# US 2007/0158185 A1 · Power efficient flow through capacitor system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2007/0158185 A1 - Document ID: US20070158185A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 10/567,415 - Filed: 2004-08-06 - Published: 2007-07-12 - Earliest claimed: 2003-08-06 - Assignees: Biosource, Inc. - Inventors: Marc Andelman; Shihab Kuran; Jon Zulkiewicz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20070158185A1 ## CPC - C02F 1/4691: {Capacitive deionisation} - C02F 1/4604: {for desalination of seawater or brackish water} - C02F 2001/46152: {characterised by the shape or form} - C02F 2103/08: Seawater, e.g. for desalination - C02F 2201/4611: Fluid flow - C02F 2201/4613: Inversing polarity - C02F 2201/4615: Time - C02F 2209/005: Processes using a programmable logic controller [PLC] - 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 The invention features a flow-through capacitor system that achieves enhanced power efficiency by sequential control and actuation of at least two or more flow-through capacitor cells within the flow-through capacitor system. Alternatively or in addition, power efficiency is enhanced by integrating the purification stages of the system, for example, by placing more than one cell within a single cell casing. Preferably, integrated stage flow-through capacitors are controlled sequentially. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A flow-through capacitor system comprising a plurality of flow-through capacitor cells, each of said plurality of cells in electrical communication with a charge cycle sequence controller. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The flow-through capacitor system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of current collectors and a flow spacer shared among said plurality of current collectors. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The flow-through capacitor system of claim 1, which is operated such that multiple concentration bands exist simultaneously within a given material layer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The flow-through capacitor system of claim 1, further comprising a conductivity controlled valve between at least two of said plurality of current collectors. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The flow-through capacitor system of claim 1, further comprising a flow stream parallel to at least two of said plurality of current collectors, with continuous purification and concentration streams directed to separate collection paths. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The flow-through capacitor system of claim 4, wherein fluid is manipulated to form adjacent purification and concentration streams that are separately collected without need for a valve. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The flow-through capacitor system of claim 1, wherein valves are individually triggered with charge cycles in order to produce a purified product stream. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The flow-through capacitor system of claim 1, wherein said flow-through capacitor system has a staging efficiency of 50% or more. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The flow-through capacitor system of claim 2, wherein said flow-through capacitor system has a power efficiency of 50% or more. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The flow-through capacitor system of claim 1, wherein the charge cycles of individual cells are synchronized to correspond with the arrival of a segment of purified water traveling serially through multiple cells. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The flow-through capacitor system of claim 1, wherein voltage is incremented in a step wise fashion as cells are sequentially powered by adding them in series. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The flow-through capacitor system of claim 1, wherein cells are powered by sequentially switching them together in parallel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The flow-through capacitor system of claim 1, whereby the voltage varies along the flow path. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The flow-through capacitor system of claim 1, wherein charged capacitor cells are used to power discharged capacitor cells. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The flow-through capacitor system of claim 14, comprising a DC to DC converter between cells or groups of cells. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The flow-through capacitor system of claim 1, wherein individual flow-through capacitor cells, or groups of cells, are controlled in a timed sequence. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The flow-through capacitor system of claim 16, wherein each of said cells is contained in a cell holder and each cell holder contains no more than one of said cells, said cell holder being a container, a cartridge holder, or a casing. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The flow-through capacitor system of claim 16, wherein the charge cycles between individual flow-through capacitor cells are either asynchronous or out of phase by at least one quarter second. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The flow-through capacitor system of claim 16, wherein the charge cycles are actuated by a timer, a conductivity reading, a voltage, or pH. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The flow-through capacitor system of claim 16, wherein valves to individual cells or groups of cells that dispose of waste, deliver purified fluid, or which recycle in flow loops are triggered synchronously or asynchronously together with the above charge cycles. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The flow-through capacitor system of claim 16, comprising for reducing peak wattage by at least 30%. ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) The flow-through capacitor system of claim 16, wherein each of said cells is actuated between one and 359 degrees out of phase. ### Claim 23 (depends on 16) The flow-through capacitor system of claim 16, wherein sequential operation of charge cycles follows the direction of flow. ### Claim 24 (depends on 16) The flow-through capacitor system of claim 16, comprising a power management system for sharing power between the flow through capacitor cells, said power management system comprising one or more of a battery, a fuel cell, and a generator. ### Claim 25 (depends on 16) The flow-through capacitor system of claim 16, wherein failed or short circuited cells are bypassed by means of a sensing circuit. ### Claim 26 (depends on 16) The flow-through capacitor system of claim 16, wherein either the purified product or concentrated waste segments of water from one or more cells or cell groups are combined together. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The flow-through capacitor of claim 26, wherein said system achieves better than 40% recovery or purification. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The flow-through capacitor of claim 26, wherein said segments of water are combined through a manifold. ### Claim 29 (depends on 16) The flow-through capacitor system of claim 16, wherein a dead volume due to the flow spacer is larger than the dead volume between the capacitor cell and the inside of the cartridge holder. ### Claim 30 (depends on 2) The flow-through capacitor system of claim 2, wherein two or more cells are contained within a single cell holder, said cell holder being a container, a cartridge holder, or a casing. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The flow-through capacitor system of claim 30, wherein the plurality of current collectors bracket a stack of true series electrode assemblies. ### Claim 32 (depends on 10) The flow-through capacitor system of claim 10, wherein current declines with each successive charge cycle. ### Claim 33 (depends on 10) The flow-through capacitor system of claim 10, wherein at least one of said cells differs in size from at least one other of said cells. ### Claim 34 A method of charging a flow through capacitor system, comprising providing a source of DC power and distributing said DC power in sequential fashion to individual flow through capacitor cells in order to minimize a capacitive charging power surge. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The method of claim 34, further comprising using a voltage or amperage sensor to control sequence of actuation among a group of cells.