US 12,134,574 B2
OAE system with controlled acid neutralization
Guenther Glatz, Menlo Park, CA (US); Jeremy Loretz, Burlingame, CA (US); Matthew Eisaman, Port Jefferson, NY (US); and Todd Pelman, Moss Beach, CA (US)
Assigned to Ebb Carbon, Inc., San Carlos, CA (US)
Filed by Ebb Carbon, Inc., San Carlos, CA (US)
Filed on Mar. 28, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/620,819.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/455,474, filed on Mar. 29, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0327260 A1, Oct. 3, 2024
Int. Cl. C02F 1/46 (2023.01); B01F 25/50 (2022.01); B01F 35/21 (2022.01); C02F 1/469 (2023.01); C02F 1/52 (2023.01); C02F 1/66 (2023.01); C02F 103/08 (2006.01)
CPC C02F 1/66 (2013.01) [B01F 25/50 (2022.01); B01F 35/2132 (2022.01); C02F 1/4693 (2013.01); C02F 1/52 (2013.01); C02F 2103/08 (2013.01); C02F 2201/4618 (2013.01); C02F 2209/06 (2013.01); C02F 2209/40 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) system comprising:
a bipolar electrodialysis device (BPED) configured to generate an ocean alkalinity product and an acid byproduct including an acid substance by electrochemically processing a salt, the BPED also being configured to supply the ocean alkalinity product to an ocean in a way that both reduces atmospheric carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere and mitigates ocean acidification; and
an acid neutralization subsystem configured to neutralize the acid substance using an aqueous alkaline fluid, the neutralization subsystem including:
a reaction apparatus configured to store a process fluid comprising a mixture of the aqueous alkaline fluid and the acid byproduct;
at least one sensor disposed in the reaction apparatus and configured to measure a pH level of the process fluid and to generate an associated sensor data signal including the measured process fluid pH level;
a dosing apparatus including at least one flow control device configured to control a flow of at least one of the acid byproduct and the aqueous alkaline fluid into the reaction apparatus;
a neutralization controller configured to receive and utilize the associated sensor data signal to control the at least one flow control device such that a maximum pH level of the process fluid remains equal to or greater than a target pH level, wherein the target pH level is a minimum pH level at which (i) a neutralization rate of the acid substance in the reaction apparatus is maximized, and (ii) generation and release of carbon dioxide from the reaction apparatus into Earth's atmosphere is prevented;
a second sensor configured to measure a pH level of the acid byproduct and to generate an associated sensor data signal including the measured acid byproduct pH level; and
a third sensor configured to measure a pH level of the aqueous alkaline fluid and to generate an associated third sensor data signal including the measured aqueous alkaline fluid pH level,
wherein the neutralization controller is configured to generate the target pH level using the second and third sensor data signals.