Classifications

• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
  • C01B3/00—Hydrogen; Gaseous mixtures containing hydrogen; Separation of hydrogen from mixtures containing it; Purification of hydrogen; Reversible storage of hydrogen
  • C01B3/02—Production of hydrogen; Production of gaseous mixtures containing hydrogen
  • C01B3/06—Production of hydrogen; Production of gaseous mixtures containing hydrogen by reaction of inorganic compounds containing electro-positively bound hydrogen with inorganic reducing agents
  • C01B3/065—Production of hydrogen; Production of gaseous mixtures containing hydrogen by reaction of inorganic compounds containing electro-positively bound hydrogen with inorganic reducing agents by reaction of inorganic compounds with hydrides
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M12/00—Hybrid cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M12/04—Hybrid cells; Manufacture thereof composed of a half-cell of the fuel-cell type and of a half-cell of the primary-cell type
  • H01M12/06—Hybrid cells; Manufacture thereof composed of a half-cell of the fuel-cell type and of a half-cell of the primary-cell type with one metallic and one gaseous electrode
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M8/06—Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues
  • H01M8/0606—Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues with means for production of gaseous reactants
  • H01M8/065—Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues with means for production of gaseous reactants by dissolution of metals or alloys; by dehydriding metallic substances
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M8/16—Biochemical fuel cells, i.e. cells in which microorganisms function as catalysts
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M8/18—Regenerative fuel cells, e.g. redox flow batteries or secondary fuel cells
  • H01M8/184—Regeneration by electrochemical means
  • H01M8/188—Regeneration by electrochemical means by recharging of redox couples containing fluids; Redox flow type batteries
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
  • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
  • Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
  • Y02E60/36—Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
  • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
  • Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
  • Y02E60/50—Fuel cells
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
  • Y02P70/00—Climate change mitigation technologies in the production process for final industrial or consumer products
  • Y02P70/50—Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Definitions

• the present invention relates generally to containment systems, and particularly containment systems configured for delivering and collecting substances. Description Of The Prior Art
• Many systems require one or more input containers and one or more output containers to carry out operations.
• chemical processes and electrochemical processes typically have one or more input substances from individual containers and one or more output substances from individual containers.
• Bioreaction is generally a process whereby organisms act on an input substances to convert it to a varied output substances.
• wastewater treatment commonly uses aerobic and anaerobic bacteria to remove contaminants from wastewater by causing waste species to settle for facilitating removal.
• the systems provide vessels or other containments for each input substances and each product, as well as any byproducts that may be formed, if necessary. Therefore, the various vessels or other containers increase the total area of space required to store the system. This space is essentially wasted when the vessels, such as the output vessel, is empty as in the case when the process is not yet begun, or when he input substances vessels are empty, as in the case when the process is completed.
• certain systems are configured such that the inherent pressure of the input substances in the vessel creates a portion at least a portion of the force to transport that substance to the reactor. As the volume is decreased in the vessel, the pressure of the substances leaving its vessel is decreased.
• Electrode generating processes generally convert one or more substances into a byproduct substance while producing usable energy.
• Typical electrochemical systems include fuel cells, such as metal air fuel cells, hydrocarbon based fuel cells, such as proton exchange membrane based fuel cells, and solid oxide fuel cells. Additionally, various biological processes produce usable energy, generally utilizing enzymes and glucose based substances as fuel.
• various battery systems are known, which are essentially fuel cells contained such that the fuel supply is limited, particularly, certain batteries use fluid anolytes and catholytes.
• Metal air fuel cells are based on electrochemical conversion of the metal, such as zinc or lithium, into an oxide of that metal in the presence of air and a caustic electrolyte.
• Solid oxide fuel cells are typically based upon hydrocarbon fuels such as methanol in combination with water. These fuels are consumed to produce electrical energy and water as a byproduct. Typically, the fuel may be provided as a mixture, and the byproduct may be discharged or stored. Storing a byproduct in a separate vessel is not practical in many applications, such as automotive applications, due to space constraints. Many applications reintroduce the byproduct into the fuel mixture. This, however, dilutes the fuel mixture and decreases fuel efficiency of the fuel cell operations.
• Another hydrogen based fuel cell employees a hydrogen source such as a sodium boron hydride. Such cells are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 5,948,558 entitled “High energy density boride batteries” and U.S. Patent No. 5,804,329 entitled “Electroconversion Cell”.
• sodium boron hydride is mixed with water to release hydrogen for conversion into useful energy, whereby a sodium boron oxide is provide produced as a byproduct.
• An additional type of electrochemical device is a redox cell, were a metal and halide are provided as anolytes and catholytes, respectively, and reacted in the presence of electrolyte to produce electricity.
• anolyte and/or catholyte is either continuously fed, or is operated in batch mode with dilution throughout the course of the electrochemical reaction.
• a container including a first portion configured for containing a first substance and a second portion configured for containing a second substance.
• the first substance is applied to process, generally for production of a useful byproduct.
• the second substance may be a useful byproduct of the process, or may be a different byproduct of the process.
• a primary advantage of the container is that the first substance and the second substance may be stored in a volume that is preferably the same volume as the larger of the volumes of the first substance or the second substances. This is very useful, for example, in transportation systems, such as automobiles, airplanes, space crafts, water vessels, or the like; satellite systems; buildings; personal devices; and other systems wherein it is desiderate to reduce volume.
• the byproduct generates usable energy, typically in the form of electricity.
• the useful byproduct is a thermal byproduct, such as a temperature increase or decrease.
• the useful byproduct is a substance, such as a chemical substance.
• the useful byproduct is mechanical energy.
• the useful byproduct is light.
• Figure 1 is a schematic of one embodiment of a multiple chamber containment system having an input substance portion and an output substance portion operatively coupled to a process
• Figure 2 is another embodiment of a multiple chamber containment system including a treatment step
• Figure 3 is an embodiment of a configuration of a pair of multiple chamber containment systems coupled to a process
• Figure 4 is an embodiment of a multiple chamber containment system employing additional inputs (outside of the multiple chamber containment system);
• Figure 5A is an embodiment of a multiple chamber containment system having a pair of input substance portions
• Figure 5B is another embodiment of a multiple chamber containment system having a pair of input substance portions, one of which circulates with the process;
• Figure 6 is an embodiment of a multiple chamber containment system having a pair of output substance portions
• Figures 7 A and 7B show one embodiment of a structure for a multiple chamber containment system
• Figures 8A and 8B show another embodiment of a structure for a multiple chamber containment system
• Figures 9A and 9B show a further embodiment of a structure for a multiple chamber containment system; and Figures 10A and 10B show still another embodiment of a structure for a multiple chamber containment system;.
• a container for containing a plurality of substances particularly an input substance and an output substance, wherein the terms "input” and "output” are generally relative to an associated process.
• the container includes a first portion configured for containing a first substance and a second portion configured for containing a second substance.
• the first substance is applied to process, generally for production of a useful byproduct.
• the second substance may be a useful byproduct of the process, or may be a different byproduct of the process.
• the processing may comprise a variety of operations. Generally, any required processing step may be carried out on one or more input substances, to produce one or more output substances.
• the processing may be a condenser or liquefier used to convert a gas to liquid or compressed gas.
• the processing may be a transport step, such as a pump.
• the treatment serves to displace the one or more fluids into the one or more portions of the container.
• the processing may be a separation, such as a crystallization operation or a distillation operation. In this manner, the processing may have additional inputs and/or outputs witch or not contained within the container Additionally, the processing may comp ⁇ se a compaction apparatus, to compact a solid or solid/liquid mixture for further volume conservation.
• the processing step may also comprise an electrochemical cell, wherein one or more input substances serve as consumable electrode materials. Further, this electrochemical cell may comp ⁇ se plural electrochemical cells In this manner, multiple electrochemical cells may be activated in series or in parallel to provide varying voltage and/or current levels
• the container has a total volume, which may be defined by one or more ⁇ gid or flexible walls
• the container includes a first portion for containing a first substance and a second portion for containing a second substance.
• the volumes of the first, second, or both the first and second portions are variable, such that the first portion and the second portion fit within the total volume. In one embodiment, the volume of the first portion and the volume of the second portion are inversely variable.
• a movable barrier separates the first portion and the second portion.
• An external force such as a human force or a mechanical force, may displace the barrier. Displacement of the barrier may be activated by elect ⁇ city, a chemical injection, heat, light, etc.
• the structures may also be, for example, suitable material bags capable of expanding and collapsing, as well as being inert and chemically stable with the desired substances to be contained.
• the barrier itself may comprise a process, for example, allowing fluid or solid communication between portions of the container.
• electrolyte membranes, electrodes, permeable membranes, filters, or other structures or materials may be included in or on the barrier to transform material from one portion into a different mate ⁇ al or different state for containment in the other portion.
• the containers described herein may be similar to those described in copending United States Patent Application Serial Number 09/570,798 entitled “Fuel Containment and Recycling System” filed on May 12, 2000 by Sadeg M. Faris, Tsepin Tsai, Wayne Yao and Yuen-Ming Chang, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
• Various exemplary of container structures are schematically depicted in Figures 7A and 7B, 8A and 8B, 9A and 9B, and 10A and 10B.
• Figure 7 A shows a container 710 having a first portion 712 and a second portion 714 separated by a movable barrier 716, e.g., movable with assistance of a structure 722, which may comprise a helical screw, a linearly actuated device, or the like.
• Figure 7B shows container 710 having a larger volume in the second portion 714, due to movement of the barrier 716.
• Figure 8A shows a container 810 having a first portion 812 and a second portion 814 separated by a movable processing barrier 824, e.g., movable with assistance of a structure 822, which may comprise a helical screw, a linearly actuated device, or the like.
• Figure 8B shows container 810 having a larger volume in the second portion 814, due to movement of the barrier 816.
• an associated process examples of which are also described further herein, converts material from one portion into a different material or a different state, while also serving as a barrier to maintain separate containment.
• Figure 9A shows a container 910 having a second portion 914 and a first portion 912, wherein the volume of the first portion 912 is defined by the space between the inner walls of the container 910 and the outer walls of the second portion 914.
• Figure 9B shows container 910 having a larger volume in the second portion 914, due to filling with a substance, and accordingly the volume of the portion 912 is decreased.
• Figure 10A shows a container 1010 having a first portion 1012 and a second portion 1014 in inversely variable volume relationship within the container 1010.
• Figure 10B shows container 1010 having a larger volume in the first portion 1014, due to filling with a substance, and accordingly the volume of the portion 1014 is decreased.
• the substances in the first and second portions may be the same or different.
• the substance from the first portion can be controllably provided to one or more batch processes, for example, as a carrier.
• Other sources, or a third portion within the container provide a carrier substance, which is acted on in the process.
• the carrier substance is then stored in the second portion upon completion of the batch operation.
• the first substance and the second substance may be completely different, for example, for use in a particular process that combines the substances.
• the first substance may be used by the process to derive the second substance, for example, in a process that modifies the first substance to form the second substance.
• the first substance may be modified by processing alone (e.g., application of electrical power, temperature, pressure, filtration, purification), mixture or reaction with another substance (which may be stored or fed from another portion in the container or a source outside of the vessel), or both processing and combination with another substance.
• the substances used in the various portions may be any desired substance, and in various combinations.
• the first substance may include a solid, liquid, gas, or a combination of phases, of any material in which multiple chamber configurations may be utilized.
• the second substance may include a solid, liquid, gas, or a combination of phases, of any material produced by the process.
• Table 1 the various combinations of first substance/second substance are shown in Table 1 :
• the system 100 includes a container 110 having a first portion 112 and a second portion 114.
• a first substance, or in this embodiment an input substance, is contained in the portion 112.
• the first substance is provided to or subjected to a process 120, which may be a separate physical structure, a phenomenon of the first substance residing in the first portion 112 (hereinafter referred to as a phenomenon of residence), or a combination thereof.
• process 120 is indicated in dashed lines, representing the fact that the process 120 may be a separate structure, integral within the container 110, or a phenomenon of residence.
• the process 120 results in a second substance, or a product, which is contained in the second portion 114 of the container 110.
• the process 120 may produce one or more various byproducts, such as electricity, heat, chemical, mechanical, or light.
• At least a quantity of the first substance in portion 112 is consumed or transported, and at least a portion is converted into the second substance and contained in the second portion 114. Additional substances (not shown) may be incorporated into the process 120.
• As the second substance is created it is introduced into the second portion 114 of the container 110.
• a barrier 116 separates the first portion 112 and the second portion 114.
• the volume of the portion 114 may be minimized, (i.e., it may approach, or reach zero) by operation of the barrier 116.
• the barrier 116 may move (e.g., by mechanical means, expansion, etc.) thereby creating available volume for the second substance in the portion 114.
• the first portion 112 and the second portion 114 may be separate containers within the container 110 (e.g., expandable and collapsible to accommodate volume variation).
• the volume of the container 110 may equal the greater of the volume of the input substance or the output substance throughout operation of the process 120.
• process 120 comprises an electrochemical cell such as a metal air cell.
• the first substance which is fed to the cell from portion 112, under a continuous or in a batch process, comprises a metal fuel such as a metal paste having electrolyte therein (e.g., zinc, magnesium, aluminum, or any other oxidizable metal).
• a metal fuel such as a metal paste having electrolyte therein (e.g., zinc, magnesium, aluminum, or any other oxidizable metal).
• the metal fuel is converted to into a metal oxide, which is stored in portion 114 of the container 110 as the second substance.
• the metal oxide may be stored in a batch or continuous fashion.
• the useful byproduct of the metal air cell is the electricity, which is harnessed for external use (not shown).
• the container 110 may be a portable device, for example, suitable for laptop computers, cellular phones, power tools, other handheld devices, small transports devices such as scooters, etc. Further, container 110 may be integral with a system such as a land, water, or air vessel. Additionally, container 110 may be integral within an on-site power generation system. In a further embodiment, the process 120 may actually comprise several electrochemical cells.
• the connection between the portion 112 of the container 110 may have plural branches, that are separately connected to the plural electrochemical cells. Using suitable mechanical or fluid flow controls, such as valves, the metal fuel may be selectively transported to one or more of the connected plural electrochemical cells, forming cell systems of varying voltage and/or current.
• a controller may be incorporated, generally to determine which of the plural electrochemical cells should be activated (i.e., fed metal fuel).
• the metal fuel may be circulated through one or more electrochemical cells (process 520) more than one time, in order to obtain maximum capacity from the metal fuel.
• metal fuel as the first substance in portion 512 may be fed to the cell (process 520). Initially, when the "exhaust" still has electrochemical capacity remaining, it may be exhausted to a portion 513b, and circulated back to the cell.
• the partially used fuel from portion 513b may be circulated through the process 520 repeatedly, until it is determined (e.g., via an associated controller, voltage sensor, or the like) that the capacity is minimized. This will ensure the highest possible depth of discharge of the metal fuel. When the capacity of the metal fuel is minimized, then it may be outputted as final exhaust to portion 514.
• the metal oxide may be recharged by applying electrical current thereto.
• rechargeable systems after recharging the material (i.e., wherein the material remains within, or is returned to, its respective portion 112 or 114), further discharge is via the "second substance" from the portion 114 as the fuel of the metal air cell, wherein metal oxide formed from the process 120 may be stored in the first portion 112.
• a methanol fuel cell is the process 120.
• the first substance in this case methanol or methanol in combination with water, is contained in the first portion 112.
• the exhaust from the fuel cell primarily water
• the second substance in the second portion 114 of the container 110.
• the exhaust which is typically contaminated to some degree, is stored rather than the discharged into the environment, while maintaining volume conservation.
• the methanol or methanol and water mixture remains at a constant concentration within the first portion.
• An additional reactant to the direct methanol fuel cell system is oxygen, generally provided from the air, and the useful byproduct of the direct methanol fuel system is electricity.
• An additional embodiment of a system following the general schematic of system 100 includes a process 120 comprising a redox fuel cell.
• the first substance which is provided to the cell from the first portion 112, comprises an anolyte, for example, a zinc solution.
• the anolyte reacts with a catholyte in the presence of electrolyte.
• a portion of the zinc in the anolyte solution is converted to zinc oxide, and remains in solution.
• the consumed anolyte is stored in the second portion 114 as the second substance.
• the catholyte may comprise the first substance, such as a bromine solution.
• the bromine is generally converted to bromide ions and is stored to in the second portion 114 as the second substance.
• a process 120 including a bio-electrochemical process utilizes a process 120 including a bio-electrochemical process.
• Typical bio- electrochemical processes use an oxidizable organic compounds as a fuel.
• Various enzymes are also typically provided to enhance electrochemical reaction.
• the oxidizable organic compounds may comprise carbohydrates such as glucose.
• Many systems require pure or substantially pure glucose, to minimize or prevent production of the byproduct that cannot be converted to into energy.
• a glucose containing substance may be provided in the first portion 112.
• Various mechanical devices may be used to collect the glucose containing substance (e.g., grass).
• a cutting blade or mechanism may cut and feed the glucose containing substance, whereupon it is stored in the first portion 112, and consumed by the bio-electrochemical process 120.
• the waste, or non consumed portion of the first substance is produced from the bio-electrochemical process 120, it may be stored in the second portion 114 of the container 110.
• a useful system employing such a bio-electrochemical cell is a self-fueled device that is capable of consuming, or cutting, grass.
• glucose from the grass provides electrical energy to cause the self-fueled device to move and continue to cut the grass, and further to control any provided system electronics.
• the waste may be stored as the second substance within the portion 114. Since the fuel may be stored in the portion 112, as well as be directly consumed by the process 120, the system may be self powered, even at regions where no grass or other glucose containing substance exists.
• portion 114 When the portion 114 is filled such that less than a desired volume of the portion 112 remains, portion 114 may be emptied, for example, at a compost heap.
• the first portion 112 of the container 110 contains a decomposable substance, such as biomass.
• the process 120 may include a phenomenon of residence or a separate or integral active process, such as heat and/or pressure.
• the second substance may include methane, a gaseous by-product of the decomposition of the biomass.
• this methane may be collected in the second portion 114, which can be an expandable collection container within the container 110 or a portion of the container 110 separated from the first portion 112 by the barrier 116.
• a one way valve e.g., requiring a certain gas pressure to open in one direction
• Another embodiment of a system 100 includes oil processing, such as refining of crude oil into various fractions and/or derivatives.
• crude oil may be maintained in the first portion 112 of container 110.
• the process 120 may include distillation, cracking, or a combination thereof.
• the product for example, gasoline
• the product may be stored in the second portion 112.
• the volume of the first portion 112 decreases.
• the volume of the second portion 114 increases as gasoline is created and stored in the second portion 114.
• Another embodiment of a system 100 includes water processing, such as purification of water for water supply or purification of wastewater.
• water to be purified may be maintained in the first portion 112 of container 110.
• the process 120 may include one or more water treatment process steps.
• the product for example, purified or partially purified water
• the volume of the first portion 112 decreases. Accordingly, the volume of the second portion 114 increases as purified or partially purified water is created and stored in the second portion 114.
• a system 200 includes a container 210 having a first portion 212 and a second portion 214.
• a first substance is contained in the portion 212, which may be controllably provided to a process 220.
• the process 220 results in a second substance which is contained in the second portion 214.
• the process 220 may produce one or more various byproduct, such as electricity, thermal, chemical, mechanical, light, or combinations thereof.
• the second substance Prior to being introduced into the second portion 214, the second substance (generally from the process 220) is subjected to a treatment 224.
• the treatment 224 may transport the second substance, change certain properties of the second substance, such as chemical or physical properties, or a combination thereof.
• the treatment 224 may comprise a reactor coupled to a pump. Further, the treatment 224 may comprise a physical treatment, for example to condense the substance or separate the substance.
• process 220 comprises a combustion engine
• the first substance comprises the fuel for the compression engine such as gasoline
• the useful byproduct is the mechanical energy of the engine.
• gasoline is consumed
• carbon dioxide and other exhaust products exit the engine.
• These exhaust products may be provided to a treatment 224, such as a condenser, generally to convert the higher volume exhaust gas into a lower volume gas or even a liquid. This treated exhaust is then transported to the second portion 214 of the container 210.
• a combustion engine may operate with substantially zero emissions. All or a portion of the exhaust is stored in the second portion 214, which may be, for example, a bag or other collection device provided within a tank similar to a conventional fuel tank. As the second substance, or the combustion engine exhaust, increases, the volume of the second portion 214 increases and correspondingly the volume of the first portion 212, which is configured to hold fuel such as gasoline for the combustion engine, accordingly decreases.
• the combustion system for containing gasoline and containing exhaust products may be further equipped with an evacuation device in communication with the second portion 214. This evacuation device may be operated to remove exhaust products. Further, the evacuation device can be coupled to an indicator, to indicate when the portion 214 is at a maximum capacity. The evacuation system can be operated manually or automatically.
• Such an evacuation system can be accessed via, for example, a port proximate to the fuel tank input.
• the container 210 can be filled by filling the portion 212 with fuel and concurrently or consequently emptied in by removing exhaust products from the portion 214 with, for example, a suitable adaptor coupled to a conventional vacuum apparatus.
• a container may be adapted for providing fuel (as the input substance) to a combustion process for generating thermal by-product, whereby ash and other combustion exhausts may be captures and stored as the output substance.
• a system 300 comprises a first container 310A for a first input and a first output substance contained in portions 312A, 314A, respectively, and a second container 310B for a second input and a second output substance contained in portions 312B, 314B, respectively.
• Barriers 316A and 316B are provided in the respective cells. Both the first and second input substances are provided to the same process 320 (which may be provided at various rates and/or intervals), which results in the first and second output substances. As the first and second output substances are produced, the barriers 316A and 316B accordingly are displaced (by the force of the fluid, by an external force, or a combination thereof).
• process 320 comprises a redox cell, which operates similar to the example described above.
• the first container 310A contains the anolyte input and output
• the second container 310B contains the catholyte input and output. Both fluid streams are provided to the redox cell.
• the cell In the redox cell, with one or more multiple chamber containers, the cell always be operating with fresh material.
• the cell may be controllable such that the anolyte and/or catholyte is received in individual stages, or the anolyte and catholyte may be released continually. As such, electronic integration may be applicable.
• process 320 comprises a Vanadium redox cell .
• the first container 310A contains the anolyte input and output, and the second container 310B contains the catholyte input and output. Both fluid streams are provided to the redox cell.
• the catholyte reacts at cell 320 according to the following half-cell reaction:
• the anolyte reacts at cell 320 according to the following half-cell reaction:
• a system 400 comprising a container 410 coupled to a process 420.
• the container 410 has a first portion 412 for holding a first substance, which is generally is the input to the process 420, and the second portion 414 for containing a second substance, which is generally the output or exhaust of the process 420.
• a source 422 provides an additional input substance to the process 420.
• the additional input substance from the source 422 may: become part of the output substance contained in the second portion 414; be converted into a portion of the useful byproduct (e.g., electricity, thermal, chemical, mechanical, or light); be removed from the process 320 separately; or a combination thereof.
• the process 420 comprises a hydrogen based fuel cell.
• the first substance comprises a source of hydrogen, which is releasable upon reaction in the presence of a catalyst, which is provided from the source 422.
• a catalyst which is provided from the source 422.
• hydrogen source is sodium borohydride (NaBH 4 )).
• sodium borohydride may be provided in solution with water.
• hydrogen gas is released from the sodium borohydride and consumed by the fuel cell to produce electrical energy, and sodium borate (NaBO 2 ) is produced as a byproduct.
• This byproduct which may be in solution with water, is contained in the second portion 412 of the container 410.
• MULTIPLE CHAMBER SYSTEM 500a Referring now to Figure 5A, a system 500a using a container 510 coupled to a process
• the container 510 comprises the first portion 512 having a first substance, and the second portion 513a having a second substance, which both generally provide input substances to process 520.
• the first and second inputs substance may be released to the process 520 at various rates and intervals, which may be the same or different from each other.
• the output of the process 520, a third substance, is provided to a portion 514 of the container 510.
• the first reactant and the second reactant comprise the first substance and the second substance, respectively.
• the process 520 comprises a reactor, and when the first and second reactants are introduced into the reactor, a product, or the third substance, is formed.
• one container can be used to store multiple reactants and a single product.
• the reactor may produce other products. Such other products may be contained within an additional portion of the container 510 (not shown), or may be stored separately.
• these additional products may be a byproduct of the system, which is separately contained.
• the third substance may comprise a useful byproduct that is subsequently removed from the portion 414 for further disposition.
• a specific embodiment of a chemical synthesis using system 500a include water gas shift reactions.
• carbon monoxide plus water react to produce carbon dioxide and hydrogen.
• the first portion 512 includes carbon monoxide and the second portion 513a includes water.
• the contents of the first portion 512 and the second portion 513a are fed to the process 520.
• the process 520 is typically at elevated temperatures, and over one or more catalysts.
• the resultant mixture of carbon dioxide and hydrogen is then stored in the third portion 514. Accordingly, as the reactants (carbon monoxide and water) form the products (carbon dioxide and hydrogen), the volume of the container 510 may remain constant, since portions 512 and 513 contract, and portion 514 expands.
• the useful byproduct may be light, wherein the process 520 comprises a transparent mixing chamber for mixing the first and second substances.
• the first and second substances are chemicals that, when combined, produce light.
• U.S. Patent No. 4,859,369 (the '"369 patent"), incorporated by reference herein, describes the use of water-soluble polymers in aqueous chemical light formulations.
• an aqueous solution of 4,4'- oxalylbis[(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imino]ethylene]-bis[4-methylmorpholinium trifluoromethane-sulfonate], referred to as METQ, is mixed with poly(vinylpyrrolidone) and fluorescer rubrene sulfonate.
• Aqueous hydrogen peroxide is then added, which, when mixed, is capable of producing a bioluminescent material.
• any or all of the reactants may be stored as the first substance and the second substance in the container 500, or a similar container having additional portions for holding more than two reactants.
• the produced bioluminescent material is stored, for example, as depicted in Figure 5, as the third substance in the portion 514 of the container 510.
• reactants e.g., stored as the first and second substances
• the container e.g., the first and second portions 512, 513a.
• a continuous light source may be provided to using a single container for containing all or a portion of the reactants and product.
• the light producing system is readily adaptable to provide thermal energy, such as by chemical reactions as are used in various hot and cold packs, whereby chemicals are mixed to provide hot or cold temperatures. Again, a continuous process may be effectuated, whereby an extended time period of useful by-product production may coexist with safe and convenient storage of the reaction product for recycling or proper disposal.
• a system 600 including a container 610 having an input to a process 620, whereby the process 620 outputs a plurality of substances.
• the input substance is contained in a portion 612, and the output substances are contained in portions 614, 615.
• One embodiment of a system that generally follows the schematic of system 600 is a water electrolysis process.
• the input substance, water to by electrolyzed, is contained in the portion 612.
• the water is subjected to an electrolysis process 620, wherein it is split into the output substances hydrogen and oxygen, and separately contained in portions 614, 615.
• System 600 is a deionization process such as a water desalination process.
• Sea water is stored in chamber 612.
• the reactor 620 can be any technology known to the art.
• reverse osmosis, electrodialysis, or one or more flow through capacitors may comprise the process/reactor 620.
• These processes produced salt concentrated water and fresh water.
• the concentrated water can be collected in chamber 615 and fresh water can be stored in chamber 614.
• System 600 can be applied to compact alkali-chloro generation process.
• Salt water can be stored in chamber 612.
• the reactor 620 may comprise an electrochemical cell with two electrodes. On one electrode, chlorine gas is generated and it can be stored in chamber 615. The left over liquid is NaOH, which can be stored in Chamber 614.
• volume of the overall storage container may be preserved for the largest volume for either the input substance or the output substance.

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• 2002
  • 2002-10-29 WO PCT/US2002/034649 patent/WO2003037512A2/en not_active Ceased
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  • 2002-10-29 AU AU2002348108A patent/AU2002348108A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2002-10-29 KR KR10-2004-7006402A patent/KR20040060956A/ko not_active Withdrawn
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