A device for removing ions from a flow of water includes a first electrode and a counter-electrode opposite the first electrode in the flow of water. The first electrode contains at least one material which is capable of intercalating one or both of Mg.sup.2+ and Ca.sup.2+ ions in the flow of water. The counter-electrode can include a material capable of binding to anions in the flow of water.

An electrochemical water cleaning device including one or more deionization cells having a membrane electrode assembly including a first electrode compartment separated by an anion exchange membrane from a second electrode compartment, each of the first and second compartments configured to contain an intercalation host electrode, a first water stream compartment separated by the membrane electrode assembly from a second water stream compartment, each of the first and second water stream compartments configured to contain a saline water solution and arranged to be in respective fluid communication with the first and second electrode compartments.

A current conductor for use in an electrochemical device for removing ions from a solution. The current conductor includes a current conductor substrate having a current conductor surface. The current conductor also includes an anti-corrosive, anti-reactive coating coated onto the current conductor surface. The anti-corrosive, anti-reactive coating contains a material with a chemical composition of AO.sub.y, where A= Zr, Nb, Ti, or a combination thereof and 2 < y < 3; M.sub.xAO.sub.y, where M= Ca, Mg, Na, or a combination thereof, A= Zr, Nb, Ti, or a combination thereof, 0 < x < 2, and 2 < y < 3; MgCr.sub.2O.sub.4; or a combination thereof.

A current conductor for use in an electrochemical device for removing ions from a solution. The current conductor includes a current conductor substrate having a current conductor surface. The current conductor also includes an anti-corrosive, anti-reactive coating coated onto the current conductor surface. The anti-corrosive, anti-reactive coating contains a material with a chemical composition of AO.sub.y, where A= Zr, Nb, Ti, or a combination thereof and 2 < y < 3; M.sub.xAO.sub.y, where M= Ca, Mg, Na, or a combination thereof, A= Zr, Nb, Ti, or a combination thereof, 0 < x < 2, and 2 < y < 3; MgCr.sub.2O.sub.4; or a combination thereof.

The present invention relates to a hybrid system for water treatment, desalination, and chemical production. The hybrid system of the present invention includes a photoanode, an anode chamber, an anion exchange membrane, a middle chamber, a cation exchange membrane, a cathode chamber, and a cathode. In the middle chamber, saltwater or seawater is desalinated by photoelectrochemical electrodialysis. Chloride ions are generated during the desalination, transferred to the anode chamber, and activated by the photoanode. In the anode chamber, wastewater is treated by the activated chloride ions. In the cathode chamber, at least one chemical species selected from the group consisting of water, oxygen, and carbon dioxide is reduced by electrons supplied from the photoanode.

Water deionization systems based on electrochemical water desalination or softening using a capacitive or intercalative deionization devices including a stack of electrochemical cells. Each cell includes first and second electrodes and an ion exchange membrane. Each cell includes inlet and outlet channels with control valves that control the separation of the source water into brine (e.g., concentration) and clean water (e.g., purification) streams. The deionization device or module may include multiple electrochemical cells connected electrically in series, parallel or a combination of both. The cells may also be in serial, parallel, or combined fluid communication. The output water of one or more streams from each cell or collection of cells may be recirculated and combined with one or more input water streams to improve the electrochemical energy efficiency of the cells. The electrochemical cells at different rows may have varying electrode thickness, area and loading of the active material.

This invention relates to a high-performance, low-cost water capacitive deionization and hydrogen electrolyzer system that can operate from AC or DC power sources and manage and store power when coupled with renewable energy sources.

An electrochemical deionization system that maintains an operating temperature range of a solution stream (e.g., seawater or brackish water) flowing through the cells of the electrochemical deionization system. Maintaining the operating temperature range is targeted at prolonging the lifetime of the system and increasing the overall performance of the electrochemical deionization system.

The present disclosure relates to a desalination system of photovoltaic direct-driven membrane capacitive deionization. The system includes a photovoltaic direct-driven group and a municipal power grid-connected group. The photovoltaic direct-driven group includes a photovoltaic power collection unit, a power storage unit, a direct-driven power monitoring unit, a voltage adjustment unit, and a membrane capacitive deionization water purification unit. The municipal power grid-connected group includes a grid-connected control unit, a grid busbar unit, and an intelligent detection unit.

A separator for an electrochemical deionization cell for removing ions from a solution stream. The separator includes an anion exchange membrane layer formed from an anion exchange membrane material. The anion exchange membrane layer has a first surface and an opposing second surface. The separator further includes a porous layer adjacent to the anion exchange membrane layer and formed from a porous material. The porous layer has a first surface and an opposing second surface. The first surface of the porous layer is adjacent to the first surface of the anion exchange membrane layer.