Diaphragm Type Patents (Class 204/252)
  • Patent number: 9067810
    Abstract: A ballast water electrolytic apparatus for treating ballast water comprising a ballast water electrolytic chamber and an oxygen supply chamber, the ballast water electrolytic chamber including an anode for producing chlorine oxides by electrolyzing ballast water and an oxygen cathode for separating the ballast water electrolytic chamber and the oxygen supply chamber and for producing water by reacting hydrogen ions in the ballast water electrolytic chamber with oxygen flowing into the oxygen supply chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Inventor: Chester J. Sohn
  • Publication number: 20150144501
    Abstract: A method for conditioning hydrogen includes positioning hydrogen on a suction side of an electrochemical compressor. The hydrogen includes at most a fractional amount of an extraneous species. The electrochemical compressor includes a first electrode on a suction side and a second electrode on a pressure side and is configured to apply an electrical potential between the first and second electrodes. The method further includes transporting ions of the hydrogen through a membrane of the electrochemical compressor via the electrical potential in order to increase a hydrogen partial pressure on the pressure side of the electrochemical compressor and such that the extraneous species remains on the suction side of the electrochemical compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Annika Utz, Kai Weeber, Dietmar Steiner
  • Publication number: 20150129419
    Abstract: An ozone water generating device provided with a first housing (1), a second housing (2), and a catalyst electrode (3), in which the catalyst electrode (3) is provided with a positive electrode (32), a positive ion exchange membrane (31), and a negative electrode (33) in this order from the first housing side, and ozone water is generated by supplying raw-material water to the catalyst electrode (3) and applying a direct-current voltage across a positive electrode (32) and a negative electrode (33), wherein a positive-electrode supply channel and a discharge channel are provided to the first housing (1), a negative-electrode supply channel and a discharge channel are provided to the second housing, a cushioning material (15) is provided between the positive electrode (32) and the first housing (1), and pressing members (41, 42) for directly pressing the catalyst electrode (3) ; are provided to the first housing (1) so as to penetrate through the first housing (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: NIKKA MICRON CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shigeo Sekiguchi, Kazutaka Murata
  • Publication number: 20150132682
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing an electrochemical cell, such as in particular a secondary battery, a double-layer capacitor, an electrolytic capacitor or a fuel cell, in which a cell vessel containing two electrodes of one-piece or multi-part design and at least one separator is filled with free-flowing electrolyte. The object of the invention is to match the quantity of electrolyte in an electrochemical cell as exactly as possible to the free volume actually present. The object is achieved in that, before the filling with the electrolyte, the quantity of electrolyte to be put in is determined at least while taking into account the actual thicknesses and the actual weights of the electrodes in the cell vessel and of the separator in the cell vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: Evonik Litarion GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Hecht
  • Publication number: 20150122658
    Abstract: Certain embodiments disclosed herein pertain to methods and apparatus for electrodepositing material on a substrate. More particularly, a novel membrane for separating the anode from the cathode/substrate, and a method of using such a membrane are presented. The membrane includes at least an ion exchange layer and a charge separation layer. The disclosed embodiments are beneficial for maintaining relatively constant concentrations of species in the electrolyte over time, especially during idle (i.e., non-electroplating) times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Doyeon Kim, Shantinath Ghongadi, Yuichi Takada, Ludan Huang, Tariq Majid
  • Publication number: 20150122666
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device and method which, with the use of dopamine in an alkaline aqueous medium, can be used to obtain nitrogen from moist air and to generate other gases, hydrogen in the free or combined state, such as ammonium. The reaction medium is ionic and reinforced by means of electrolysis, using electrodes of different metals and at a temperature and pressure close to ambient conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventor: Marcelo Acosta Estrada
  • Publication number: 20150122641
    Abstract: Provided are an elastic cushion member and an ion exchange membrane electrolyzer using the same, which elastic cushion member can be installed even in an ion exchange membrane electrolyzer having such a small gap between an electrode and an electrode current collecting plate that a conventional elastic cushion member cannot be arranged therein. An elastic cushion member (10) has a pair of corrosion-resistant metal thin plates (11) arranged at a distance in parallel fashion and a fixing member (12) which fixes the pair of corrosion-resistant metal thin plates (11) and comprises a metal elastic body (13) wound between the pair of corrosion-resistant metal thin plates (11). The fixing member (12) is attached to the pair of corrosion-resistant metal thin plates (11) in a manner that enables detachment of the fixing member therefrom. The metal elastic body (13) is preferred to be a metal coil body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: CHLORINE ENGINEERS CORP., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Kodama, Koji Kawanishi
  • Publication number: 20150114831
    Abstract: A high pressure water electrolysis device includes an electrolyte membrane, an anode power supplying body, a cathode power supplying body, an anode separator, a cathode separator, a cathode chamber, a seal member, and a protective sheet member. The protective sheet member is interposed between the electrolyte membrane and the anode power supplying body and includes a frame part and a through hole formation part. The frame part faces the seal member as a seal receiving part in a stacking direction. The through hole formation part is provided inwardly of the frame part. In the through hole formation part, a plurality of through holes are provided. The through hole formation part has the plurality of through holes from an inner side to outer side of a range that faces an anode catalyst part in the stacking direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki KAWASAKI, Daisuke KURASHINA
  • Publication number: 20150114830
    Abstract: Provided is a cell for ion exchange membrane electrolysis obtained by improving the performance in electrolysis of an existing bipolar cell for ion exchange membrane electrolysis, in which a cathode partition wall and a rigid cathode being connected together by a plurality of intermediating V-shaped springs, by a simple method. It is a cell for ion exchange membrane electrolysis which is separated by an ion exchange membrane (7) into an anode chamber (1) having a rigid anode (1a) and an anode partition wall (1b) and a cathode chamber (2) having a rigid cathode (2a) and a cathode partition wall (2b), the rigid cathode (2a) and the cathode partition wall (2b) being connected together by a plurality of intermediating V-shaped springs (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: CHLORINE ENGINEERS CORP., LTD.
    Inventors: Kiyohito Asaumi, Koichi Hirashima, Zhengkan Huang, Mitsumasa Okamoto, Koji Yoshimura
  • Publication number: 20150114843
    Abstract: A method for the photoelectrocatalytic production of hydrogen and oxygen from water, is carried out by: (a) providing a photohydride proton reduction catalyst and a photoanode having water oxidation catalyst operatively associated therewith, both in an aquous electrolyte solution,wherein the photohydride proton reduction catalyst comprises a single-component light absorbing catalytic metal complex of the formula AXB, wherein A is a coordinated aromatic group, X is a metal, and B is a bidentate organic ligand; and (b) illuminating the photoanode and the photohydride proton reduction catalyst with visible light to generate O2 by the action of the water oxidation catalyst and H2 by the action of the photohydride proton reduction catalyst. Constructs and apparatus useful for carrying out the method are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Catherine L. Pitman, Alexander J. Miller
  • Patent number: 9017529
    Abstract: An apparatus for the electrolytic splitting of water into hydrogen and oxygen gases is disclosed. The apparatus comprises: (i) a first hemi-enclosure; (ii) a second hemi-enclosure; (iii) a diaphragm electrode array positioned between the first hemi-enclosure and the second hemi-enclosure comprising: (a) a diaphragm, that passes ions and impedes the passage of gases, comprising a first side and a second opposed side; (b) a first plurality of electrodes in a first vicinity of the first side of the diaphragm; and (c) a second plurality of electrodes in a second vicinity of the second opposed side of the diaphragm; (iv) a fastener, for leak-tight fastening of the first hemi-enclosure, the diaphragm electrode array, and the second hemi-enclosure, whereby a leak-tight enclosure is formed; (v) contacts, for electrically powering the first and second pluralities of electrodes, and; (vi) pathways, configured to remove hydrogen and oxygen gases from the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: GTA, Inc.
    Inventor: Elias Stanley Greenbaum
  • Patent number: 9017528
    Abstract: A process electrolyte replenishment module adapted to replenish ions in a process electrolyte in a substrate electrochemical deposition apparatus having a first anode and a first cathode, the replenishment module having a second anode. A process electrolyte recirculation compartment is disposed in the frame configured so that the process electrolyte is recirculating between the replenishment module and the deposition apparatus. An anode compartment is coupled to the process electrolyte recirculation compartment having the second anode, that is a soluble anode, for immersion in a secondary anolyte, and having a first ion exchange membrane being a cationic member separating the secondary anolyte from the process electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Tel Nexx, Inc.
    Inventors: Demetrius Papapanayiotou, Arthur Keigler, David Guarnaccia, Jonathan Hander, Johannes Chiu
  • Patent number: 9005409
    Abstract: An electrochemical deposition apparatus adapted to deposit metal onto a surface of a substrate, the apparatus has a frame configured for holding a process electrolyte. A substrate holder is removably coupled to the frame, the substrate holder supporting the substrate in the process electrolyte. An anode fluid compartment is removably coupled to the frame and containing an anolyte and having an anode facing the surface of the substrate, the anode fluid compartment further having a ion exchange membrane disposed between the anode and the surface of the substrate, the anode fluid compartment removable from the frame as a unit with the ion exchange membrane and the anode. The holder, the anode and the membrane are arranged in the frame so that ions from the anode pass through the ion exchange membrane into and primarily replenish ions in the process electrolyte depleted by ion deposition onto the surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Tel Nexx, Inc.
    Inventors: David Guarnaccia, Arthur Keigler, Demetrius Papapanayiotou, Johannes Chiu
  • Publication number: 20150096884
    Abstract: A humidification control device and an apparatus implementing the humidification control device is provided. The device includes a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) for the control of humidity in an enclosed space via electrolysis. The MEA includes an anode, a cathode and a proton exchange membrane (PEM) disposed between the anode and the cathode. The PEM is selected to increase the efficiency of the humidification control device by decreasing the back diffusion of water across the PEM. The PEM may include a functional tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) copolymer having a polymer chain of TFE and at least one comonomer having a proton conducting functional group pendant to said polymer chain. The comonomer may be present in an amount from about 0.01 mol. % to about 7 mol. % of the TFE copolymer. In one embodiment, the comonomer is a fluorovinyl ether such as perfluorosulfonyl vinyl ether (PSVE).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn Shealy, Brian Levy
  • Publication number: 20150096898
    Abstract: The present invention provides a methanol generation device for generating methanol by reducing carbon dioxide, comprising: a container for storing an electrolyte solution containing carbon dioxide; a cathode electrode disposed in the container so as to be in contact with the electrolyte solution; an anode electrode disposed in the container so as to be in contact with the electrolyte solution; and an external power supply for applying a voltage so that a potential of the cathode electrode is negative with respect to a potential of the anode electrode. The cathode electrode includes a region of Cu1-xAux (0<x<1). The anode electrode includes a region of a metal or a metal compound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: HIROSHI HASHIBA, MASAHIRO DEGUCHI, SATOSHI YOTSUHASHI, YUKA YAMADA
  • Publication number: 20150096897
    Abstract: The present invention provides a methanol generation device for generating methanol by reducing carbon dioxide, comprising: a container for storing an electrolyte solution containing carbon dioxide; a cathode electrode disposed in the container so as to be in contact with the electrolyte solution; an anode electrode disposed in the container so as to be in contact with the electrolyte solution; and an external power supply for applying a voltage so that a potential of the cathode electrode is negative with respect to a potential of the anode electrode. The cathode electrode has a region of Cu1-x-yNixAuy (0<x, 0<y, and x+y<1). The anode electrode has a region of a metal or a metal compound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: HIROSHI HASHIBA, MASAHIRO DEGUCHI, SATOSHI YOTSUHASHI, YUKA YAMADA
  • Publication number: 20150096896
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrode suitable as anode for evolution of gaseous products comprising a metal substrate coated with at least one titanium suboxide layer having an interconnected porosity and containing catalytic noble metal oxides. The invention further relates to a method of manufacturing such electrode comprising applying a mixture of titanium suboxides and noble metal oxide-based catalyst on a valve metal substrate via cold gas spray technique.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: INDUSTRIE DE NORA S.P.A.
    Inventors: Andrea Francesco Gullà, Chiara Pezzoni, Christian Urgeghe
  • Patent number: 8999120
    Abstract: An energy-saving ionized water production device and a production method are provided that are capable of producing strongly alkaline ionized in a short period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Alone World
    Inventors: Kazunori Osamura, Takao Kawajiri, Yutaka Nakamura, Noboru Kudo, Masae Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8999119
    Abstract: The hydrogen production device of the present invention includes: a first electrode including a conductive substrate and a photocatalytic semiconductor layer; a second electrode that is electrically connected to the first electrode and disposed in a second region opposite to a first region relative to the first electrode; the first region is defined as a region on a side of a surface of the first electrode in which the photocatalytic semiconductor layer is provided; a water-containing electrolyte solution; and a housing containing these. The first electrode is provided with first through-holes and the second electrode is provided with second through-holes; and the first through-holes and second through-holes form a communicating hole for allowing the first region and the second region to communicate with each other. An ion exchange membrane having substantially the same shape as the communicating hole is disposed in the communicating hole to close the communicating hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Tokuhiro, Takaiki Nomura, Kazuhito Hato, Noboru Taniguchi, Takahiro Suzuki, Satoru Tamura
  • Patent number: 8992746
    Abstract: An apparatus for anodizing substrates immersed in an electrolyte solution. A substrate holder mounted in a storage tank includes a first support unit having first support elements for supporting, in a liquid-tight condition, only lower circumferential portions of the substrates, and a second support unit attachable to and detachable from the first support unit and having second support elements for supporting, in a liquid-tight condition, remaining circumferential portions of the substrates. A drive mechanism separates the first support unit and the second support unit when loading and unloading the substrates, and for connecting the first support unit and the second support unit after the substrates are placed in the substrate holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignees: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd., Solexel, Inc.
    Inventors: Yasuyoshi Miyaji, Noriyuki Hayashi, Takamitsu Inahara, Takao Yonehara, Karl-Josef Kramer, Subramanian Tamilmani
  • Patent number: 8986531
    Abstract: A system includes an ionic exchange conduit through which a flow of photosynthetic biomass is drawn capturing an electrical charge which is used to alternately power a photonic activated reservoir housing a living photosynthetic biomass suspended in a flowing liquid medium which self generates an electrical charge as it migrates towards and through a cathode separated from an anode by a membrane. Upon electrical transfer through the circuit an electrolysis process begins and releases hydrogen and oxygen into enclosed atmosphere chambers where these separated gases can be captured for use in a fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Ennesys SAS
    Inventors: Nicholas Eckelberry, Michael Green
  • Publication number: 20150075976
    Abstract: An electroplating processor includes an electrode plate having a continuous flow path formed in a channel. The flow path may optionally be a coiled flow path. One or more electrodes are positioned in the channel. A membrane plate is attached to the electrode plate with a membrane in between them. Electrolyte moves through the flow path at a high velocity, preventing bubbles from sticking to the bottom surface of membrane. Any bubbles in the flow path are entrained in the fast moving electrolyte and carried away from the membrane. The electroplating processor may alternatively have a wire electrode extending through a tubular membrane formed into a coil or other shape, optionally including shapes having straight segments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Randy A. Harris, Daniel J. Woodruff, Jeffrey I. Turner, Gregory J. Wilson, Paul R. McHugh
  • Publication number: 20150075999
    Abstract: Process and station for stabilizing an aqueous solution of an iron salt of an organic acid with a ferric component and a ferrous component of less solubility than the ferric component, such as the aqueous solution based on the Fe3+ salt of meso-tartaric acid. To stabilize the content of the dissolved ferric salt, the solution is at least partly subjected to electrolytic oxidation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Hans Lammers, Johannes Albertus Maria Meijer
  • Patent number: 8980079
    Abstract: An electrolytic cell includes at least one free-standing diamond electrode and a second electrode, which may also be a free-standing diamond, separated by a membrane. The electrolytic cell is capable of conducting sustained current flows at current densities of at least about 1 ampere per square centimeter. A method of operating an electrolytic cell having two diamond electrodes includes alternately reversing the polarity of the voltage across the electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Electrolytic Ozone, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Yost, III, Carl David Lutz, Jeffrey D. Booth, Donald J. Boudreau, Nicholas R. Lauder
  • Publication number: 20150068889
    Abstract: The embodiments herein provide a HHO generating system and method for generating hydrogen, oxygen and methane. The system adopts electrolysis process to generate a HHO gas from a water-electrolyte solution. The system comprises a reaction tank filled with the water-electrolyte solution, a plurality of disks stacked one above another, a plurality of frames connecting to the disks and an external power supply. The disks comprise a plurality of negatively charged cathode disks and a plurality of positively charged anode disks. The plurality of frames comprises a plurality of conductive frames and a plurality of support frames configured to hold the disks. An electric current is supplied to the conducting frames so as to electrically charge the disks that react with the water-electrolyte solution to produce the HHO gas. The disks are copper-nickel alloy disks in a ratio of 70:30.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventor: Don Lee Hansen
  • Publication number: 20150068915
    Abstract: The invention relates to a photoelectrochemical cell 100 for light-driven production of hydrogen and oxygen, especially from water or another electrolyte based on aqueous solution, having a photoelectric layer structure 1 and an electrochemical layer structure 2 in a layer construction 40, where—the photoelectric layer structure 1 for absorption of light 3 uninfluenced by the electrolyte 10 forms a front side 41 of the layer structure 40, and—the electrochemical layer structure 2, for accommodation of the electrolyte 10, forms a reverse side 42 of the layer construction 40, and—a conductive and corrosion-inhibiting coupling layer 13 forms electrical contact between the photoelectric layer structure 1 and the electrochemical layer structure 2 in the layer construction 40, where—the electrochemical layer structure 2 has an electrode structure of a front electrode 21 and an electrode structure of a rear electrode 22, between which is arranged an ion exchange layer 61 such that an integrated layer construction 40
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: EVONIK INDUSTRIES AG
    Inventors: Sascha Hoch, Matthias Blug, Jens Busse, Wolfram Calvet, Bernhard Kaiser, Wolfram Jaegermann, Hanna Hahn, Horst-Werner Zanthoff
  • Publication number: 20150068888
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrolytic process, methods and apparatus for the preparation of carbon monoxide and in particular to electrolysis of molten carbonates to yield carbon monoxide which may be used for chemical storage of electrical energy and further as chemical feedstock for other organic products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Igor Lubomirsky, Valery Kaplan
  • Patent number: 8974646
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a portable hydrogen-rich water generator that includes a separable drinking cup, an electrolytic cell which includes an anode, a cathode, a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, etc. and is disposed at the bottom of the drinking cup, a reservoir base on which the drinking cup is mounted and in which an anode reaction of the electrolytic cell is generated, a float valve which allows water to be continuously supplied at a certain water level from a water tank, and a power supply to apply direct current power to the electrolytic cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Inventors: Inchol Park, Ilbong Kim
  • Publication number: 20150060296
    Abstract: A method for upgrading bio-mass material is provided. The method involves electrolytic reduction of the material in an electrochemical cell having a ceramic, oxygen-ion conducting membrane, where the membrane includes an electrolyte. One or more oxygenated or partially-oxygenated compounds are reduced by applying an electrical potential to the electrochemical cell. A system for upgrading bio-mass material is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Elangovan, Mukund Karanjikar
  • Publication number: 20150053550
    Abstract: Among other things, one or more systems and techniques for promoting metal plating uniformity are provided. An insulator plate is positioned relative to a semiconductor wafer that is to be electroplated with metal during a metal plating process. The insulator plate comprises an insulator ring that provides a resistance to electrical plating current passing through the insulator ring to the semiconductor wafer. The insulator plate comprises one or more porous regions, such as holes, that introduce little to no additional resistance to electrical plating current passing through such porous regions to the semiconductor wafer. The insulator plate influences electrical plating current so that edge plating current has a current value similar to a center plating current. The similarity in plating current promotes metal plating uniformity for the semiconductor wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Ming-Chin Tsai, Chun-Yi Lee, Victor Y. Lu
  • Patent number: 8961750
    Abstract: The invention relates to the production of different chemical products by the electrochemical processing of electrolyte solutions of different concentrations. A cylindrical electrochemical cell for processing solutions comprises an inner, hollow, tubular anode, an outer, cylindrical cathode, and a permeable, tubular, ceramic diaphragm that is arranged between said anode and cathode and divides the interelectrode space into anode and cathode chambers so that a working section of the cell is formed. The cell comprises units for mounting, securing and sealing the electrodes and the diaphragm, which are located at the end sections of the cell, and devices for supplying and removing the processed solutions. The cathode and anode of the cell are made of titanium tubes; furthermore, the ratio of the cross-sectional area of the cathode chamber to the total cross-sectional area of the anode chamber and the diaphragm ranges from 0.9 to 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Inventors: Vitold Mikhailovich Bakhir, Yury Georgievich Zadorozhny, Yury Ivanovich Komolikov, Vadim Gennadievich Panichev, Taras Borisovich Barabash
  • Patent number: 8961895
    Abstract: An air treatment system may include a housing including at least one wall defining a nozzle passage having a vent adjacent an upstream portion of the at least one wall. The air treatment system may also include a photocatalytic reaction chamber including a plurality of photocatalytic media and a light source disposed to illuminate at least a portion of the photocatalytic media for producing a photocatalytic reaction generating a plurality of hydroxyl radicals. The air treatment system may also include a blower fluidly coupled with the photocatalytic reaction chamber for conveying air through the photocatalytic reaction chamber and directing the air through the vent and along at least a portion of the at least one wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Akida Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Barney Freedman, Boyd Alin
  • Publication number: 20150047988
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell for producing hydrogen gas and cupric chloride. The cell comprises: an anode compartment comprising an anode for disposition in an anolyte, wherein the anolyte is cuprous chloride in hydrochloric acid; a cathode compartment comprising a cathode, wherein the cathode comprises an electrocatalyst; a plurality of ion exchange membranes disposed between the anode compartment and the cathode compartment; and at least one center compartment defined by a pair of said ion exchange membranes and comprising at least one element for removal or sequestering of copper ions that cross at least one of said membranes from the anode compartment. Also described is a method for CuCl/HCl electrolysis in the production of hydrogen using the electrochemical cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: ATOMIC ENERGY OF CANADA LIMITED
    Inventors: Andrew Kettner, Lorne Stolberg, Hongqiang Li, Alexi Shkarupin, Sellathurai Suppiah
  • Publication number: 20150041326
    Abstract: Electroplating systems and methods are provided that employ a structure for defining a zone of deposition for co-depositing metal and nanomaterial on a cathode. Materials that may be co-deposited include copper and carbon nanotubes Pulsed power may be employed to produce a more dimensionally uniform and/or more functionally uniform deposit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: NANORIDGE MATERIALS, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Randall Reagan Buckner, Kyle Kissell, Howard Scott Horton, Clayton Charles Gallaway
  • Publication number: 20150034489
    Abstract: To provide a method of electroplating with Sn-alloy in which a problem of deposition of metals on an anode when electroplating with Sn-alloy such as Sn—Ag based-alloy or the like is performed is solved and a soluble anode is enabled to be used. Dividing an inside of a plating tank into a cathode cell and an anode cell by an anion-exchange membrane; supplying plating solution including Sn ions to the cathode cell; supplying acid solution to the anode cell; electroplating by energizing an object to be plated in the cathode cell and an anode made of Sn in the anode cell; and using the acid solution including Sn ions liquated out form the anode made of Sn along with progress of plating as replenishing solution of Sn ions for plating solution in the cathode cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI MATERIALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeshi Hatta, Akihiro Masuda
  • Publication number: 20150027878
    Abstract: Provided is an electrolysis cell capable of suppressing the degradation of a cathode by the reverse current at the time of stopping electrolysis. According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided an electrolysis cell comprising an anode chamber, a cathode chamber, a partition wall separating the anode chamber from the cathode chamber, an anode installed in the anode chamber, a cathode installed in the cathode chamber, and a reverse current absorbing body having a substrate and a reverse current absorbing layer formed on the substrate and installed in the cathode chamber, in which the anode and the cathode are electrically connected and the cathode and the reverse current absorbing layer are electrically connected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Akiyasu Funakawa, Toshinori Hachiya
  • Publication number: 20150030957
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes a pair of bipolar plates and a membrane electrode assembly between the bipolar plates. The membrane electrode assembly comprises an anode compartment, a cathode compartment, and a proton exchange membrane disposed therebetween. The cell further includes a sealing surface formed in one of the pair of bipolar plates and a gasket located between the sealing surface and the proton exchange membrane. The gasket is configured to plastically deform to create a seal about one of the cathode compartment or the anode compartment. The sealing surface can include one or more protrusions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: NUVERA FUEL CELLS, INC.
    Inventors: Roger VAN BOEYEN, Edward DOMIT, Kevin BEVERAGE, Scott BLANCHET, John STANG
  • Publication number: 20150027879
    Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed to point of service devices and methods of treating aqueous solutions to help remove or otherwise reduce levels, concentrations or amounts of one or more contaminants. The present disclosure relates to a system including an apparatus including a substantially self-contained housing or container which is adapted to receive components including at least one counterelectrode (e.g. cathode) and at least one photoelectrode (e.g. anode) provided or arranged around at least one UV light source, and/or receive, contain and/or circulate fluid or aqueous solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: JAKE MYRE, Terence P. Barry, Edward Andrews, Craig Doolittle, Alan Carlson, Anton Asmuth
  • Publication number: 20150031124
    Abstract: The present invention concerns in one aspect a separator for separating the gas and liquid phases of a foam and, in another aspect, a foam reducing apparatus. The separator comprises a first side and a second side and having through-flow means provided therein for permitting a foam or a foam phase to pass from the first side to the second side, the separator further comprising at least one foam contacting surface having a low surface energy, and means for recovering at least one separated foam phase from the foam. The foam reducing apparatus comprises a low surface energy material and means for contacting foam, when said foam is input to the foam reduction apparatus, along a surface of said low surface energy material. The separator and the foam reducing apparatus may be used independently or in combination to good effect to more efficiently disrupt foam to provide separate gas and liquid phases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: David Ward, Robert Longman
  • Patent number: 8940846
    Abstract: A process for reducing the amount of soluble polymeric fractions in a sulfonyl fluoride polymer. The process comprises contacting the sulfonyl fluoride polymer with a fluorinated fluid followed by separation of the polymer from the fluid. The fluorinated fluid is selected from hydrofluoroethers and hydrofluoropolyethers. The invention further relates to sulfonyl fluoride polymers obtainable by the process and having a heat of fusion not exceeding 4 J/g and containing less than 15% by weight of polymeric fractions having an average content of monomeric units comprising a sulfonyl functional group exceeding 24 mole %. The sulfonyl fluoride polymers so obtained are particularly suitable for the preparation of ionomeric membranes for use in electrochemical devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Solvay Specialty Polymers Italy S.p.A.
    Inventors: Luca Merlo, Alessandro Veneroni, Elvira Pagano, Claudio Oldani
  • Patent number: 8940139
    Abstract: Provided is a gas diffusion electrode equipped ion exchange membrane electrolyzer including an anode, an ion exchange membrane, and a cathode chamber in which a gas diffusion electrode is disposed, wherein the ion exchange membrane and a cathode chamber inner space in which the gas diffusion electrode is disposed are separated by a liquid retaining member, the outer periphery of the liquid retaining member is held in a void formed in a gasket or a cathode chamber frame constituting the cathode chamber, or the outer periphery and the end face of the outer periphery of the liquid retaining member are sealed, or the outer periphery of the liquid retaining member is joined to and integrated with the gasket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignees: Chlorine Engineers Corp., Ltd., Toagosei Co., Ltd., Kaneka Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyohito Asaumi, Yukinori Iguchi, Mitsuharu Hamamori, Tomonori Izutsu
  • Publication number: 20150021195
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell and method for electrowinning a variety of multivalent metals including titanium is described. In one aspect, the invention provides an electrochemical cell comprising an anolyte chamber comprising an anode and configured for containing an anolyte, a catholyte chamber comprising a cathode and configured for containing a catholyte comprising a metal to be electrolytically produced, and a diaphragm separating the anolyte chamber and the catholyte chamber, the diaphragm configured to control the potential drop across the diaphragm so that it is below the potential difference required for inducing bipolarity at the diaphragm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Rohan Akolkar, Uziel Landau
  • Publication number: 20150014184
    Abstract: A electrolytic process for continuous production of lithium metal from lithium carbonate or other lithium salts by use of an aqueous acid electrolyte and a lithium producing cell structure which includes: a cell body with a cathode within the cell body; an electrolyte aqueous solution within the cell body, the solution containing lithium ion and an anion; and a composite layer intercalated between the cathode and the electrolyte aqueous solution, the composite layer comprising a lithium ion conductive glass ceramic (LI-GC) and a lithium ion conductive barrier film (LI-BF) that isolates cathode-forming lithium from the electrolyte aqueous solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventor: Lawence Ralph Swonger
  • Publication number: 20150017089
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for nitrogen recovery from an ammonium including fluid and a bio-electrochemical system for the same. In an embodiment, the method includes providing an anode compartment including an anode; providing a cathode compartment including a cathode, wherein the compartments are separated by at least one ion exchange membrane; providing the ammonium comprising fluid in the anode compartment and a second fluid in the cathode compartment; applying a voltage between the anode and the cathode; and extracting nitrogen from the cathode compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Philipp Kuntke, Tomas Hubertus Sleutels, Hubertus Victor Hamelers, Machiel Saakes, Cees Jan Buisman
  • Publication number: 20150008134
    Abstract: An electrochemical deposition system is described. The electrochemical deposition system includes one or more electrochemical deposition modules arranged on a common platform for depositing one or more metals on a substrate, and a chemical management system coupled to the one or more electrochemical deposition modules. The chemical management system is configured to supply at least one of the one or more electrochemical deposition modules with one or more metal constituents for depositing the one or more metals. The chemical management system can include at least one metal enrichment cell and at least one metal-concentrate generator cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Demetrius Papapanayiotou, Arthur Keigler, Jonathan Hander, Johannes Chiu, David G. Guarnaccia, Daniel L. Goodman
  • Patent number: 8926805
    Abstract: An electroplating apparatus and method for depositing a metallic layer on the surface of a wafer is provided wherein said apparatus and method do not require physical attachment of an electrode to the wafer. The surface of the wafer to be plated is positioned to face the anode and a plating fluid is provided between the wafer and the electrodes to create localized metallic plating. The wafer may be positioned to physically separate and lie between the anode and cathode so that one side of the wafer facing the anode contains a catholyte solution and the other side of the wafer facing the cathode contains an anolyte solution. Alternatively, the anode and cathode may exist on the same side of the wafer in the same plating fluid. In one example, the anode and cathode are separated by a semi permeable membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Veeraraghavan S. Basker, Eduard Cartier, Hariklia Deligianni, Rajarao Jammy, Vamsi K. Paruchuri
  • Publication number: 20150001067
    Abstract: An electrolyzer (2) includes at least one electrolysis cell (4), arranged between two end plates (6.8), in a polymer electrolyte membrane construction manner, and a pressing device for producing a pressing force between the end plates (6.8). The pressing force at least partly is controlled in a manner dependent on the gas pressure produced by the electrolysis cell (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: H-TEC SYSTEMS GmbH
    Inventors: Nils Mantai, Claus Würfel, Dennis Wilken, Uwe Küter, Stefan Höller
  • Patent number: 8916033
    Abstract: A gas decomposition apparatus having any one of the following structures: 1) a structure wherein an anode and a cathode on a solid electrolyte layer each have extended regions; the extended regions of the anode and those of the cathode are alternately extended to have a gap between the anode and the cathode; the cathode is higher in electric resistance than the anode; and a cathode electroconductive region connected electroconductively to a power source and made of an electroconductive material is extended in a direction crossing the direction in which the extended regions of the cathode are extended, thereby connecting the extended regions of the cathode electroconductively to each other; and (2) a structure which has an electroconductor layer through which the negative electrode of a power source is electroconductively connected to a cathode; and which is a structure wherein the cathode is laminated on the electroconductor layer to contact the layer, laminates each composed of a solid electrolyte layer and
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chihiro Hiraiwa, Masatoshi Majima, Koji Nitta, Atsushi Fukunaga, Shigeki Egashira
  • Publication number: 20140367248
    Abstract: Spacers arranged on opposite sides of an article to be processed into an EUV pellicle support the article. Plates on opposite ends of the spacer-article combination include respective electrodes. The plates, article, and spacers can be held together with a vacuum retention system. A center hole of each spacer forms a chamber with surfaces engaged by the spacer. A fluid entry extending from an outer surface of each spacer to its center hole allows delivery of fluid to each chamber. Additional spacers can be used to support additional articles. Additional plates and electrodes can also be used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventor: Dario L. Goldfarb
  • Publication number: 20140360866
    Abstract: Hydrocarbons may be formed from six carbon sugars. This process involves obtaining a quantity of a hexose sugar. The hexose sugar may be derived from biomass. The hexose sugar is reacted to form an alkali metal levulinate, an alkali metal valerate, an alkali metal 5-hydroxy pentanoate, or an alkali metal 5-alkoxy pentanoate. An anolyte is then prepared for use in a electrolytic cell. The anolyte contains the alkali metal levulinate, the alkali metal valerate, the alkali metal 5-hydroxy pentanoate, or the alkali metal 5-alkoxy pentanoate. The anolyte is then decarboxylated. This decarboxylating operates to decarboxylate the alkali metal levulinate, the alkali metal valerate, the alkali metal 5-hydroxy pentanoate, or the alkali metal 5-alkoxy pentanoate to form radicals, wherein the radicals react to form a hydrocarbon fuel compound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Sai Bhavaraju, Mukund Karanjikar