With Feeding And/or Withdrawal Means Patents (Class 204/263)
  • Patent number: 11584666
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing hydrogen-containing water is disclosed. In one aspect, the apparatus includes a container part formed with a upper space and a lower space positioned vertically from each other around a connecting passage therein. The apparatus also includes an ion exchange membrane configured to close the connecting passage and an electrolytic part comprising a cathode disposed on the upper space and a cathode an anode disposed on the lower space. The apparatus further includes a handle part configured to couple to the container part and to provide a supply passage for water to be supplied to the lower space and a discharge passage to discharge oxygen and ozone generated from the lower space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Welltech Korea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung Yeol Park, Nam Suck Lee, Pil Jong Kim
  • Patent number: 11585005
    Abstract: A semiconductor apparatus and methods of processing a semiconductor workpiece are provided. The semiconductor apparatus for pre-wetting a semiconductor workpiece includes a process chamber, a workpiece holder disposed within the process chamber to hold the semiconductor workpiece, a pre-wetting fluid tank disposed outside the process chamber and containing a pre-wetting fluid, and a conduit coupled to the pre-wetting fluid tank and extending into the process chamber. The conduit delivers the pre-wetting fluid from the pre-wetting fluid tank out through an outlet of the conduit to wet a major surface of the semiconductor workpiece comprising a plurality of recess portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chen-Yu Tsai, Ku-Feng Yang, Wen-Chih Chiou
  • Patent number: 11545672
    Abstract: An electrical energy generating device includes an electrical energy generating element, a first container, a second container, and a liquid having positive and negative ions. The electrical energy generating element includes a first porous electrode, an eggshell membrane, and a second porous electrode stacked on each other in that order. The first container is located on a side of the first porous electrode away from the eggshell membrane. The second container is located on a side of the second porous electrode away from the eggshell membrane. The liquid is located in at least one of the first container and the second container, and the liquid is configured to penetrate from one of the first container and the second container to another through the electrical energy generating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignees: Tsinghua University, HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dan Gao, Chang-Hong Liu, Shou-Shan Fan
  • Patent number: 11535535
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing hydrogen containing water is disclosed. An aspect of the present disclosure may provide an apparatus for manufacturing hydrogen containing water, comprising: housing having first receiving space formed therein; cylinder coupled to the housing to form second receiving space; connecting passage penetrating the housing to interconnect the first receiving space and the second receiving space; ion exchange membrane closing the connecting passage; electrolysis part comprising an anode and a cathode, the anode being disposed in the first receiving space and the cathode being disposed in the second receiving space; exhaust pipe penetrating the housing to interconnect the first receiving space and an external space; and first waterproof membrane closing the exhaust pipe and inhibiting water from being discharged while allowing gas to be discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Inventors: Guan Duk Lim, Ye Dam Kim
  • Patent number: 11519082
    Abstract: An organic hydride production apparatus includes: an electrolyte membrane having proton conductivity; a cathode that includes a cathode catalyst layer used to hydrogenate a hydrogenation target substance using protons to produce an organic hydride and also includes a cathode chamber; an anode that includes an anode catalyst layer used to oxidize water to produce protons and also includes an anode chamber; and a gas introduction unit that introduces, into the anolyte at a certain position, a certain gas used to remove at least one of the hydrogenation target substance and the organic hydride that have passed through the electrolyte membrane and been mixed into the anolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignees: NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION YOKOHAMA NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, DE NORA PERMELEC LTD.
    Inventors: Shigenori Mitsushima, Kensaku Nagasawa, Yoshinori Nishiki, Akihiro Kato, Setsuro Ogata, Awaludin Zaenal, Akiyoshi Manabe, Koji Matsuoka, Yasushi Sato
  • Patent number: 11431012
    Abstract: Provided herein are electrochemical cell and/or electrolyzer configurations with membrane-electrode gap and optionally one or more spacers; and methods to use and manufacture the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Verdagy, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan J Gilliam, Thomas H McWaid
  • Patent number: 11214879
    Abstract: An electrochemical apparatus for the production of a disinfectant from sodium chloride solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: H2ENVIRO LLC
    Inventors: Joseph A. Edgar, Andrew Krefta
  • Patent number: 11208728
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrochemical cell partitioned by a cation-exchange membrane suitable for production of high purity hydrogen and oxygen by electrolysis of alkaline solutions comprising a cathode in form of porous web including a platinum or palladium catalyst. The cell can be used as an element of a modular filter-press electrolyzer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: INDUSTRIE DE NORA S.P.A
    Inventor: Julia Lynne Krasovic
  • Patent number: 11199493
    Abstract: A functional water concentration sensor includes: a light source which emits ultraviolet light; a container capable of holding functional water having a pH between 6 and 9, inclusive, and containing hypochlorous acid and hypochlorite dissociated from the hypochlorous acid; a light-receiving element; and a signal processor. The signal processor calculates the concentration of the hypochlorite in the functional water on the basis of the output signal, calculates the percentages of the hypochlorous acid and the hypochlorite in the functional water on the basis of the pH of the functional water and the dissociation constant of the hypochlorous acid, and calculates the concentration of the hypochlorous acid in the functional water on the basis of the calculated hypochlorite concentration and the calculated percentages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Watabe, Ryo Arakawa, Toru Baba
  • Patent number: 11174564
    Abstract: An electroforming system and method for electroforming a component includes an electroforming reservoir with a housing with at least one inlet and at least one outlet, and at least one anode chamber within the housing and fluidly coupled to the at least one inlet. An anode can be located within the at least one anode chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Unison Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Dattu GV Jonnalagadda, Karthick Vilapakkam Gourishankar, Merin Sebastian, Sandeep Kumar, Gordon Tajiri
  • Patent number: 11162178
    Abstract: An electrode of an electrolysis cell for gas-producing electrochemical processes, which includes a plurality of horizontal lamella elements which in the manner of a flat C-profile consist of a flat central part and one or more flank parts, where one or more transition regions of any shape are arranged between the flat central part and the one or more flank parts, where the lamella elements have a plurality of through-openings, where the lamella elements have a flat surface without structural raised regions and depressions and the flat central part has a plurality of through-openings which are arranged in rows and arranged diagonally to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: UHDENORA S.P.A.
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Dulle, Frank Funck, Dirk Hoormann, Stefan Oelmann, Peter Woltering, Carsten Schmitt, Philipp Hofmann
  • Patent number: 11111589
    Abstract: An electrolytic cell for carbon dioxide of an embodiment includes: an anode part including an anode to oxidize water or a hydroxide ion and thus produce oxygen and an anode solution flow path to supply an anode solution to the anode; a cathode part including a cathode to reduce carbon dioxide and thus produce a carbon compound, a cathode solution flow path to supply a cathode solution to the cathode, a gas flow path to supply the carbon dioxide to the cathode, and a hydrophobic porous body disposed between the cathode and the gas flow path; and a separator to separate the anode part and the cathode part from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Yuki Kudo, Akihiko Ono, Masakazu Yamagiwa, Ryota Kitagawa, Jun Tamura, Yoshitsune Sugano, Takayuki Tsukagoshi, Asahi Motoshige, Satoshi Mikoshiba
  • Patent number: 10968526
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrolysis cell of alkali solutions partitioned by an ion-exchange membrane into an anodic compartment in which an alkaline electrolyte is circulated and a cathodic compartment consisting of a gas chamber; the cathodic compartment contains a gas-diffusion cathode in whose interior an electrolyte film coming from the anodic compartment percolates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: INDUSTRIE DE NORA S.P.A.
    Inventors: Luciano Iacopetti, Antonio Lorenzo Antozzi
  • Patent number: 10875799
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating reactive oxygen species formulations useful in various oxidation applications. Exemplary formulations include singlet oxygen or superoxide and can also contain hydroxyl radicals or hydroperoxy radicals, among others. Formulations can contain other reactive species, including other radicals. Exemplary formulations containing peracids are activated to generate singlet oxygen. Exemplary formulations include those containing a mixture of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide. Exemplary formulations include those in which one or more components of the formulation are generated electrochemically. Formulations of the invention containing reactive oxygen species can be further activated to generate reactive oxygen species using activation chosen from a Fenton or Fenton-like catalyst, ultrasound, ultraviolet radiation or thermal activation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Clean Chemistry, Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Buschmann
  • Patent number: 10879539
    Abstract: A metal oxide compound of formula (I): MnxMyRu1-(x+y)O2??(I) is a single phase rutile-type structure, where M is Co, Ni, or Fe, or a combination thereof, x>0, y?0, and 0.02?(x+y)?0.30. Related electro-catalysts, devices, and processes are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: CORNELL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Marc Murphy, Ryo H. Wakabayashi, R. Bruce Van Dover, Héctor D. Abruña, Francis J. Disalvo
  • Patent number: 10822708
    Abstract: A differential pressure type high pressure water electrolysis apparatus has a flow passage forming member for supplying water to an anode. In the flow passage forming member, there are formed a water receiving section for receiving water supplied from the exterior, a distributing path for distributing the water that has flowed into the water receiving section, a converging path into which a surplus supplied amount of water flows, and a water discharging section for receiving the water inside the converging path and discharging it to the exterior. The positions of the distributing path and the converging path are offset from an opposing position where a seal member faces toward a pressure resistant member that surrounds the seal member from the exterior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Yamamoto, Mikiya Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10640878
    Abstract: An electrolytic ozone generator for use with a faucet and methods for assembling and using the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Delta Faucet Company
    Inventors: Patrick B. Jonte, Michael Scot Rosko, Todd Andrew Huffington, Kurt Judson Thomas, Derek Allen Brown
  • Patent number: 10626026
    Abstract: A multifunctional membraneless boiled water electrolysis machine comprises a container (21) for containing raw water, and a water electrolysis apparatus. The water electrolysis apparatus is mounted outside the container (21) for containing raw water and comprises an electrolysis power supply (9), an electrolysis water tank (10) and an electrolysis electrode assembly (18) located in the electrolysis water tank. A water outlet at a bottom of the container for containing the raw water is connected with a water pump (24) through a pipeline. The water pump (24) is connected with a water inlet (15) of the electrolysis water tank (10) through the pipeline. The raw water in the container can flow into the electrolysis electrode assembly (18) from the water inlet (15) of the electrolysis water tank (10) after being heated or boiled by a heater (16). The water is electrolyzed through the gaps between the electrodes of different polarities in the electrolysis electrode assembly (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Inventors: Minxiong Luo, Ming Li
  • Patent number: 10590545
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell has a membrane located between two flow field plates. On a first side of the membrane, there is a porous support surrounded by a seal between the membrane and the flow field plate. There is a gap between the porous support and the seal at the surface of the membrane. On a second side of the membrane, there is a seal between the membrane and the flow field plate located inside of the gap in plan view. The electrochemical cell is useful, for example, in high pressure or differential pressure electrolysis in which the second side of the membrane will be consistently exposed to a higher pressure than the first side of the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: HYDROGENICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rami Michel Abouatallah, Rainey Yu Wang, Nathaniel Ian Joos
  • Patent number: 10501346
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating reactive oxygen species formulations useful in various oxidation applications. Exemplary formulations include singlet oxygen or superoxide and can also contain hydroxyl radicals or hydroperoxy radicals, among others. Formulations can contain other reactive species, including other radicals. Exemplary formulations containing peracids are activated to generate singlet oxygen. Exemplary formulations include those containing a mixture of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide. Exemplary formulations include those in which one or more components of the formulation are generated electrochemically. Formulations of the invention containing reactive oxygen species can be further activated to generate reactive oxygen species using activation chosen from a Fenton or Fenton-like catalyst, ultrasound, ultraviolet radiation or thermal activation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Clean Chemistry, Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Buschmann
  • Patent number: 10450661
    Abstract: A method for using an electrochemical cell to continuously acidify alkaline water sources and recover carbon dioxide with simultaneous continuous hydrogen gas production. The electrochemical cell has a center compartment, an electrolyte-free anode compartment having a mesh anode in direct contact with an ion permeable membrane, an endblock in direct contact with the anode where the endblock provides a gas escape route behind the anode, an electrolyte-free cathode compartment having a mesh cathode in direct contact with an ion permeable membrane, and an endblock in direct contact with the cathode where the endblock provides a gas escape route behind the cathode. Current applied to the electrochemical cell for generating hydrogen gas also lowers the pH of the alkaline water to produce carbon dioxide with no additional current or power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Felice DiMascio, Heather D. Willauer, Dennis R. Hardy, Frederick Williams, M. Kathleen Lewis
  • Patent number: 10443136
    Abstract: An electrochemical reaction device comprises: an electrolytic solution tank including a first region, a second region, and a path; a reduction electrode disposed in the first region; an oxidation electrode disposed in the second region; and a power source connected to the reduction electrode and oxidation electrode; and a plurality of ion exchange membranes separating the first region and the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Akihiko Ono, Satoshi Mikoshiba, Jun Tamura, Norihiro Yoshinaga, Yoshitsune Sugano
  • Patent number: 10407782
    Abstract: This invention includes an electrolysis chamber and method for producing controlled flow acid electrolyzed water and controlled flow alkaline electrolyzed water with independent flows from aqueous solutions. Its objective is to produce controlled flow acid water with an oxide reduction potential (ORP) between +1100 and +1200 mV and a pH between 1.5 and 2.9 with a stability and shelf life of over a year, and controlled flow alkaline electrolyzed water with a pH between 9.0-11.0 and an ORP between ?700 mV to ?800 mV with a shelf life of more than a year.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Inventor: Juan Manuel Nuñez Montalvo
  • Patent number: 10280526
    Abstract: A system that produces a sterilizing solution, has an electrolytic cell containing an anode compartment and a cathode compartment separated by a porous ion-exchange membrane. The system further has an ion-exchange water softener arranged to supply the electrolytic cell with deionized water and a brine tank arranged to supply the electrolytic cell with a sodium chloride brine solution. The system is arranged for conducting a regeneration of the water softener by use of a sodium chloride brine solution from the brine tank. The system has a positive displacement pump controlled by a control unit of the system to selectively supply a sodium chloride brine solution from the brine tank to the electrolytic cell and to the water softener for regeneration thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: DANISH CLEAN WATER A/S
    Inventor: Hardy Peter Jepsen
  • Patent number: 10241035
    Abstract: Spectrophotometric sensors for measuring the concentration of various solutions are disclosed. Methods for controlling the introduction of disinfectants using such sensors for water treatment are also disclosed. Hypochlorite strength is monitored in at least some embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
    Inventors: David Macdonald Bonnick, Michael Brooks
  • Patent number: 10227245
    Abstract: A system and method for applying an advanced oxidation process to a UV fluid reactor. An L-shaped electrode is connected to a UV reactor hatch and inserted into the reactor upstream from a UV radiation source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Neptune Benson Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan Charles McClean
  • Patent number: 10207936
    Abstract: Various ultraviolet (UV) reactors and their methods of fabrication are disclosed. One exemplary process comprises forming a set of parallel channels in a slab of ultraviolet transparent material. The process also comprises providing a reactor substrate with an input manifold and an output manifold. The process also comprises joining the slab of ultraviolet transparent material and the reactor substrate. The input manifold, output manifold, and set of parallel channels are in fluid communication after the joining step. The process also comprises providing a planar ultraviolet light source isolated from the set of parallel channels by the shaped slab of ultraviolet-transparent material. The set of parallel channels and a defining plane of the planar ultraviolet light source are parallel in the assembled ultraviolet reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Silanna UV Technologies Pte Ltd
    Inventors: Steven Duvall, Norbert Krause, Christopher Flynn, Mark Hiscocks, Matthew Stewart
  • Patent number: 10189727
    Abstract: A fluid purification system has cells whose purifying capability can be regenerated. Some of the cells are arranged in series to reach a high level of purification. An automatic valve network is controlled to cycle the cells in a way that levels the loads on each, thereby maximizing the service interval for replacing expired cells, enabling all of the cells to be replaced at the same time after having each contributing approximately equally to the purification load, and operated such that at any one time, at least one cell is regenerated so as to enable continuous up-time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: NxStage Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: William K Weigel, Goetz Friederichs, Joseph E Turk, Jefferey B Hover, Sr.
  • Patent number: 10177388
    Abstract: Provided are a cathode substrate, a high capacity all-solid-state battery, and a method for manufacturing the same. The cathode substrate includes a base in a mesh form and a cathode formed on the base, wherein the cathode is configured to overlap the base. The present invention may resolve a conventional problem of deterioration in battery efficiency, which has been caused by a long distance between an electrode and a cathode, and may produce a high capacity all-solid-state battery while suppressing or preventing an increase in the thickness of the cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: GACHON UNIVERSITY OF INDUSTRY—ACADEMIC COOPERATION FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Young Soo Yoon, Seung Hyun Jee, Seok Hee Lee
  • Patent number: 10038201
    Abstract: An exemplary fuel cell component includes a plate comprising an electrically conductive material. An electrical connector includes a first portion embedded in the plate. A second portion of the electrical connector extends from the plate. The second portion is configured to make an electrically conductive connection with another device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: David Melo Ferreira, Christopher John Carnevale, Glenn Michael Allen
  • Patent number: 10006130
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Evonik Degussa GmbH
    Inventors: Sascha Hoch, Matthias Blug, Jens Busse, Wolfram Calvet, Bernhard Kaiser, Wolfram Jaegermann, Hanna Hahn, Horst-Werner Zanthoff
  • Patent number: 9915136
    Abstract: A method of extracting hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon well includes receiving an aqueous solution including dissolved inorganic carbon, and extracting the dissolved inorganic carbon from the aqueous solution to create CO2 by changing a pH of the aqueous solution. The method also includes pumping the CO2 into the hydrocarbon well and, in response to pumping the CO2 into the hydrocarbon well, extracting the hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Matthew D. Eisaman, Kathleen E. Cooper
  • Patent number: 9903030
    Abstract: According to an aspect, a hydrogen-containing water generating electrode includes: a positive electrode that is a tubular conductor and includes a plurality of openings in a side portion; an insulator that is provided on an outer peripheral portion of the positive electrode and is in contact with the positive electrode; and a negative electrode that is provided on an outer peripheral portion of the insulator, is a tubular conductor in contact with the insulator, and includes a plurality of openings in a side portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: THE CHUGOKU ELECTRIC POWER CO., INC.
    Inventors: Keisou Iwai, Masayuki Shimokatu, Suehiro Sakai
  • Patent number: 9863047
    Abstract: An electrolysis device of an embodiment includes: an anode, a cathode having a nitrogen-containing carbon alloy catalyst, and an electrolysis cell having a membrane electrode assembly composed of an electrolyte present between the anode and the cathode so that voltage is applied to the anode and the cathode, wherein the electrolyte is any one of acidic, neutral, or alkali, water is produced by the electrolysis device at the cathode, when the electrolyte is acidic, and hydroxide ion is produced by the electrolysis device at the anode, when the electrolyte is neutral or alkali.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Toshiba Lifestyle Products & Services Corporation
    Inventors: Norihiro Yoshinaga, Yoshihiko Nakano, Norihiro Tomimatsu, Yoshihiro Akasaka
  • Patent number: 9819041
    Abstract: A mixed oxide of Si and at least one metal M comprising inorganic groups —SO3H. The addition of the mixed oxide to fluorinated polymers containing sulfonic acid functional groups increases their stability towards radical degradation when used in fuel cell applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: SOLVAY SPECIALTY POLYMERS ITALY S.P.A.
    Inventors: Claudio Oldani, Luca Merlo, Antonio Salvatore Arico, Claudia D'Urso, Vincenzo Baglio
  • Patent number: 9809470
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an electrolytic membrane separation (EMS) subsystem is configured to remove one or more impurities from a contaminated reject solution and to recycle the reusable reject solution for subsequent use in regenerating ion exchange resins. According to another embodiment of the invention, the EMS subsystem is configured to concentrate the impurities recovered from the contaminated brine solution for subsequent disposal or treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Exergy Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Fred P. Reinhard
  • Patent number: 9803058
    Abstract: An ion exchange membrane (52) for a fuel cell comprises a polymer having an acid functional group normally including protons, and having alkali metal ions partially ion-exchanged with the protons of the acid functional group of the membrane. The partial ion exchange of alkali metal ions into the membrane relates either to patterning of the exchanged ion make-up of the membrane, with some being ion exchanged and some not, or to the extent or concentration of the ion exchange in any particular location, or to both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Vishal Onkarmal Mittal, Lesia V. Protsailo, Sathya Motupally
  • Patent number: 9804090
    Abstract: An energy store system, including at least one cell element situated in a cell region having an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte system that is situated between the anode and the cathode and that is particularly at least partially liquid, the anode, the cathode and/or the electrolyte system being configured so that, as a function of a charging or discharging process of the cell element, functioning material is situated in the electrolyte system, and the functional material situated in the electrolyte system being ascertainable qualitatively and/or quantitatively. Because of such an energy store system, operating states of an energy store or a cell may be ascertained particularly simply and accurately. Also described is a related state detection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Marcus Wegner, Jens Grimminger, Martin Tenzer, Jean Fanous
  • Patent number: 9764335
    Abstract: A system for extracting metals (e.g. precious metals or dangerous metals) from a substrate material such as sludge from a lake bed or sewage treatment facility includes processing the substrate material and metals by exposing the substrate material and metals to the plasma of an electric arc. Then, the exposed substrate material and metals are passed through an electrically charged collection grid in which the metals, now electrically charged, are attracted to the collection grid and hold to the collection grid and the substrate material exits the collection grid with less concentrations (or none) of the metals. In some embodiments, in addition to recovering the metals (e.g. precious metals, dangerous metals, etc.), a flammable gas is produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: MAGNEGAS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ermanno Santilli
  • Patent number: 9718711
    Abstract: Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward apparatus and methods method for filtering water fluid by screening ionic minerals including sodium chloride from the water fluid. In one embodiment, the water fluid is passed into a work zone defined at least in part by oppositely-arranged first and second porous structures, each of which have a plurality of gated channels. The water fluid is processed in the work zone by applying respective electric voltages to electrically bias the first porous structure and the second porous structure. The respective electric voltages deplete sodium chloride ions in the water fluid in the work zone due to ion-flux continuity. In response to processing of the water fluid, ion-filtered water is collected from the work zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Kee-Hyun Paik, Yang Liu, Robert W. Dutton, Qiushi Ran
  • Patent number: 9719178
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell for the continuous acidification of alkaline water sources and recovery of carbon dioxide with simultaneous continuous hydrogen gas production having a center compartment, an electrolyte-free anode compartment having a mesh anode in direct contact with an ion permeable membrane, an endblock in direct contact with the anode where the endblock provides a gas escape route behind the anode, an electrolyte-free cathode compartment having a mesh cathode in direct contact with an ion permeable membrane, and an endblock in direct contact with the cathode where the endblock provides a gas escape route behind the cathode. Current applied to the electrochemical cell for generating hydrogen gas also lowers the pH of the alkaline water to produce carbon dioxide with no additional current or power. Also disclosed is the related method for continuously acidifying alkaline water sources and recovering carbon dioxide with continuous hydrogen gas production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Felice DiMascio, Heather D. Willauer, Dennis R. Hardy, Frederick Williams, M. Kathleen Lewis
  • Patent number: 9605352
    Abstract: Provided is a cation exchange membrane having excellent mechanical strength against folding and the like and capable of delivering stable electrolytic performance for a long time, an electrolysis vessel using the cation exchange membrane and a method for producing the cation exchange membrane. A cation exchange membrane 1 at least includes: a membrane body containing a fluorine-based polymer having an ion-exchange group; and two or more reinforcing core materials arranged approximately in parallel within the membrane body. The membrane body is provided with two or more elution holes 12 formed between the reinforcing core materials 10 adjacent to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: ASAHI KASEI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kameyama, Manabu Sugimoto, Yoshifumi Kado
  • Patent number: 9599373
    Abstract: A hydrogen storage heat pump, including: a hydrogen storage unit in which hydrogen gas is stored in a compressed state; a hydrogen flow tube through which the hydrogen gas, which is supplied from the hydrogen storage unit, flows; plural hydrogen absorbing materials that are provided at the hydrogen flow tube, that each have a different absorption pressure at which hydrogen is absorbed, and that are arranged in an order such that the absorption pressure decreases in a hydrogen gas flow direction from the hydrogen storage unit; and a switching valve that is disposed between the hydrogen absorbing materials in the hydrogen flow tube and that switches a flow rate of the hydrogen gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA CHUO KENKYUSHO
    Inventors: Takafumi Yamauchi, Yasuki Hirota, Masakazu Aoki, Takashi Shimazu
  • Patent number: 9551076
    Abstract: The electrochemical reactors disclosed herein provide novel oxidation and reduction chemistries and employ increased mass transport rates of materials to and from the surfaces of electrodes therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Clean Chemistry, Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Buschmann
  • Patent number: 9493368
    Abstract: A method of precipitating scale from water includes providing an electrochemical cell. The electrochemical cell includes a primary cathode chamber including a first electrode therein, a primary anode chamber including a second electrode therein, and a cation exchange membrane separating the primary cathode chamber from the primary anode chamber. A flow of feed water is split into separate input flows to each of the primary cathode chamber and the primary anode chamber. The pH of the water in the primary anode chamber is reduced by electrolysis. The pH of water in the primary cathode chamber is increased by electrolysis, and cations are removed from the water in the primary cathode chamber by forming scale on the first electrode in the primary cathode chamber. Separate treated water output flows, from each of the primary cathode chamber and primary anode chamber, are combined into a combined conditioned water flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: TANGENT COMPANY LLC
    Inventor: Lyle E. Kirman
  • Patent number: 9404191
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an anode for a zero-gap brine electrolyzer which through employment of a highly roughened surface at a catalyst layer at an anode for a zero-gap brine electrolyzer makes it possible to achieve sufficient liquid permeability and further reduction in electrolyzing voltage and a brine electrolysis method employing same. The present invention relates to an anode for a zero-gap brine electrolyzer equipped with a liquid-permeable conductive substrate 21, and with a catalyst layer 22 which is provided on the conductive substrate 21 and which is such that the maximum difference in height of surface irregularities is 55 ?m to 70 ?m; a zero-gap brine electrolyzer equipped with the anode 20, a cathode 30, and an ion-exchange membrane I disposed between and in contact with the anode 20 and the cathode 30; and a brine electrolysis method employing same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: OSAKA SODA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kanefusa Hara, Satoshi Hatano
  • Patent number: 9206517
    Abstract: The present invention concerns an anodic compartment for metal electrowinning cells delimited by a frame-shaped skeleton comprising an envelope including a permeable separator secured to said frame-shaped skeleton by means of a frame-shaped flange, at least one anode obtained starting from a valve metal substrate coated with at least one corrosion-resistant catalytic layer, said anode being inserted inside said envelope, and a demister located above said anode and delimited by said separator and said skeleton. The invention also concerns an electrochemical cell for metal electrowinning comprising at least one such anodic compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: INDUSTRIE DE NORA S.P.A.
    Inventor: Giuseppe Faita
  • Patent number: 9067087
    Abstract: An air revitalization apparatus and method simultaneously removes carbon dioxide, water vapor, and heat from air and produces oxygen gas, hydrogen gas, and concentrated carbon dioxide gas, does not require an explosion proof enclosure, and includes a fan configured to blow air into a first gas-liquid contactor, an electrochemical cell including first through fourth passages configured to emit hydrogen gas, permit a flow of a carbonate-hydroxide solution, permit a flow of carbonate-bicarbonate solution, and emit oxygen gas, respectively, the first and fourth passages separated by at least three gas-impermeable membranes, and a second gas-liquid contactor, where the first gas-liquid contactor, second passage, and a first pump are configured to circulate the carbonate-hydroxide solution therethrough, where the second gas-liquid contactor, third passage, and a second pump are configured to circulate the carbonate-bicarbonate solution therethrough, and where the output of the first passage is operationally coupled
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: OCEANEERING INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: Gary Patrick Noyes
  • Patent number: 9028764
    Abstract: An electro-catalytic honeycomb for controlling exhaust emissions, which adopts to purify a lean-burn exhaust, comprises a honeycomb structural body, a solid-oxide layer and a cathode layer. The honeycomb structural body includes an anode, a plurality of gas channels, and a shell. The anode is formed as a backbone, the gas channels are formed inside the backbone for passing the exhaust, and the shell covers an outer surface of the anode. The solid-oxide layer is adhered to an inner surface of the anode and connects the shell so as to encapsulate the anode. The cathode layer is adhered to a tube wall of the solid-oxide layer and has an oxidizing environment. The anode has a reducing environment. The reducing and the oxidizing environment facilitate an electromotive force to occur between the anode and the cathode layer to promote a decomposition of nitrogen oxides of the exhaust into nitrogen and oxygen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Inventor: Ta-Jen Huang
  • Publication number: 20150122668
    Abstract: A water conditioner that utilizes ionic flow and selective ionic filtering to control water hardness and/or pH. In some embodiments, the water conditioner includes one or more conditioning cells each having electrodes and a cathode side and an anode side separated by an ion-selective filter. The ion-selective filter is design/configured/selected to pass alkaline earth metal cations and block corresponding carbonate anions. When the electrodes are energized and water is present on the cathode and anode sides of the filter membrane, the alkaline earth metal cations pass from the anode side to the cathode side through the membrane, while the membrane blocks carbonate ions on the cathode side from passing to the anode side. In this manner, alkaline earth metal cations, and water hardness, can be reduced in the anode flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventor: Tadeusz Karabin