Charge barrier flow-through capacitor
AssigneeBiosource, Inc.
InventorsMarc D. Andelman, Gregory S. Walker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims75
A flow-through capacitor comprising:
- (a) a plurality of electrodes comprising an electrode material having a surface area for electrostatic adsorption of feed ions;
- (b) a pore structure in one or more of said plurality of electrodes, whereby said electrode is a porous electrode having a pore volume;
- and
- (c) a first charge barrier material different from said electrode material, located adjacent to said electrode.
A flow-through capacitor comprising:
- (a) a plurality of electrodes;
- and
- (b) a first charge barrier located between two of said plurality of electrodes, wherein the charge barrier is an electrically-conductive membrane with a low resistance-capacitance (RC) time constant material, and wherein the capacitance of the charge barrier is less than 20 farads/gram.
A flow-through capacitor comprising:
- (a) a plurality of electrodes;
- and
- (b) a first charge barrier located between two of said plurality of electrodes, 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.
A flow-through capacitor comprising:
- (a) a plurality of electrodes;
- and
- (b) a first charge barrier located between two of said plurality of electrodes, wherein the flow-through capacitor comprises a series resistance of less than 50 ohm cm2.
A flow-through capacitor comprising:
- (a) a plurality of electrodes;
- and
- (b) a first charge barrier located between two of said plurality of electrodes, wherein the flow-through capacitor has a leakage resistance to series resistance ratio of greater than 100.
A flow-through capacitor comprising:
- (a) a plurality of electrodes;
- and
- (b) a first charge barrier located between two of said plurality of electrodes, wherein the electrodes within a cell of the flow-through capacitor are ionically insulated and connected electrically in series.
A flow-through capacitor having an ionic efficiency, said flow-through capacitor comprising:
- (a) a plurality of electrodes comprising an electrode material having a surface area for electrostatic adsorption of ions;
- (b) a pore volume in one or more of said plurality of electrodes comprising pore volume loss;
- and
- (c) means for enhancing the ionic efficiency of said flow-through capacitor by compensating for said pore volume loss.
A flow-through capacitor comprising:
- (a) a plurality of electrodes comprising an electrode material having a surface area for electrostatic adsorption of ions;
- (b) a pore volume in one or more of said plurality of electrodes, whereby said pore volume adsorbs and expels pore volume ions;
- and
- (c) means for reducing said adsorption and expulsion of pore volume ions.
A flow-through capacitor comprising:
- (a) a plurality of electrodes comprising an electrode material having a surface area for electrostatic adsorption of feed ions;
- (b) a pore volume in one or more of said plurality of electrodes, whereby said pore volume contains pore ions;
- and
- (c) means for providing an excess of feed ions to pore volume ions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.