Granted Patent
B2
US 12,338,144 · App. 16/621,930 · Granted Jun 24, 2025
Decontamination of fluids via joule-heating
Assignee:
Ohio University
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Abstract
A method of, and apparatus and system for, decontaminating a liquid containing dissolved solids including subjecting liquid containing dissolved solids to Joule heating under conditions effective to cause said dissolved solids to precipitate out of solution.
Claims (23)
1. An apparatus to decontaminate a liquid including dissolved solids comprising:
a reactor having a first electrode and a second electrode; and
a liquid flow path between said first and second electrodes, wherein the reactor is adapted to generate electrical current such that liquid in the liquid flow path reaches at least a pseudocritical temperature, and wherein the reactor is incapable of generating the electrical current such that the liquid in the liquid flow path reaches a temperature indicative of electrolysis.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said first electrode comprises a wall of said reactor.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of said wall defines an interior space of said reactor, and wherein at least a portion of said second electrode is disposed within said interior space.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein said reactor is tubular and said second electrode runs along a length of said tubular reactor.
5. The apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising at least one electrode sealing fitting that insulates said wall of said reactor from said second electrode.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising an alumina insulator associated with said at least one electrode sealing fitting.
7. The apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising an alumina insulating washer positioned between a first piece and a second piece of the second electrode to prevent ejection of the second piece from the first piece.
8. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said wall of said reactor includes a material that is corrosion-resistant.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein said material includes a high nickel alloy.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet located in a first section of said reactor, and a vapor outlet located in a second section of said reactor.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein said vapor outlet is connected to said liquid outlet.
12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein said first section of said reactor is a lower section, and said second section of said reactor is an upper section.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a pressure regulator.
14. An apparatus to decontaminate a liquid including dissolved solids comprising:
a reactor having a first electrode and a second electrode;
an alumina insulating washer positioned between a first piece and a second piece of the second electrode to prevent ejection of the second piece from the first piece; and
a liquid flow path between said first and second electrodes.
15. An apparatus to decontaminate a liquid including dissolved solids comprising:
a reactor having a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein said first electrode comprises a wall of said reactor, wherein at least a portion of said wall defines an interior space of said reactor, and wherein at least a portion of said second electrode is disposed within said interior space;
an alumina insulating washer positioned between a first piece and a second piece of the second electrode to prevent ejection of the second piece from the first piece; and
a liquid flow path between said first and second electrodes.
Assignments (2)
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE
Recorded Apr 24, 2020
From: OHIO UNIVERSITY ATHENS
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Reel/Frame 052492/0092 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST
Recorded Feb 7, 2020
From: TREMBLY, JASON PATRICK; OGDEN, DAVID DROWN
To: OHIO UNIVERSITY
Reel/Frame 051750/0346 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application
62527248
· Jun 30, 2017
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