Patents by Inventor Yannick Kieffel

Yannick Kieffel 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: 20230223224
    Abstract: The present application concerns a medium- or high-voltage equipment including a leaktight enclosure in which there are located electrical components and a gas mixture for providing electrical insulation and/or for extinguishing electric arcs that are likely to occur in the enclosure, the gas mixture including heptafluoroisobutyronitrile, carbon dioxide, and a high content of oxygen
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Applicant: General Electric Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Yannick KIEFFEL, Diana LEGUIZAMON CABRA, Louis MAKSOUD, Thomas BERTELOOT
  • Publication number: 20230015784
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates a method for removing by-products from a gas comprising such by-products, the by-products comprising fluoronitrile compounds and/or fluorocarbon compounds. This method includes contacting the gas with a solid adsorbent phase that comprises a molecular sieve and further comprises at least one transition metal oxide. The present disclosure also relates to a device for removing fluorinated by-products from a gas comprising such fluorinated by-products and to the use of at least one transition metal oxide in a solid adsorbent phase including a molecular sieve for removing by-products from a gas comprising such by-products, the by-products comprising fluoronitrile compounds and/or fluorocarbon compounds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Applicant: General Electric Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Louis MAKSOUD, Yannick KIEFFEL, Pierre DUBOIS
  • Patent number: 11554341
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure can include a circuit breaker, comprising an enclosure comprising: arcing contacts movable axially relative to each other, between an open position of the circuit breaker in which the arcing contacts are separated from each other and a closed position of the circuit breaker in which the arcing contacts are in contact with each other; and a gas inlet configured to blow an arc-control gas to interrupt an electric arc during movement of the arcing contacts from the closed position to the open position, wherein the arc-control gas comprises at least 80% of carbon dioxide; wherein the enclosure further comprises an adsorbing material, which adsorbs carbon monoxide after ionization of the carbon dioxide during arcing, said adsorber being a metal-organic framework comprising nickel and/or iron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Yannick Kieffel, Louis Maksoud
  • Publication number: 20220359138
    Abstract: A medium or high voltage electrical device and method of maintaining the composition of an insulating gas mixture in a medium or high voltage electrical device, where the device comprises a sealed chamber, said sealed chamber comprising electrical components; a gas mixture ensuring electrical insulation and/or extinguishing of electrical arcs produced in this chamber, wherein the gas mixture comprises at least one insulating gas and at least one dilution gas; and a receptacle, said receptacle comprising an opening, at least one wall, wherein at least one wall is a heatable wall, and wherein said receptacle is positioned to receive liquefied gas; the device further comprising a heating element for heating the heatable receptacle wall; and a dielectrically and thermally insulating layer located between the heatable receptacle wall and the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Applicant: General Electric Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Yannick KIEFFEL, François BIQUEZ, Thomas BERTELOOT
  • Patent number: 11462377
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electric arc-blast nozzle (5) for a circuit breaker comprising a middle portion (7) forming a throat defining internally an axial passage (13) for interrupting an electric arc, and two end portions (9, 11) extending on either side of the middle portion (7) and being designed to receive respective arcing contacts (1) and (3) that are movable axially relative to each other. The middle portion (7) and the two end portions (9, 11) are made of a same dielectric material obtained from a composition comprising a fluorocarbon polymer matrix, at least one inorganic filler and micro-capsules of liquid heptafluoro-iso-butyronitrile. The invention also relates to a circuit breaker including such a nozzle (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Technology Gmbh
    Inventors: Yannick Kieffel, François Biquez
  • Patent number: 11433348
    Abstract: A method and device for purifying heptafluoroisobutyronitrile and a dilution gas from a used gas mixture comprising heptafluoroisobutyronitrile, a dilution gas and arcing by-products. The method comprising the steps of (a) contacting the used gas mixture with at least one adsorbent material to generate a gas stream depleted in arcing by-products; (b) contacting the gas stream depleted in by-products with a first membrane to obtain a first permeate stream rich in the dilution gas, and a first retentate stream rich in heptafluoroisobutyronitrile; (c) contacting the first permeate stream rich in the dilution gas with a second membrane to obtain a second permeate stream rich in the dilution gas and a second retentate stream rich in heptafluoroisobutyronitrile; and (d) combining the first and second retentate streams rich in heptafluoroisobutyronitrile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Elodie Laruelle, Louis Maksoud, Yannick Kieffel
  • Publication number: 20210398762
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electric arc-blast nozzle (5) for a circuit breaker comprising a middle portion (7) forming a throat defining internally an axial passage (13) for interrupting an electric arc, and two end portions (9, 11) extending on either side of the middle portion (7) and being designed to receive respective arcing contacts (1) and (3) that are movable axially relative to each other. The middle portion (7) and the two end portions (9, 11) are made of a same dielectric material obtained from a composition comprising a fluorocarbon polymer matrix, at least one inorganic filler and micro-capsules of liquid heptafluoro-iso-butyronitrile. The invention also relates to a circuit breaker including such a nozzle (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Inventors: Yannick KIEFFEL, François BIQUEZ
  • Patent number: 11056300
    Abstract: A circuit breaker, comprising an enclosure comprising: —at least two arcing contacts that are movable axially relative to each other, between an open position of the circuit breaker in which the arcing contacts are separated from each other and a closed position of the circuit breaker in which the arcing contacts are in contact with each other; and —a gas inlet configured to blow an arc-control gas in order to interrupt an electric arc that is likely to form during movement of the arcing contacts from the closed position to the open position of the circuit breaker, wherein the arc-control gas comprises at least 80% of carbon dioxide; wherein the enclosure further comprises a catalytic material, which converts carbon monoxide that forms after ionization of the carbon dioxide during arcing, into carbon dioxide, said catalytic material comprising ceria and a precious metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventors: Yannick Kieffel, Louis Maksoud
  • Patent number: 11017919
    Abstract: A medium-voltage or high-voltage electrical device comprising a sealed enclosure in which are located electrical components covered with a solid dielectric layer and a gaseous medium ensuring electrical insulation and/or extinguishing electrical arcs, the gaseous medium comprising heptafluoroisobutyronitrile and a dilution gas, the thickness of the solid dielectric layer being less than 1 mm and being produced from a material comprising a polyepoxide or polyurethane resin optionally containing a filler or aluminum oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Technology GmbH
    Inventors: David Gautschi, Robert Luescher, Yannick Kieffel, François Biquez
  • Publication number: 20210093995
    Abstract: A method and device for purifying heptafluoroisobutyronitrile and a dilution gas from a used gas mixture comprising heptafluoroisobutyronitrile, a dilution gas and arcing by-products. The method comprising the steps of (a) contacting the used gas mixture with at least one adsorbent material to generate a gas stream depleted in arcing by-products; (b) contacting the gas stream depleted in by-products with a first membrane to obtain a first permeate stream rich in the dilution gas, and a first retentate stream rich in heptafluoroisobutyronitrile; (c) contacting the first permeate stream rich in the dilution gas with a second membrane to obtain a second permeate stream rich in the dilution gas and a second retentate stream rich in heptafluoroisobutyronitrile; and (d) combining the first and second retentate streams rich in heptafluoroisobutyronitrile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: Elodie LARUELLE, Louis MAKSOUD, Yannick KIEFFEL
  • Patent number: 10770198
    Abstract: A method and a facility for filling a high- or medium-voltage gas-insulated electrical apparatus in which the insulating gas comprises a mixture of heptafluoroisobutyronitrile ((CF3)2CFCN) and carbon dioxide. The method and the facility using a mixture of (CF3)2CFCN and CO2 in pressurised liquid form which is heated to a temperature no lower than the critical temperature of the mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Yannick Kieffel, François Biquez, Jacques Porte
  • Publication number: 20200185171
    Abstract: A circuit breaker, comprising an enclosure comprising: —at least two arcing contacts that are movable axially relative to each other, between an open position of the circuit breaker in which the arcing contacts are separated from each other and a closed position of the circuit breaker in which the arcing contacts are in contact with each other; and —a gas inlet configured to blow an arc-control gas in order to interrupt an electric arc that is likely to form during movement of the arcing contacts from the closed position to the open position of the circuit breaker, wherein the arc-control gas comprises at least 80% of carbon dioxide; wherein the enclosure further comprises a catalytic material, which converts carbon monoxide that forms after ionization of the carbon dioxide during arcing, into carbon dioxide, said catalytic material comprising ceria and a precious metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Yannick Kieffel, Louis Maksoud
  • Publication number: 20200179864
    Abstract: A circuit breaker, comprising an enclosure comprising: —at least two arcing contacts that are movable axially relative to each other, between an open position of the circuit breaker in which the arcing contacts are separated from each other and a closed position of the circuit breaker in which the arcing contacts are in contact with each other; and —a gas inlet configured to blow an arc-control gas in order to interrupt an electric arc that is likely to form during movement of the arcing contacts from the closed position to the open position of the circuit breaker, wherein the arc-control gas comprises at least 80% of carbon dioxide; wherein the enclosure further comprises an adsorbing material, which adsorbs carbon monoxide that forms after ionization of the carbon dioxide during arcing, said adsorber being a metal-organic framework comprising nickel and/or iron.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Yannick Kieffel, Louis Maksoud
  • Patent number: 10643764
    Abstract: The invention relates to medium- or high-voltage, gas-insulated electrical apparatus (10) comprising: a hermetically sealed chamber (12) filled with a dielectric gas, the gas containing at least one of fluoronitrile, carbon dioxide, dinitrogen or dioxygen; at least two electrical contacts (16, 20) arranged coaxially with a main axis (A) of the chamber (12), of which at least one (20) can move axially inside the chamber (12) between a closed position in which the two contacts (16, 20) are in electrical contact with one another and an open position in which the contacts (16, 20) are located at a distance from one another; and a cut-off mechanism (14) for extinguishing the electric arc that forms between the two contacts (16, 20) as the at least one moving contact (20) moves from the closed position into the open position. The cut-off mechanism is of the rotating arc type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Technology GmbH
    Inventors: François Biquez, Yannick Kieffel, Sébastien Silvant
  • Publication number: 20190156968
    Abstract: A medium-voltage or high-voltage electrical device comprising a sealed enclosure in which are located electrical components covered with a solid dielectric layer and a gaseous medium ensuring electrical insulation and/or extinguishing electrical arcs, the gaseous medium comprising heptafluoroisobutyronitrile and a dilution gas, the thickness of the solid dielectric layer being less than 1 mm and being produced from a material comprising a polyepoxide or polyurethane resin optionally containing a filler or aluminum oxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Applicant: General Electric Technology GmbH
    Inventors: David Gautschi, Robert Luescher, Yannick Kieffel, François Biquez
  • Publication number: 20180358148
    Abstract: A method and a facility for filling a high- or medium-voltage gas-insulated electrical apparatus in which the insulating gas comprises a mixture of heptafluoroisobutyronitrile ((CF3)2CFCN) and carbon dioxide. The method and the facility using a mixture of (CF3)2CFCN and CO2 in pressurised liquid form which is heated to a temperature no lower than the critical temperature of the mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Yannick Kieffel, François Biquez, Jacques Porte
  • Publication number: 20180197656
    Abstract: The invention relates to medium- or high-voltage, gas-insulated electrical apparatus (10) comprising: a hermetically sealed chamber (12) filled with a dielectric gas, the gas containing at least one of fluoronitrile, carbon dioxide, dinitrogen or dioxygen; at least two electrical contacts (16, 20) arranged coaxially with a main axis (A) of the chamber (12), of which at least one (20) can move axially inside the chamber (12) between a closed position in which the two contacts (16, 20) are in electrical contact with one another and an open position in which the contacts (16, 20) are located at a distance from one another; and a cut-off mechanism (14) for extinguishing the electric arc that forms between the two contacts (16, 20) as the at least one moving contact (20) moves from the closed position into the open position. The cut-off mechanism is of the rotating arc type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventors: François Biquez, Yannick Kieffel, Sébastien Silvant
  • Patent number: 9899125
    Abstract: The present invention relates to medium- or high-voltage equipment having low environmental impact, including a leaktight enclosure in which there are located electrical components covered with a solid dielectric layer of varying thickness and a gaseous medium for providing electrical insulation and/or for extinguishing electric arcs that are likely to occur in said enclosure, and that comprises heptafluoroisobutyronitrile in a mixture with a dilution gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: Yannick Kieffel, Alain Girodet, Jacques Porte
  • Publication number: 20180040391
    Abstract: The present invention relates to medium- or high-voltage equipment comprising a leaktight enclosure in which there are located electrical components and a gas mixture for providing electrical insulation and/or for extinguishing electric arcs that are likely to occur in the enclosure, the gas mixture comprising heptafluoroisobutyronitrile and tetrafluoromethane. Electrical components covered in solid dielectric layers of varying thickness are located inside the leaktight enclosure of the equipment of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Yannick Kieffel, Jean-Marc Willieme
  • Patent number: 9837801
    Abstract: The present invention provides medium- or high-voltage equipment including a leaktight enclosure in which there are located electrical components and a gas mixture for providing electrical insulation and/or for extinguishing electric arcs that are likely to occur in said enclosure, the gas mixture comprising heptafluoroisobutyronitrile, carbon dioxide, and oxygen in small quantities. Electrical components covered in a solid dielectric layer of varying thickness are located inside said leaktight enclosure of the equipment of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: Yannick Kieffel, Alain Girodet, Christophe Creusot, Jacques Porte