Utilizing Bipolar Membrane Patents (Class 205/344)
  • Patent number: 11502308
    Abstract: A catalyst-coated membrane (CCM) for use in a water electrolyser, having a laminate structure comprising: a first layer comprising a first membrane component having a cathode catalyst layer disposed on a first face thereof; a second layer comprising a second membrane component having an anode catalyst layer disposed on a first face thereof; and an intermediate layer disposed between the first and second layers, comprising a third membrane component having a recombination catalyst layer disposed on a first face thereof is disclosed. The CCM is useful within a water electrolyser. The recombination catalyst layer reduces the risk associated with hydrogen crossover and allows thinner membranes with lower resistance to be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Johnson Matthey Hydrogen Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Emily Rose Price, Edward Anthony Wright
  • Patent number: 11020939
    Abstract: Nanofiber electrodes for electrochemical devices and fabricating methods of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes forming a liquid mixture containing a catalyst, a first polymer of perfluoro sulfonic acid and a second polymer of polyethylene oxide, the first polymer of perfluoro sulfonic acid being pre-treated to remove protons in the first polymer by exchange with a cation species like Na+; and electro spinning the liquid mixture to generate electro spun fibers and deposit the generated fibers on a collector substrate to form a fiber electrode mat comprising a network of fibers, where each fiber has a plurality of particles of the catalyst distributed thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Peter N. Pintauro
  • Patent number: 10000855
    Abstract: A multi-stack electrochemical hydrogen compressor (EHC) system is provided. The EHC system may have two or more EHC stacks, wherein each EHC stack includes at least one electrochemical cell and a power supply. The EHC system may also have a controller in communication with the power supply of each EHC stack, wherein the controller is configured to reduce total energy consumption of the EHC system by independently controlling the power supply of each EHC stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Nuvera Fuel Cells, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Beverage, Scott Blanchet
  • Publication number: 20140251819
    Abstract: According to aspects described herein, methods and systems provided by the present invention for hydrogen gas production include a RED stack including one or more RED subunits, and use of a saline material including a heat regenerable salt. The salinity driven energy, provided by the one or more RED subunits, completely eliminates the need for an external power source to produce hydrogen gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: The Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventors: Bruce E. Logan, Younggy Kim, Roland D. Cusick, Jooyoun Nam
  • Patent number: 8465630
    Abstract: An electrically driven oxygen separation assembly and method for applying an electrical potential in which the assembly has one or more tubular membrane elements. The potential is applied at two central spaced locations of a tubular membrane element and at least at opposite end locations thereof. As a result the electric current flow through the tubular membrane element is divided into two parts flowing between the two central spaced locations and the opposite end locations. Additionally, the present invention also provides an end seal to be used in connection with tubular membrane elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Reed, David Frisbee Suggs, Michael J. Collins, Richard Martin Kelly, Gervase Maxwell Christie
  • Publication number: 20120132536
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process comprising the reaction of a cyanide with a hydrogen cyanide-reactive compound, characterized in that the cyanide is a cyanide salt and the process is an electrochemical process involving the transporting of a reaction mixture to which cyanide salt has been added through an electrochemical cell, in which process the cyanide salt reacts with the hydrogen cyanide-reactive compound while at least partly under the influence of an electric current the cyanide salt is acidified and the salt cation content is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: AKZO NOBEL CHEMICALS INTERNATIONAL B.V.
    Inventors: Wilhelmus Joannes Theodorus Maria Appelman, Hans Lammers, Tjerk Oedse Boonstra, Adrianus Maria Reichwein
  • Publication number: 20110315560
    Abstract: A process for producing one or more chemical compounds comprising the steps of providing a bioelectrochemical system having an anode and a cathode separated by a membrane, the anode and the cathode being electrically connected to each other, causing oxidation to occur at the anode and causing reduction to occur at the cathode to thereby produce reducing equivalents at the cathode, providing the reducing equivalents to a culture of microorganisms, and providing carbon dioxide to the culture of microorganisms, whereby the microorganisms produce the one or more chemical compounds, and recovering the one or chemical compounds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: THE UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND
    Inventors: Korneel P.H.L.A. Rabaey, Rene A. Rozendal
  • Publication number: 20110042228
    Abstract: A PEM water electrolyser module comprising a plurality of structural plates each having a sidewall extending between opposite end faces with a half cell chamber opening, at least one oxygen degassing chamber opening, and at least one hydrogen gas collection manifold opening, extending through the structural plate between opposite end faces. The structural plates are arranged in face to face juxtaposition between opposite end plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: NEXT HYDROGEN CORPORATION
    Inventors: James T. Hinatsu, Michael C. Stemp
  • Publication number: 20100116680
    Abstract: An electrically driven oxygen separation assembly and method for applying an electrical potential in which the assembly has one or more tubular membrane elements. The potential is applied at two central spaced locations of a tubular membrane element and at least at opposite end locations thereof. As a result the electric current flow through the tubular membrane element is divided into two parts flowing between the two central spaced locations and the opposite end locations. Additionally, the present invention also provides an end seal to be used in connection with tubular membrane elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventors: David M. Reed, David Frisbee Suggs, Michael J. Collins, Richard Martin Kelly, Gervase Maxwell Christie
  • Publication number: 20100051469
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electrochemical cell for producing hydrogen gas and cupric chloride, comprising an anode compartment including an anode disposed in an anolyte, wherein the anolyte is cuprous chloride in hydrochloric acid, a cathode compartment including a cathode, wherein the cathode comprises an electrocatalyst, and a cation exchange membrane disposed between the anode compartment and the cathode compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventor: Lorne Stolberg
  • Publication number: 20090026084
    Abstract: Filter wash methods and apparatuses for chloralkali processes are provided. The filter wash uses in-process fluids from the chloralkali process to wash filters. The in-process fluids may be drawn from a point in the chloralkali process where the in-process fluids contain active chlorine values such as bleach. A filter may then be isolated from the chloralkali process and contacted with the in-process fluids containing active chlorine values to wash the filter. The in-process fluids containing active chlorine values may be operable to oxidize organic material clinging to the filter, thereby cleaning the filter. After washing, the in-process fluids containing active chlorine values may be returned to the chloralkali process to a point at or near where they were drawn from. The filters may be membrane filters. The filters may comprise expanded polytetrafluoroethylene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventors: Dwight R. Davis, Mike Raimer
  • Publication number: 20080128291
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a process for the removal of ammonia from an ammonia-containing gas stream by treating the ammonia in the ammonia-containing gas stream with an acid, during which treatment an aqueous stream comprising an ammonium salt, wherein the aqueous stream comprising the ammonium salt is treated with electrodialysis, whereby the acid is recovered and an aqueous stream comprising an ammonium hydroxide salt is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2005
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventors: Jozef I. Meessen, Axel Erben, John Krijgsman, Winfried Liebig
  • Patent number: 7365121
    Abstract: A low cost method of fabricating bipolar plates for use in fuel cells utilizes a wet lay process for combining graphite particles, thermoplastic fibers, and reinforcing fibers to produce a plurality of formable sheets. The formable sheets are then molded into a bipolar plates with features impressed therein via the molding process. The bipolar plates formed by the process have conductivity in excess of 150 S/cm and have sufficient mechanical strength to be used in fuel cells. The bipolar plates can be formed as a skin/core laminate where a second polymer material is used on the skin surface which provides for enhanced conductivity, chemical resistance, and resistance to gas permeation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Jianhua Huang, Donald G. Baird, James E. McGrath
  • Patent number: 7048838
    Abstract: The invention provides an ion exchange membrane electrolyzer ensuring a satisfactory circulation of electrolyte, high electrolytic efficiency and great ridigity. An anode chamber partition in a flat sheet form is joined to a cathode chamber partition in a flat sheet form. An electrode retainer member in a sheet form is joined to at least one partition at a belt-like junction. A projecting strip with an electrode joined thereto is located between adjacent junctions. A space on an electrode surface side of the electrode retainer member defines a path through which a fluid goes up in the electrode chamber, and a space that spaces away from the space defines a path through which an electrolyte separated from a gas at a top portion of the electrode goes down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Chlorine Engineers Corp., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Katayama, Masaru Mori, Masakazu Kameda
  • Patent number: 6984669
    Abstract: The present invention provides a fluorinated cation exchange membrane comprising at least two layers, a first layer made of a fluoropolymer having sulfonic acid groups and a second layer made of a fluoropolymer having carboxylic acid groups on the cathode side thereof, wherein when an electrolytic soda process is conducted using the cation exchange membrane as a diaphragm between an anode compartment and a cathode compartment, the water transport number through the cation exchange membrane is at least 4.8 mol/F (F: Faraday) under operating conditions such that the brine concentration in the anode compartment is 200 g/L, the sodium hydroxide concentration in the cathode compartment is 32 mass %, the current density is 5 kA/m2, and the temperature is 90° C. The fluorinated cation exchange membrane of the present invention gives an excellent effect such that a uniform catholyte concentration can be maintained even when installed in an electrolytic cell having no special circulating means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Asahi Glass Company, Limited
    Inventors: Takuo Nishio, Yoshihiko Saito, Tetsuji Shimohira
  • Patent number: 6224734
    Abstract: The invention provides novel mepiquat plant growth regulator compositions which have improved hygroscopicity and corrosion characteristics. The novel mepiquat plant growth regulator compositions of the invention can be readily prepared from technical mepiquat chlorid inter alia by electrochemical ion exchange processes or by quaternization of N-methylpiperidine with dimethylcarbonate as starting material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignees: BASF Aktiengesellschaft, BASF Corporation
    Inventors: Reiner Kober, David G. Hobbs, Scott W. Gibson, Kenneth Eugene Fersch, Wilhelm Rademacher, Jörg Botzem, Markus Frede, Matthias Dernbach, Reimer Göttsche, Reinhard Dötzer
  • Patent number: 6217733
    Abstract: A bipolar membrane, usable for electrodialysis of aqueous electrolytes, comprises two ion exchange membranes, respectively anionic and cationic, juxtaposed along a common surface, wherein, along said common surface, a gel based on hydrated metal sulpate and/or sulphite, including less than 0.01 mol % of indium, cerium, manganese and copper sulphates gel, is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignees: Solvay (Societe Anonyme), Electricite de France
    Inventors: Heinz Hurwitz, Rachid El Moussaoui
  • Patent number: 5989634
    Abstract: Electrochemical vapor deposition (EVD) of oxygen ion conducting and mixed conducting, oxygen-ionic/electronic, oxide layers is achieved at near atmospheric pressure process conditions by employing metals and metal compounds for removal and/or recovery of the free halogen byproduct of the EVD reaction. The metals and metal compounds are employed as solids, vapors, and as oxides in intimate mixture with carbon directly within the deposition zone together with the substrates to be coated. The process leads to significant cost reduction, for instance, in the fabrication of thin layers of solid oxygen ion conducting electrolytes, for fuel cells, gas separators, and gas sensors, when compared to state-of-the-art EVD processes which are conducted under vacuum conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Inventor: Arnold O. Isenberg
  • Patent number: 5833832
    Abstract: A process is described for preparing onium hydroxides from the respective onium salts and for purifying onium hydroxides in an electrochemical cell. In one example, the present invention relates to a process for preparing onium hydroxides from the corresponding onium salts which comprises the steps of: (A) providing a cell comprising an anode, a cathode and one or more unit cells assembled for operational positioning between the anode and the cathode, each unit cell comprising: (A-1) four compartments defined by, in sequence beginning at the anode, a bipolar membrane, a first divider and a second divider, said bipolar membrane having an anion selective side facing the anode and a cation selective side facing the cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Sachem, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher D. Shay, Hossein Sharifian
  • Patent number: 5716504
    Abstract: A cation exchange membrane for electrolysis, which comprises at least 2 layers of fluorine-containing polymer films having sulfonic acid groups, wherein a first layer facing a cathode is made of a three component polymer of the following monomers (A), (B) and (C) and has a thickness of from 50 to 150 .mu.m, and a second layer has a thickness of from 50 to 300 .mu.m:(A) CF.sub.2 =CF(OCF.sub.2 CFCF.sub.3).sub.m O(CF.sub.2).sub.n SO.sub.3 Mwherein m=0 or 1, n=1 to 5, and M is hydrogen or an alkali metal, ##STR1## wherein m=0 or 1, and Rf is a C.sub.1-10 perfluoroalkyl group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: Asahi Glass Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Saito, Tetsuji Shimohira, Haruhisa Miyake
  • Patent number: 5709786
    Abstract: A sintered layer system, includes an ion-conductive solid electrolyte layer which has a high oxygen ion conductivity and which is comprised of a solid electrolyte material comprising at least one oxide of tetravalent metals and at least one stabilizer oxide; and at least one functional layer which comprises a mixture of the solid electrolyte material and at least one further material, wherein the solid electrolyte material of the ion-conductive solid electrolyte layer and the solid electrolyte material of the at least one functional layer are comprised of nanocrystallites having a mean diameter of <100 nanometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Karl-Hermann Friese, Werner Gruenwald
  • Patent number: 5660709
    Abstract: The invention concerns an electrochemical process for the production of mllic hydroxides and/or metallic-oxide hydroxides from metal ions and hydroxide ions, as well as a device for carrying out the process. The metallic hydroxide and/or metallic-oxide hydroxide is formed in a chamber K, bordered on the cathode side by a bipolar membrane, and the required hydroxide ions arise by means of a bipolar membrane, the anion-selective layer being arranged on the anode side. The metal ions are either fed into the chamber K or formed in the chamber K in the presence of an agent, present in the chamber K and at a pH>7, which complexes the metal ions. The device for implementation of the process exhibits a cylindrical head geometry, connected to a conical geometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der Angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Bernd Bauer, Thomas Menzel
  • Patent number: 5624542
    Abstract: Enhancement of mechanical properties of ceramic membranes by introduction of a uniformly distributed high-temperature oxidation-resistant metal phase into the brittle ceramic phase to achieve mechanically strong ceramic/metal composites operable in an oxidation atmosphere and at elevated temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Assignee: Gas Research Institute
    Inventors: Yousheng Shen, Ashok V. Joshi, Dale M. Taylor, Michael J. Boettcher, Kevin Krist, Anil V. Virkar
  • Patent number: 5616223
    Abstract: Composite ceramic mixed ionic and electronic conducting materials having high ambipolar activity which can be fabricated into thin membranes for high efficiency oxygen separation from air at intermediate temperatures. The mixed conducting materials have composite non-homogeneous microstructures of a separate predominantly oxygen ion conductive phase and a predominantly electronic conductive phase. Preferred predominantly oxygen ion conducting phases include bismuth, cerium and zirconium oxide based materials and predominantly electronic conducting phases include at least one metal electronic conductor material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Gas Research Institute
    Inventors: Yousheng Shen, Ashok V. Joshi, Kevin Krist, Meilin Liu, Anil V. Virkar