# US 2005/0103634 A1 · Charge barrier flow-through capacitor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2005/0103634 A1 - Document ID: US20050103634A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/007,566 - Filed: 2004-12-07 - Published: 2005-05-19 - Earliest claimed: 2001-04-18 - Assignees: Biosource, Inc. - Inventors: Marc Andelman; Gregory Walker - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20050103634A1 ## CPC - C02F 1/4695: {electrodeionisation} - C02F 1/008: {Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F} - C02F 1/4691: {Capacitive deionisation} - C02F 1/469: by electrochemical separation, e.g. by electro-osmosis, electrodialysis, electrophoresis - C02F 2103/08: Seawater, e.g. for desalination - C02F 2201/005: Valves - C02F 2201/46: Apparatus for electrochemical processes - C02F 2201/46145: Fluid flow - C02F 2209/001: Upstream control, i.e. monitoring for predictive control - C02F 2209/003: Downstream control, i.e. outlet monitoring, e.g. to check the treating agents, such as halogens or ozone, leaving the process - C02F 2209/005: Processes using a programmable logic controller [PLC] - C02F 2209/05: Conductivity or salinity - C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes) ## Abstract 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A flow-through capacitor comprising: a) a plurality of electrodes; and b) a first charge barrier located between two of said plurality of electrodes. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The flow-through capacitor of claim 1, wherein the charge barrier is characterized by low resistance-capacitance. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The flow-through capacitor of claim 1, wherein at least one of the electrodes is an anode and at least one of the electrodes is a cathode. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The flow-through capacitor of claim 1, wherein the charge barrier comprises a first semipermeable membrane. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The flow-through capacitor of claim 4, wherein said charge barrier further comprises a second semipermeable membrane, said first membrane being a cation exchange membrane and said second membrane being an anion exchange membrane. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The flow-through capacitor of claim 5, wherein the anion exchange membrane is proximal to the anode, and the cation exchange membrane is proximal to the cathode. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The flow-through capacitor of claim 6, wherein the position of the anion and cation exchange membranes relative to the electrodes are reversed by reversal of voltage polarity on the electrodes. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The flow-through capacitor of claim 5, wherein the electrode is operated in the charge cycles of opposite polarity, separated by discharge cycles. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The flow-through capacitor of claim 1, further comprising a flow channel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The flow-through capacitor of claim 9, wherein the flow channel is formed by a spacer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The flow-through capacitor of claim 9, further comprising a flow channel located between one of the electrodes and the first charge barrier. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The flow-through capacitor of claim 11, further comprising a second charge barrier and further containing a flow channel located between the first and second charge barriers. ### Claim 13 (depends on 2) The flow-through capacitor of claim 2, wherein the charge barrier is an electrically-conductive membrane with a low resistance-capacitance (RC) time constant material. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The flow-through capacitor of claim 13, wherein the capacitance of the charge barrier is less than 20 farads/gram. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The flow-through capacitor of claim 1, wherein the charge barrier is electrically connected to a first power supply, and at least one of the plurality of electrodes is electrically connected to a second power supply. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The flow-through capacitor of claim 1, wherein the charge barrier has a voltage and the electrode has a voltage, the charge barrier voltage being greater than the electrode voltage. ### Claim 17 (depends on 5) The flow-through capacitor of claim 5, wherein the charge barrier membranes are identically-charged semipermeable membranes, selected from the group consisting of cation exchange membranes and anion exchange membranes. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The flow-through capacitor of claim 1, wherein the capacitor comprises a series resistance of less than 50 ohm cm2. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The flow-through capacitor of claim 1, wherein the capacitor has a series resistance to leakage ratio of greater than 100. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The flow-through capacitor of claim 1, wherein the electrodes within a cell of the capacitor are ionically insulated and connected electrically in series. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The flow-through capacitor of claim 20, further comprising a flow path adjacent to each of the electrodes. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) A system comprising the flow-through capacitor of claim 1 and a valve. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The system of claim 22, wherein said valve is a feedback valve. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The system of claim 22, wherein said valve is a three-way valve. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The system of claim 22, comprising a means for allowing fluid in said system to bypass a flow-through capacitor in said system. ### Claim 26 (depends on 22) The system of claim 22, comprising a means for directing fluid in said system from said flow-through capacitor to a second flow-through capacitor in said system. ### Claim 27 (depends on 22) The system of claim 22, further comprising a means for monitoring the concentration of ions in a fluid in said system. ### Claim 28 (depends on 22) The system of claim 22, further comprising a means for controlling the concentration of ions in a fluid in said system.