Patent ID: 7736791
Filing Date: 2010-06-15
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for the generation of electric current, the apparatus comprising: a reservoir having a first compartment to contain an ion solution of a first concentration and a second compartment to contain an ion solution of a second concentration, wherein the first concentration is different than the second concentration; a bipolar membrane positioned to separate the first compartment from the second compartment, the bipolar membrane comprising a monopolar cation exchange membrane and a monopolar anion exchange membrane joined together with an intermediate transitional phase layer in between, the bipolar membrane positioned such that the anion exchange membrane is adjacent to the first compartment and separated from the second compartment by the intermediate transitional phase layer and the cation exchange membrane and the cation exchange membrane is adjacent to the second compartment and separated from the first compartment by the intermediate transitional phase layer and the anion exchange membrane; a fluid inlet in fluid communication with the first compartment of the reservoir; a fluid outlet in fluid communication with the first compartment of the reservoir; a first electrode positioned within the first compartment; and a second electrode positioned within the second compartment.