ALL-VANADIUM SULFATE ACID REDOX FLOW BATTERY SYSTEM
All-vanadium sulfate redox flow battery systems have a catholyte and an anolyte comprising an aqueous supporting solution including chloride ions and phosphate ions. The aqueous supporting solution stabilizes and increases the solubility of vanadium species in the electrolyte, allowing an increased vanadium concentration over a desired operating temperature range. According to one example, the chloride ions are provided by MgCl2, and the phosphate ions are provided by (NH4)2HPO4.
ADAPTIVE INTELLIGENT CONTROLS FOR RESILIENT INTEGRATION OF ENERGY SYSTEMS (iEdison No. 0685901-23-0026)
The invention includes technology-adaptive, intelligent, distributed control solutions that are sited at the terminals (or, point-of-common-coupling) of the distributed energy resources, seamlessly adapt to a wide (and evolving) variety of technologies governing the energy resources, and ensure multi-timescales resilience via fast and robust response to cyber-physical adversarial events (e.g., communication delays and failure, malicious actions, faults).
ELECTROCHEMICAL LITHIUM EXTRACTION FOR BATTERY MATERIALS (iEdison No. 0685901-20-0038)
We disclose a proof-of-concept technology enabling high-efficient Li recovery from unconventional Li resources, e.g. high-salt waters/seawater for direct low-cost Li battery materials manufacturing, bypassing the need for costly post-recovery processing using current methods.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PREPARING BUTENES
This invention relates to the single step conversion of ethanol and/ or aldehydes (i.e. acetaldehyde, butyraldehydes, crotonaldehyde) (either aqueous or neat) to 1- and 2-butenes-rich olefins. 1-Butene itself a commodity chemical can be converted into polybutene, its main application is as a comonomer in the production of certain kinds of polyethylene, such as linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE). 1-Butene has also been used as a precursor to polypropylene resins, butylene oxide, and butanone. Mixtures of 1-butene and 2-butene, as produced by the methods disclosed in this invention, can be oligomerized and hydrogenated into gasoline, jet, and diesel fuels and/or into valuable fuel additives and lubricants. For the current alcohol-to-jet process, producing 1- and 2-butene from ethanol is performed in two separate steps by first dehydrating ethanol into ethylene and then dimerizing e thylene into 1- and 2-butene in a second step. Here we disclose the methods for producing 1- and 2-butene mixtures directly from either ethanol, acetaldehyde, butyraldehyde, corotonaldehyde or mixture of ethanol with one of these aldehydes. This is done using specially tailored polyfunctional catalysts comprising metal component with relatively weak hydrogenation ability (e.g., Cu) with mildly acidic support materials (e.g., ZrO2 supported on SiO2). In previous work, including a separate patent, we demonstrated such catalytic materials to be active for converting ethanol into 1,3-butadiene in one reactor. In a separate patent, we demonstrated supported Ag catalysts to be active for (aqueous) ethanol conversion into a mixture of 1 and 2-butenes. Direct conversion of aldehydes or mixture of aldehydes and ethanol into 1 and 2-butenes rich olefins has not been reported before. In this disclosure, we report these catalysts to be active and selective for converting ethanol and/ or aldehydes to 1- and 2-butenes in one single reactor under mild reducing conditions (e.g., under H2, T = 400 degrees C, P = 7 bar). Furthermore, catalyst formulation (i.e. effect of the nature of the support, promoters addition, Cu loading and ZrO2 loading) and process parameters such as H2 concentration, ethanol partial pressure, space velocity were demonstrated to have significant effect on conversion, selectivity, and stability. Results are shown in separate word document with experimental data included in Tables and Figures Here we also demonstrate how catalytic stability is enhanced for the Cu-based catalyst as compared to the Ag-based catalyst. The Cu-based catalyst presents higher resistance to coking and oxidation which enables superior durability. The product from the ethanol and or aldehyde(s) conversion contains primarily butenes and ethylene olefins mixed with H2. We previously demonstrated in a separate patent how these butenes-rich olefins can be oligomerized into gasoline, jet, diesel range hydrocarbons.
SYSTEM AND PROCESS FOR CONTINUOUS AND CONTROLLED PRODUCTION OF METAL ORGANIC FRAMEWORKS AND METAL ORGANIC FRAMEWORK COMPOSITES
A MOF production system and method of making are detailed for continuous and controlled synthesis of MOFs and MOF composites. The system can provide optimized yields of MOFs and MOF composites greater than or equal to 95%.
HYDROTHERMAL LIQUEFACTION SYSTEM (iEdison No. 0685901-19-0011)
Using a two stage heat exchanger with two independent heat exchanger designs to heat up HTL feedstock will drastically reduce the capital investment for a HTL plant. The first stage HTL heat exchanger will be rated for lower pressure, and maximize the heat exchanger area by reducing the tube size within the pressure drop limits of the system. The second heat exchanger will involve large tubes to produce a turbulent stream, thereby changing the heat transfer regime and drastically increasing the heat transfer. The second heat exchanger will be rated for high pressure.
Methods and Compositions for Degradation of Lignocellulosic Material
The present invention provides methods and compositions for the conversion of plant biomass to fermentable sugars that can be converted to useful products. The methods include methods for degrading lignocellulosic material using enzyme mixtures to liberate sugars. The compositions of the invention include enzyme combinations that break down lignocellulose. The invention includes methods to identify the optimum ratios and compositions of enzymes with which to degrade each lignocellulosic material. These methods entail tests to identify the optimum enzyme composition and ratios for efficient conversion of any lignocellulosic substrate to its constituent sugars. While the multi-enzyme product may contain many types of enzymes, mixtures comprising enzymes that increase or enhance sugar release from biomass are preferred, including hemicellulases. The enzymes of the multi-enzyme product can be provided by a variety of sources. In one embodiment, the enzymes can be produced by a growing microorganism, especially a fungus, which produce the enzymes naturally or by virtue of being genetically modified to express the enzyme or enzymes.
CATALYTIC HYDROTHERMAL LIQUEFACTION FOR BIO-OIL PRODUCTION
Embodiments of a method for producing bio-oil include hydrothermal liquefaction of a biomass (e.g., a lignocellulosic biomass) feedstock to provide a process stream comprising crude oil and an aqueous fraction. The process stream is catalytically upgraded by contact with a sulfided-ruthenium catalyst, in the absence of added hydrogen, at a temperature and pressure effective to reduce an oxygen content of the crude oil, reduce a nitrogen content of the crude oil, reduce a total acid number of the crude oil, increase a H:C mole ratio of the crude oil, reduce a density of the crude oil, reduce a moisture content of the crude oil, reduce viscosity of the crude oil, or any combination thereof, thereby producing an upgraded oil and an upgraded aqueous fraction, which are subsequently separated. The catalytic upgrading process may be a plug-flow process and/or may be performed at or near liquefaction conditions.
METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR FUEL PRODUCTION IN ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS AND REACTORS
Methods and systems for fuel, chemical, and/or electricity production from electrochemical cells are disclosed. A voltage is applied between an anode and a cathode of an electrochemical cell. The anode includes a metal or metal oxide electrocatalyst. Oxygen is supplied to the cathode, producing oxygen ions. The anode electrocatalyst is at least partially oxidized by the oxygen ions transported through an electrolyte from the cathode to the anode. A feed gas stream is supplied to the anode electrocatalyst, which is converted to a liquid fuel. The anode electrocatalyst is re-oxidized to higher valency oxides, or a mixture of oxide phases, by supplying the oxygen ions to the anode. The re-oxidation by the ions is controlled or regulated by the amount of voltage applied.