Abstract: Self-cleaning electrochemical cells, systems including self-cleaning electrochemical cells, and methods of operating self-cleaning electrochemical cells are disclosed. The self-cleaning electrochemical cell can include a plurality of concentric electrodes disposed in a housing, a fluid channel defined between the concentric electrodes, and an electrical connector positioned at a distal end of a concentric electrode and electrically connected to the electrode. The electrical connectors may be configured to provide a substantially even current distribution to the concentric electrode and minimize a zone of reduced velocity occurring downstream from the electrical connector. The electrical connector may be configured to cause a temperature of an electrolyte solution to increase by less than about 0.5° C. while transmitting at least 100 W of power.

Abstract: An electrochemical separation device includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a cell stack including a plurality of sub-blocks each having alternating depleting compartments and concentrating compartments and each including frame and channel portions disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. An internal seal formed of a first material is disposed between and in contact with the channel portions between adjacent sub-blocks in the cell stack and configured to prevent leakage between depleting compartments and concentrating compartments in the adjacent sub-blocks. An external seal formed of a second material having at least one material parameter different from the first material is disposed between and in contact with the frames of the adjacent sub-blocks in the cell stack and configured to prevent leakage from an internal volume of the electrochemical separation device to outside of the electrochemical separation device.

Abstract: A method of operating an electrochemical cell including introducing an aqueous solution into the electrochemical cell, applying a current across an anode and a cathode to produce a product, monitoring the voltage, dissolved hydrogen, or a condition of the aqueous solution, and applying the current in a pulsed waveform responsive to one of the measured parameters is disclosed. An electrochemical system including an electrochemical cell including an anode and a cathode, a source of an aqueous solution having an outlet fluidly connectable to the electrochemical cell, a sensor for measuring a parameter, and a controller configured to cause the anode and the cathode to apply the current in a pulsed waveform responsive to the parameter measurement is disclosed. Methods of suppressing accumulation of hydrogen gas within the electrochemical cell are also disclosed. Methods of facilitating operation of an electrochemical cell are also disclosed.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell including a first chamber having an anode, a second chamber having a cathode, at least one ionic connection between the first chamber and the second chamber, such that liquid electrolyte from the first chamber is prevented from mixing with liquid electrolyte in the second chamber is provided. The first chamber and the second chamber can be arranged in parallel and positioned remotely from each other. An electrochemical system including the electrochemical cell, and first and second sources of saline aqueous solutions is also provided. Water treatment systems are also provided. A method of operating an electrochemical cell including introducing first and second saline aqueous solutions into first and second chambers of the electrochemical cell, and applying a current across the anode and the cathode to generate first and second products, respectively is also provided. A method of facilitating operation of an electrochemical cell is also provided.

Abstract: Methods of treating water having organic contaminants are disclosed. The methods include performing a first treatment on the water effective to oxidize a predetermined amount of the organic contaminant and electrochemically treating the water. The methods include introducing a hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) containing reagent into the water, allowing the H2O2 containing reagent to react with the organic contaminant for a reaction time effective to oxidize a predetermined amount of the organic contaminant, and electrochemically treating the water. Systems for treating water are also disclosed. The systems include an electrochemical cell, a source of an H2O2 containing reagent upstream from the electrochemical cell, and a controller operable to regulate a reaction time of the H2O2 containing reagent in the water and a potential applied to the electrochemical cell.

Abstract: Self-cleaning electrochemical cells, systems including self-cleaning electrochemical cells, and methods of operating self-cleaning electrochemical cells are disclosed. The self-cleaning electrochemical cell can include a plurality of concentric electrodes disposed in a housing, for example, a cathode and an anode, a fluid channel defined between the concentric electrodes, a separator residing between the concentric electrodes, first and second end caps coupled to respective ends of the housing, and an inlet cone. The separators may be configured to localize the electrodes and dimensioned to minimize a zone of reduced velocity occurring downstream from the separator. The end caps and inlet cone may be dimensioned to maintain fully developed flow and minimize pressure drop across the electrochemical cell.

Abstract: Electrochemical water treatment devices are disclosed. The device includes an electrochemical separation module fluidly connectable to the source of water to be treated. The electrochemical separation module includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a plurality of dilution compartments. Each of the dilution compartments includes a first region of ion exchange media having a first average particle size, a second region of ion exchange media having a second average particle size, and a third region of ion exchange media having a third average particle size. A volume of the second region of ion exchange media being greater than or equal to a total volume of the first and third regions of ion exchange media. Methods of facilitating treatment of water containing weakly ionized species, e.g., dissolved boron containing species and dissolved silica containing species, are disclosed. Electrochemical separation modules are also disclosed.

Abstract: An electrochlorination process includes treating water from a source of water in an advanced water conditioning system that removes at least a portion of anions and cations from the water and produces demineralized water, blending the demineralized water with sodium chloride to form a brine solution, and treating the brine solution in an electrolyzer to form a disinfection solution including sodium hypochlorite having a concentration of chlorate of less than 0.25 mg/L.

Abstract: An electrochlorination system comprises a source of feed fluid, a product fluid outlet, and a plurality of electrochemical cells connected fluidically between the source of feed fluid and the product fluid outlet. The system is configured to operate at least one of the plurality of electrochemical cells at one of a first current density or a first flow rate, and to operate another of the plurality of electrochemical cells at a second current density or second flow rate different from the respective first current density or first flow rate.

Abstract: A method of operating an electrochemical cell including introducing an aqueous solution into the electrochemical cell, applying a current across an anode and a cathode to produce a product, monitoring the voltage, dissolved hydrogen, or a condition of the aqueous solution, and applying the current in a pulsed waveform responsive to one of the measured parameters is disclosed. An electrochemical system including an electrochemical cell including an anode and a cathode, a source of an aqueous solution having an outlet fluidly connectable to the electrochemical cell, a sensor for measuring a parameter, and a controller configured to cause the anode and the cathode to apply the current in a pulsed waveform responsive to the parameter measurement is disclosed. Methods of suppressing accumulation of hydrogen gas within the electrochemical cell are also disclosed. Methods of facilitating operation of an electrochemical cell are also disclosed.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell including a first chamber having an anode, a second chamber having a cathode, at least one ionic connection between the first chamber and the second chamber, such that liquid electrolyte from the first chamber is prevented from mixing with liquid electrolyte in the second chamber is provided. The first chamber and the second chamber can be arranged in parallel and positioned remotely from each other. An electrochemical system including the electrochemical cell, and first and second sources of saline aqueous solutions is also provided. Water treatment systems are also provided. A method of operating an electrochemical cell including introducing first and second saline aqueous solutions into first and second chambers of the electrochemical cell, and applying a current across the anode and the cathode to generate first and second products, respectively is also provided. A method of facilitating operation of an electrochemical cell is also provided.

Abstract: Water filtration systems are disclosed. The water filtration systems include a regenerative media filter vessel comprising a housing, an inlet, and an outlet, a diffuser fluidly connected to the inlet and disposed within the regenerative media filter vessel, and at least one pump configured to direct water through the water filtration system. The housing of the regenerative media filter vessel comprises a concave lower portion centered about a vertical axis of the vessel. The position of the diffuser along a height of the regenerative media filter vessel is determined by at least a ratio of the height to an inner diameter of the regenerative media filter vessel and a radius of curvature of the concave lower portion. A regenerative media filter including a diffuser having asymmetrically spaced apertures is also disclosed.

Abstract: Self-cleaning electrochemical cells, systems including self-cleaning electrochemical cells, and methods of operating self-cleaning electrochemical cells are disclosed. The self-cleaning electrochemical cell can include a plurality of concentric electrodes disposed in a housing, for example, a cathode and an anode, a fluid channel defined between the concentric electrodes, a separator residing between the concentric electrodes, first and second end caps coupled to respective ends of the housing, and an inlet cone. The separators may be configured to localize the electrodes and dimensioned to minimize a zone of reduced velocity occurring downstream from the separator. The end caps and inlet cone may be dimensioned to maintain fully developed flow and minimize pressure drop across the electrochemical cell.

Abstract: An electrochemical separation device includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a cell stack including alternating depleting compartments and concentrating compartments disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, an inlet manifold configured to introduce a fluid to one of the depleting compartments or the concentrating compartments an outlet manifold, and one or more of a fluid flow director disposed within the inlet manifold and having a surface configured to alter a flow path of the fluid introduced into the inlet manifold and direct the fluid into the one of the depleting compartments or the concentrating compartments, and a second fluid flow director disposed within the outlet manifold and having a surface configured to alter a flow path of the fluid introduced into the outlet manifold via one of the depleting compartments or the concentrating compartments.

Abstract: An electrochemical separation device includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a cell stack including a plurality of sub-blocks each having alternating depleting compartments and concentrating compartments and each including frame and channel portions disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. An internal seal formed of a first material is disposed between and in contact with the channel portions between adjacent sub-blocks in the cell stack and configured to prevent leakage between depleting compartments and concentrating compartments in the adjacent sub-blocks. An external seal formed of a second material having at least one material parameter different from the first material is disposed between and in contact with the frames of the adjacent sub-blocks in the cell stack and configured to prevent leakage from an internal volume of the electrochemical separation device to outside of the electrochemical separation device.

Abstract: Self-cleaning electrochemical cells, systems including self-cleaning electrochemical cells, and methods of operating self-cleaning electrochemical cells are disclosed. The self-cleaning electrochemical cell can include a plurality of concentric electrodes disposed in a housing, a fluid channel defined between the concentric electrodes, and an electrical connector positioned at a distal end of a concentric electrode and electrically connected to the electrode. The electrical connectors may be configured to provide a substantially even current distribution to the concentric electrode and minimize a zone of reduced velocity occurring downstream from the electrical connector. The electrical connector may be configured to cause a temperature of an electrolyte solution to increase by less than about 0.5° C. while transmitting at least 100 W of power.

Abstract: A water treatment system comprises an actinic radiation reactor, an electrochemical cell configured to produce hydrogen peroxide and having an outlet in fluid communication between a source of electrolyte and the actinic radiation reactor, and a source of oxygen in communication with an inlet of the electrochemical cell.

Abstract: An electrochemical separation device includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a cell stack including alternating depleting compartments and concentrating compartments disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, an inlet manifold configured to introduce a fluid to one of the depleting compartments or the concentrating compartments an outlet manifold, and one or more of a fluid flow director disposed within the inlet manifold and having a surface configured to alter a flow path of the fluid introduced into the inlet manifold and direct the fluid into the one of the depleting compartments or the concentrating compartments, and a second fluid flow director disposed within the outlet manifold and having a surface configured to alter a flow path of the fluid introduced into the outlet manifold via one of the depleting compartments or the concentrating compartments.

Abstract: An electrochlorination system includes an electrolyzer fluidically connectable between a source of feed fluid and a product fluid outlet, and a sub-system configured to one of increase a pH of the feed fluid, or increase a ratio of monovalent to divalent ions in the feed fluid, upstream of the electrolyzer.

Abstract: A method of operating an electrochemical cell including introducing an aqueous solution into the electrochemical cell, applying a current across an anode and a cathode to produce a product, monitoring the voltage, dissolved hydrogen, or a condition of the aqueous solution, and reversing polarity of the anode and the cathode responsive to one of the measured parameters is disclosed. An electrochemical system including an electrochemical cell including an anode and a cathode, a source of an aqueous solution having an outlet fluidly connectable to the electrochemical cell, a sensor for measuring a parameter, and a controller configured to cause the anode and the cathode to reverse polarity responsive to the parameter measurement is disclosed. Methods of suppressing accumulation of hydrogen gas within the electrochemical cell are also disclosed. Methods of facilitating operation of an electrochemical cell are also disclosed.