Tortuous Path-type Frame Or Membrane Spacer Patents (Class 204/635)
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Patent number: 12138591Abstract: A module comprises a cell stack having a plurality of alternating ion depleting compartments and ion concentrating compartments, an inlet manifold configured to facilitate a flow of fluid into the cell stack, and a first flow distribution system, associated with the inlet manifold, including a first ramp to promote the circulation of the flow of fluid into the cell stack.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2021Date of Patent: November 12, 2024Assignee: Evoqua Water Technoloiges LLCInventors: Joshua Griffis, Li-Shiang Liang
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Patent number: 10814280Abstract: A module comprises a cell stack having a plurality of alternating ion depleting compartments and ion concentrating compartments, an inlet manifold configured to facilitate a flow of fluid into the cell stack, and a first flow distribution system, associated with the inlet manifold, including a first ramp to promote the circulation of the flow of fluid into the cell stack.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2016Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Inventors: Joshua Griffis, Li-Shiang Liang
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Patent number: 9656886Abstract: An electrical purification apparatus and methods of making same are disclosed. The electrical purification apparatus may provide for increases in operation efficiencies, for example, with respect to decreased residence times and higher purity water.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2012Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Inventor: Li-Shiang Liang
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Patent number: 9138689Abstract: An electrical purification apparatus and methods of making same are disclosed. The electrical purification apparatus may provide for increases in operation efficiencies, for example, with respect to current efficiencies and membrane utilization.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2011Date of Patent: September 22, 2015Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies Pte. Ltd.Inventors: Li-Shiang Liang, Joseph D. Gifford, John K. Chan, Lawrence J. Salvo
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Patent number: 8956521Abstract: An electrical purification apparatus and methods of making same are disclosed. The electrical purification apparatus may provide for increases in operation efficiencies, for example, with respect to current efficiencies and membrane utilization.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2011Date of Patent: February 17, 2015Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLCInventors: Li-Shiang Liang, Joseph D. Gifford, John K. Chan, Lawrence J. Salvo
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Patent number: 8784632Abstract: An apparatus for performing electrodialysis at pressures greater than or equal to the ambient pressure is described. The apparatus includes an electrodialysis membrane stack and housing. The electrodialysis membrane stack includes at least one electrodialysis cell. The electrodialysis apparatus includes electrodes that apply voltage across the electrodialysis stack. The housing pressurizes the electrodialysis stack at a stack pressure. The housing includes a cell chamber that receives the electrodialysis stack, the cell chamber including at least one pressurization port communicating with the cell chamber such that a portion of electrode solution is transmittable into a region of the cell chamber outside the electrodialysis stack.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2010Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center IncorporatedInventors: Matthew D. Eisaman, Karl A. Littau, Daniel Larner
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Patent number: 8529759Abstract: An electric deionized water production apparatus in which a direct current field is applied to a deionizing chamber packed with an ion-exchange material such that ions to be discharged are allowed to migrate in the direction identical or opposite to the direction of the water flow in the ion-exchange material, whereby ionic impurities adsorbed in the ion-exchange material are discharged from the system, the ion-exchange material being a mixture of a monolith-shaped organic porous ion-exchange material and ion-exchange resin particles. The electric deionized water production apparatus has a simple structure that can reduce material cost, process cost, and assembly cost, capable of accelerating migration of the adsorbed ionic impurities to facilitate discharge of the adsorbed ions and free from a deflected flow due to swelling or shrinkage accompanying an ion-exchanging reaction, and from poor contact with an ion-exchange membrane.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2005Date of Patent: September 10, 2013Assignee: Organo CorporationInventors: Naoyuki Tajima, Koji Yamanaka, Hiroshi Inoue, Akira Nakamura
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Patent number: 8197656Abstract: A device for separating micro particles is provided. The separating device comprises a sample inlet into which a sample containing micro particles is injected; fluid inlets into which fluid is injected to form a flow sheath for the sample; a plurality of outlets through which the micro particles are separated and discharged out; a channel through which the sample and the fluid flow; and a first electrode and a second electrode longitudinally disposed in parallel in the channel. The first and the second electrodes are provided in such a manner that an electrode gap between the first and the second electrodes has a curved shape. The micro particles in the sample are easily separated using a dielectrophoresis characteristic.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2008Date of Patent: June 12, 2012Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation, Yonsei UniversityInventors: Yun Woo Nam, Jung Joo Hwang, Hyo-Il Jung, Hui-Sung Moon, Jae Chan Park, Jun Il Sohn, Kyoung Ho Kang
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Patent number: 7909975Abstract: Disclosed is a system for recovering gas produced during electrodialysis of a saline solution, from gas entrained in an electrolyte solution circulating through anode and cathode compartments of an electrodialysis (ED) unit. In one embodiment, the system provides separate catholyte and anolyte towers within a closed, re-circulating loop between the cathode and anode compartments. Each tower comprises an inlet at which the entrained gas separates from the electrolyte solution and flows into the headspace. One can recover residual gases from the electrolyte solution in one more additional apparatus. Preferably, hydrogen gas is separated from the catholyte solution and, more preferably, further purified for use as a fuel source in alternative power generating devices, such as a fuel cell or bio-fuel generator, useful in the unit operations of a water treatment system.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2006Date of Patent: March 22, 2011Assignee: Volker Stevin Contracting Ltd.Inventor: Vitselle (Vita) S. P. Martez
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Patent number: 7833400Abstract: Flow-through capacitors are provided with one or more charge barrier layers. Ions trapped in the pore volume of flow-through capacitors cause inefficiencies as these ions are expelled during the charge cycle into the purification path. A charge barrier layer holds these pore volume ions to one side of a desired flow stream, thereby increasing the efficiency with which the flow-through capacitor purifies or concentrates ions.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2004Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Assignee: Biosource, Inc.Inventors: Marc D. Andelman, Gregory S. Walker
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Patent number: 7404884Abstract: Injection bonded articles comprised of a rigid core and secured together with an elastomeric material network which also forms seals and encapsulates at least a portion of the rigid core. The elastomeric material is selected to be compatible with the material comprising the rigid core to create a chemical and mechanical bond therebetween. Injection bonding and over-molding techniques are used to fabricate an electrodeionization apparatus spacer comprised of mated rigid segments secured by a unitary elastomeric material network that also forms internal and external seals that fluidly isolate one or more of inlet ports, resin cavities, and outlet ports as well as throughports. Injection bonding and over-molding techniques can also be used to fabricate other articles comprised of multiple segments.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2003Date of Patent: July 29, 2008Assignee: Siemens Water Technologies Holding Corp.Inventors: Emile O. Montminy, Li-Shiang Liang
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Patent number: 7138045Abstract: An electrodialysis method and apparatus include a source of concentrate fluid, a source of dilute fluid, a collector of treated concentrate fluid, a collector of dilute fluid, an anode and a cathode. A plurality of generally planar spacers are interleaved with a plurality of membranes to define a plurality of cells providing electrically conductive fluid connection between the anode and the cathode. Each of the spacers comprises a gasket that defines a first aperture and a second aperture. Each of said first and second apertures define an independent cell between interleaved membranes. The symmetrical, multiple split cell spacer configuration channels fluid flow through two or more narrow and elongated paths. The split cell arrangement allows for operation of the stack in parallel or in series.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2004Date of Patent: November 21, 2006Inventor: Alois Sferrazza
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Publication number: 20030155243Abstract: An electrodialysis method and apparatus include a source of concentrate fluid, a source of dilute fluid, a collector of treated concentrate fluid, a collector of dilute fluid, an anode and a cathode. A plurality of generally planar spacers are interleaved with a plurality of membranes to define a plurality of cells providing electrically conductive fluid connection between the anode and the cathode. Each of the spacers comprises a gasket that defines a first aperture and a second aperture. Each of said first and second apertures define an independent cell between interleaved membranes. The symmetrical, multiple split cell spacer configuration channels fluid flow through two or more narrow and elongated paths. The split cell arrangement allows for operation of the stack in parallel or in series.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2002Publication date: August 21, 2003Applicant: EET CorporationInventor: Alois Sferrazza
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Patent number: 6607647Abstract: An electrodeionization apparatus and method of use includes an expanded conductive mesh electrode. The expanded conductive mesh electrode may be formed from any conductive material that is dimensionally stable and may be coated with conductive coating. The expanded conductive mesh electrodes typically have a diamond-shaped pattern of any size that provides support for an adjacent ion-permeable membrane while allowing an electrode or fluid stream to flow through. The conductive mesh electrode may also be placed against an endblock having fluid channels. These channels may be serpentine or parallel channels, which allow fluid flow to wash away any accumulation. The electrodeionization apparatus may have a protective ion-permeable membrane adjacent the electrode. The electrodeionization apparatus may also have a spacer, such as a fabric, a screen or a mesh, positioned adjacent the electrode.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2001Date of Patent: August 19, 2003Assignee: United States Filter CorporationInventors: Frederick C. Wilkins, Li-Shiang Liang, Anthony Giuffrida
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Patent number: 6537436Abstract: An electrodialysis treatment system utilizing a plurality of disparate layers of an electrodialysis cell stack for separation of components in liquid mixtures. The system for electrodialysis treatment for purification and deionizing liquids includes providing an operation of pretreatment by filtration for removal of inorganic and organic contaminants and generating a filtrate effluent. An adsorbing operation for adsorbing organic contaminants from the filtrate effluent of the pretreatment operation is provided by utilizing activated carbon adsorption and generating a liquid fraction. A deionizing operation for continuously purifying the liquid fraction is provided by utilizing an electrodialysis stack having a plurality of ion exchange membranes and separating gaskets for selectively removing contaminant ions from the liquid fraction of the adsorbing operation.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2001Date of Patent: March 25, 2003Inventors: Ernst Schmidt, Michael E. Williams, Brian M. Schmidt, James Schmidt, Erich Schmidt
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Patent number: 6379518Abstract: The electrodeionization apparatus 3A has a plurality of cation exchange membrane and plurality of anion exchange membrane alternately arranged between electrodes in such a manner as to alternately form diluting compartments and concentrating compartments. The diluting compartments are filled with an ion exchanger. The product water having pH exceeding pH of the feed water by 1.0 or more when the feed water having pH of equal to or less than 8.5 is treated without adding alkaline agents. The apparatus for producing purified water has plural electrodeionization apparatuses 3A, 3B connected each other so that the feed water flows through the electrodeionization apparatuses.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2000Date of Patent: April 30, 2002Assignee: Kurita Water Industries Ltd.Inventors: Masanobu Osawa, Osamu Kato
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Patent number: 6344122Abstract: An electrodeionization apparatus includes an anode; a cathode; cation-exchange membranes and anion-exchange membranes alternately arranged between the anode and the cathode; desalting compartments and concentrating compartments arranged alternately to be located between the cation-exchange membrane and the anion-exchange membrane; and partition members situated in the respective desalting compartments to form cells therein. The partition member has inclined portions inclined obliquely relative to a longitudinal direction of the desalting compartment to define the cells laterally and vertically. Thus, one cell faces obliquely at least one of the cells adjacent thereto to allow water to flow obliquely between the one cell and the at least one of the cells. An ion exchanger is filled in the respective cells. The ion exchanger do not pass through the partition member.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2000Date of Patent: February 5, 2002Assignee: Kurita Water Industries Ltd.Inventors: Toshiaki Deguchi, Kunihiro Iwasaki
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Patent number: 5972191Abstract: A gasket for an electrodialysis cell assembly has a series flow path comprising a plurality of flow path sections joined by restrictor sections. Each of the flow path sections has a relatively wide width. The restrictor has less than the wide width so that a fluid flowing in the series flow path must increase its velocity as it flows through the restrictor. The result is that the fluid exiting the restrictor cause turbulence and agitation in the flow path sections. Manifold holes are located at opposite ends of the series flow path. A rigid port is positioned between each of the manifold holes and the ends of the series flow path. The successive cells of the assembly are defined by a pair of bipolar membranes with cation and/or anion exchange membranes between them. One of the gaskets is located between each two of the membranes.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 1997Date of Patent: October 26, 1999Assignee: Archer Daniels Midland CompanyInventor: K. N. Mani
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Patent number: 5702582Abstract: Apparatus for selecting connections from each of two or more inlet streams, at least two of which flow simultaneously, to one or more exit streams of a group of at least two. The apparatus has at least one rotatable first body, a first surface of which is adjacent to a first surface of a second body. The first body provides at least first and second fluid conduits, at least one end of each conduit terminating at the first surface of the first body. The second body also provides at least first and second fluid conduits, at least one end of each conduit terminating at the first surface of the second body. The first ends of each conduit provided by the first body and the first ends of each conduit provided by the second body are in such predetermined positions that the first conduit of the first body communicates with the second conduit of the second body.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 1996Date of Patent: December 30, 1997Assignee: Ionics, IncorporatedInventors: Arthur L. Goldstein, Theodore G. Papastavros, Emery J. Richard