Keith D Sims

US Patent:

6796436, Sep 28, 2004

Filed:

Jul 24, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/202354

Inventors:

William W. Carson - Hopkinton MA
Keith J. Sims - Wayland MA
Bernard Mack - Natick MA
Robert J. Ritz - Phoenix AZ
William C. Whitehill - Chandler AZ

Assignee:

Ionics, Incorporated - Watertown MA

International Classification:

B01D 1500

US Classification:

210501, 210764, 210766, 422 26, 422 27, 422 28

Abstract:

Water treatment systems or assemblies are normally tested after construction, at least for leaks, prior to shipping or storage. Pressure testing with a gas is hazardous, so testing with water is a standard method. After testing, the water is displaced from the system by draining or gas phase flushing. It is nearly impossible to remove all of the water from the system or assembly. This remaining water provides an environment for biological growth which contaminates the system or assembly over time. The purpose of this invention is to eliminate or minimize this biological contamination by adding a biocidal agent to the system or assembly before sealing it for shipment or storage.

US Patent:

7094325, Aug 22, 2006

Filed:

Jan 31, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/356043

Inventors:

Bernard R. Mack - Natick MA, US
Keith J. Sims - Wayland MA, US
William W. Carson - Hopkinton MA, US
Richard I. Parent - Waltham MA, US

Assignee:

Ionics, Incorporated - Watertown MA

International Classification:

B01D 61/42

US Classification:

204524, 204533, 204536, 204632, 204633, 210189, 210675

Abstract:

Apparatus and method are disclosed for introducing ion exchange or other particulates into compartments of an already-assembled electrodeionization or comparable stack by modulating a flow of slurry into the compartments with slugs of gas such as air. The air propels liquid through the cells, scavenging ponded liquid so that the particulates (which are retained, e. g. , by a strainer or obstruction, in compartment of the apparatus) are deposited as well-packed beds to fill the compartments. Pressurized air filling protocols may deliver discrete slugs of slurry between bursts of air, and the direction of filling may be periodically reversed to diminish particle bed non-homogeneities or settling gradients that arise during transport. The slugs of air may be applied in the direction of slurry flow, in the reverse direction, or both. Different slurries may be transported in a sequence to form layered and packed beds of enhanced utility.

US Patent:

7662267, Feb 16, 2010

Filed:

Aug 10, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/343269

Inventors:

William W. Carson - Hopkinton MA, US
Keith J. Sims - Wayland MA, US
Oleg Grebenyuk - Woburn MA, US
Thomas J. Susa - Ludlow MA, US
Hilda R. Zanapalidou - Winchester MA, US
Wayne A. McRae - Mannedorf, CH
Russell J. MacDonald - Wilmington MA, US

Assignee:

Ionics, Incorporated - Watertown MA

International Classification:

B01D 61/42

US Classification:

204523, 204525, 204539, 204630, 204634

Abstract:

An improved apparatus and operating method related thereto for deionizing water to produce substantially pure water using electric field and ion exchange materials are disclosed, including embodiments incorporating one or more of the novel features of brine and electrode streams flowing in a direction counter-current to the stream being deionized, a filling of the brine stream with stratified ion exchange materials, a stream mixing feature for mixing the stream being deionized, a gas removal feature for removal of gases, a spiral-wound embodiment of an electrodialysis device according to the invention, and a method for determining the preferred operating current for electrodialysis systems according to this invention.

US Patent:

7794577, Sep 14, 2010

Filed:

Nov 16, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/495394

Inventors:

William W. Carson - Hopkinton MA, US
Oleg Grebenyuk - Woburn MA, US
Vladimir Grebenyuk - Woburn MA, US
Keith J. Sims - Wayland MA, US
R. Hilda Zanapalidou - Winchester MA, US
Bernard R. Mack - Natick MA, US
Richard G. Parent - Waltham MA, US

Assignee:

Ionics, Incorporated - Watertown MA

International Classification:

B01D 61/46
B01D 61/48
B01D 61/50
B01D 61/52

US Classification:

204638, 204600, 204627, 204630, 204632, 204636, 204639

Abstract:

A spacer element () is disclosed having an integral screen for use in filled cell electrodialysis. The spacer () has a continuous portion () impermeable to flow and a screen () which spans a centrally-located flow treatment region that contains active treatment material, such as ion exchange beads. The screen () may perform a structural function, allowing operation at elevated pressure, and may also define a minimum gap between adjacent membranes and enhance mixing along the flow path and at cell boundaries. The spacer element () may be configured to enhance hydraulic filling of the cells, and cell architecture is readily implemented in a wide range of useful flow path geometries utilizing the screen spacer element ().

US Patent:

8524062, Sep 3, 2013

Filed:

Dec 29, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/980506

Inventors:

Oleg Grebenyuk - Sherborn MA, US
Vladimir Grebenyuk - Woburn MA, US
Li Zhang - Belmont MA, US
Keith J. Sims - Wayland MA, US
John Barber - Fergus, CA

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

B01D 61/48

US Classification:

204632

Abstract:

An electrodeionization apparatus includes an anode compartment provided with an anode and a cathode compartment spaced from the anode compartment and provided with a cathode, wherein the anode and cathode are configured for coupling to a DC power source to effect an electric potential difference between the anode and the cathode and thereby influence transport of ionic material in liquid media and ion exchange media by the influence of the electric potential difference. The electrodeionization apparatus also includes a feed inlet receiving a feed solution, a product water outlet and a plurality of anion exchange membranes and a plurality of cation exchange membranes alternately arranged between the anode compartment and the cathode compartment. The electrodeionization apparatus also includes a plurality of spacers, wherein the spacers and the anion and cation exchange membranes are arranged to form a first diluting compartment receiving feed solution from the feed inlet, a second diluting compartment in series with the first diluting compartment and delivering product water to the product water outlet, a first concentrating compartment and a second concentrating compartment. The first and second diluting compartments are bounded by an anion exchange membrane on the side closest to the anode and by a cation exchange membrane on the side closest to the cathode.