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US 10,650,985 B2Granted
Atomic capacitor
AssigneeAtlantis Technologies
InventorPatrick Michael Curran
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This invention describes a capacitor that formed by a charge or species specific membrane material filled with aqueous or non-aqueous liquid with soluble salts dissolved and non-dissolved in solution and contained within the membrane material. When charged, the oppositely charged ion will leave the structure, leaving behind a charged atomic capacitor.
Claims27
A method of treating an aqueous stream with a capacitive deionization device, the method comprising:
- feeding the aqueous stream to a dielectric spacer flow channel of the capacitive deionization device, wherein the aqueous stream comprises at least one anionic species and at least one cationic species;
- and
- treating the aqueous stream with the capacitive deionization device to produce a treated aqueous stream;
- wherein the capacitive deionization device comprises:
- a first electrode comprising a first plurality of voids;
- a positive charge specific membrane material positioned proximate the first electrode and proximate the dielectric spacer flow channel;
- a plurality of anions from a first salt solution residing in the first plurality of voids;
- a negative charge specific membrane material, the negative charge specific membrane material positioned proximate the dielectric spacer flow channel opposite to the positive charge specific membrane material;
- a second electrode comprising a second plurality of voids, the second electrode being positioned proximate the negative charge specific membrane material opposite to the dielectric spacer flow channel;
- and
- a plurality of cations from a second salt solution residing in the second plurality of voids.
8 more elements
A method of operating a capacitive deionization device, the method comprising:
- feeding a first aqueous stream comprising first cations and first anions to a dielectric spacer flow channel of the capacitive deionization device, wherein the capacitive deionization device comprises:
- a first electrode comprising a first plurality of voids;
- a positive charge specific membrane material positioned proximate the first electrode and proximate the dielectric spacer flow channel;
- a plurality of second anions from a first salt solution residing in the first plurality of voids;
- a negative charge specific membrane material, the negative charge specific membrane material positioned proximate the dielectric spacer flow channel opposite to the positive charge specific membrane material;
- a second electrode comprising a second plurality of voids, the second electrode being positioned proximate to the negative charge specific membrane material opposite to the dielectric spacer flow channel;
- and
- a plurality of second cations from a second salt solution residing in the second plurality of voids;
- while operating in a purification cycle, applying a negative charge to the first electrode to cause at least a portion of the first cations in the first aqueous stream to pass through the positive charge specific membrane material;
- and
- while operating in the purification cycle, applying a positive charge to the second electrode to cause at least a portion of the first anions in the first aqueous stream to pass through the negative charge specific membrane material.
8 more elements
A method of preparing a capacitive deionization device for operational use, wherein the capacitive deionization device comprises a first electrode comprising a first plurality of voids;
- a positive charge specific membrane material, the positive charge specific membrane material positioned proximate the first electrode;
- a first salt solution comprising first anions and first cations residing in the first plurality of voids;
- a dielectric spacer flow channel positioned proximate the first charge specific membrane material;
- a negative charge specific membrane material, the negative charge specific membrane material positioned proximate the dielectric spacer flow channel opposite to the negative charge specific membrane material;
- a second electrode comprising a second plurality of voids, the second electrode being positioned proximate to the second charge specific membrane material opposite to the dielectric spacer flow channel;
- and a second salt solution comprising second anions and second cations residing in the second plurality of voids, the method comprising:
- applying a positive initial activation charge to the first electrode to cause at least a portion of the first cations of the first salt solution to pass through the positive charge specific membrane material into the dielectric spacer flow channel;
- and
- applying a negative initial activation charge to the second electrode to cause at least a portion of the second anions of the second salt solution to pass through the negative charge specific membrane material into the dielectric spacer flow channel.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.