Patents by Inventor Ian S. McKay

Ian S. McKay 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: 11926783
    Abstract: A method of electrochemical redox refrigeration includes inducing a flow of an electrochemical refrigerant that is in contact with a first electrode to a second electrode; applying an electrical potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the electrochemical refrigerant is oxidized at one of the first electrode and second electrode and reduced at another of the first electrode and second electrode; wherein the first electrode is at least partially thermally isolated from Joule heating in the electrochemical refrigerant and from activation losses in the second electrode by an action of the flow of the electrochemical refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Arunava Majumdar, Ian S. McKay
  • Patent number: 10886548
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus configured for the mitigation of hydrogen accumulation within electrochemical systems are generally described. The systems, methods, and apparatus described herein can be, according to certain embodiments, configured to be part of an electrochemical system in which hydrogen is generated (e.g., as a reaction byproduct).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: L3 Open Water Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas B. Milnes, Thomas Humplik, Ian S. McKay
  • Publication number: 20200325379
    Abstract: A method of electrochemical redox refrigeration includes inducing a flow of an electrochemical refrigerant that is in contact with a first electrode to a second electrode; applying an electrical potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the electrochemical refrigerant is oxidized at one of the first electrode and second electrode and reduced at another of the first electrode and second electrode; wherein the first electrode is at least partially thermally isolated from Joule heating in the electrochemical refrigerant and from activation losses in the second electrode by an action of the flow of the electrochemical refrigerant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventors: Arunava Majumdar, Ian S. McKay
  • Publication number: 20190296382
    Abstract: A direct thermoelectrochemical heat-to-electricity converter includes two electrochemical cells at hot and cold temperatures, each having a gas-impermeable, electron-blocking membrane capable of transporting an ion I, and a pair of electrodes on opposite sides of the membrane. Two closed-circuit chambers A and B each includes a working fluid, a pump, and a counter-flow heat exchanger. The chambers are connected to opposite sides of the electrochemical cells and carry their respective working fluids between the two cells. The working fluids are each capable of undergoing a reversible redox half-reaction of the general form R?O+I+e?, where R is a reduced form of an active species in a working fluid and O is the oxidized forms of the active species. One of the first pair of electrodes is electrically connected to one the second pair of electrodes via an electrical load to produce electricity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: William C. Chueh, Andrey D. Poletayev, Ian S. McKay, Arunava Majumdar
  • Patent number: 10230119
    Abstract: Waste management in electrochemical systems, such as electrochemical systems in which an electrochemically active material comprising aluminum is employed, is generally described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: L3 Open Water Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason R. Kovacs, Ian S. McKay, David H. Porter, Thomas B. Milnes
  • Patent number: 10147961
    Abstract: A method for collecting aluminate waste. The method includes transporting a super-saturated aqueous aluminate stream through a non-electrode open cell foam such that aluminum hydroxide that is the product of an electricity-generating electrochemical reaction between aluminum and water is precipitated on the non-electrode open cell foam, wherein at least 50% wt of the precipitation occurs within the non-electrode open cell foam instead of on an electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: L3 Open Water Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason R. Kovacs, Ian S. McKay, David H. Porter, Thomas B. Milnes
  • Publication number: 20180212263
    Abstract: Waste management in electrochemical systems, such as electrochemical systems in which an electrochemically active material comprising aluminum is employed, is generally described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2018
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: Jason R. Kovacs, Ian S. McKay, David H. Porter, Thomas B. Milnes
  • Publication number: 20180183082
    Abstract: Waste management in electrochemical systems, such as electrochemical systems in which an electrochemically active material comprising aluminum is employed, is generally described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2018
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Inventors: Jason R. Kovacs, Ian S. McKay, David H. Porter, Thomas B. Milnes
  • Patent number: 10003095
    Abstract: Waste management in electrochemical systems, such as electrochemical systems in which an electrochemically active material comprising aluminum is employed, is generally described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: L3 Open Water Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason R. Kovacs, Ian S. McKay, David H. Porter, Thomas B. Milnes
  • Publication number: 20180019492
    Abstract: Waste management in electrochemical systems, such as electrochemical systems in which an electrochemically active material comprising aluminum is employed, is generally described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Jason R. Kovacs, Ian S. McKay, David H. Porter, Thomas B. Milnes
  • Publication number: 20170288253
    Abstract: A direct thermoelectrochemical heat-to-electricity converter includes two electrochemical cells at hot and cold temperatures, each having a gas-impermeable, electron-blocking membrane capable of transporting an ion I, and a pair of electrodes on opposite sides of the membrane. Two closed-circuit chambers A and B each includes a working fluid, a pump, and a counter-flow heat exchanger. The chambers are connected to opposite sides of the electrochemical cells and carry their respective working fluids between the two cells. The working fluids are each capable of undergoing a reversible redox half-reaction of the general form R?O+I+e?, where R is a reduced form of an active species in a working fluid and O is the oxidized forms of the active species. One of the first pair of electrodes is electrically connected to one the second pair of electrodes via an electrical load to produce electricity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: William C. Chueh, Andrey D. Poletayev, Ian S. McKay, Arunava Majumdar
  • Publication number: 20170077538
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus configured for the mitigation of hydrogen accumulation within electrochemical systems are generally described. The systems, methods, and apparatus described herein can be, according to certain embodiments, configured to be part of an electrochemical system in which hydrogen is generated (e.g., as a reaction byproduct).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Applicant: Open Water Power, Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas B. MILNES, Thomas HUMPLIK, Ian S. MCKAY
  • Publication number: 20130276769
    Abstract: Aluminum may be used as a fuel source to power small vehicles, unmanned vehicles or underwater vehicles, other small robotics, backup or regular underwater power sources (e.g., for oil rigs), or as an emergency power source in flooded or disaster areas. Reactors are described that harvest energy produced by the exothermic oxidative reaction of aluminum or an aluminum alloy with water, with the assistance of liquid gallium as a depassivating agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Ian S. McKay, Ruaridh R. MacDonald, Erich J. Brandeau