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).
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Publication number: 20240141510Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2022Publication date: May 2, 2024Applicant: ELECTRASTEEL, INC.Inventors: Ai Quoc PHAM, Sandeep NIJHAWAN, Kevin GALLOWAY, Adolfredo ALVAREZ, Philip WAGNER, Steven FATUR
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Publication number: 20230374683Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2023Publication date: November 23, 2023Applicant: ELECTRASTEEL, INC.Inventors: Ai Quoc PHAM, Sandeep NIJHAWAN, Adolfredo ALVAREZ, Steven FATUR
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Publication number: 20230366115Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2023Publication date: November 16, 2023Inventors: Ai Quoc PHAM, Sandeep NIJHAWAN, Adolfredo ALVAREZ, Colleen WALLACE, Steven FATUR
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Patent number: 11767604Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 9, 2022Date of Patent: September 26, 2023Assignee: ELECTRASTEEL, INC.Inventors: Ai Quoc Pham, Sandeep Nijhawan, Adolfredo Alvarez, Colleen Wallace, Steven Fatur
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Patent number: 11753732Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 9, 2022Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: ELECTRASTEEL, INC.Inventors: Ai Quoc Pham, Sandeep Nijhawan, Adolfredo Alvarez, Steven Fatur
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Publication number: 20230231213Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2023Publication date: July 20, 2023Inventors: Ai Quoc PHAM, Sandeep NIJHAWAN, Aswin K. MANOHAR, Kevin Van GALLOWAY, Chenguang YANG, Eric E. BENSON, Lang MCHARDY, Tim RACKERS
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Patent number: 11611115Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 27, 2018Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: FORM ENERGY, INC.Inventors: Ai Quoc Pham, Sandeep Nijhawan, Aswin K. Manohar, Kevin Van Galloway, Chenguang Yang, Eric E. Benson, Lang McHardy, Tim Rackers
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Publication number: 20220380919Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2022Publication date: December 1, 2022Applicant: ELECTRASTEEL, INC.Inventors: Ai Quoc PHAM, Sandeep NIJHAWAN, Adolfredo ALVAREZ, Colleen WALLACE, Steven FATUR
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Publication number: 20220380918Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2022Publication date: December 1, 2022Applicant: ELECTRASTEEL, INC.Inventors: Ai Quoc PHAM, Sandeep NIJHAWAN, Adolfredo ALVAREZ, Steven FATUR
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Publication number: 20200365953Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2018Publication date: November 19, 2020Applicant: STAQ ENERGY, INC.Inventors: Ai Quoc PHAM, Sandeep NIJHAWAN, Aswin K. MANOHAR, Kevin Van GALLOWAY, Chenguang YANG, Eric E. BENSON, Lang McHARDY, Tim RACKERS
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Publication number: 20150155727Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2015Publication date: June 4, 2015Inventors: On Kok Chang, David Andrew Sopchak, Ai Quoc Pham, Kimio Kinoshita
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Publication number: 20150155586Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2015Publication date: June 4, 2015Inventors: Ai Quoc PHAM, On Chang, Sumitha Durairaj
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Publication number: 20150147609Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2015Publication date: May 28, 2015Inventors: Ai Quoc PHAM, On Kok Chang
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Publication number: 20150104724Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2014Publication date: April 16, 2015Inventors: On Kok CHANG, Ai Quoc Pham
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Publication number: 20150086896Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2014Publication date: March 26, 2015Inventors: On Kok CHANG, David Andrew Sopchak, Ai Quoc Pham, Kimio Kinoshita
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Patent number: 8980454Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 13, 2014Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: Enervault CorporationInventors: Ai Quoc Pham, On Kok Chang
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Patent number: 8980484Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 28, 2012Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: Enervault CorporationInventors: On Kok Chang, David Andrew Sopchak, Ai Quoc Pham, Kimio Kinoshita
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Patent number: 8916281Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 28, 2012Date of Patent: December 23, 2014Assignee: Enervault CorporationInventors: On Kok Chang, Ai Quoc Pham
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Publication number: 20140272483Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: EnerVault CorporationInventors: Ai Quoc PHAM, On Kok CHANG
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Publication number: 20130084482Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2012Publication date: April 4, 2013Applicant: EnerVault CorporationInventors: On Kok CHANG, Ai Quoc PHAM