Patents by Inventor Jean-Charles Viltard

Jean-Charles Viltard 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).

  • Patent number: 7314495
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and a device for eliminating particles from a stream of fluid, having a channel for turbulent flow of the fluid and a series of objects placed along the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignees: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Francis A. L. Dullien, Jean-Charles Viltard
  • Publication number: 20060037475
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and a device for eliminating particles from a stream of fluid, having a channel for turbulent flow of the fluid and a series of objects placed along the channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Publication date: February 23, 2006
    Inventors: Francis A.L. Dullien, Jean-Charles Viltard
  • Patent number: 6793714
    Abstract: In a process for dehydration/fractionation of a wet natural gas containing heavy constituents and light constituents, In the presence of methanol, aqueous liquid phases are combined and the resultant combined aqueous liquid phase contacted with the first part of the gas to be scrubbed, which carries along the major part of the methanol, which allows to collect practically pure water. Before this step, all or part of one or both of the aqueous liquid phases and/or all or part of the aqueous liquid phase from a washing zone is sent to a distillation stage where practically pure methanol is collected at the top and a methanol-depleted aqueous liquid phase is collected at the bottom prior to being sent back to the first stage or used for the washing stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Fabrice Lecomte, Béatrice Fischer, Jean-Charles Viltard
  • Patent number: 6767388
    Abstract: Process for dehydrating/fractionating a low-pressure wet natural gas containing “heavy” constituents and “light” constituents includes a stage a) in which at least a fraction of the wet gas at temperature T0 is contacted with an aqueous liquid phase L'1 containing methanol, the gas carrying along substantially all of the methanol contained in phase L'1. In a stage b), the gas from stage (a) is cooled to a temperature T1 lower than temperature T0, producing a gas phase G1 at equilibrium with a hydrocarbon-containing liquid phase L1 containing C3+ and an aqueous liquid phase L'1 containing methanol. In stage c), phase L'1 is sent to stage (a), and in stage d), said phase G1 is fractionated by distillation carried out by continuous thermal exchange with a cooling fluid, so as to extract the “light” constituents (gas phase G2) and the “heavy” constituents (condensed phase L2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Fabrice Lecomte, Béatrice Fischer, Jean-Charles Viltard
  • Patent number: 6735979
    Abstract: A process for pretreating a very acid natural gas containing a substantial amount of hydrogen sulfide (H2S), possibly combined with carbon dioxide (CO2), includes at least a stage wherein the initial natural gas is contacted in a distillation column with a liquid condensate itself resulting from cooling of the gaseous fraction obtained during the contacting stage. This solution allows to eventually recover at a lower cost a gas enriched in methane, depleted in hydrogen sulfide and freed from substantially all of the water it contains, and a liquid phase containing most of the hydrogen sulfide, substantially all of the water and depleted in hydrocarbon. Control of the thermodynamic conditions during the stages that characterize the process, according to the water content of the gas during treatment, allows progressive exhaustion of the water contained in the gas while preventing hydrates formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Fabrice Lecomte, Eric Lemaire, Jean-Charles Viltard
  • Patent number: 6645272
    Abstract: In a process for treating a gas containing acid gases, the gas is contacted with a methanol-containing aqueous phase and is then contacted in an absorption column with a mixture of solvents including mehtanol, water and a solvent heavier than methanol. Then, the mixture of solvents is at least partly regenerated through pressure reduction and/or heating. The treated gas is cooled by producing at least a methanol-containing aqueous phase that is at least partly recycled. The mixture of solvents flowing out at the bottom of the absorption column is cooled, then re-introduced at a higher level of the absorption column so as to control the temperature in the absorption column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Institute Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Eric Lemaire, Jean-Charles Viltard
  • Publication number: 20030188636
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and a device for eliminating particles from a stream of fluid, having a channel for turbulent flow of the fluid and a series of objects placed along the channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Inventors: Francis A.L. Dullien, Jean-Charles Viltard
  • Patent number: 6596253
    Abstract: In the desulfurization of a gaseous feed containing hydrogen sulfide, comprising contacting the gaseous feed with a catalytic solution containing a chelated polyvalent metal under suitable conditions for oxidation of the hydrogen sulfide to elementary sulfur and concomitant reduction of the chelated polyvalent metal from a higher oxidation level to a lower oxidation level, recovering a gaseous effluent substantially freed from hydrogen sulfide, and a catalytic solution at least partly reduced and containing elementary sulfur, separating the solid elementary sulfur from the reduced catalytic solution, and regenerating the reduced catalytic solution by contacting the catalytic solution with a gas containing oxygen by means of an ejector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Cécile Barrere-Tricca, Christian Streicher, Jean-Charles Viltard
  • Publication number: 20020185006
    Abstract: Process for dehydrating/fractionating a low-pressure wet natural gas containing <<heavy >> constituents and <<light >> constituents, wherein:
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Inventors: Fabrice Lecomte, Beatrice Fischer, Jean-Charles Viltard
  • Publication number: 20020178918
    Abstract: In a process intended for dehydration/fractionation of a wet natural gas containing <<heavy>> constituents and <<light>> constituents, in the presence of methanol, which comprises at least the following stages
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventors: Fabrice Lecomte, Beatrice Fischer, Jean-Charles Viltard
  • Patent number: 6472568
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing at least one aliphatic monoalcohol, generally in excess, and at least one olefin. The process is performed in a distillation and reaction device having a reaction section and a distillation-reaction section. The distillation-reaction section has a distillation zone with at least one means for circulation of the effluent from the reaction section to the distillation zone. Effluent from the reaction section is circulated to the distillation zone. The distillation-reaction section also has at least one distillation-reaction zone having at least one catalyst bed. The distillation-reaction zone is distinct from the distillation zone and provides at least partly the reflux of the distillation zone. The distillation-reaction section can also have at least one complementary reaction zone containing at least one catalyst bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Institute Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Marie-Claire Marion, Alain Forestiere, Christophe Thille, Jean-Charles Viltard
  • Publication number: 20020062735
    Abstract: Process for pretreating a very acid natural gas containing a substantial amount of hydrogen sulfide (H2S), possibly combined with carbon dioxide (CO2), comprising at least a stage wherein the initial natural gas is contacted in a distillation column with a liquid condensate itself resulting from cooling of the gaseous fraction obtained during said contacting stage. This solution allows to eventually recover at a lower cost a gas enriched in methane, depleted in hydrogen sulfide and freed from substantially all of the water it contains, and a liquid phase containing most of the hydrogen sulfide, substantially all of the water and depleted in hydrocarbon. Control of the thermodynamic conditions during the stages that characterize the process, according to the water content of the gas during treatment, allows progressive exhaustion of the water contained in said gas while preventing hydrates formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Inventors: Fabrice Lecomte, Eric Lemaire, Jean-Charles Viltard
  • Publication number: 20020059865
    Abstract: Process for treating a gas containing acid gases, wherein:
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Inventors: Eric Lemaire, Jean-Charles Viltard
  • Patent number: 6365791
    Abstract: The invention provides a process for converting hydrocarbons in which said feed is treated in a distillation zone associated with a reaction zone, the feed for the reaction zone being drawn off at the height of at least one draw-off level, the effluent from the reaction zone being re-introduced into the distillation zone at the height of a re-introduction level, said process being characterized in that a liquid effluent is also withdrawn from the distillation zone at the height of a withdrawal level, said liquid effluent being treated in a gas-liquid side separation zone (splitter), the gaseous effluent being re-introduced into the distillation zone and the liquid effluent being recovered as an intermediate cut. This process can be used to reduce the benzene content of a hydrocarbon cut and to recover a naphtha cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Jean-Louis Ambrosino, Jean-Charles Viltard, Blaise Didillon
  • Patent number: 6318119
    Abstract: Process allowing to fractionate a gas, wherein: the gas is cooled from T0 to a temperature T1, at least part of gas phase G1 is sent to an expansion stage (X1) in order to obtain a mixed phase M2 at a temperature T2 and at a pressure P2, mixed phase M2 is sent to a heat exchange stage where it serves as a cooling agent, and after which it is heated, liquid phase L1 is sent to an expansion stage, the heated mixed phase and the expanded liquid phase are sent to a separation stage so as to obtain a gas phase and a liquid phase, and the gas phase is fractionated by distillation performed by means of continuous heat exchange with mixed phase M2, and the light constituents are extracted as gas and the heavy constituents as condensates, the fractionation stage being performed after the stage of expansion of mixed phase M2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Béatrice Fischer, Jean-Charles Viltard
  • Patent number: 6315961
    Abstract: A process for the production of elemental sulphur by reacting hydrogen sulphide with sulphur dioxide in a liquid reaction medium comprising an organic solvent for the two compounds, e.g., ethylene glycol, and containing at least one soluble catalytic basic compound, e.g., sodium salicylate, comprises bringing a gas mixture containing sulphur dioxide and hydrogen sulphide into contact with a co-current of the solvent containing the catalytic basic compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Pierre Boucot, Jean Charles Viltard
  • Patent number: 6310108
    Abstract: Production of atmospheric distillate from a hydrocarbon feedstock that comprises a stage for the formation of a gas mixture that contains hydrogen and carbon monoxide, an at least partial conversion stage of the gas mixture that is obtained so as to obtain a liquid effluent that contains hydrocarbons and a gas effluent that contains carbon dioxide, a stage for treating the gas effluent under conditions that make it possible to eliminate the carbon dioxide at least partly, a first stage of fractionation of the liquid fraction, an isomerizing hydrocracking stage in the presence of hydrogen and a second fractionation stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignees: Institut Francais du Petrole, ENI S.p.A., AGIP Petroli S.p.A.
    Inventors: Reynald Bonneau, Mario-Gabriele Clerici, Jean-Charles Viltard
  • Patent number: 6309609
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating a gas containing hydrogen sulphide and sulphur dioxide comprising a first gas-liquid reactor-contactor (2), means (3) for supplying a gas to be treated and means (5) for supplying an organic solvent, means (25) for recovering sulphur and means (20) for extracting a gaseous effluent containing sulphur in vapour form, the apparatus being characterized in that it comprises a second reactor-contactor (102) connected to the means for extracting the gaseous effluent, means (105) for supplying an organic solvent which is depleted in sulphur connected to the second reactor-contactor, means (120) for recovering a gaseous effluent which has been cleaned of sulphur connected to the second reactor-contactor, means (104) for extracting a liquid phase containing the organic solvent and sulphur connected to the second reactor-contactor, at least one means for depleting at least a portion of the liquid phase in sulphur connected to the means for extracting the liquid phase, comprising at least one m
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Fabrice Lecomte, Claude Dezael, Jean-Charles Viltard
  • Patent number: 6261442
    Abstract: The invention provides a process for converting a hydrocarbon feed in which said feed is treated in a distillation zone producing an overhead vapour distillate and a bottom effluent, associated with an at least partially external reaction zone comprising at least one catalytic bed, in which at least one reaction for converting at least a portion of at least one hydrocarbon is carried out in the presence of a catalyst and a gas stream comprising hydrogen, the feed for the reaction zone being drawn off at the height of at least one draw-off level and representing at least a portion of the liquid flowing in the distillation zone, at least part of the effluent from the reaction zone being re-introduced into the distillation zone at the height of at least one re-introduction level, so as to ensure continuity of the distillation, said process being characterized in that a liquid distillate is withdrawn from the distillation zone at the height of at least one withdrawal level, said level being located below the vapo
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Jean-Louis Ambrosino, Blaise Didillon, Pierre Marache, Jean-Charles Viltard, Gérald Witte
  • Patent number: 6242662
    Abstract: For obtaining butene-1 from butene-2, a charge containing at least one of the isomers of butene-2 is introduced into a distillation zone linked to a hydro-isomerization zone. Part of the effluent from the bottom of the distillation column is removed from the distillation zone, heated in a heat exchanger and passed into an external hydro-isomerization zone. The hydro-isomerization effluent is removed from the hydro-isomerization zone, cooled in a heat exchanger, and then reintroduced into the distillation zone. Effluent containing butene-1 is withdrawn from the top of the column of the distillation zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Michel Dorbon, François Hugues, Jean-Charles Viltard, Blaise Didillon, Alain Forestiere