Patents by Inventor Yongchang Zheng
Yongchang Zheng 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: 11904278Abstract: The present disclosure provides an electrodialysis stack that may be used for the treatment of an electrically conductive solution. The stack includes two electrodes (at least one is a recessed electrode), a plurality of ion-transport membranes and stack spacers. The membranes and spacers are arranged between the electrodes to define electrodialysis cell pairs. The stack includes an electrically insulated zone that extends substantially from a distribution manifold past the recessed edge of the electrode and substantially from the recessed electrode to the opposite electrode for a distance that is about 8% to 100% of the total distance between the electrodes. The overlap distance that the electrically insulated zone extends past the recessed edge of the electrode is calculated as: distance in cm=(0.062 cm?1)*(exp(?60/total cp)*(area in cm2 of the manifold ducts of the concentrated stream at the recessed edge)+/?10%.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2022Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: BL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: John H. Barber, Wojciech Gutowski, Yongchang Zheng, Russell James MacDonald
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Publication number: 20230017973Abstract: The present disclosure provides an electrodialysis stack that may be used for the treatment of an electrically conductive solution. The stack includes two electrodes (at least one is a recessed electrode), a plurality of ion-transport membranes and stack spacers. The membranes and spacers are arranged between the electrodes to define electrodialysis cell pairs. The stack includes an electrically insulated zone that extends substantially from a distribution manifold past the recessed edge of the electrode and substantially from the recessed electrode to the opposite electrode for a distance that is about 8% to 100% of the total distance between the electrodes. The overlap distance that the electrically insulated zone extends past the recessed edge of the electrode is calculated as: distance in cm=(0.062 cm?1)*(exp(?60/total cp)*(area in cm2 of the manifold ducts of the concentrated stream at the recessed edge)+/?10%.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2022Publication date: January 19, 2023Inventors: John H. BARBER, Wojciech GUTOWSKI, Yongchang ZHENG, Russell James MACDONALD
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Patent number: 11484839Abstract: The present disclosure provides an electrodialysis stack that may be used for the treatment of an electrically conductive solution. The stack includes two electrodes (at least one is a recessed electrode), a plurality of ion-transport membranes and stack spacers. The membranes and spacers are arranged between the electrodes to define electrodialysis cell pairs. The stack includes an electrically insulated zone that extends substantially from a distribution manifold past the recessed edge of the electrode and substantially from the recessed electrode to the opposite electrode for a distance that is about 8% to 100% of the total distance between the electrodes. The overlap distance that the electrically insulated zone extends past the recessed edge of the electrode is calculated as: distance in cm=(0.062 cm?1)*(exp(?60/total cp)*(area in cm2 of the manifold ducts of the concentrated stream at the recessed edge) +/?10%.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2017Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: BL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: John H. Barber, Wojciech Gutowski, Yongchang Zheng, Russell James MacDonald
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Patent number: 10946341Abstract: A bipolar membrane electrodialysis method and system are described for purifying an organic acid from an aqueous solution containing the salt of the organic acid. The system includes a bipolar membrane electrodialysis stack that includes at least one three-compartment bipolar membrane electrodialysis cell and at least one two-compartment bipolar membrane electrodialysis cell. The method includes recirculating the solution of organic acid produced from the three-compartment bipolar membrane electrodialysis cell and two-compartment bipolar membrane electrodialysis cell. Cation or anion exchange resins may be included in the spacers of acid compartment to increase the conductivity of acid compartments, thereby increasing current density of the bipolar electrodialysis stack and decreasing power consumption.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2015Date of Patent: March 16, 2021Assignee: BL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Yongchang Zheng, John H. Barber
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Publication number: 20210069645Abstract: A bipolar electrodialysis (BPED) cell is able to bipolar convert salt solutions into acid and base solutions. However, protons migrate through the anion exchange membranes and tend to neutralize the base solution. In a bipolar electrodialysis system described herein, multiple BPED cells are arranged to provide a multi-stage treatment system. Up to half, or up to one third, of the stages have cells with acid block anion membranes. The one or more stages with acid block anion membranes are located at the acid product output end of the system, where the acid concentration in the system is the highest. Replacing the traditional anion membranes in some of the stages with acid block anion membranes allows higher concentration products to be produced with moderate increase in energy consumption.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2019Publication date: March 11, 2021Inventors: Chengqian ZHANG, Wei LU, Jiyang XIA, Yongchang ZHENG, Bruce BATCHELDER, John H. BARBER
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Publication number: 20200070095Abstract: The present disclosure provides an electrodialysis stack that may be used for the treatment of an electrically conductive solution. The stack includes two electrodes (at least one is a recessed electrode), a plurality of ion-transport membranes and stack spacers. The membranes and spacers are arranged between the electrodes to define electrodialysis cell pairs. The stack includes an electrically insulated zone that extends substantially from a distribution manifold past the recessed edge of the electrode and substantially from the recessed electrode to the opposite electrode for a distance that is about 8% to 100% of the total distance between the electrodes. The overlap distance that the electrically insulated zone extends past the recessed edge of the electrode is calculated as: distance in cm=(0.062 cm?1)*(exp(?60/total cp)*(area in cm2 of the manifold ducts of the concentrated stream at the recessed edge) +/?10%.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2017Publication date: March 5, 2020Inventors: John H. BARBER, Wojciech GUTOWSKI, Yongchang ZHENG, Russell James MACDONALD
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Publication number: 20200070093Abstract: An electrodialysis cell includes a housing defining an internal chamber, a core positioned within the internal chamber, a first electrode positioned in the internal chamber adjacent the housing, a second electrode coupled to the core and spaced from the first electrode, and a membrane assembly positioned between the first and second electrodes in a spiral wound configuration. The housing includes an inlet end for receiving a feed fluid and an outlet end in fluid communication with the inlet end. The membrane assembly includes a plurality of ion exchange membranes spaced from each other to define a plurality of fluid channels between the inlet and outlet ends.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2017Publication date: March 5, 2020Inventors: Zijun XIA, Chengqian ZHANG, Wujun RONG, Yongchang ZHENG, Bruce BATCHELDER, John H. BARBER, Lei CAO, Hua WANG, David Michael STACHERA, Bo YAN
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Publication number: 20200048421Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of producing a cation exchange polymer, the method includes polymerizing an anionic monomer in the presence of a polymerizable crosslinker having a cationic functional group. A sufficient amount of anionic monomer is used to provide both the anionic charges necessary for cation exchange, and the anionic charges necessary to pair with the cationic functional groups in the crosslinker.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2016Publication date: February 13, 2020Inventors: Kai ZHANG, Li May GOH, Seng Yong GOH, John H. BARBER, Russell James MACDONALD, Yongchang ZHENG, Yonghong ZHAO
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Publication number: 20190358589Abstract: An ion conductive spacer for use in an electrodialysis reversal stack is disclosed, which includes a plastic netting and a polymeric coating coated on the plastic netting and containing charged groups. The morphology of the polymeric coating has interconnected ionic clusters which allow continuous and macroscopic ion transportation throughout a surface of the plastic netting. An electrodialysis reversal stack using the above ion conductive spacer and a process for preparing the above ion conductive spacer are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2018Publication date: November 28, 2019Applicant: BL Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Wei LU, Hongchen DONG, Jiyang XIA, Yongchang ZHENG, Su LU, John H. BARBER, Russell James MACDONALD
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Patent number: 10486151Abstract: An ion-exchange membrane is disclosed here including ion-permeable layers impregnated with an ion-exchange material and arranged in an order from one face of the membrane to the opposite face of the membrane such that opposing layers in the supporting membrane substrate provide sufficiently identical physical properties to substantially avoid irregular expansion when in a salt solution. The ion-permeable layers including at least one non-woven layer and at least one reinforcing layer.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2015Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: BL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: John H. Barber, Russell James MacDonald, Yongchang Zheng, Kai Zhang, Yonghong Zhao
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Publication number: 20190153176Abstract: This specification describes an ion exchange membrane and a method of making it. The membrane may be used, for example, in an electrodialysis module or electrochemical cell. The membrane comprises an ion exchange polymer and inorganic particles preferably linked to the ion exchange polymer. To make a membrane, inorganic particles are mixed into an ion exchange membrane pre-cursor. A polymerization initiator or catalyst is then added and the resulting mixture is placed in a form and cured. The inorganic particles may comprise, for example, an oxidized form of graphite such as graphite oxide. The ion exchange polymer may comprise an ionic monomer, containing a quaternary ammonium group for anion exchange or a sulfonate group for cation exchange, along with a crosslinking co-monomer containing polymerizable diacrylic functionalities. The membrane is self-supporting and can be made without a supporting fabric.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2019Publication date: May 23, 2019Inventors: Kai ZHANG, John H. Barber, Russell James MacDonald, Yongchang Zheng, Li May Goh, Yan Gao, Yonghong Zhao
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Patent number: 10273338Abstract: A self-supported ion exchange membrane including a polymerized and crosslinked monomer, where the monomer includes: a least one ionic group, a polymerized group, and a silicate group; and a polymer chemically bonded to crosslinked monomer through the silicate group.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2014Date of Patent: April 30, 2019Assignee: BL Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Kai Zhang, John H. Barber, Russell James MacDonald, Yongchang Zheng, Li May Goh, Yan Gao, Yonghong Zhao
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Patent number: 10221289Abstract: This specification describes an ion exchange membrane and a method of making it. The membrane may be used, for example, in an electrodialysis module or electrochemical cell. The membrane comprises an ion exchange polymer and inorganic particles preferably linked to the ion exchange polymer. To make a membrane, inorganic particles are mixed into an ion exchange membrane pre-cursor. A polymerization initiator or catalyst is then added and the resulting mixture is placed in a form and cured. The inorganic particles may comprise, for example, an oxidized form of graphite such as graphite oxide. The ion exchange polymer may comprise an ionic monomer, containing a quaternary ammonium group for anion exchange or a sulfonate group for cation exchange, along with a crosslinking co-monomer containing polymerizable diacrylic functionalities. The membrane is self-supporting and can be made without a supporting fabric.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2017Date of Patent: March 5, 2019Assignee: BL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Kai Zhang, John H. Barber, Russell James MacDonald, Yongchang Zheng, Li May Goh, Yan Gao, Yonghong Zhao
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Publication number: 20180154312Abstract: A bipolar membrane electrodialysis method and system are described for purifying an organic acid from an aqueous solution containing the salt of the organic acid. The system includes a bipolar membrane electrodialysis stack that includes at least one three-compartment bipolar membrane electrodialysis cell and at least one two-compartment bipolar membrane electrodialysis cell. The method includes recirculating the solution of organic acid produced from the three-compartment bipolar membrane electrodialysis cell and two-compartment bipolar membrane electrodialysis cell. Cation or anion exchange resins may be included in the spacers of acid compartment to increase the conductivity of acid compartments, thereby increasing current density of the bipolar electrodialysis stack and decreasing power consumption.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2015Publication date: June 7, 2018Inventors: Yongchang ZHENG, John H. BARBER
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Publication number: 20180043345Abstract: An ion-exchange membrane is disclosed here including ion-permeable layers impregnated with an ion-exchange material and arranged in an order from one face of the membrane to the opposite face of the membrane such that opposing layers in the supporting membrane substrate provide sufficiently identical physical properties to substantially avoid irregular expansion when in a salt solution. The ion-permeable layers including at least one non-woven layer and at least one reinforcing layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2015Publication date: February 15, 2018Inventors: John H. BARBER, Russell James MACDONALD, Yongchang ZHENG, Kai ZHANG, Yonghong ZHAO
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Publication number: 20170355827Abstract: A self-supported ion exchange membrane including a polymerized and crosslinked monomer, where the monomer includes: a least one ionic group, a polymerized group, and a silicate group; and a polymer chemically bonded to crosslinked monomer through the silicate group.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2014Publication date: December 14, 2017Inventors: Kai ZHANG, John H. BARBER, Russell James MACDONALD, Yongchang ZHENG, Li May GOH, Yan GAO, Yonghong ZHAO
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Publication number: 20170266627Abstract: This specification describes an ion exchange membrane and a method of making it. The membrane may be used, for example, in an electrodialysis module or electrochemical cell. The membrane comprises an ion exchange polymer and inorganic particles preferably linked to the ion exchange polymer. To make a membrane, inorganic particles are mixed into an ion exchange membrane pre-cursor. A polymerization initiator or catalyst is then added and the resulting mixture is placed in a form and cured. The inorganic particles may comprise, for example, an oxidized form of graphite such as graphite oxide. The ion exchange polymer may comprise an ionic monomer, containing a quaternary ammonium group for anion exchange or a sulfonate group for cation exchange, along with a crosslinking co-monomer containing polymerizable diacrylic functionalities. The membrane is self-supporting and can be made without a supporting fabric.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2017Publication date: September 21, 2017Inventors: Kai ZHANG, John H. BARBER, Russell James MACDONALD, Yongchang ZHENG, Li May GOH, Yan GAO, Yonghong ZHAO
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Patent number: 9700850Abstract: An ion exchange membrane and a method of making it. The membrane may be used, for example, in an electrodialysis module or electrochemical cell. The membrane comprises an ion exchange polymer and inorganic particles preferably linked to the ion exchange polymer. To make a membrane, inorganic particles are mixed into an ion exchange membrane pre-cursor. A polymerization initiator or catalyst is then added and the resulting mixture is placed in a form and cured. The inorganic particles may comprise, for example, an oxidized form of graphite such as graphite oxide. The ion exchange polymer may comprise an ionic monomer, containing a quaternary ammonium group for anion exchange or a sulfonate group for cation exchange, along with a crosslinking co-monomer containing polymerizable diacrylic functionalities. The membrane is self-supporting and can be made without a supporting fabric.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2013Date of Patent: July 11, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Kai Zhang, John H. Barber, Russell James MacDonald, Yongchang Zheng, Li May Goh, Yan Gao, Yonghong Zhao
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Publication number: 20160067654Abstract: An ion exchange membrane and a method of making it. The membrane may be used, for example, in an electrodialysis module or electrochemical cell. The membrane comprises an ion exchange polymer and inorganic particles preferably linked to the ion exchange polymer. To make a membrane, inorganic particles are mixed into an ion exchange membrane pre-cursor. A polymerization initiator or catalyst is then added and the resulting mixture is placed in a form and cured. The inorganic particles may comprise, for example, an oxidized form of graphite such as graphite oxide. The ion exchange polymer may comprise an ionic monomer, containing a quaternary ammonium group for anion exchange or a sulfonate group for cation exchange, along with a crosslinking co-monomer containing polymerizable diacrylic functionalities. The membrane is self-supporting and can be made without a supporting fabric.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2013Publication date: March 10, 2016Inventors: Kai ZHANG, John H. BARBER, Russell James MACDONALD, Yongchang ZHENG, Li May GOH, Yan GAO, Yonghong ZHAO
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Patent number: 8470896Abstract: Acid block anionic selective polymeric membranes are provided of the type having a woven or non-woven cloth reinforcing structure. The polymer of the membrane is prepared by the process comprising copolymerizing components I, II, and III wherein I is an ethylenically unsaturated aliphatic or aromatic tertiary or quaternary amine monomer. II is a cross-linking monomer, and III is vinylbenzyl chloride. The reaction is conducted in the presence of a free radical polymerization initiator. Additionally, anionic exchange membranes of the type used in electrodialysis apparatus are disclosed and comprise a woven or nonwoven cloth that is impregnated with a copolymer comprising the reaction products of components I, II, and III.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2010Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Yongchang Zheng, John Barber