The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 11, 2013
Filed:
Jun. 14, 2011
William L. Bourcier, Livermore, CA (US);
Roger D. Aines, Livermore, CA (US);
Jeffery J. Haslam, Livermore, CA (US);
Charlene M. Schaldach, Pleasanton, CA (US);
Kevin C. O'brien, San Ramon, CA (US);
Edward Cussler, Edina, MN (US);
William L. Bourcier, Livermore, CA (US);
Roger D. Aines, Livermore, CA (US);
Jeffery J. Haslam, Livermore, CA (US);
Charlene M. Schaldach, Pleasanton, CA (US);
Kevin C. O'Brien, San Ramon, CA (US);
Edward Cussler, Edina, MN (US);
Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC, Livermore, CA (US);
Regents of the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides a new method and apparatus/system for purifying ionic solutions, such as, for example, desalinating water, using engineered charged surfaces to sorb ions from such solutions. Surface charge is applied externally, and is synchronized with oscillatory fluid movements between substantially parallel charged plates. Ions are held in place during fluid movement in one direction (because they are held in the electrical double layer), and released for transport during fluid movement in the opposite direction by removing the applied electric field. In this way the ions, such as salt, are 'ratcheted' across the charged surface from the feed side to the concentrate side. The process itself is very simple and involves only pumps, charged surfaces, and manifolds for fluid collection.