US 12,448,309 B2
Ocean alkalinity release apparatus and method
Todd Pelman, Moss Beach, CA (US); David Hegeman, San Jose, CA (US); and Jeremy Loretz, Palo Alto, CA (US)
Assigned to Ebb Carbon, Inc., San Carlos, CA (US)
Filed by Ebb Carbon, Inc., San Carlos, CA (US)
Filed on Jan. 18, 2025, as Appl. No. 19/031,604.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/556,837, filed on Feb. 22, 2024.
Prior Publication US 2025/0270125 A1, Aug. 28, 2025
Int. Cl. C02F 1/66 (2023.01); B01D 53/78 (2006.01); B01D 61/54 (2006.01); C02F 1/461 (2023.01); C02F 1/00 (2023.01); C02F 103/08 (2006.01)
CPC C02F 1/66 (2013.01) [B01D 53/78 (2013.01); B01D 61/54 (2013.01); C02F 1/46104 (2013.01); C02F 1/008 (2013.01); C02F 2103/08 (2013.01); C02F 2201/005 (2013.01); C02F 2201/46145 (2013.01); C02F 2209/006 (2013.01); C02F 2209/06 (2013.01); C02F 2209/40 (2013.01); Y02C 20/40 (2020.08); Y02P 10/122 (2015.11); Y02P 20/151 (2015.11)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An OAE system including an electrochemical reactor configured to generate an ocean alkalinity product including a base substance that is fully dissolved in an aqueous solution, the OAE system comprising:
a release apparatus including:
a diffuser disposed at an outfall location in an ocean and including a plenum chamber defining the at least one exit port and a floating structure operably connected to the plenum chamber such that the plenum chamber is maintained at a depth below an ocean surface of the ocean with the at least one exit port aimed toward the ocean surface,
a flow control mechanism configured to control a delivery rate of the ocean alkalinity product from the plenum chamber through the at least one exit port such that the base substance diffuses into seawater located in an outfall region surrounding the diffuser,
a sensor disposed in the ocean adjacent to the diffuser and configured to measure at least one seawater parameter of seawater located in the outfall region, said sensor being further configured to transmit a sensor signal including data corresponding to the measured seawater parameter; and
a controller configured to control an operating state of the flow control mechanism in accordance with the measured seawater parameters such that the base substance passes through the exit port into the outfall region at a maximum safe delivery rate.