Patents by Inventor Malcolm Man

Malcolm Man 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).

  • Publication number: 20210230024
    Abstract: Processes, systems, and techniques for treating produced water drawn from a subterranean formation. The produced water is provided and contains dissolved solids and magnesium, calcium, and sodium ions. The produced water is desalinated using an electrically-driven membrane separation apparatus that includes alternating anion exchange membranes and cation exchange membranes defining opposing sides of alternating product and concentrate chambers. The desalinating involves flowing the produced water through the product chamber, flowing a second water through the concentrate chamber, and applying an electric potential across the cation and anion exchange membranes as the produced and second waters flow through the product and concentrate chambers, respectively. The product water is consequently produced and has a total dissolved solids content of between 300 mg/L and 8,000 mg/L, a total concentration of calcium ions and magnesium ions less than 100 mg/L, and a sodium adsorption ratio of 20 to 90.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Applicant: Saltworks Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Xiangchun Yin, Benjamin Sparrow, Malcolm Man
  • Patent number: 10017400
    Abstract: Processes, systems, and techniques for multivalent ion desalination of a feed water use an apparatus that has a cathode, an anode, and an electrodialysis cell located between the cathode and anode. The cell has a product chamber through which the feed water flows, a multivalent cation concentrating chamber on a cathodic side of the product chamber through which the concentrated multivalent cation solution flows, and a multivalent anion concentrating chamber on an anodic side of the product chamber through which the concentrated multivalent anion solution flows. The product chamber and the multivalent cation concentrating chamber are each bounded by and share a cation exchange membrane, and the product chamber and the multivalent anion concentrating chamber are each bounded by and share an anion exchange membrane. A monovalent ion species is added to at least one of the concentrated multivalent cation solution and the concentrated multivalent anion solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Saltworks Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Xiangchun Yin, Malcolm Man, Benjamin Sparrow
  • Publication number: 20170210644
    Abstract: Processes, systems, and techniques for multivalent ion desalination of a feed water use an apparatus that has a cathode, an anode, and an electrodialysis cell located between the cathode and anode. The cell has a product chamber through which the feed water flows, a multivalent cation concentrating chamber on a cathodic side of the product chamber through which the concentrated multivalent cation solution flows, and a multivalent anion concentrating chamber on an anodic side of the product chamber through which the concentrated multivalent anion solution flows. The product chamber and the multivalent cation concentrating chamber are each bounded by and share a cation exchange membrane, and the product chamber and the multivalent anion concentrating chamber are each bounded by and share an anion exchange membrane. A monovalent ion species is added to at least one of the concentrated multivalent cation solution and the concentrated multivalent anion solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Applicant: Saltworks Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Xiangchun Yin, Malcolm Man, Benjamin Sparrow
  • Publication number: 20160002082
    Abstract: A multivalent ion separating desalination system and associated process employs at least one multivalent ion separator subsystem to split sparingly soluble multivalent ion species from saltwater into highly soluble salts comprising multivalent cations and monovalent anions and salts comprising monovalent cations and multivalent anions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Applicant: SALTWORKS TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Xiangchun Yin, Benjamin Stuart Sparrow, Malcolm Man
  • Patent number: 9227857
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed at an apparatus, method and plant for desalinating saltwater and contaminated saltwater. The apparatus comprises a stack and a manifolding assembly. The stack comprises a product chamber, a first and second concentrate chamber, an anion exchange membrane forming a boundary between the first concentrate chamber and the product chamber and a cation exchange membrane forming a boundary between the second concentrate chamber and the product chamber. The manifolding assembly comprises product and concentrate manifolding fluidly coupled to the product and concentrate chambers respectively, to convey a saltwater being desalinated to and away from the product chamber, and a concentrate to and away from the concentrate chambers. The stack may include a diluent chamber and adjacent anion or cation exchange membranes between the product chamber, diluent chamber and concentrate chamber to respectively convey anions or cations across multiple chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: SALTWORKS TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin Stuart Sparrow, Henry Tsin, Joshua Zoshi, Malcolm Man
  • Publication number: 20150158746
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed at an apparatus, method and plant for desalinating saltwater and contaminated saltwater. The apparatus comprises a stack and a manifolding assembly. The stack comprises a product chamber, a first and second concentrate chamber, an anion exchange membrane forming a boundary between the first concentrate chamber and the product chamber and a cation exchange membrane forming a boundary between the second concentrate chamber and the product chamber. The manifolding assembly comprises product and concentrate manifolding fluidly coupled to the product and concentrate chambers respectively, to convey a saltwater being desalinated to and away from the product chamber, and a concentrate to and away from the concentrate chambers. The stack may include a diluent chamber and adjacent anion or cation exchange membranes between the product chamber, diluent chamber and concentrate chamber to respectively convey anions or cations across multiple chambers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Applicant: Saltworks Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Stuart Sparrow, Henry Tsin, Joshua Zoshi, Malcolm Man
  • Publication number: 20150096891
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed at an apparatus, method and plant for desalinating saltwater and contaminated saltwater. The apparatus includes a stack and a manifolding assembly. The stack includes a product chamber, a first and second concentrate chamber, an anion exchange membrane forming a boundary between the first concentrate chamber and the product chamber and a cation exchange membrane forming a boundary between the second concentrate chamber and the product chamber. The manifolding assembly includes product and concentrate manifolding fluidly coupled to the product and concentrate chambers respectively, to convey a saltwater being desalinated to and away from the product chamber, and a concentrate to and away from the concentrate chambers. The stack may include a diluent chamber and adjacent anion or cation exchange membranes between the product chamber, diluent chamber and concentrate chamber to respectively convey anions or cations across multiple chambers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Benjamin Sparrow, Henry Tsin, Joshua Zoshi, Malcolm Man
  • Publication number: 20140197029
    Abstract: An apparatus, method and plant for desalinating saltwater and contaminated saltwater. The apparatus includes a stack and a manifolding assembly. The stack includes a product chamber, a first and second concentrate chamber, an anion exchange membrane forming a boundary between the first concentrate chamber and the product chamber and a cation exchange membrane forming a boundary between the second concentrate chamber and the product chamber. The manifolding assembly includes product and concentrate manifolding fluidly coupled to the product and concentrate chambers respectively, to convey a saltwater being desalinated to and away from the product chamber, and a concentrate to and away from the concentrate chambers. The stack may include a diluent chamber and adjacent anion or cation exchange membranes between the product chamber, diluent chamber and concentrate chamber to respectively convey anions or cations across multiple chambers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: SALTWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: BENJAMIN SPARROW, HENRY TSIN, JOSHUA ZOSHI, MALCOLM MAN
  • Patent number: 7618725
    Abstract: A low contaminant formic acid fuel is especially suited toward use in a direct organic liquid fuel cell. A fuel of the invention provides high power output that is maintained for a substantial time and the fuel is substantially non-flammable. Specific contaminants and contaminant levels have been identified as being deleterious to the performance of a formic acid fuel in a fuel cell, and embodiments of the invention provide low contaminant fuels that have improved performance compared to known commercial bulk grade and commercial purified grade formic acid fuels. Preferred embodiment fuels (and fuel cells containing such fuels) including low levels of a combination of key contaminants, including acetic acid, methyl formate, and methanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Yimin Zhu, Zakia Kahn, Malcolm Man
  • Publication number: 20060059769
    Abstract: A low contaminant formic acid fuel is especially suited toward use in a direct organic liquid fuel cell. A fuel of the invention provides high power output that is maintained for a substantial time and the fuel is substantially non-flammable. Specific contaminants and contaminant levels have been identified as being deleterious to the performance of a formic acid fuel in a fuel cell, and embodiments of the invention provide low contaminant fuels that have improved performance compared to known commercial bulk grade and commercial purified grade formic acid fuels. Preferred embodiment fuels (and fuel cells containing such fuels) including low levels of a combination of key contaminants, including acetic acid, methyl formate, and methanol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2005
    Publication date: March 23, 2006
    Inventors: Richard Masel, Yimin Zhu, Zakia Khan, Malcolm Man