Patents by Inventor Bruce R. Locke

Bruce R. Locke 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).

  • Patent number: 11787709
    Abstract: A method for reacting a liquid phase chemical species includes the steps of providing liquid phase containing at least one liquid phase chemical species, providing a gas phase, and providing a reactor vessel for containing the liquid phase and the gas phase. The liquid phase and the gas phase are placed in the reactor vessel so as to form a liquid-gas interface between the liquid phase and the gas phase within the reactor vessel. A pulsed discharge cathode and anode are provided for creating a pulsed discharge electric field at the liquid-gas interface. A pulsed power input to the pulsed discharge cathode and anode is provided, thereby creating a plasma comprising ions at the liquid-gas interface. A secondary electric field is directed transverse to the liquid-gas interface, wherein the secondary electric field will drive ions from the gas phase into the liquid phase to react with the liquid phase species.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
    Inventors: Bruce R. Locke, Robert J. Wandell, Youneng Tang
  • Publication number: 20220332606
    Abstract: A plasma activated water production system includes a plasma reactor and a membrane concentrator. The plasma reactor includes an internal cavity, at least one electrically-conductive inlet capillary and outlet capillary. A mixing chamber has a feed gas inlet, a liquid inlet, and a mixed gas and liquid outlet. A power source is provided. The plasma reactor propagates a plasma discharge between the inlet capillary and the outlet capillary. A membrane concentrator includes a water flow channel with a water inlet and a water outlet, a dry gas inlet and a humidified gas outlet. An ion selective membrane is provided, and water will pass through the membrane into the dry gas, and the water leaving the membrane concentrator will have increased concentrations of nitrates, nitrites and hydrogen peroxide. An electrodialysis embodiment and a method of generating plasma activated with increased concentration of nitrates, nitrites and hydrogen peroxide are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2022
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventor: Bruce R. Locke
  • Publication number: 20210206667
    Abstract: A reactor system for reacting liquid phase chemical species in a liquid includes a reactor vessel for containing the liquid phase and a gas phase. The reactor vessel can have a gas injection port, a gas exit port, and a liquid-gas interface location within the reactor vessel. A pulsed discharge cathode and anode are provided for creating a pulsed discharge electric field at the liquid-gas interface location. A pulsed discharge power supply delivers a pulsed power input to the pulsed discharge cathode and anode, and thereby creates a plasma comprising ions at the liquid-gas interface location. A secondary electric field source is provided for directing a secondary electric field transverse to the liquid-gas interface. The secondary electric field will drive some of the ions from the gas phase into the liquid phase to react with the liquid phase chemical species. A method for reacting a liquid phase chemical species is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Inventors: Bruce R. Locke, Robert J. Wandell, Youneng Tang
  • Patent number: 10988390
    Abstract: A reactor system for reacting liquid phase chemical species in a liquid includes a reactor vessel for containing the liquid phase and a gas phase. The reactor vessel can have a gas injection port, a gas exit port, and a liquid-gas interface location within the reactor vessel. A pulsed discharge cathode and anode are provided for creating a pulsed discharge electric field at the liquid-gas interface location. A pulsed discharge power supply delivers a pulsed power input to the pulsed discharge cathode and anode, and thereby creates a plasma comprising ions at the liquid-gas interface location. A secondary electric field source is provided for directing a secondary electric field transverse to the liquid-gas interface. The secondary electric field will drive some of the ions from the gas phase into the liquid phase to react with the liquid phase chemical species. A method for reacting a liquid phase chemical species is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
    Inventors: Bruce R. Locke, Robert J. Wandell, Youneng Tang
  • Patent number: 10610850
    Abstract: The activation of the C—H bond using low temperature plasma with an inlet liquid stream such that value added products are formed effectively. An organic liquid (e.g., hexane which is immiscible with liquid water) is injected into a flowing gas (argon) stream followed by mixing with a liquid water stream. Thereafter, the mixture contacts a plasma region formed by a pulsed electric discharge. The plasma formed with the flowing liquid and gas between the two electrodes causes chemical reactions that generate various compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
    Inventors: Bruce R. Locke, Igor Alabugin, Robert Wandell, Kevin Hsieh, Stefan Bresch
  • Publication number: 20200102231
    Abstract: A reactor system for reacting liquid phase chemical species in a liquid includes a reactor vessel for containing the liquid phase and a gas phase. The reactor vessel can have a gas injection port, a gas exit port, and a liquid-gas interface location within the reactor vessel. A pulsed discharge cathode and anode are provided for creating a pulsed discharge electric field at the liquid-gas interface location. A pulsed discharge power supply delivers a pulsed power input to the pulsed discharge cathode and anode, and thereby creates a plasma comprising ions at the liquid-gas interface location. A secondary electric field source is provided for directing a secondary electric field transverse to the liquid-gas interface. The secondary electric field will drive some of the ions from the gas phase into the liquid phase to react with the liquid phase chemical species. A method for reacting a liquid phase chemical species is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Bruce R. Locke, Robert J. Wandell, Youneng Tang
  • Patent number: 10589252
    Abstract: A reactor system that includes a single reactor or a plurality of parallel reactors. A method that includes injecting a mixture including liquid water and a gas, into at least one electrically-conductive inlet capillary tube of a continuously-flowing plasma reactor to generate a flowing liquid film region on one or more internal walls of the continuously-flowing plasma reactor with a gas stream flowing through the flowing liquid film region; propagating a plasma discharge along the flowing liquid film region from at least one electrically-conductive inlet capillary to an electrically-conductive outlet capillary tube at an opposing end of the continuously-flowing plasma reactor; dissociating the liquid water in the plasma discharge to form a plurality of dissociation products; producing hydrogen peroxide and nitrogen oxides from the plurality of dissociation products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
    Inventors: Bruce R. Locke, Robert Wandell
  • Patent number: 10556817
    Abstract: A mixture comprising liquid water, a gas and at least one organic compound are injected into a non-thermal gas-liquid plasma discharge reactor to generate a flowing liquid film region with a gas stream flowing alongside. A plasma discharge is propagated along the flowing liquid film region. Water is dissociated and reactive species such as hydroxyl radicals, hydrogen peroxide and nitrogen oxides are formed. The organic compound reacts with the reactive species such as hydroxyl radicals and hydrogen peroxide present in the flowing liquid film region and in the flowing gas stream to produce organic compound dissociation products. At least some organic compound dissociation products and nitrogen oxides are transferred to a bioreactor for further degradation of organic compounds. The nitrogen oxides are used as nutrients for bacteria in the bioreactor. Feedback control of the plasma reactor is based on conditions detected and determined in the biological reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
    Inventors: Bruce R. Locke, Youneng Tang, Robert Wandell
  • Patent number: 10350572
    Abstract: A reactor system that includes a single reactor or a plurality of parallel reactors. A method that includes injecting a mixture including liquid water and a gas, into at least one electrically-conductive inlet capillary tube of a continuously-flowing plasma reactor to generate a flowing liquid film region on one or more internal walls of the continuously-flowing plasma reactor with a gas stream flowing through the flowing liquid film region; propagating a plasma discharge along the flowing liquid film region from at least one electrically-conductive inlet capillary to an electrically-conductive outlet capillary tube at an opposing end of the continuously-flowing plasma reactor; dissociating the liquid water in the plasma discharge to form a plurality of dissociation products; producing hydrogen peroxide and nitrogen oxides from the plurality of dissociation products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
    Inventors: Bruce R. Locke, Robert Wandell
  • Publication number: 20190099733
    Abstract: A reactor system that includes a single reactor or a plurality of parallel reactors. A method that includes injecting a mixture including liquid water and a gas, into at least one electrically-conductive inlet capillary tube of a continuously-flowing plasma reactor to generate a flowing liquid film region on one or more internal walls of the continuously-flowing plasma reactor with a gas stream flowing through the flowing liquid film region; propagating a plasma discharge along the flowing liquid film region from at least one electrically-conductive inlet capillary to an electrically-conductive outlet capillary tube at an opposing end of the continuously-flowing plasma reactor; dissociating the liquid water in the plasma discharge to form a plurality of dissociation products; producing hydrogen peroxide and nitrogen oxides from the plurality of dissociation products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Inventors: Bruce R. LOCKE, Robert WANDELL
  • Publication number: 20180215639
    Abstract: A mixture comprising liquid water, a gas and at least one organic compound are injected into a non-thermal gas-liquid plasma discharge reactor to generate a flowing liquid film region with a gas stream flowing alongside. A plasma discharge is propagated along the flowing liquid film region. Water is dissociated and reactive species such as hydroxyl radicals, hydrogen peroxide and nitrogen oxides are formed. The organic compound reacts with the reactive species such as hydroxyl radicals and hydrogen peroxide present in the flowing liquid film region and in the flowing gas stream to produce organic compound dissociation products. At least some organic compound dissociation products and nitrogen oxides are transferred to a bioreactor for further degradation of organic compounds. The nitrogen oxides are used as nutrients for bacteria in the bioreactor. Feedback control of the plasma reactor is based on conditions detected and determined in the biological reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: Bruce R. Locke, Youneng Tang, Robert Wandell
  • Publication number: 20180099258
    Abstract: The activation of the C—H bond using low temperature plasma with an inlet liquid stream such that value added products are formed effectively. An organic liquid (e.g., hexane which is immiscible with liquid water) is injected into a flowing gas (argon) stream followed by mixing with a liquid water stream. Thereafter, the mixture contacts a plasma region formed by a pulsed electric discharge. The plasma formed with the flowing liquid and gas between the two electrodes causes chemical reactions that generate various compounds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Inventors: Bruce R. LOCKE, Igor Alabugin, Robert Wandell, Kevin Hsieh, Stefan Bresch
  • Patent number: 9861950
    Abstract: The activation of the C—H bond using low temperature plasma with an inlet liquid stream such that value added products are formed effectively. An organic liquid (e.g., hexane which is immiscible with liquid water) is injected into a flowing gas (argon) stream followed by mixing with a liquid water stream. Thereafter, the mixture contacts a plasma region formed by a pulsed electric discharge. The plasma formed with the flowing liquid and gas between the two electrodes causes chemical reactions that generate various compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
    Inventors: Bruce R. Locke, Igor Alabugin, Robert Wandell, Kevin Hsieh, Stefan Bresch
  • Publication number: 20170021326
    Abstract: A reactor system that includes a single reactor or a plurality of parallel reactors. A method that includes injecting a mixture including liquid water and a gas, into at least one electrically-conductive inlet capillary tube of a continuously-flowing plasma reactor to generate a flowing liquid film region on one or more internal walls of the continuously-flowing plasma reactor with a gas stream flowing through the flowing liquid film region; propagating a plasma discharge along the flowing liquid film region from at least one electrically-conductive inlet capillary to an electrically-conductive outlet capillary tube at an opposing end of the continuously-flowing plasma reactor; dissociating the liquid water in the plasma discharge to form a plurality of dissociation products; producing hydrogen peroxide and nitrogen oxides from the plurality of dissociation products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Bruce R. LOCKE, Robert WANDELL
  • Publication number: 20140262744
    Abstract: The activation of the C—H bond using low temperature plasma with an inlet liquid stream such that value added products are formed effectively. An organic liquid (e.g., hexane which is immiscible with liquid water) is injected into a flowing gas (argon) stream followed by mixing with a liquid water stream. Thereafter, the mixture contacts a plasma region formed by a pulsed electric discharge. The plasma formed with the flowing liquid and gas between the two electrodes causes chemical reactions that generate various compounds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Bruce R. LOCKE, Igor ALABUGIN, Robert WANDELL, Kevin HSIEH, Stefan BRESCH
  • Patent number: 7919053
    Abstract: A pulsed gliding arc discharge (PGD) reactor includes an ignition coil driven by a pulse generator which is connected to a pair of divergent electrodes fixed by a reactor housing with a fluid inlet and outlet. Hydrogen peroxide and dye degradation can be carried out with a PGD reactor according to the invention with efficiencies that are more than two orders of magnitude greater than a conventional ACG reactor based on the calculated specific energy yield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Inventors: Radu Burlica, Bruce R. Locke
  • Publication number: 20070272543
    Abstract: A pulsed gliding arc discharge (PGD) reactor includes an ignition coil driven by a pulse generator which is connected to a pair of divergent electrodes fixed by a reactor housing with a fluid inlet and outlet. Hydrogen peroxide and dye degradation can be carried out with a PGD reactor according to the invention with efficiencies that are more than two orders of magnitude greater than a conventional ACG reactor based on the calculated specific energy yield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventors: Radu Burlica, Bruce R. Locke
  • Patent number: 6695953
    Abstract: Novel accelerated methods involving corona discharge, and preferably pulsed streamer high voltage corona discharge, in combination with an effective amount of suitable particles to break down organic contaminants, such as phenol and phenol red, in aqueous mediums are disclosed. More particularly, it has been discovered that the addition of an effective amount of suitable particles to the aqueous phase of a corona reactor greatly affects the properties of the corona discharge, i.e., streamer length, intensity, number of streamers and sparkover voltage, thereby significantly increasing the breakdown voltage (i.e., the maximum voltage prior to sparkover), so that the removal of organic contaminants may be accelerated, since the production of hydroxyl radicals, aqueous electrons and hydrogen peroxide increases with increases in the applied discharge voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Florida State University
    Inventors: Bruce R. Locke, Wright C. Finney, David R. Grymonpre
  • Patent number: 6491797
    Abstract: A method for oxidizing an organic contaminant in an aqueous medium generates H2O2 in the aqueous medium through the use of a corona discharge procedure. A quantity of hydroxyl radicals is generated from the H2O2. An organic contaminant is oxidized in the aqueous medium by reacting the hydroxyl radicals with the organic contaminant, the oxidation being enhanced by methods for facilitating the generation of hydroxyl radicals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Florida State University
    Inventors: Bruce R. Locke, Amit K. Sharma, Wright C. Finney, Pedro G. Arce