Patents by Inventor Chunqing Liu

Chunqing Liu 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: 11939283
    Abstract: An integrated process for hydrogenating olefins wherein the hydrogen stream is generated from electrolysis of water is described. Water is derived from a first reaction step wherein a first feed stream comprising oxygenated hydrocarbons is reacted to produce a first reacted product stream comprising olefins and a second reacted product stream comprising water. The second reacted product stream is electrolyzed to produce an electrolyzer product stream comprising hydrogen. Hydrogen is used to hydrogenate olefins. A paraffin stream can be obtained from the hydrogenated effluent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Manuela Serban, Chunqing Liu, Ashish Mathur, Saikrishna Laxmirajam Gosangari, Charles Luebke, Eseoghene Jeroro, Chad R. Huovie
  • Patent number: 11931698
    Abstract: A thin film composite gas separation membrane comprising a polyether block amide copolymer coating layer and a nanoporous asymmetric support membrane with nanopores on the skin layer surface of the support membrane and gelatin polymers inside the nanopores on the skin layer surface of the support membrane. A method for making the thin film composite gas separation membrane is provided as well as the use of the membrane for a variety of separations such as separations of hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide from natural gas, carbon dioxide removal from flue gas, fuel gas conditioning, hydrogen/methane, polar molecules, and ammonia mixtures with methane, nitrogen or hydrogen and other light gases separations, but also for natural gas liquids recovery and hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide removal from natural gas in a single step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Xueliang Dong, Chunqing Liu, Howie Tran
  • Publication number: 20240084466
    Abstract: An iridium-based catalyst and method of making the catalyst are described. The catalyst comprises a catalytic material comprising iridium oxide or a mixture of iridium and iridium oxide nanoplates. It may have a BET surface area of at least 50 m2/g and a pore volume of at least 0.10 cc/g. The nanoplates are less than 50 nm thick. The catalyst is made using organic and inorganic structure directing agents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Zhanyong Li, Chunqing Liu, Shurong Yang, Dennis F. van der Vliet, Gavin P. Towler, Jeffery C. Bricker
  • Publication number: 20240068116
    Abstract: A porous ion-permeable separator membrane with an asymmetric pore structure in which the top of the membrane (the side opposite the porous substrate) has smaller pores than the pores in the rest of the polymer coating (i.e., closer to the porous substrate) is described. The porous ion-permeable asymmetric composite membrane comprises polymers, inorganic particles, and a porous substrate which is stable at a pH of 8 or higher.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Xueliang Dong, Chunqing Liu, Nicole Karns
  • Publication number: 20230415095
    Abstract: A low cost, high selectivity asymmetric polyimide/polyethersulfone (PES) blend hollow fiber membrane, a method of making the membrane and its use for a variety of liquid, gas, and vapor separations such as deep desulfurization of gasoline and diesel fuels, ethanol/water separations, pervaporation dehydration of aqueous/organic mixtures, CO2/CH4, CO2/N2, H2/CH4, He/CH4, O2/N2, H2S/CH4, olefin/paraffin, iso/normal paraffins separations, and other light gas mixture separations. The polyimide/PES blend hollow fiber membrane is fabricated from a blend of a polyimide polymer and PES and showed surprisingly unique gas separation property with higher selectivities than either the polyimide hollow fiber membrane without PES polymer or the PES hollow fiber membrane without PES polymer for gas separations such as for H2/CH4, He/CH4, H2S/CH4, CO2/CH4 separations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2023
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: Chunqing Liu, Xueliang Dong, Jeremy Webb
  • Patent number: 11837767
    Abstract: Stable and high performance positive and negative electrolytes compositions to be used in redox flow battery systems are described. The redox flow battery system, comprises: at least one rechargeable cell comprising a positive electrolyte, a negative electrolyte, and an ionically conductive membrane positioned between the positive electrolyte and the negative electrolyte, the positive electrolyte in contact with a positive electrode, and the negative electrolyte in contact with a negative electrode. The positive electrolyte consists essentially of water, a first amino acid, an inorganic acid, an iron precursor, a supporting electrolyte, and optionally a boric acid. The negative electrolyte consists essentially of water, the iron precursor, the supporting electrolyte, and a negative electrolyte additive. The iron precursor is FeCl2, FeCl3, FeSO4, Fe2(SO4)3, FeO, Fe, Fe2O3, or combinations thereof. The supporting electrolyte is LiCl, NaCl, Na2SO4, KCl, NH4Cl, or combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Chunqing Liu, Xueliang Dong, Chaoyi Ba, Stuart R. Miller, James H. K. Yang
  • Publication number: 20230365744
    Abstract: Anion exchange polymers comprise a plurality of repeating units of formula (I). The polymer may be synthesized from a super acid catalyzed polyhydroxyalkylation reaction of monomers Ar1?, Ar2?, and X1? to form a neutral precursor polymer followed by a Menshutkin reaction to convert the neutral precursor polymer to the anion exchange polymer. Anion exchange membranes and membrane electrode assemblies incorporating the anion exchange polymers are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Chunqing Liu, Xueliang Dong
  • Publication number: 20230366108
    Abstract: Catalyst-coated ionically conductive membranes are described. The catalyst-coated ionically conductive membranes comprise an ionically conductive membrane, an anode catalyst coating layer on a first surface of the ionically conductive membrane, or, a cathode catalyst coating layer on a second surface of the ionically conductive membrane, or both wherein the anode catalyst coating layer, or the cathode catalyst coating layer, or both comprises a conductive polymer. Membrane electrode assemblies and electrolysis systems incorporating the catalyst-coated ionically conductive membranes are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Chunqing Liu, Xueliang Dong, Dennis F. van der Vliet, Zhanyong Li
  • Publication number: 20230366112
    Abstract: Water electrolysis catalysts having reduced precious metal loading which are highly active and stable and methods of preparing the water electrolysis catalysts are described. The methods involve depositing a substantially continuous thin shell layer of a platinum group metal (PGM)-based precursor on a nano-sized inorganic oxide core to form a coated inorganic oxide core. The coated inorganic oxide core is heated in the presence of a template to convert the substantially continuous thin shell layer of the PGM-based precursor to a substantially continuous thin shell layer of PGM oxide. The template is then removed forming a water electrolysis catalyst comprising the nano-sized inorganic oxide core having a substantially continuous thin shell layer of the PGM oxide. The water electrolysis catalyst comprises less than 30 wt% of the PGM oxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Zhanyong Li, Chunqing Liu, Dennis F. van der Vliet
  • Patent number: 11804615
    Abstract: Low cost membrane electrode assemblies (MEA) with improved coulombic efficiency (CE), reduced maintenance cost, and improved deliverable capacity have been developed for redox flow batteries and other electrochemical reaction applications. The MEA comprises: a microporous substrate membrane, first and second hydrophilic ionomeric polymer coating layers on surfaces of the microporous substrate membrane, and an electrode adhered to a second surface of the second hydrophilic ionomeric polymer coating layer. Methods of preparing the MEA and a redox flow battery system incorporating the MEA are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Chunqing Liu, Xueliang Dong, Jinfeng Wu, Stuart R. Miller
  • Patent number: 11786861
    Abstract: A low cost, high selectivity asymmetric polyimide/polyethersulfone (PES) blend hollow fiber membrane, a method of making the membrane and its use for a variety of liquid, gas, and vapor separations such as deep desulfurization of gasoline and diesel fuels, ethanol/water separations, pervaporation dehydration of aqueous/organic mixtures, CO2/CH4, CO2/N2, H2/CH4, He/CH4, O2/N2, H2S/CH4, olefin/paraffin, iso/normal paraffins separations, and other light gas mixture separations. The polyimide/PES blend hollow fiber membrane is fabricated from a blend of a polyimide polymer and PES and showed surprisingly unique gas separation property with higher selectivities than either the polyimide hollow fiber membrane without PES polymer or the PES hollow fiber membrane without PES polymer for gas separations such as for H2/CH4, He/CH4, H2S/CH4, CO2/CH4 separations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Chunqing Liu, Xueliang Dong, Jeremy Nolan Webb
  • Patent number: 11749811
    Abstract: An ionically conductive asymmetric composite membrane for use in redox flow battery, fuel cell, electrolysis applications and the like is described. It comprises a microporous substrate membrane and an asymmetric hydrophilic ionomeric polymer coating layer on the surface of the microporous substrate layer. The coating layer is made of a hydrophilic ionomeric polymer. The asymmetric hydrophilic ionomeric polymer coating layer comprises a porous layer having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface of the porous layer on the surface of the microporous substrate layer and a nonporous layer on the second surface of the porous support layer. The microporous substrate membrane is made from a different polymer from the hydrophilic ionomeric polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Chunqing Liu, Xueliang Dong, Chaoyi Ba, Stuart R. Miller
  • Publication number: 20230250545
    Abstract: A start-up process for conditioning an electrolysis system containing ionically conductive membrane, such as a polyelectrolyte multilayer coated proton exchange membranes, to reduce the break-in period is described. The conditioning involves heating the electrolysis feed, the electrolysis system, or both at a temperature above the desired operating temperature to achieve faster startup. In some cases, the voltage is controlled to avoid damage to the sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2022
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Inventors: Dennis F. van der Vliet, Chunqing Liu, Xueliang Dong
  • Publication number: 20230125657
    Abstract: A proton-conducting polymer comprises a plurality of repeating units of formula (I) for electrochemical reactions. The polymer may be synthesized from a super acid catalyzed polyhydroxyalkylation reaction of monomers Ar1?, Ar2?, and X1? followed by a nucleophilic substitution reaction or a grafting reaction, and optionally an acidification reaction. Proton-exchange membranes and membrane electrode assemblies made from the polymer are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2022
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Inventors: Chunqing Liu, Chaoyi Ba, Nicole Karns, Xueliang Dong
  • Publication number: 20230128376
    Abstract: A high selectivity and high CO2 plasticization resistant polymer comprises a plurality of repeating units of formula (I) for gas separation applications. The polymer may be synthesized from a superacid catalyzed poly(hydroalkylation) reaction. Membranes made from the polymer and gas separation processes using the membranes made from the polymer are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2022
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Inventors: Chunqing Liu, Chaoyi Ba, Nicole Karns
  • Publication number: 20230124791
    Abstract: A polyelectrolyte multilayer membrane has been developed for redox flow batteries and other electrochemical reaction applications. The polyelectrolyte multilayer membrane comprises an ionically conductive thin film composite membrane comprising a microporous support membrane, a hydrophilic ionomeric polymer coating layer on the surface of the microporous support membrane, and a polyelectrolyte multilayer coating on the second surface of the hydrophilic ionomeric polymer coating layer (the side opposite the support membrane). The polyelectrolyte multilayer coating comprises alternating layers of a polycation polymer and a polyanion polymer. Methods of making the polyelectrolyte multilayer membrane and redox flow battery system including the polyelectrolyte multilayer membrane are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Chunqing Liu, Xueliang Dong, Chaoyi Ba
  • Publication number: 20230118977
    Abstract: Low cost membrane electrode assemblies (MEA) with improved coulombic efficiency (CE), reduced maintenance cost, and improved deliverable capacity have been developed for redox flow batteries and other electrochemical reaction applications. The MEA comprises: a microporous substrate membrane, first and second hydrophilic ionomeric polymer coating layers on surfaces of the microporous substrate membrane, and an electrode adhered to a second surface of the second hydrophilic ionomeric polymer coating layer. Methods of preparing the MEA and a redox flow battery system incorporating the MEA are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Chunqing Liu, Xueliang Dong, Jinfeng Wu, Stuart R. Miller
  • Publication number: 20230123137
    Abstract: A new polyelectrolyte multilayer coated proton-exchange membrane for electrolysis and fuel cell applications has been developed for electrolysis and fuel cell applications. The polyelectrolyte multilayer coated proton-exchange membrane comprises: a cation exchange membrane, and a polyelectrolyte multilayer coating on one or both surfaces of the cation exchange membrane. The polyelectrolyte multilayer coating comprises alternating layers of a polycation polymer and a polyanion polymer. The polycation polymer layer is deposited on and is in contact with the cation exchange membrane. The top layer of the polyelectrolyte multilayer coating can be either a polycation polymer layer or a polyanion polymer layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Chunqing Liu, Xueliang Dong, Chaoyi Ba
  • Publication number: 20230102700
    Abstract: Anion exchange polymers having high OH? conductivity, chemical stability, and mechanical stability have been developed for use in AEMs. The anion exchange polymers have stable hydrophobic polymer backbones, stable hydrophilic quaternary ammonium cationic groups, and hydrophilic phenolic hydroxyl groups on the polymer side chains. The polymers have polymer backbones free of ether bonds, hydrophilic polymer side chains, and piperidinium ion-conducting functionality, which enables efficient and stable operation in water or CO2 electrolysis, redox flow battery, and fuel cell applications. The polymer comprises a plurality of repeating units of formula (I) Anion exchange membranes and membrane electrode assemblies incorporating the anion exchange polymers are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Chaoyi Ba, Chunqing Liu, Xueliang Dong
  • Publication number: 20230085103
    Abstract: Methods to improve redox flow battery performance with improved CE, reduced electrolyte solution crossover, and simplified solution refreshing process have been developed. The methods include controlling the pre-charging degree and conditions to allow high quality metal plating (ductile and uniform), for example, Fe(0), on the negative electrode. Control of the pre-charging conditions can be combined with increasing the concentration of metal ions compared to existing systems, while maintaining the same concentration in both the negative and positive electrolytes, or increasing the concentration of metal ions in the negative electrolyte so that the negative electrolyte has a higher concentration of metal ions than the positive electrolyte.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: Chunqing Liu, Chaoyi Ba, Xueliang Dong