Patents by Inventor Samuel Stucki

Samuel Stucki 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: 9624586
    Abstract: An electrolysis cell, having an anode, a cathode, and a membrane that is situated between the anode and the cathode and contacts the anode via an anode contact area and contacts the cathode via a cathode contact area, wherein the cathode contact area is greater than the anode contact area, the membrane has a surface oriented toward the cathode that is greater than the cathode contact area, and the electrolysis cell has cathodically polarized surfaces that are in direct contact with the electrically conductive water. This invention also relates to a method for operating an electrolysis cell in natural water and a use of such an electrolysis cell for disinfecting water are also proposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Innovatec Gerãtetechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Samuel Stucki, Dirk Schulze
  • Publication number: 20160349204
    Abstract: A device for determining an ozone concentration in an aqueous solution, and the device has at least one measuring electrode that can be immersed in the aqueous solution, at least one cationic exchange material as a solid electrolyte that can be immersed with a first end in the aqueous solution and with a second end that protrudes out from the aqueous solution, its second end being in contact with a reference electrode. In order to determine the ozone concentration, the first end of the cationic exchange material in the aqueous solution can be contacted by the measuring electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventor: Samuel Stucki
  • Publication number: 20160040308
    Abstract: An electrolysis cell, having an anode, a cathode, and a membrane that is situated between the anode and the cathode and contacts the anode via an anode contact area and contacts the cathode via a cathode contact area, wherein the cathode contact area is greater than the anode contact area, the membrane has a surface oriented toward the cathode that is greater than the cathode contact area, and the electrolysis cell has cathodically polarized surfaces that are in direct contact with the electrically conductive water. This invention also relates to a method for operating an electrolysis cell in natural water and a use of such an electrolysis cell for disinfecting water are also proposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: Samuel Stucki, Dirk SCHULZE
  • Patent number: 8475549
    Abstract: To generate methane from biomass, a biomass pulp is produced from the biomass with a desired dry mass content being set, and the biomass pulp is placed under pressure. The biomass pulp is heated under pressure in order to liquefy the solid organic components of the biomass pulp. The pressurized and heated biomass pulp is heated further to at least the critical temperature of the biomass pulp. Solids precipitated under pressure and increased temperature are separated from the fluid phase. At least a part of the remaining fluid phase is gasified under pressure and increased temperature by means of a reactor to form a methane-rich gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Paul Scherrer Institut
    Inventors: Frederic Vogel, Samuel Stucki, Thanh-Binh Truong, Maurice H. Waldner
  • Patent number: 8313544
    Abstract: In a process for the synthetic generation of methane from a feed gas mixture, a feed gas mixture including carbon monoxide, hydrogen, water vapor, CO2, volatile hydrocarbons comprising C2 and higher, unsaturated C2 components and aromatic hydrocarbons in the range of 1 to 10 vol % is provided. The feed gas mixture is contacted with a fluidized bed catalyst having catalyst particles having a catalytic active component selected from the group consisting of a metal, a metal compound and combinations thereof. The contacting occurs at an elevated temperature in the range of 250 to 450° C., a feed gas pressure in the range of 0.8 to 70 bar, a gas hourly space velocity of 1000 to 50000 h?1, and a concentration of H2/CO in the gas mixture in the range of 0.25 to 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Paul Scherrer Institut
    Inventors: Martin Seemann, Serge Biollaz, Samuel Stucki
  • Publication number: 20090126274
    Abstract: To generate methane from biomass, a biomass pulp is produced from the biomass with a desired dry mass content being set, and the biomass pulp is placed under pressure. The biomass pulp is heated under pressure in order to liquefy the solid organic components of the biomass pulp. The pressurized and heated biomass pulp is heated further to at least the critical temperature of the biomass pulp. Solids precipitated under pressure and increased temperature are separated from the fluid phase. At least a part of the remaining fluid phase is gasified under pressure and increased temperature by means of a reactor to form a methane-rich gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2006
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventors: Frederic Vogel, Thanh-Binh Truong, Samuel Stucki, Maurice Waldner
  • Publication number: 20070299288
    Abstract: In a process for the synthetic generation of methane from a feed gas mixture, a feed gas mixture including carbon monoxide, hydrogen, water vapor, CO2, volatile hydrocarbons comprising C2 and higher, unsaturated C2 components and aromatic hydrocarbons in the range of 1 to 10 vol % is provided. The feed gas mixture is contacted with a fluidized bed catalyst having catalyst particles having a catalytic active component selected from the group consisting of a metal, a metal compound and combinations thereof. The contacting occurs at an elevated temperature in the range of 250 to 450° C., a feed gas pressure in the range of 0.8 to 70 bar, a gas hourly space velocity of 1000 to 50000 h?1, and a concentration of H2/CO in the gas mixture in the range of 0.25 to 5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2005
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Applicant: PAUL SCHERRER INSTITUT
    Inventors: Martin Seemann, Serge Biollaz, Samuel Stucki
  • Patent number: 4956057
    Abstract: A process for complete removal of nitrites and nitrates from an aqueous solution (1) by means of electrolysis, wherein the aqueous solution (1) is fed to the cathode space (4) of an electrolysis cell (2) and an aqueous solution (10), still containing only non-participating residual salts, is discharged from the anode space (6), whereas the gas (7) formed at the cathode is fed to a catalyst bed (8). In the latter, the gases H.sub.2, NH.sub.3, NO and N.sub.2 O collected in the cathode space (4) are converted to the non-toxic substances N.sub.2 and H.sub.2 O. In addition, partial combustion of H.sub.2 by O.sub.2 from the anode space (6) for maintaining the temperature of the catalyst bed (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1990
    Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri Ltd.
    Inventors: Samuel Stucki, Dieter Winkler
  • Patent number: 4839007
    Abstract: A method for purifying industrial waste water by direct oxidation of the organic pollutants in an electrochemical cell the anode of which contains, in its active part or in any intermediate layer present, neither noble metals in any form nor PbO.sub.2 nor graphite, but instead comprises in this part exclusively SnO.sub.2 which is doped with F, Cl, Sb, Mo, W, Nb, Ta or with a mixture of at least two of these elements. The anode has an oxygen overvoltage which is higher than that of a PbO.sub.2 comparison anode and reaches the value of at least 1.85 V at a current density of 0.1 mA/cm.sup.2 in 1 normal H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 under a pressure of 1 bar at a temperature of 20.degree. C. in the presence of a Pt counterelectrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1989
    Assignee: BBC Brown Boveri AG
    Inventors: Rudiger Kotz, Claus Schuler, Samuel Stucki
  • Patent number: 4836929
    Abstract: A process for breaking down organic substances and/or microbes in pretreated feed water for high-purity recirculation systems using ozone which is generated in the anode space (5) of an electrochemical cell (3) and treated with ultraviolet rays and/or with H.sub.2 (8) generated in the cathode space (6) of the same cell (3) or H.sub.2 (20) supplied from outside. The latter is used to reduce elementary oxygen in any form to harmless water. Post treatment via mixed bed (14) and filter (15). Possibility of feeding back water (19) downstream of the receiver (17). No harmful reaction products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1989
    Assignee: BBC Brown Boveri AG
    Inventors: Hans Baumann, Samuel Stucki
  • Patent number: 4759849
    Abstract: The feed water for a reverse osmosis device (7) is treated, by means of ozone, by being passed through a mixing vessel (4), in which the charging with ozone is carried out, a direct contact time container (5), and a residual-ozone destruction vessel (6) into the reverse osmosis device (7). At the permeate outlet (9) of the latter, part of the stream is branched off and fed, for charging with ozone, into an electrolysis cell (2) which is provided with a solid electrolyte, and fed back into the mixing vessel (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1988
    Assignee: BBC Brown Boveri AG
    Inventors: Hans Baumann, Hans-Peter Klein, Samuel Stucki
  • Patent number: 4619753
    Abstract: A bipolar plate for an apparatus having a stacked configuration, said apparatus comprised of a plurality of electrochemical cells and employing a solid electrolyte, said bipolar plate comprised of a porous titanium plate (1) having a parallel groove structure (3), said bipolar plate further comprised of a non-porous, solid titanium plate (2) strongly welded to plate (1) at contact loci (4), wherewith channels (5) are present, and said bipolar plate further comprised of a surface layer or coating (6) comprised of a material which is a catalyst for electrolytic reactions. A method of manufacturing the subject bipolar plate, comprising the following: Powder metallurgical manufacture of the porous titanium plate (1), and bonding of plate (1) to the solid titanium plate (2) by sintering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1986
    Assignee: BBC Brown, Boveri & Company Limited
    Inventors: Hans-Jorg Christen, Hubert Devantay, Claude Schellenberg, Gunther Scherer, Samuel Stucki
  • Patent number: 4546010
    Abstract: An electrically conductive layer on a solid-body electrolyte (1) is produced by swelling and impregnating an organic ion exchange material (2) with a metal salt solution, drying, converting the metal ions in a gas stream to finely distributed particles (3) which are in electrical contact with one another, renewed swelling in a solvent, converting into a brushable paste and applying same to the surface of the solid-body electrolyte and drying. Preferred embodiment: solid-body electrolyte (1) and ion exchange material (2) made of polymers containing sulphonic acids; and conductive particles (3) made of platinum metals or oxides thereof, in particular ruthenium as electrocatalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1985
    Assignee: BBC Brown, Boveri & Company, Limited
    Inventors: Eric Killer, Gunther Scherer, Samuel Stucki
  • Patent number: 4455203
    Abstract: Hydrogen peroxide, H.sub.2 O.sub.2, is electrochemically produced from water or an aqueous solution and oxygen in an electrolytic cell using a solid electrolyte (1) made of a perfluorinated polymer and gas-permeable coatings (2,3) as electrodes by supplying the water to the anode side and the oxygen to the cathode side and withdrawing the H.sub.2 O.sub.2 on the cathode side. In this process, the oxygen produced on the anode side can also be made use of by passing it round to the cathode side or passing it through the solid electrolyte (1) in any such case where no undesirable gas (for example chlorine) is simultaneously formed at the anode. The process works largely independently of the cation concentration (salts, bases) and does not require an additional separation of the H.sub.2 O.sub.2 from a liquid electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1984
    Assignee: BBC Brown, Boveri & Company, Limited
    Inventor: Samuel Stucki
  • Patent number: 4427504
    Abstract: Nitric oxide is prepared by the oxidation of ammonia produced by the Haber-Bosch synthesis technique by (a) vaporizing and heating water to superheated steam; (b) electrolyzing the superheated steam in a high temperature electrolysis cell to oxygen and hydrogen; (c) reacting said hydrogen with atmospheric nitrogen thereby forming ammonia by the Haber-Bosch process; and (d) oxidizing said ammonia to nitric oxide and water vapor in the anode of said electrolytic cell with the oxygen produced by said electrolysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1984
    Assignee: BBC Brown, Boveri & Company, Limited
    Inventor: Samuel Stucki
  • Patent number: 4416747
    Abstract: Electrolytic production of ozone by a process wherein an oxygen-saturated mixture of water and oxygen, or air, is led along both sides of a solid electrolyte (1), which acts as an ion-exchange membrane and carries coatings (2,3) of electrically conductive materials, both on the cathode side and on the anode side, ozone being evolved, in addition to oxygen, on the anode side and, on the cathode side, the evolution of hydrogen being suppressed by the depolarizing effect of the oxygen which is entrained in the water stream, and merely water being formed. The electrolysis is carried out under an increased pressure.Individual electrolysis cell bounded by bipolar plates (6), and comprising a solid electrolyte (1), provided, in each case, with a surface coating (2,3), and centrally located between current-collectors (4) and adjoining open metallic structures (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1983
    Assignee: BBC Brown, Boveri & Company Limited
    Inventors: Anton Menth, Samuel Stucki
  • Patent number: 4396469
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for continuously coating a solid electrolyte with a catalytically active metal, whereby large-area sheets of the solid electrolyte are continuously coated in a uniform manner with the catalytically active metals, by first being impregnated with an aqueous solution of the particular metal and subsequently being passed through, in a water bath, between two rolls acting as electrodes, wherein a felt of carbon is arranged on the cathode side interposed between the electrolyte and the cathode roll, and thus being subjected to an electrolysis process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1983
    Assignee: BBC Brown, Boveri & Company, Limited
    Inventors: Robert Banziger, Hans-Jorg Christen, Samuel Stucki
  • Patent number: 4326930
    Abstract: A metal is electrolytically deposited on a nonconductive surface comprising impregnating a solid material with a reducible metal salt thereby forming a solid electrolyte material; placing the solid electrolyte material between an anode and a cathode thereby forming an electrolytic cell and impressing a current across the electrodes of a potential sufficient to electrolyze the metal ions thereby resulting in the deposition of a metal layer along the surface of the electrolyte adjacent the cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1982
    Assignee: BBC Brown, Boveri & Company, Limited
    Inventors: Hartmut Nagel, Samuel Stucki
  • Patent number: 4326943
    Abstract: An improved electrode for the electrolysis of water comprising a porous sinter plate of titanium or a titanium alloy having on one surface a coating of a finely divided catalyst comprising a mixture of ruthenium oxide and iridium oxide. In a preferred embodiment, the electrode has on its outer margin a dense, non-porous zone having a smooth appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1982
    Assignee: BBC Brown, Boveri & Company, Limited
    Inventors: Robert Banziger, Roland Isenschmid, Anton Menth, Rene Muller, Samuel Stucki
  • Patent number: 4312736
    Abstract: An electrolysis cell for water electrolysis, consisting of a synthetic polymer foil as a solid substance electrolyte having attached on both sides thereof finely porous and coarsely porous substances serving as electrodes, and two bipolar plates serving to provide electricity, whereby the finely porous substance carries the anode catalyst on the oxygen side and the solid electrolyte carries the cathode catalyst on the hydrogen side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1982
    Assignee: BBC Brown, Boveri & Company, Limited
    Inventors: Anton Menth, Rene Muller, Samuel Stucki