Patents by Inventor Keith J. Sims
Keith J. Sims 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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Patent number: 8524062Abstract: An electrodeionization apparatus includes an anode compartment provided with an anode and a cathode compartment spaced from the anode compartment and provided with a cathode, wherein the anode and cathode are configured for coupling to a DC power source to effect an electric potential difference between the anode and the cathode and thereby influence transport of ionic material in liquid media and ion exchange media by the influence of the electric potential difference. The electrodeionization apparatus also includes a feed inlet receiving a feed solution, a product water outlet and a plurality of anion exchange membranes and a plurality of cation exchange membranes alternately arranged between the anode compartment and the cathode compartment.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2010Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Oleg Grebenyuk, Vladimir Grebenyuk, Li Zhang, Keith J. Sims, John Barber
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Publication number: 20120168313Abstract: An electrodeionization apparatus includes an anode compartment provided with an anode and a cathode compartment spaced from the anode compartment and provided with a cathode, wherein the anode and cathode are configured for coupling to a DC power source to effect an electric potential difference between the anode and the cathode and thereby influence transport of ionic material in liquid media and ion exchange media by the influence of the electric potential difference. The electrodeionization apparatus also includes a feed inlet receiving a feed solution, a product water outlet and a plurality of anion exchange membranes and a plurality of cation exchange membranes alternately arranged between the anode compartment and the cathode compartment.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2010Publication date: July 5, 2012Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Oleg Grebenyuk, Vladimir Grebenyuk, Li Zhang, Keith J. Sims, John Barber
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Patent number: 7794577Abstract: A spacer element (1) is disclosed having an integral screen for use in filled cell electrodialysis. The spacer (1) has a continuous portion (2) impermeable to flow and a screen (3) which spans a centrally-located flow treatment region that contains active treatment material, such as ion exchange beads. The screen (3) may perform a structural function, allowing operation at elevated pressure, and may also define a minimum gap between adjacent membranes and enhance mixing along the flow path and at cell boundaries. The spacer element (1) may be configured to enhance hydraulic filling of the cells, and cell architecture is readily implemented in a wide range of useful flow path geometries utilizing the screen spacer element (1).Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2002Date of Patent: September 14, 2010Assignee: Ionics, IncorporatedInventors: William W. Carson, Oleg Grebenyuk, Vladimir Grebenyuk, Keith J. Sims, R. Hilda Zanapalidou, Bernard R. Mack, Richard G. Parent
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Patent number: 7662267Abstract: An improved apparatus and operating method related thereto for deionizing water to produce substantially pure water using electric field and ion exchange materials are disclosed, including embodiments incorporating one or more of the novel features of brine and electrode streams flowing in a direction counter-current to the stream being deionized, a filling of the brine stream with stratified ion exchange materials, a stream mixing feature for mixing the stream being deionized, a gas removal feature for removal of gases, a spiral-wound embodiment of an electrodialysis device according to the invention, and a method for determining the preferred operating current for electrodialysis systems according to this invention.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2001Date of Patent: February 16, 2010Assignee: Ionics, IncorporatedInventors: William W. Carson, Keith J. Sims, Oleg Grebenyuk, Thomas J. Susa, Hilda R. Zanapalidou, Wayne A. McRae, Russell J. MacDonald
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Patent number: 7591933Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention relate to an electrodeionization device that includes comprising a generally cylindrical housing. The cylindrical housing includes a cylindrical inner core and an inner electrode that extends around the inner core. The cylindrical housing includes a leaf arranged as a spiral winding about the inner electrode and an outer electrode that extends about the spiral winding. Active treatment cells are defined by spaces within the spiral winding and by interleaf spaces thereof. One or more sealing bands extend between membranes of the spiral winding to define fluid flow.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2005Date of Patent: September 22, 2009Assignee: GE Ionics, Inc.Inventors: Vladimir Grebenyuk, Oleg Grebenyuk, Keith J. Sims, William W. Carson, Russell J. MacDonald, Li Zhang
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Patent number: 7306709Abstract: EDI apparatus for demineralizing a liquid flow is assembled in a housing having a cylindrical shape, and includes two metal electrodes, and one or more leafs, each leaf comprising a pair of selectively ion-permeable membranes arranged parallel to each other and spaced apart by spacing elements that allow liquid to flow in the interstitial space between membranes, thus forming an arrangement of dilute and concentrate cells in a desired flow configuration. Spacing elements between membranes, as well as between leaves, can be formed of inert polymer material, ion exchange beads, ion exchange fibers, a combination of two or more these elements, or a porous media incorporating one or more of such elements as an intrinsic part. An inner or central electrode and an outer or perimeter electrode establish a generally uniform and radially-oriented electrical or ionic current between the inner and the outer electrodes, across the helical flow spaces defined by the membrane/spacer windings.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2005Date of Patent: December 11, 2007Assignee: GE Osmonics, Inc.Inventors: Vladimir Grebenyuk, Oleg Grebenyuk, Keith J. Sims, William W. Carson, Russell J. MacDonald, Li Zhang
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Patent number: 7094325Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed for introducing ion exchange or other particulates into compartments of an already-assembled electrodeionization or comparable stack by modulating a flow of slurry into the compartments with slugs of gas such as air. The air propels liquid through the cells, scavenging ponded liquid so that the particulates (which are retained, e.g., by a strainer or obstruction, in compartment of the apparatus) are deposited as well-packed beds to fill the compartments. Pressurized air filling protocols may deliver discrete slugs of slurry between bursts of air, and the direction of filling may be periodically reversed to diminish particle bed non-homogeneities or settling gradients that arise during transport. The slugs of air may be applied in the direction of slurry flow, in the reverse direction, or both. Different slurries may be transported in a sequence to form layered and packed beds of enhanced utility.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2003Date of Patent: August 22, 2006Assignee: Ionics, IncorporatedInventors: Bernard R. Mack, Keith J. Sims, William W. Carson, Richard I. Parent
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Publication number: 20060173084Abstract: A sheet having anion exchange functionality and a sheet having cation exchange functionality are juxtaposed and joined by current bonding into a unitary bipolar membrane. This may be done without added reactants or bonding agents by placing the two-layer assembly between opposed electrodes in a fluid cell, preferably at pressure, and applying power across the cell to split water in a junction region of the membrane assembly. Preferably the anion exchange sheet is treated with an iron salt solution so as to incorporate or immobilize the metal in the polymer during the current bonding process, and enhance operating characteristics of the bipolar junction. Membrane peel strength is comparable to or greater than that of an underlying sheet of ion exchange material, but the bonding is fully reversible, e.g., by soaking in a concentrated solution. Preferably both sheets include an aromatic backbone or cross-linker component.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2005Publication date: August 3, 2006Inventors: Yongchang Zheng, Russell J. MacDonald, Yuander Ju, Keith J. Sims
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Patent number: 6796436Abstract: Water treatment systems or assemblies are normally tested after construction, at least for leaks, prior to shipping or storage. Pressure testing with a gas is hazardous, so testing with water is a standard method. After testing, the water is displaced from the system by draining or gas phase flushing. It is nearly impossible to remove all of the water from the system or assembly. This remaining water provides an environment for biological growth which contaminates the system or assembly over time. The purpose of this invention is to eliminate or minimize this biological contamination by adding a biocidal agent to the system or assembly before sealing it for shipment or storage.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2002Date of Patent: September 28, 2004Assignee: Ionics, IncorporatedInventors: William W. Carson, Keith J. Sims, Bernard Mack, Robert J. Ritz, William C. Whitehill
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Publication number: 20040060823Abstract: An improved apparatus and operating method related thereto for deionizing water to produce substantially pure water using electric field and ion exchange materials are disclosed, including embodiments incorporating one or more of the novel features of brine and electrode streams flowing in a direction counter-current to the stream being deionized, a filling of the brine stream with stratified ion exchange materials, a stream mixing feature for mixing the stream being deionized, a gas removal feature for removal of gases, a spiral-wound embodiment of an electrodialysis device according to the invention, and a method for determining the preferred operating current for electrodialysis systems according to this invention.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2003Publication date: April 1, 2004Inventors: William W. Carson, Keith J. Sims, Oleg Grebenyuk, Thomas Susa, Hilda R. Zanapalidou, Wayne A. McRae
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Publication number: 20030146090Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed for introducing ion exchange or other particulates into compartments of an already-assembled electrodeionization or comparable stack by modulating a flow of slurry into the compartments with slugs of gas such as air. The air propels liquid through the cells, scavenging ponded liquid so that the particulates (which are retained, e.g., by a strainer or obstruction, in compartment of the apparatus) are deposited as well-packed beds to fill the compartments. Pressurized air filling protocols may deliver discrete slugs of slurry between bursts of air, and the direction of filling may be periodically reversed to diminish particle bed non-homogeneities or settling gradients that arise during transport. The slugs of air may be applied in the direction of slurry flow, in the reverse direction, or both. Different slurries may be transported in a sequence to form layered and packed beds of enhanced utility.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2003Publication date: August 7, 2003Inventors: Bernard R. Mack, Keith J. Sims, William W. Carson, Richard I. Parent
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Publication number: 20030019818Abstract: Water treatment systems or assemblies are normally tested after construction, at least for leaks, prior to shipping or storage. Pressure testing with a gas is hazardous, so testing with water is a standard method. After testing, the water is displaced from the system by draining or gas phase flushing. It is nearly impossible to remove all of the water from the system or assembly. This remaining water provides an environment for biological growth which contaminates the system or assembly over time. The purpose of this invention is to eliminate or minimize this biological contamination by adding a biocidal agent to the system or assembly before sealing it for shipment or storage.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2002Publication date: January 30, 2003Applicant: Ionics, IncorporatedInventors: William W. Carson, Keith J. Sims, Bernard R. Mack, Robert J. Ritz, William C. Whitehill
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Patent number: 6126805Abstract: Improved electrodialysis (ED) stacks are disclosed having one or more components selected from the group:a) cation exchange membranes having ion exchange groups predominantly sulfonic acid groups and a minor amount of weakly acidic and/or weakly basic groups or membranes which are selective to monovalent cations and simultaneously therewith, cation exchange granules selective to monovalent cations as packing in the dilute compartments;b) anion exchange membranes having as ion exchange groups only quaternary ammonium and/or quaternary phosphonium groups and substantially no primary, secondary and/or tertiary amine and/or phosphine groups or membranes which are selective to monovalent anions simultaneously therewith, anion exchange granules selective to monovalent anions as packing in the dilute compartments;c) as packing in the dilute compartment, anion exchange granules which are selective to monovalent anions, or cation exchange granules which are selective to monovalent cations, or cation exchange granulesType: GrantFiled: August 2, 1999Date of Patent: October 3, 2000Assignee: Ionics, IncorporatedInventors: Bruce T. Batchelder, Irving D. Elyanow, Arthur L. Goldstein, Russell J. MacDonald, Wayne A. McRae, Keith J. Sims, Li Zhang
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Patent number: 5814197Abstract: Improved electrodialysis (ED) stacks are disclosed having one or more components selected from the group:a) cation exchange membranes having ion exchange groups predominantly sulfonic acid groups and a minor amount of weakly acidic and/or weakly basic groups or membranes which are selective to monovalent cations and simultaneously therewith, cation exchange granules selective to monovalent cations as packing in the dilute compartments;b) anion exchange membranes having as ion exchange groups only quaternary ammonium and/or quaternary phosphonium groups and substantially no primary, secondary and/or tertiary amine and/or phosphine groups or membranes which are selective to monovalent anions simultaneously therewith, anion exchange granules selective to monovalent anions as packing in the dilute compartments;c) as packing in the dilute compartment, anion exchange granules which are selective to monovalent anions, or cation exchange granules which are selective to monovalent cations, or cation exchange granulesType: GrantFiled: December 16, 1996Date of Patent: September 29, 1998Assignee: Ionics, IncorporatedInventors: Bruce T. Batchelder, Irving D. Elyanow, Arthur L. Goldstein, Russell J. MacDonald, Wayne A. McRae, Keith J. Sims, Li Zhang
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Patent number: 5679229Abstract: Improved electrodialysis (ED) stacks are disclosed having one or more components selected from the group:a) cation exchange membranes having ion exchange groups predominantly sulfonic acid groups and a minor amount of weakly acidic and/or weakly basic groups or membranes which are selective to monovalent cations and simultaneously therewith, cation exchange granules selective to monovalent cations as packing in the dilute compartments;b) anion exchange membranes having as ion exchange groups only quaternary ammonium and/or quaternary phosphonium groups and substantially no primary, secondary and/or tertiary amine and/or phosphine groups or membranes which are selective to monovalent anions simultaneously therewith, anion exchange granules selective to monovalent anions as packing in the dilute compartments;c) as packing in the dilute compartment, anion exchange granules which are selective to monovalent anions, or cation exchange granules which are selective to monovalent cations, or cation exchange granulesType: GrantFiled: December 16, 1996Date of Patent: October 21, 1997Assignee: Ionics, IncorporatedInventors: Arthur L. Goldstein, Wayne A. McRae, Keith J. Sims
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Patent number: 5679228Abstract: Improved electrodialysis (ED) stacks are disclosed having one or more components selected from the group:a) cation exchange membranes having ion exchange groups predominantly sulfonic acid groups and a minor amount of weakly acidic and/or weakly basic groups or membranes which are selective to monovalent cations and simultaneously therewith, cation exchange granules selective to monovalent cations as packing in the dilute compartments;b) anion exchange membranes having as ion exchange groups only quaternary ammonium and/or quaternary phosphonium groups and substantially no primary, secondary and/or tertiary amine and/or phosphine groups or membranes which are selective to monovalent anions simultaneously therewith, anion exchange granules selective to monovalent anions as packing in the dilute compartments;c) as packing in the dilute compartment, anion exchange granules which are selective to monovalent anions, or cation exchange granules which are selective to monovalent cations, or cation exchange granulesType: GrantFiled: December 13, 1995Date of Patent: October 21, 1997Assignee: Ionics, IncorporatedInventors: Irving D. Elyanow, Wayne A. McRae, Keith J. Sims, Li Zhang
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Patent number: 5503729Abstract: Electrodialysis ("ED") stacks are disclosed having components selected from the group:a) cation exchange ("CX") membranes and/or CX granules having in at least a surface a predominant amount of sulfonate exchange groups and a minor amount of weakly ionized exchange groups;b) anion exchange ("AX") membranes and/or AX granules having in at least a surface substantially only quaternary ammonium and/or phosphonium exchange groups which upon decomposition leave almost no amine or phosphine groups bound to the membranes or granules;c) AX and/or CX granules which are selective to monovalent ions at currents which are fractions of the limiting current of such granules;d) AX and/or CX membranes and granules, such membranes and granules selective to monovalent ions at currents which are fractions of the limiting current of such membranes and granules;e) ion exchange ("IX") granules in which the concentration of IX groups in the inner regions is a fraction (including zero) of the concentration in the outer regions;f) AXType: GrantFiled: April 25, 1994Date of Patent: April 2, 1996Assignee: Ionics IncorporatedInventors: Irving D. Elyanow, Arthur L. Goldstein, Russell J. MacDonald, Wayne A. McRae, Keith J. Sims, Li Zhang
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Patent number: 5203976Abstract: Apparatus and method for introducing ion-exchange and other particulates into certain compartments of an assembled electrodeionization stack comprising flowing a slurry of said particulates into the compartments while employing strainers for particulate retention so as to form a packed bed in the compartments; also apparatus and method for flowing said particulates out of said stack in the form of a slurry.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 1992Date of Patent: April 20, 1993Assignee: Ionics, IncorporatedInventors: Edgardo J. Parsi, Keith J. Sims, Irving D. Elyanow, Thomas A. Prato
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Patent number: 5120416Abstract: Apparatus and method for introducing ion-exchange and other particulates into certain compartments of an assembled electrodeionization stack comprising flowing a slurry of said particulates into the compartments while employing strainers for particulate retention so as to form a packed bed in the compartments; also apparatus and method for flowing said particulates out of said stack in the form of a slurry.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 1991Date of Patent: June 9, 1992Assignee: Ionics, IncorporatedInventors: Edgardo J. Parsi, Keith J. Sims, Irving D. Elyanow, Thomas A. Prato
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Patent number: 5066375Abstract: Apparatus and method for introducing ion-exchange and other particulates into certain compartments of an assembled electrodeionization stack comprising flowing a slurry of said particulates into the compartments while employing strainers for particulate retention so as to form a packed bed in the compartments; also apparatus and method for flowing said particulates out of said stack in the form of a slurry.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 1990Date of Patent: November 19, 1991Assignee: Ionics, IncorporatedInventors: Edgardo J. Parsi, Keith J. Sims, Irving D. Elyanow, Thomas A. Prato