Perforated graphene deionization or desalination

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9475709-B2
Application number	US-201213719579-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 19, 2012
Priority date	Aug 25, 2010
Publication date	Oct 25, 2016
Grant date	Oct 25, 2016

Abstract

A fluid deionizer includes at least one graphene sheet perforated with apertures dimensioned to allow a flow of fluid and to disallow at least one particular type of ion contained in the flow of fluid. A purge valve is placed in an open position so as to collect the at least one particular type of ion disallowed by the graphene sheet so as to clean off the at least one graphene sheet. Another embodiment provides a deionizer with graphene sheets in cylindrical form. A separation apparatus is also provided in a cross-flow arrangement where a pressurized source directs a medium along a path substantially parallel to at least one sheet of graphene from an inlet to an outlet. The medium flows through the plural perforated apertures while a remaining portion of the medium and the disallowed components in the medium flow out the outlet.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for deionizing fluid carrying unwanted ions, said method comprising:
providing at least one first sheet of graphene with plural perforated apertures selected to allow the passage of fluid and to disallow the passage of at least one selected one of said unwanted ions;
forming said at least one first sheet of graphene into a cylindrical form;
inserting said cylindrical form into a first housing;
pressurizing said fluid carrying unwanted ions to thereby generate pressurized fluid to flow through said first housing;
applying said pressurized fluid to a first surface of said at least one first perforated graphene in said cylindrical form, so that fluid flows to a second side of said at least one first perforated graphene sheet in cylindrical form in preference to ions; and
collecting said fluid from said second side of said at least one first graphene sheet.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one ion is chlorine, and said apertures for disallowance of said chlorine ions are nominally 0.9 nanometers.

3. A method according to claim 2 , wherein said apertures are nominally spaced apart by 15 nanometers.

4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said selected at least one ion is sodium, and said apertures for disallowance of said sodium ions is nominally 0.6 nanometers.

5. A method according to claim 4 , wherein said apertures are nominally spaced apart by 15 nanometers.

6. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
providing a first set of graphene sheets with plural perforated apertures selected to allow the passage of fluid and to disallow the passage of at least one selected one of said unwanted ions;
forming said first set of graphene sheets into a first cylindrical form;
inserting said first cylindrical form into a first housing;
providing a second set of graphene sheets with plural perforated apertures selected to allow the passage of fluid and to disallow the passage of another one or more of said unwanted ions;
forming said second set of graphene sheets into a second cylindrical form;
inserting said second cylindrical form into a second housing;
pressurizing said fluid carrying unwanted ions from said first housing to thereby generate pressurized fluid to flow through said second housing; and
applying said pressurized fluid to a first surface of said second set of graphene sheets in said second cylindrical form, so that fluid flows to a second side of said second set of said at least one perforated graphene sheet in said second cylindrical form in preference to ions.

7. A method according to claim 6 , wherein said perforated apertures of said first set of graphene sheets are for disallowance of unwanted chlorine ions and are nominally 0.9 nanometers, and said perforated apertures of said second set of graphene sheets are for disallowance of unwanted sodium ions and are nominally 0.6 nanometers.

8. A method according to claim 6 , wherein said first housing is less selective of ion exclusion than said second housing.

9. A fluid deionizer, comprising:
a first cylindrical form of at least one graphene sheet perforated with apertures dimensioned to allow the flow of fluid and to disallow the flow of ions of at least one particular type;
a source of fluid laden with ions of said at least one particular type; and
a path for the flow of the fluid laden with ions of said at least one particular type through said cylindrical form of at least one graphene sheet perforated with apertures.

10. The deionizer according to claim 9 , further comprising:
a second cylindrical form of at least one graphene sheet perforated with apertures dimensioned to allow the flow of fluid and to disallow the flow of ions of at least another particular type; wherein said second cylindrical form is in said path for the flow of said fluid, wherein said source of fluid is laden with ions of said at least one particular type and of said at least another particular type.

11. The deionizer according to claim 10 , wherein said first and second cylindrical forms of at least one graphene sheet are rolled.

12. The deionizer according to claim 10 , wherein said first and second cylindrical forms of at least one graphene sheet are spiral-wound.

13. The deionizer according to claim 10 , further comprising:
a purge valve associated with each said cylindrical form and said path for the flow of the fluid to allow concentrated ions disallowed by each said cylindrical form to flow to collecting vessels.

14. A fluid deionizer comprising:
at least one first graphene sheet perforated with apertures dimensioned to allow a flow of fluid and to disallow at least one particular type of ion contained in the flow of fluid;
a support chamber carrying said at least one first graphene sheet, said support chamber having an upstream portion that receives said at least one first graphene sheet;
a source of fluid laden with said at least one particular type of ion;
a path for the flow of the fluid laden with said at least one particular type of ion through said at least one first graphene sheet perforated with apertures; and
a purge valve associated with said upstream portion, said purge valve placed in an open position so as to collect said at least one particular type of ion disallowed by said at least one first graphene sheet.

15. A fluid deionizer according to claim 14 , further comprising:
a porous media backing said at least one first graphene sheet perforated with apertures.

16. A fluid deionizer according to claim 15 , wherein said porous media is selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene, polytetrafluoroethane, polycarbonate, nanostructured carbon and sintered porous metals.

17. A fluid deionizer according to claim 16 , further comprising:
a second purge valve, said second purge valve associated with an intermediate chamber and when placed in an open position collects said another particular type of ion disallowed by said at least one second graphene sheet.

18. A fluid deionizer according to claim 14 , further comprising:
at least one second graphene sheet perforated with apertures dimensioned to allow the flow of fluid and to disallow another particular type of ion contained in the flow of fluid;
said support chamber carrying said at least one second graphene sheet so as to form an intermediate chamber between said at least one first graphene sheet and said at least one second graphene sheet, and a downstream chamber underneath said at least one second graphene sheet; and
said downstream chamber collecting the flow of fluid without said particular types of ions disallowed by said graphene sheets.

19. A fluid deionizer according to claim 14 , further comprising:
a cross-flow valve associated with said upstream portion, said purge valve and said cross-flow valve opened and closed simultaneously to aid in purging said disallowed type of ion from said support chamber.

20. A method for separating components from a medium, comprising:
providing a primary sheet of at least one layer of graphene with plural perforated apertures selected to allow the passage of a medium and to disallow the passage of selected components in the medium;
providing said primary sheet of at least one layer of graphene in a primary chamber, said primary chamber having a primary inlet, a primary outlet, and a primary lower flow path; and
pressurizing the medium to flow in a path substantially parallel to said primary sheet of at least one layer of graphene from said primary inlet

Assignees

• Lockheed Corp

Inventors

• Stetson John B
• Mercurio Jonathan
• Rosenwinkel Alan
• Bedworth Peter V
• Fleming Shawn P
• Westman Aaron L

Classifications

• B01D61/02

  Reverse osmosis; Hyperfiltration {; Nanofiltration} · CPC title

• B01D61/027

  Nanofiltration · CPC title

• B01D71/021

  Carbon · CPC title

• C02F1/442 Primary

  by nanofiltration · CPC title

• C02F2103/08

  Seawater, e.g. for desalination · CPC title