferric iron (Fe3+) in the first reaction cell. The reducing ability of the rebalance reactant may be restored in a second rebalance cell that is configured to reduce the ferric iron in the rebalance electrolyte back into ferrous iron through a reaction with metallic iron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Enervault Corporation
    Inventors: On Kok Chang, Ai Quoc Pham
  • Publication number: 20140272483
    Abstract: Various methods of rebalancing electrolytes in a redox flow battery system include various systems using a catalyzed hydrogen rebalance cell configured to minimize the risk of dissolved catalyst negatively affecting flow battery performance. Some systems described herein reduce the chance of catalyst contamination of RFB electrolytes by employing a mediator solution to eliminate direct contact between the catalyzed membrane and the RFB electrolyte. Other methods use a rebalance cell chemistry that maintains the catalyzed electrode at a potential low enough to prevent the catalyst from dissolving.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: EnerVault Corporation
    Inventors: Ai Quoc PHAM, On Kok CHANG
  • Publication number: 20130084482
    Abstract: Embodiments of redox flow battery rebalancing systems include a system for reacting an unbalanced flow battery electrolyte with a rebalance electrolyte in a first reaction cell. In some embodiments, the rebalance electrolyte may contain ferrous iron (Fe2+) which may be oxidized to ferric iron (Fe3+) in the first reaction cell. The reducing ability of the rebalance reactant may be restored in a second rebalance cell that is configured to reduce the ferric iron in the rebalance electrolyte back into ferrous iron through a reaction with metallic iron.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: EnerVault Corporation
    Inventors: On Kok CHANG, Ai Quoc PHAM