On-line monitoring of process/system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017250428-A1
Application number	US-201715441704-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 24, 2017
Priority date	Feb 25, 2016
Publication date	Aug 31, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Disclosed herein are methods and systems that relate to an on-line monitoring of a process/system by controlling rate of oxidation of metal ions at an anode in an anode electrolyte of an electrochemical process and controlling rate of reduction of the metal ions in a catalysis process to achieve steady state.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for an on-line monitoring of a process, the method comprising:
A. controlling rate of oxidation of metal ions at an anode in an anode electrolyte of an electrochemical process, wherein the electrochemical process comprises oxidizing the metal ions from a lower oxidation state to a higher oxidation state at the anode, the controlling step comprising:
determining at least one first value for at least one parameter indicative of conditions of the electrochemical process during operation; comparing each of the at least one first value with respective at least one second value indicative of desired conditions of the electrochemical process, wherein the at least one second value is in a predefined memory location; and deciding, based on the comparing, to accept, reject, and/or adjust the at least one first value for respectively the at least one parameter to control the rate of oxidation of the metal ions in the anode electrolyte of the electrochemical process;
B. controlling rate of reduction of the metal ions in a catalysis process, wherein the catalysis process comprises reacting the anode electrolyte comprising the metal ions in the higher oxidation state in the aqueous medium with an unsaturated or saturated hydrocarbon to form one or more organic compounds, the controlling step comprising:
determining at least one first value for respectively at least one parameter, indicative of conditions of the catalysis process; comparing each of the at least one first value with respective at least one second value indicative of desired conditions of the catalysis process, wherein the at least one second value is in a predefined memory location; and deciding, based on the comparing, to accept, reject, and/or adjust the at least one first value for respectively the at least one parameter to control the rate of reduction of the metal ions in the aqueous medium of the catalysis process;
wherein the method comprises deciding the at least one second value indicative of the desired conditions of the catalysis process based on the rate of oxidation of the metal ions in the anode electrolyte of the electrochemical process and/or deciding the at least one second value indicative of the desired conditions of the electrochemical process based on the rate of reduction of the metal ions in the aqueous medium of the catalysis process.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the controlling balances the rate of oxidation in the electrochemical process and the rate of reduction in the catalysis process to achieve steady state.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one second value indicative of the desired conditions of the catalysis process is dynamic based on the rate of oxidation of the metal ions in the anode electrolyte of the electrochemical process and/or the at least one second value indicative of the desired conditions of the electrochemical process is dynamic based on the rate of reduction of the metal ions in the aqueous medium of the catalysis process.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one parameter indicative of conditions or desired conditions of the electrochemical process comprises temperature, pressure, pH, density, ion concentration, flow rate, voltage, current, or combinations thereof.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one parameter indicative of conditions or desired conditions of the catalysis process comprises temperature, pressure, density, ion concentration, flow rate, space time yield (STY), or combinations thereof.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the deciding comprises adjusting the at least one first value for respectively the at least one parameter to match the at least one second value for respectively the same parameter.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the adjusting the at least one first value to match the respective at least one second value for the at least one parameter comprises sending instructions to control one or more components of the process wherein the one or more components are selected from the group consisting of one or more valves, one or more pumps, one or more compressors, one or more heat exchange units, one or more heaters or coolers, power source, rectifier, one or more tanks, and combinations thereof to adjust the at least one first value to match the respective at least one second value.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one parameter of the electrochemical process is metal ion concentration in the anolyte exiting anode chamber and the at least one parameter of the catalysis process is metal ion concentration in the aqueous medium exiting catalysis reactor.

9 . A unit for an on-line monitoring of a system, the unit comprising:
a control unit configured to calculate and control rate of oxidation of metal ions at an anode in an anode electrolyte of an electrochemical system, wherein the electrochemical system comprises an anode chamber comprising an anode in contact with an anode electrolyte wherein the anode electrolyte comprises metal ions in an aqueous medium and wherein the anode is configured to oxidize the metal ions from a lower oxidation state to a higher oxidation state; and the control unit configured to calculate and control rate of reduction of the metal ions in a catalysis system, wherein the catalysis system comprises a reactor operably connected to the electrochemical system and configured to react the metal ions in the higher oxidation state in the aqueous medium with an unsaturated or saturated hydrocarbon to form one or more organic compounds; a data retrieval unit operably connected to the control unit and configured to determine at least one first value for respectively at least one parameter indicative of conditions of the electrochemical system and the catalysis system; a comparison unit operably connected to the data retrieval unit and configured to compare the at least one first value with respective at least one second value for respectively the at least one parameter for respective system, wherein the at least one second value is in a predefined memory location in the comparison unit; and a decision making unit operably connected to the comparison unit and configured to accept, reject, and/or adjust the at least one first value for respectively the at least one parameter for the respective system based on the comparison by the comparison unit, wherein the control unit is configured to decide the at least one second value for the at least one parameter indicative of the desired conditions of the catalysis system based on the calculated rate of oxidation of the metal ions in the anode electrolyte of the electrochemical system and/or deciding the at least one second value for the at least one parameter indicative of the desired conditions of the electrochemical system based on the calculated rate of reduction of the metal ions in the aqueous medium of the catalysis system.

10 . The unit of claim 9 , wherein the control unit is configured to balance the rate of oxidation in the electrochemical system and the rate of reduction in the catalysis system to achieve steady state.

11 . The unit of claim 9 , wherein the control unit is configured to decide the at least one second value for the at least one parameter indicative of the desired conditions of the catalysis system in real time based on the calculated rate of oxidation of the metal ions in the anode electrolyte of the electrochemical system and/or deciding the at least one second value for the at least one parameter indicative of the desired conditions of the electrochemical system in real time based on the calculated rate of reduction of the metal ions in the aqueous medium of the catalysis sy

Assignees

• Calera Corp

Inventors

• Gilliam Ryan J
• Albrecht Thomas A
• Zhao Hong
• Martinez Diego
• King Rebecca L

Classifications

• H01M8/04798

  of fuel cell reactants · CPC title

• H01M8/04313

  characterised by the detection or assessment of variables; characterised by the detection or assessment of failure or abnormal function · CPC title

• H01M8/04992 Primary

  characterised by the implementation of mathematical or computational algorithms, e.g. feedback control loops, fuzzy logic, neural networks or artificial intelligence · CPC title

• C25B3/27

  Halogenation · CPC title

• Y02E60/36

  Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis · CPC title