US4761209A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for the extraction and utilization of oxygen from fluids
Assignee: WR Grace and Co Conn
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Filing: 1986-04-25
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Granted: 1988-08-02
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Expires: 2006-04-25
Abstract
Abstract A method for extracting oxygen from a fluid environment, which comprises the steps of (1) contacting a first fluid environment containing oxygen with a first surface of a first oxygen permeable membrane having a first and a second surface, wherein the membrane separates the environment from an interior space of a closed container, (2) transporting a carrier fluid into contact with the second surface of the membrane, wherein the carrier fluid is confined in the closed container and the carrier fluid contains a binding-state oxygen carrier, whereby oxygen which diffuses through the membrane binds to the carrier to give a bound oxygen complex, (3) transporting the carrier fluid containing the bound oxygen complex to a first electrode compartment of an electrochemical cell which forms a second portion of the closed container, (4) electrochemically modifying the binding-state oxygen carrier to an oxidation state having less binding affinity for oxygen, thereby releasing free oxygen into the carrier fluid and producing a nonbinding-state oxygen carrier, (5) removing oxygen from the carrier fluid, (6) transporting the carrier fluid containing the nonbinding-state oxygen carrier to a second electrode compartment of an electrochemical cell which forms a third portion of the closed container, and (7) electrochemically modifying the nonbinding-state oxygen carrier to the binding-state oxygen carrier, is disclosed along with an apparatus useful for carrying out the method of the invention.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph Bonaventura
- 👤 Celia Bonaventura
- 👤 Joseph C. Van Ryzin
- 👤 Bruce D. Zenner
- 👤 C. William Anderson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 21:23
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M8/00; H01M8/06; H01M8/0606; H01M8/0656; C; C01; C01B; C01B13/00; C01B13/02; C01B13/0229; C01B13/0248; C01B13/0251; C01B13/0255; C01B13/0285; C25; C25B; C25B1/00; C25B1/01; C25B1/02; H01M8/18; C01B2210/00; C01B2210/0043; C01B2210/005; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/50; Y10; Y10S; Y10S123/00; Y10S123/13; Y10S204/00; Y10S204/04; Y10S261/00; Y10S261/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
An apparatus for extracting oxygen from an environment surrounding said apparatus, which comprises: a container having (1) a first portion which comprises a first oxygen permeable membrane which defines at least a portion of an inner space of said container, said oxygen permeable membrane having a first surface adapted to be in contact with said environment and a second surface facing said interior space; (2) a second portion which comprises a first electrode compartment of an electrochemical cell; (3) a third portion which comprises a second electrode compartment of said electrochemical cell; and (4) means for removing oxygen from said container; said container being adapted such that a fluid confined in said container passes from said first electrode compartment to said means for removing oxygen, from said means for removing oxygen to said second electrode compartment, from said second electrode compartment to said first portion of said container, and from said first portion of said container to said first electrode compartment.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
161 words
An apparatus for extracting oxygen from an environment surrounding said apparatus, which comprises: a container having (1) a first portion which comprises a first oxygen permeable membrane which defines at least a portion of an inner space of said container, said oxygen permeable membrane having a first surface adapted to be in contact with said environment and a second surface facing said interior space; (2) a second portion which comprises a first electrode compartment of an electrochemical cell; (3) a third portion which comprises a second electrode compartment of said electrochemical cell; and (4) means for removing oxygen from said container; said container being adapted such that a fluid confined in said container passes from said first electrode compartment to said means for removing oxygen, from said means for removing oxygen to said second electrode compartment, from said second electrode compartment to said first portion of said container, and from said first portion of said container to said first electrode compartment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1 which further comprises: pumping means for circulating said fluid through said interior space.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 1 which further comprises: a first pair of manifolds; and said first membrane comprises a plurality of gas permeable tubes connected in parallel by said first pair of manifolds, said manifolds disposed at opposite ends of each gas permeable tube.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said tubes comprise silicone rubber, polytetrafluoroethylene, an alkylcellulose, or an acetylcellulose.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein each said tube is a silicone rubber-polysulfone composite membrane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said electrochemical cell comprises a plurality of parallel plate electrodes which form anode and cathode compartments therebetween, said electrodes having a plate separation of no more than 5 mm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus further comprises means for supplying electrical bias to said electrode compartments.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said means for supplying electrical bias comprises a power cell or battery.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said means for supplying electrical bias comprises an oxygen-consuming fuel cell.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said means for supplying electrical bias comprises a generator or alternator.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for removing oxygen comprises an oxygen consuming fuel cell.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for removing oxygen comprises a second gas permeable membrane which at least in part defines said interior space of said container, said second gas permeable membrane having a first surface adapted to be in contact with an environment into which said oxygen is released and a second surface facing said interior space.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 12 which further comprises a second pair of manifolds, and said second membrane comprises a plurality of gas permeable tubes connected in parallel between the opposed manifolds of said second pair of manifolds.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said second membrane comprises silicone rubber, polytetrafluoroethylene, an alkylcellulose, or an acetyl cellulose.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said second membrane is a silicone rubber-polysulfone composite membrane.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 1 which further comprises an oxygen-consuming, hydrocarbon-consuming engine having an inlet for oxygen and an outlet for exhaust gases, wherein said means for removing oxygen comprises means for coupling removed oxygen to said inlet of said engine.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 16 which further comprises means for removing carbon dioxide coupled to said engine outlet.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
154 words
An apparatus for extracting oxygen from a fluid environment, which comprises a man-made container having (1) a first portion which comprises a first oxygen permeable membrane which defines at least a part of a first interior space of said container, said first oxygen permeable membrane having a first surface adapted to be in contact with said environment and a second surface facing said interior space, and (2) a second portion which comprises a second oxygen permeable membrane which defines at least a part of a record interior space of said container, said second oxygen permeable membrane having a first surface facing said interior space and a second surface adapted to be in contact with a second environment into which oxygen is to be released, said container being adapted such that a fluid confined in said container passes from said first portion to said second portion and from said second portion to said first portion.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
154 words
An apparatus for extracting oxygen from a fluid environment, which comprises a man-made container having (1) a first portion which comprises a first oxygen permeable membrane which defines at least a part of a first interior space of said container, said first oxygen permeable membrane having a first surface adapted to be in contact with said environment and a second surface facing said interior space, and (2) a second portion which comprises a second oxygen permeable membrane which defines at least a part of a record interior space of said container, said second oxygen permeable membrane having a first surface facing said interior space and a second surface adapted to be in contact with a second environment into which oxygen is to be released, said container being adapted such that a fluid confined in said container passes from said first portion to said second portion and from said second portion to said first portion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 18 which further comprises pumping means for circulating said fluid.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 18 which further comprises (1) a compressor having an inlet for low pressure gas and an outlet for high pressure gas, and (2) coupling means for coupling said inlet to said second surface of said second membrane.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the said container is a closed container.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the said container is a closed container.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inner space of the said container is only one physically defined space.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the inner space of the said container is only one physically defined space.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the said container comprises physically defined spaces.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the said container comprises physically defined spaces.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the said fluid confined in the said container is an aqueous fluid.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the said fluid confined in the said container is an aqueous fluid.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
137 words
A method for extracting oxygen from a fluid environment, which comprises the steps of: (1) contacting a first fluid environment containing oxygen with a first surface of a first oxygen permeable membrane having a first and a second surface, wherein said membrane separates said environment from an interior space of a man-made container, (2) contacting a carrier fluid with said second surface of said membrane, wherein said carrier fluid is confined in said container and said carrier fluid is confined in said container and said carrier fluid contains a binding-state oxygen carrier, whereby oxygen which diffuses through said membrane binds to said carrier to give a bound oxygen complex, (3) transporting said carrier fluid containing said bound oxygen complex to an unloading station; and (4) removing oxygen from said carrier fluid to give an oxygen-depleted carrier fluid.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
137 words
A method for extracting oxygen from a fluid environment, which comprises the steps of: (1) contacting a first fluid environment containing oxygen with a first surface of a first oxygen permeable membrane having a first and a second surface, wherein said membrane separates said environment from an interior space of a man-made container, (2) contacting a carrier fluid with said second surface of said membrane, wherein said carrier fluid is confined in said container and said carrier fluid is confined in said container and said carrier fluid contains a binding-state oxygen carrier, whereby oxygen which diffuses through said membrane binds to said carrier to give a bound oxygen complex, (3) transporting said carrier fluid containing said bound oxygen complex to an unloading station; and (4) removing oxygen from said carrier fluid to give an oxygen-depleted carrier fluid.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
137 words
The method of claim 29, which comprises the steps of: (1) contacting a first fluid environment containing oxygen with a first surface of a first oxygen permeable membrane having a first and a second surface, wherein said membrane separates said environment from an interior space of a container, (2) contacting a carrier fluid with said second surface of said membrane, wherein said carrier fluid is confined in said container and said carrier fluid contains a binding-state oxygen carrier, whereby oxygen which diffuses through said membrane binds to said carrier to give a bound oxygen complex, and (3) transporting said carrier fluid containing said bound oxygen complex to an unloading station where the oxygen is removed from said carrier fluid by exposing said binding-state oxygen carrier to an electrochemical cell which forms a second portion of said container.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
135 words
The method of claim 29, which comprises the steps of: (1) contacting a first fluid environment containing oxygen with a first surface of a first oxygen permeable membrane having a first and a second surface, wherein said membrane separates said environment from an interior space of a container, (2) contacting a carrier fluid with said second surface of said membrane, wherein said carrier fluid is confined in said container and said carrier fluid contains a binding-state oxygen carrier, whereby oxygen which diffuses through said membrane binds to said carrier to give a bound oxygen complex, (3) transporting the said carrier fluid cotaining bound oxygen to an unloading station where the oxygen is removed from said carrier fluid by exposing said carrier fluid to a sufficiently low pressure of oxygen to give an oxygen-depleted carrier fluid.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 29 wherein the said carrier fluid is an aqueous carrier fluid.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 30 wherein the said carrier fluid is an aqueous carrier fluid.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 31 wherein the said carrier fluid is an aqueous carrier fluid.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the said means for removing oxygen from the said container comprises a means for electrochemically modifying a binding-state oxygen carrier contained in the said fluid confined in said container to an oxidation state having less binding affinity for oxygen, thereby releasing free oxygen into the said carrier fluid and producing a non-binding state oxygen carrier.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 18, said apparatus comprising a means for removing oxygen from the said fluid in the said container.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the said means for removing oxygen from the said fluid in the said container is a means for removing oxygen from the said fluid by exposing said fluid to a sufficiently low pressure of oxygen to given an oxygen-depleted fluid.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said means for extracting oxygen from the said oxygen-containing carrier fluid comprises a vacuum means.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the said apparatus further comprises a means for removing carbon dioxide from the environment into which the oxygen is being released.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the said means for removing carbon dioxide comprises a carbonic anhydrase enzyme.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 29, comprising removing carbon dioxide from the environment into which the oxygen is being released.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 41, wherein the said carbon dioxide removal comprises contacting the said carbon dioxide with a carbonic anhydrase enzyme.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-08-02 | 1992-02-01 | 1992-08-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-08-02 | 1996-02-01 | 1996-08-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-08-02 | 2000-02-01 | 2000-08-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |