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: 6238549
    Abstract: The invention concerns a process for converting a hydrocarbon feed in which said feed is treated in a distillation zone producing an overhead vapor 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 at least a portion of the vapor distillate is re-contacted with at least a portion of the feed introduced into the distillation zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Jean-Charles Viltard, Jean-Louis Ambrosino, Blaise Didillon
  • Patent number: 6215036
    Abstract: A process for processing a feedstock comprising a major amount of olefinic hydrocarbons having 4 carbon atoms per molecule, including isobutene as well as but-1-ene and but-2-enes, wherein the process comprises processing said feedstock in a distillation zone associated with a hydroisomerization reaction zone located at least partly external to the distillation zone, said processing comprising drawing at the height of a draw-off level of the distillation zone at least part of the liquid flowing in the distillation zone, passing said liquid into the external hydroisomerization reaction zone to form a hydroisomerized effluent, and reintroducing at least part of the effluent from said reaction zone reintroduced into the distillation zone at one or more reintroduction level(s), so as to ensure the continuity of the distillation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Michel Dorbon, Blaise Didillon, Jean-Charles Viltard, Jean Cosyns, Charles Cameron, Heinz Unterberg, Günter Schümmer, William Brown
  • Patent number: 6210454
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating a gas containing hydrogen sulphide and sulphur dioxide, comprising a liquid-gas reactor-contactor (2), means (3) for supplying gas to be treated and means (1) for supplying an organic solvent containing a catalyst, means (25) for recovering sulphur an doutlet means (20) for a gaseous effluent containing sulphur in vapour form, the apparatus being characterized in that it comprises at least one means (7) for contacting and cooling the gaseous effluent, delivering a three-phase effluent, having an inlet connected to the effluent outlet means (20) and to means (6, 13) for recycling a cooling solvent, means (30) for separating said three-phase effluent connected to the cooling means, adapted to separate purified gas from sulphur and comprising means (17) for evacuating purified gas, means (15) for extracting sulphur and means (14) for recovering solvent connected to the means (6, 13) for recycling the cooling solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Jean-Charles Viltard, Claude Dezael, Fabrice Lecomte
  • Patent number: 6174428
    Abstract: The invention provides a process for converting a hydrocarbon feed in which said feed is treated in a distillation zone producing a bottom effluent and a vapour distillate, 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, and so as to withdraw a distillate from the distillation zone and to recover a bottom effluent from the bottom of the distillation zone, said process being characterized in that the temperature of t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Jean-Louis Ambrosino, Blaise Didillon, Pierre Marache, Jean-Charles Viltard, G{acute over (e)}rald Witte
  • Patent number: 6159344
    Abstract: The invention relates to 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 device 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. The invention further relates to a process for preparing at least one aliphatic monoalcohol, generally in excess, and at least one olefin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Marie-Claire Marion, Alain Forestiere, Christophe Thille, Jean-Charles Viltard
  • Patent number: 6149697
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing particles from a fluid stream includes an unobstructed channel for conveying a stream in turbulent flow and a series of objects extending at least along one side of the channel, the objects being closely spaced from each other in the direction of flow so as to define therebetween spaces in which eddies penetrate from the channel to cause collection of particles on surfaces of the objects upon decay of the eddies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignees: Francis A. L. Dullien, Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Francis A. L. Dullien, Jean-Charles Viltard
  • Patent number: 6143936
    Abstract: A process for producing an ether and an olefin from a hydrocarbon cut containing at least one tertiary olefin, comprises synthesis of at least one tertiary alkyl ether then fractionation to obtain an organic fraction (E1) which is enriched in the tertiary alkyl ether which is decomposed into a product containing at least one alcohol and at least one tertiary olefin, which is purified in a water washing extraction zone (L1) to obtain an aqueous fraction (A1) containing the major portion of the alcohol and a fraction (B1) containing the major portion of the tertiary olefin, at least a portion of fraction (B1) being sent to a separation zone (Co1) from which an aqueous liquid fraction (La1) and a liquid fraction (Lb1) containing the major portion of the tertiary olefin are recovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Marie-Claire Marion, Vincent Coupard, Alain Forestiere, Philippe Travers, Jean-Charles Viltard
  • Patent number: 6137023
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing high purity isobutene from a hydrocarbon cut essentially comprising olefinic hydrocarbons containing 4 carbon atoms per molecule including isobutene, also butene-1 and butene-2 compounds in a ratio which substantially corresponds to the thermodynamic equilibrium. The process comprises passing the cut into a distillation zone (3) associated with a hydroisomerisation reaction zone, the bottom product of the distillation zone comprising butene-2 compounds being passed into a skeletal isomerisation zone (2) where the linear butenes are at least partially isomerised to isobutene, at least part of the principal effluent from the skeletal isomerisation zone being recycled upstream of the reactive distillation zone (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Michel Dorbon, Jean-Alain Chodorge, Jean Cosyns, Jean-Charles Viltard, Blaise Didillon
  • Patent number: 6100438
    Abstract: A process for producing a tertiary olefin by decomposing a tertiary alkyl ether comprises a) decomposing at least one ether to a product containing an alcohol and a tertiary olefin, b) fractionating at least a portion of the product from a) in a fractionation zone (C1) to obtain the tertiary olefin and the alcohol, c) purifying at least a portion of the tertiary olefin obtained from step b) wherein said portion is sent to a water washing extraction zone (L1) from which a fraction (D) containing the tertiary olefin is recovered, and d) a step in which at least a portion of the fraction (D) from c) is sent to a separation zone (Co) from which a liquid aqueous fraction (Le) and a liquid hydrocarbon fraction (Lc) containing the major portion of the tertiary olefin are recovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Marie-Claire Marion, Vincent Coupard, Alain Forestiere, Philippe Travers, Jean-Charles Viltard
  • Patent number: 6096789
    Abstract: Process for the production of hydrocarbons from synthesis gas which comprises: a) feeding to the bottom of a reactor for Fischer-Tropsch reactions a synthesis gas with molar ratios H.sub.2 /CO ranging from 1 to 3;b) discharging from the head of the reactor a hydrocarbon liquid phase containing the catalyst, in suspension;c) feeding the suspension to at least a first hydrocyclone to obtain a partially separated product containing from 0.5 to 15% by volume of solid particles;d) feeding the partially separated product to at least a second hydrocyclone to obtain a stream of liquid substantially without solid particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignees: Agip Petroli S.p.A., Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Gabriele Clerici, Vincenzo Piccolo, Paul Broutin, Jean-Charles Viltard
  • Patent number: 6084141
    Abstract: The invention concerns a reactive distillation process comprising a distillation zone, associated with a reaction zone which is at least in part internal to said distillation zone and comprises at least one catalytic bed in which the feed is transformed in the presence of a catalyst and at least one gas stream containing hydrogen, characterized in that each catalytic bed in the internal portion of said reaction zone is traversed by said gas stream and liquid in ascending co-current mode. The invention particularly concerns selective hydrogenation processes for light unsaturated hydrocarbons, mainly any olefins and benzene, comprised in a mixture, the major portion of which is constituted by hydrocarbons containing at least five carbon atoms per molecule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Institut Fran.cedilla.ais du Petrole
    Inventors: Paul Mikitenko, Christine Travers, Jean Cosyns, Charles Cameron, Jean-Luc Nocca, Francoise Montecot, Jean-Charles Viltard, Michel Dorbon, Blaise DiDillon
  • Patent number: 6072095
    Abstract: A process for producing a tertiary olefin by decomposing an ether comprises a) decomposing an ether to a product containing an alcohol and a tertiary olefin, b) purifying at least a portion of the product from a) in a water washing extraction zone (L1) to obtain an aqueous fraction (A1) containing the major portion of the alcohol and a fraction (B1) containing the major portion of the tertiary olefin, the fraction (B1) containing the tertiary olefin, water, possibly ether and light compounds and being substantially free of alcohol, and c) in which at least a portion of the fraction (B1) from b) is sent to a separation zone (Co1) from which a liquid aqueous fraction (La1) and a liquid fraction (Lb1) containing the major portion of the tertiary olefin, possibly ether and possibly light compounds, are recovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Institut Francais Du Petrole
    Inventors: Marie-Claire Marion, Vincent Coupard, Alain Forestiere, Philippe Travers, Jean-Charles Viltard
  • Patent number: 6068674
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing particles from a fluid stream includes an unobstructed channel for conveying a stream in turbulent flow and a series of objects extending at least along one side of the channel, the objects being closely spaced from each other in the direction of flow so as to define therebetween spaces in which eddies penetrate from the channel to cause collection of particles on surfaces of the objects upon decay of the eddies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignees: Francis A. L. Dullien, Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Francis A. L. Dullien, Jean-Charles Viltard
  • Patent number: 6063165
    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: March 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignees: Institut Francais Du Petrole, Francis A. L. Dullien
    Inventors: Francis A. L. Dullien, Jean-Charles Viltard
  • Patent number: 6063357
    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: December 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Pierre Boucot, Jean-Charles Viltard
  • Patent number: 6060524
    Abstract: The invention concerns a process for optimal operation of a slurry bubble column containing a suspension of solid particles in a liquid, characterized in that a gas phase containing the reactant(s) required for the production of the desired products is injected in the form of bubbles close to the lower extremity of said reactor and at least a portion of the liquid fraction and optionally of the solid fraction of said suspension is recirculated, drawn off from close to one extremity of said reactor and reintroduced close to the other extremity of said reactor, with a liquid flow rate U.sub.1 in the reactor which is at least equal to and preferably greater than the sedimentation rate U.sub.s of the solid particles. The invention also concerns an apparatus for optimal operation of the process. Finally, the invention concerns the use of the process and apparatus in the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignees: Institut Francais du Petrole,, Agip S.p.A., Agip Petroli S.p.A.
    Inventors: Dominique Casanave, Pierre Galtier, Jean-Charles Viltard
  • Patent number: 6054630
    Abstract: For the treatment of a feed comprising a major portion of olefinic hydrocarbons containing 4 carbon atoms per molecule, including isobutene, 1-butene and 2-butenes in a ratio which substantially corresponds to the thermodynamic equilibrium, in which the feed is treated in a distillation zone comprising a stripping zone and a rectification zone associated with at least one hydroisomerization reaction zone, the hydroisomerization reaction zone being at least partially internal to the distillation zone and comprising at least one catalytic bed, in which hydroisomerization of at least a portion of 1-butene is carried out in the presence of a hydroisomerization catalyst and at least one gas stream comprising hydrogen, such that an effluent rich in isobutene leaves the distillation zone overhead and an effluent rich in 2-butenes leaves the bottom, the process being characterized in that each catalytic bed in the internal portion of the hydroisomerization zone is traversed by an ascending co-current of the gas strea
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Institut Francais Du Petrole
    Inventors: Paul Mikitenko, Christine Travers, Jean Cosyns, Charles Cameron, Jean-Luc Nocca, Francoise Montecot, Jean-Charles Viltard, Michel Dorbon, Blaise Didillon
  • Patent number: 6049020
    Abstract: A process for producing an ether and an olefin from a hydrocarbon cut containing at least one tertiary olefin, by synthesis of at least one tertiary alkyl ether then fractionation to recover an organic fraction containing the ether which is decomposed into a product (P1) containing at least one alcohol and at least one tertiary olefin, which is fractionated, then the tertiary olefin is purified in a water washing extraction zone (L1) from which a fraction containing the tertiary olefin is recovered and sent to a separation zone (Co) from which an aqueous liquid fraction and a liquid hydrocarbon fraction containing the major portion of the tertiary olefin are recovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Marie-Claire Marion, Vincent Coupard, Alain Forestiere, Philippe Travers, Jean-Charles Viltard
  • Patent number: 5994607
    Abstract: The invention concerns a process for isomerising a feed containing essentially hydrocarbons, preferably paraffins containing principally 4 to 8, preferably princiapply to 6 and more principally 5 and/or 6 carbon atoms per molecule, comprising a fractionation zone and at least two isomersation reaction zones, said process comprising carrying out the following steps:(1) sending the feed to a fractionation zone;(2) drawing off at least a portion of the liquid circulating in said zone, via at least two draw-off levels; and(3) sending the major portion of the liquid drawn off in step (2) to at least two isomerisation zones, each isomerisation zone being associated with a draw-off level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Joly, Pierre Boucot, Michel Thery, Olivler Clause, Jean-Charles Viltard
  • Patent number: 5994594
    Abstract: A process for producing an alpha olefin, a tertiary olefin or a tertiary alkyl ether from an unsaturated hydrocarbon cut containing at least one alpha olefin and at least one etherifiable tertiary olefin comprises synthesising at least one tertiary alkyl ether to obtain a product which is separated into a fraction (O1) which is depleted in ether and containing the alpha olefin and a fraction (E1) which is enriched in ether, followed by decomposition of at least a portion of the ether in fraction (E1) into a product (P1) containing at least one alcohol and at least one tertiary olefin, which is fractionated in a fractionation zone (C5) into a fraction (B1) containing the major portion of the tertiary olefin and a fraction (A1) containing the major portion of the alcohol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Marie-Claire Marion, Vincent Coupard, Alain Forestiere, Philippe Travers, Jean-Charles Viltard