Patents by Inventor Alain Guillard

Alain Guillard has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20200141637
    Abstract: A method of liquefying hydrogen, including dividing a hydrogen stream into at least a first fraction and a second fraction, introducing the first fraction into a refrigeration cycle of a hydrogen liquefaction unit, thereby liquefying a product hydrogen stream, withdrawing one or more warm hydrogen stream(s) from the hydrogen liquefaction unit, and returning the one or more warm hydrogen stream to the hydrogen stream, wherein the second fraction is combined with a high-pressure nitrogen stream to form an ammonia synthesis gas stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Mike TURNEY, Alain GUILLARD, Alexander ROESCH
  • Publication number: 20200140271
    Abstract: A method of co-producing a carbon dioxide containing stream and a syngas stream, including, introducing a first high-pressure hydrocarbon containing stream and a first high-pressure oxygen containing stream into a syngas generator, thereby producing a high-pressure syngas stream, introducing a second high-pressure hydrocarbon containing stream and a second high-pressure oxygen containing stream into an oxy-combustion device, thereby producing a high-pressure carbon dioxide containing stream, and introducing the high-pressure carbon dioxide containing stream into a work expander, thereby generating work and a carbon dioxide containing stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Alain GUILLARD, Alexander ROESCH
  • Patent number: 10634425
    Abstract: The method for producing liquid hydrogen can include the steps of: introducing pressurized natural gas from a high pressure natural gas pipeline to a gas processing unit under conditions effective for producing a purified hydrogen stream; and introducing the purified hydrogen stream to a hydrogen liquefaction unit under conditions effective to produce a liquid hydrogen stream, wherein the hydrogen liquefaction unit provides a warm temperature cooling and a cold temperature cooling to the purified hydrogen stream, wherein the warm temperature cooling is provided by utilizing letdown energy of a pressurized stream selected from the group consisting of a nitrogen stream sourced from a nitrogen pipeline, a natural gas stream sourced from the high pressure natural gas pipeline, an air gas sourced from an air separation unit, and combinations thereof, wherein the cold temperature is provided by utilizing letdown energy of the purified hydrogen stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Alain Guillard, Pierre-Etienne Franc, Michael A. Turney, Kirill Andreev, Alexander Roesch
  • Patent number: 10612842
    Abstract: A method for the production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) using a cold fluid provided from a cryogenic unit, such as an air separation unit or nitrogen liquefier, is provided. The method may include the steps of: withdrawing a nitrogen stream from a cryogenic unit, wherein the nitrogen stream is at a temperature between about ?155° C. to about ?193° C.; and liquefying a natural gas stream in a natural gas liquefaction unit using the nitrogen stream from the cryogenic unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Pierre-Philippe Guerif, Louis DeBesombes, Michael A. Turney, Oriane Farges, Alain Guillard
  • Patent number: 10563914
    Abstract: A method includes receiving input corresponding to a proposed configuration of a liquefaction facility and identifying a plurality of components utilized to produce LNG and/or LIN at the facility. The method includes determining an alternative configuration that is different from the proposed configuration. Determining the alternative configuration may include identifying resources accessible to a proposed location for the liquefaction facility and whether at least one of the resources accessible to the proposed location corresponds to a resource generated by a component identified by the proposed configuration, and determining whether to omit at least one component of the plurality of components identified by the proposed configuration. The method includes omitting the at least one component from the alternative configuration, and generating a report based on the proposed configuration and the alternative configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Alain Guillard, Michael A. Turney
  • Patent number: 10393431
    Abstract: An integrated method for the production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and syngas is provided. The method can include the steps of: utilizing letdown energy of a high pressure natural gas stream that is withdrawn from a natural gas pipeline to provide a warm temperature cooling; utilizing a refrigeration cycle to provide a cold temperature cooling, wherein the refrigeration cycle comprises a refrigerant recycle compressor that is powered utilizing a steam turbine; and cooling a second high pressure natural gas stream using the warm temperature cooling and the cold temperature cooling to produce an LNG product stream. The second high pressure natural gas stream is withdrawn from the natural gas pipeline, and the steam turbine is powered by high pressure steam that is produced from a syngas production facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Alexander Roesch, Alain Guillard, Michael A. Turney
  • Patent number: 10288346
    Abstract: A method for the liquefaction of an industrial gas by integration of a methanol plant and an air separation unit (ASU) is provided. The method can include the steps of: (a) providing a pressurized natural gas stream, a pressurized purge gas stream originating from a methanol plant, and a pressurized air gas stream comprising an air gas originating from the ASU; (b) expanding three different pressurized gases to produce three cooled streams, wherein the three different pressurized gases are the pressurized natural gas stream, the pressurized purge gas stream, and the pressurized air gas stream; and (c) liquefying the industrial gas in a liquefaction unit against the three cooled streams to produce a liquefied industrial gas stream. The industrial gas to be liquefied is selected from the group consisting of a first portion of the pressurized natural gas stream, a nitrogen gas stream, hydrogen and combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Alain Guillard, Michael A. Turney, Alexander Roesch
  • Patent number: 10281203
    Abstract: A method for the liquefaction of an industrial gas by integration of a methanol plant and an air separation unit (ASU) is provided. The method can include the steps of: (a) providing a pressurized natural gas stream, a pressurized purge gas stream composed predominately of hydrogen and originating from a methanol plant, and a pressurized air gas stream comprising an air gas from the ASU; (b) expanding three different pressurized gases to produce three cooled streams, wherein the three different pressurized gases consist of the pressurized natural gas stream, the pressurized purge gas stream, and the pressurized air gas stream; and (c) liquefying the industrial gas in a liquefaction unit against the three cooled streams to produce a liquefied industrial gas stream, wherein the industrial gas to be liquefied is selected from the group consisting of a first portion of the pressurized natural gas stream, a nitrogen gas stream, hydrogen and combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Alain Guillard, Michael A. Turney, Alexander Roesch
  • Patent number: 10198662
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for identifying features in an image. The method comprises fitting a plurality of second models to the image, the plurality of second models together modelling a region of interest, wherein each part of the region of interest is modelled by at least two of the plurality of second models; and identifying the features in the image based upon the fit of the plurality of second models.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Mako Surgical Corp.
    Inventors: Graham Richard Vincent, Michael Antony Bowes, Gwenael Alain Guillard, Ian Michael Scott
  • Patent number: 10160704
    Abstract: A method for the co-production of hydrogen and methanol including a hydrocarbon reforming or gasification device producing a syngas stream comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide; introducing the syngas stream to a water gas shift reaction thereby converting at least a portion of the CO and H2O into H2 and CO2 contained in a shifted gas stream; cooling the shifted gas stream and condensing and removing the condensed fraction of H2O; then dividing the shifted syngas stream into a first stream and a second stream; introducing the first stream into a first hydrogen separation device, thereby producing a hydrogen stream, and introducing the second stream into a methanol synthesis reactor, thereby producing a crude methanol stream and a methanol synthesis off gas; introducing at least a portion of the methanol synthesis off gas into a second hydrogen separation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude
    Inventors: Alexander Roesch, Alain Guillard
  • Publication number: 20180296965
    Abstract: A gas purification device including two adsorbers, each having a lower portion and an upper portion, a gas compressor, a heater, a set of exchangers, a first assembly of pipework and valves, and a second assembly of pipework and valves, wherein the first assembly of pipework and valves is located on the floor or on a metal structure proximate to the lower portion, and the second assembly of pipework and valves is located high up along the same vertical axis as the first assembly of pipework and valves proximate to the upper portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Patrice CAVAGNE, Gabriel DA SILVA, Olivier DE CAYEUX, Alain GUILLARD
  • Publication number: 20180258019
    Abstract: A method for the co-production of hydrogen and methanol including a hydrocarbon reforming or gasification device producing a syngas stream comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide; introducing the syngas stream to a water gas shift reaction thereby converting at least a portion of the CO and H2O into H2 and CO2 contained in a shifted gas stream; cooling the shifted gas stream and condensing and removing the condensed fraction of H2O; then dividing the shifted syngas stream into a first stream and a second stream; introducing the first stream into a first hydrogen separation device, thereby producing a hydrogen stream, and introducing the second stream into a methanol synthesis reactor, thereby producing a crude methanol stream and a methanol synthesis off gas; introducing at least a portion of the methanol synthesis off gas into a second hydrogen separation device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: Alexander ROESCH, Alain GUILLARD
  • Publication number: 20180142950
    Abstract: A method for the production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) using a cold fluid provided from a cryogenic unit, such as an air separation unit or nitrogen liquefier, is provided. The method may include the steps of: withdrawing a nitrogen stream from a cryogenic unit, wherein the nitrogen stream is at a temperature between about ?155° C. to about ?193° C.; and liquefying a natural gas stream in a natural gas liquefaction unit using the nitrogen stream from the cryogenic unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Applicant: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l’Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Pierre-Philippe GUERIF, Louis DeBESOMBES, Michael A. TURNEY, Oriane FARGES, Alain GUILLARD
  • Patent number: 9969666
    Abstract: A method for the co-production of hydrogen and crude methanol, including; a hydrocarbon processing reforming or gasification process generating a syngas stream comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide; introducing at least a portion of the syngas stream to a once-through methanol synthesis reactor: introducing at least a portion of the stream from methanol reactor to a separation device separating this stream into a crude methanol stream and methanol synthesis off gas stream; introducing at least a portion of the methanol synthesis off gas to a hydrogen separation device, thereby producing a pure hydrogen stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Société Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude
    Inventors: Alexander Roesch, Alain Guillard, Frank Castillo-Welter, Timm P. Schuhmann, Teja Schmid McGuinness, Tobias Oelmann
  • Publication number: 20180038638
    Abstract: The method for producing liquid hydrogen can include the steps of: introducing pressurized natural gas from a high pressure natural gas pipeline to a gas processing unit under conditions effective for producing a purified hydrogen stream; and introducing the purified hydrogen stream to a hydrogen liquefaction unit under conditions effective to produce a liquid hydrogen stream, wherein the hydrogen liquefaction unit provides a warm temperature cooling and a cold temperature cooling to the purified hydrogen stream, wherein the warm temperature cooling is provided by utilizing letdown energy of a pressurized stream selected from the group consisting of a nitrogen stream sourced from a nitrogen pipeline, a natural gas stream sourced from the high pressure natural gas pipeline, an air gas sourced from an air separation unit, and combinations thereof, wherein the cold temperature is provided by utilizing letdown energy of the purified hydrogen stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Applicant: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Alain GUILLARD, Pierre-Etienne FRANC, Michael A. TURNEY, Kirill ANDREEV, Alexander ROESCH
  • Publication number: 20180038644
    Abstract: A method for the liquefaction of an industrial gas by integration of a methanol plant and an air separation unit (ASU) is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Applicant: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Alain GUILLARD, Michael A. TURNEY, Alexander ROESCH
  • Publication number: 20180038641
    Abstract: A method for the liquefaction of an industrial gas by integration of a methanol plant and an air separation unit (ASU) is provided. The method can include the steps of: (a) providing a pressurized natural gas stream, a pressurized purge gas stream originating from a methanol plant, and a pressurized air gas stream comprising an air gas originating from the ASU; (b) expanding three different pressurized gases to produce three cooled streams, wherein the three different pressurized gases are the pressurized natural gas stream, the pressurized purge gas stream, and the pressurized air gas stream; and (c) liquefying the industrial gas in a liquefaction unit against the three cooled streams to produce a liquefied industrial gas stream. The industrial gas to be liquefied is selected from the group consisting of a first portion of the pressurized natural gas stream, a nitrogen gas stream, hydrogen and combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Applicant: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Alain GUILLARD, Michael A. TURNEY, Alexander ROESCH
  • Publication number: 20180038643
    Abstract: An integrated method for the production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and syngas is provided. The method can include the steps of: utilizing letdown energy of a high pressure natural gas stream that is withdrawn from a natural gas pipeline to provide a warm temperature cooling; utilizing a refrigeration cycle to provide a cold temperature cooling, wherein the refrigeration cycle comprises a refrigerant recycle compressor that is powered utilizing a steam turbine; and cooling a second high pressure natural gas stream using the warm temperature cooling and the cold temperature cooling to produce an LNG product stream. The second high pressure natural gas stream is withdrawn from the natural gas pipeline, and the steam turbine is powered by high pressure steam that is produced from a syngas production facility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Applicant: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Alexander ROESCH, Alain GUILLARD, Michael A. TURNEY
  • Publication number: 20180038642
    Abstract: It is proposed to integrate a gas processing unit with a liquefaction unit. The industrial gas stream may be but is not limited to air gases of oxygen, nitrogen argon, hydrocarbon, LNG, syngas or its components, CO2, or any other molecule or combination of molecules. It is proposed to integrate the underutilized process inefficiencies of a gas processing unit into the liquefaction unit to produce a liquid at a reduced operating cost. The gas processing unit may be any system or apparatus which alters the composition of a feed gas. Examples could be, but are not limited to, a methanol plant, steam methane reformer, cogeneration plant, and partial oxidation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Applicant: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Alexander ROESCH, Alain GUILLARD, Michael A. TURNEY
  • Publication number: 20170061242
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for identifying features in an image. The method comprises fitting a plurality of second models to the image, the plurality of second models together modelling a region of interest, wherein each part of the region of interest is modelled by at least two of the plurality of second models; and identifying the features in the image based upon the fit of the plurality of second models.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Graham Richard Vincent, Michael Antony Bowes, Gwenael Alain Guillard, Ian Michael Scott