Patents Assigned to Electricite de France
  • Patent number: 10109902
    Abstract: A method for storing and releasing power using a metal-air battery, which includes: (a) a discharge phase during which a first positive air electrode is connected to the positive terminal of the battery and a second positive oxygen-release electrode is disconnected from the positive terminal of the battery; (b) a recharging phase during which the second positive oxygen-release electrode is connected to the positive terminal of the battery and the first positive air electrode is disconnected from the positive terminal of the battery, and during which the potential of the negative electrode is measured relative to the first positive air electrode. Also disclosed is a metal-air battery designed especially for implementing said method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Electricite de France
    Inventors: Philippe Stevens, Gwenaelle Toussaint
  • Patent number: 10096390
    Abstract: A method for determining positions of elements of fuel assemblies arranged in a nuclear vessel is described herein. According to an implementation, the method involves capturing a plurality of images of a nuclear vessel and using the plurality of images to estimate a first set of positions of S-holes of a fuel assembly of the nuclear vessel. The method further involves determining a value representative of differences between: (a) the distances from the estimated set of positions to a location on a face of the fuel assembly and (b) known actual distances between the S-holes and the location on the face of the fuel assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Electricite de France
    Inventors: Denis Vautrin, Nicolas Paul
  • Publication number: 20180277266
    Abstract: The invention relates particularly to a device (3) for controlling and measuring welding defects on a cylindrical wall (140) such as a “vessel bottom penetration” (14) wall) (140) of a nuclear reactor, said device comprising a control head (4) forming a probe which has a proximal end (EP) and a distal end (ED), along the longitudinal axis (X-X?) thereof, and includes a first side (42), a so-called “inner” side, provided with at least one ultrasonic wave translator, characterized in that: said control head (4) comprises a second side (43), a so-called “outer” side, opposing the first side (42), which has a curved surface in the form of a cylinder fraction, with a longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis (X-X?) of the head (4) and an outwardly facing convexity; said wave translator consists of a series (5) of adjacent elements (50), each element (50) being both an emitter and a receiver, said series (5) having a curved surface in the form of a cylinder fraction in the same direction as said longitudi
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Applicants: Electricite de France, COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Fabienne Rupin, Guillemette Ribay
  • Publication number: 20180259395
    Abstract: The invention concerns a belt for measuring temperature of an object, the belt comprising: at least one measurement sensor, a strip having a circumference intended to surround the object, a device for clamping the strip around the object, characterized in that the temperature sensor is mounted on an individual heat-insulating support displaceable in a guiding direction toward the object between at least two heat-insulating pads which are intended to abut against the object, the pads being attached to the strip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Applicant: Electricite de France
    Inventors: Marc Petit, Sylvain Blairon
  • Patent number: 10074877
    Abstract: A method for charging a zinc-air battery, wherein the potential of the negative electrode during the charging is lower than, or equal to, the value of a critical charging potential. Also disclosed is a method for storing and restoring electrical energy, comprising such a charging step, and to a zinc-air battery suitable for implementing said charging method, and a discharging phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Electricite de France
    Inventors: Gwenaelle Toussaint, Philippe Stevens
  • Patent number: 10014688
    Abstract: The invention relates to a simulation circuit of an alternating electric grid, the circuit having at least one alternating port, a bank of first resistances that can be selectively connected to the alternating port by connecting means. According to the invention, the circuit comprises a reversible AC-DC converter comprising an alternating side connected to the alternating port and a direct side connected to a sub-circuit for dissipating energy into direct current connected to an electric battery able to be charged with direct current and discharged with direct current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Electricite de France
    Inventors: Franck Aragnou, Denis Cardoso-Rodrigues
  • Patent number: 9972817
    Abstract: A method for producing a waterproof and ion-conducting flexible membrane intended for protecting a metal electrode. It comprises a synthesis by electrically assisted extrusion of compact fibers forming an ion-conducting fiber array comprising a first material. The fiber array defines a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. Subsequently, the fiber array is impregnated with a polymer of a second material, to form a metal electrode protection membrane. The fiber array forms paths for conducting ions between the first surface and the second surface and through the second material. The first surface is intended to be in contact with the metal electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Electricite de France
    Inventors: Philippe Stevens, Gwenaelle Toussaint, Gilles Lancel, Christel Laberty-Robert, Damien Bregiroux, Clement Sanchez
  • Patent number: 9970691
    Abstract: An equipment including a heat pump for heating with a large temperature differential an external fluid, said heat pump including: first and second heat exchangers; a coolant; a coolant circuit including a compression unit connected to an outlet of the first heat exchanger and to an inlet of the second heat exchanger and an expansion unit connected to an outlet of the second heat exchanger and to an inlet of the first heat exchanger, wherein the coolant is one of the coolants selected from among a hydrofluorocarbon coolant and a hydrofluoroolefin coolant, and wherein the second heat exchanger and the coolant circuit are suitable for circulating the coolant in a transcritical cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Electricite de France
    Inventors: Jean-Louis Peureux, Ali Bourig, Assaad Zoughaib, Karim Besbes
  • Patent number: 9972874
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery including a casing containing therein: an air electrode; a negative electrode; and an electrolyte, in which the air electrode can be taken out of the casing. The rechargeable battery also relates to a cathode compartment for an air electrode battery, where the compartment includes an air electrode and is insertable into a casing of the battery without being part of the casing, and the compartment is removably movable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Electricite de France
    Inventors: Gwenaelle Toussaint, Philippe Stevens, Sophie Deshayes
  • Patent number: 9923106
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a photosensitive device, comprising: a first step of preparing, on a substrate, at least a first photosensitive portion, active within a range of wavelengths, the first portion being surrounded by a second portion that is inactive. A material, covering the first portion, is selectively arranged into a hydrophilic layer by an electrochemical process. The second portion comprises a hydrophobic material on an upper surface opposite the substrate. The method further comprises the following steps: spraying on the upper surfaces of the first and second portions a liquid comprising a transparent material, and forming a converging lens containing the material, above the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignees: Electricite de France, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique—CNRS—
    Inventors: Myriam Paire, Jean-Francois Guillemoles, Laurent Lombez, Daniel Lincot, Stephane Collin, Jean-Luc Pelouard
  • Patent number: 9911999
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing an anion-exchange polymer material having an IPN or semi-IPN structure, said method consisting in: (A) preparing a homogeneous reaction solution containing, in a suitable organic solvent, (a) at least one organic polymer bearing reactive halogen groups, (b) at least one tertiary diamine, (c) at least one monomer comprising an ethylenic unsaturation polymerizable by free radical polymerization, (d) optionally at least one cross-linking agent including at least two ethylenic unsaturations polymerizable by free radical polymerization, and e) at least one free radical polymerization initiator; and (B) heating the prepared solution to a temperature and for a duration that are sufficient to allow both a nucleophilic substitution reaction between components (a) and (b) and a free radical copolymerization reaction of components (c) and optionally (d) initiated by component (e).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignees: ELECTRICITE DE FRANCE, UNIVERSITE DE CERGY PONTOISE
    Inventors: Philippe Stevens, Fouad Ghamouss, Odile Fichet, Christian Sarrazin
  • Patent number: 9852307
    Abstract: A method of access to a local service of a device communicating via a terminal, the method comprising steps of: access to the service via an access terminal by a communicating device; reading by the access terminal of data of the communicating device, the data being personal data relating to the communicating device and/or third-party service data; writing by the access terminal of the data of the communicating device, the third-party data written being chosen from among a set of third-party service data, the choice of the third-party data to be written by the access terminal being dependent on the choosing criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Electricite de France
    Inventors: Arnaud Tarrago, Edouard Siekierski, Pierre Nguyen, Pascal Sitbon
  • Publication number: 20170336270
    Abstract: A device for local temperature measurement that is suitable for taking temperature measurements of an immediate vicinity of said device. The device comprises: a cell comprising a heat-conductive base and at least one first material having a predetermined fixed state-change temperature and arranged in said base; a heat-energy transfer device thermally connected to said base and said at least one first material; a local temperature measurement probe received in said base and in thermal contact with said at least one first material, the heat-energy transfer device being suitable for causing a change of state of said first material in order to carry out at least one metrological verification of the local temperature measurement probe. An associated cell and method for use are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Applicant: ELECTRICITE DE FRANCE
    Inventors: Yves-Laurent Beck, Patrick Sollet
  • Patent number: 9810728
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for measuring the voltage of at least one conductor (121, 122, 123) of an electrical power cable (10) comprise providing a container (22) made from a conductive material around a portion of the cable and at least one electric field sensor (301, 302, 303, 304) between the container and the cable and bringing the container to a constant potential and measuring the electric field with a sensor. The voltage is determined by comparing the measured electric field with electric fields simulated for a plurality of configurations of punctual electric charges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignees: KAPTEOS, ELECTRICITE DE FRANCE
    Inventors: Lionel Duvillaret, Gwenaël Gaborit, Frédéric Lecoche, Gilbert Schmitt, Anne Grau
  • Patent number: 9749592
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for processing of successive digital image data, acquired by a camera immersed in a liquid comprising turbulence, such as water in a nuclear reactor core, this turbulence causing an effect of apparent displacement of pixels of the images. The processing comprises advantageously: a modelling of the effect of the turbulence on the pixels of the images, and a deconvolution by this modelling of a time-averaged image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Electricite de France
    Inventors: Nicolas Paul, Antoine De Chillaz
  • Patent number: 9742211
    Abstract: A method for managing the charge of a metal-air battery comprising at least one cell. The cell comprises a negative electrode, a first positive air electrode and a second positive oxygen-release electrode. For each cell, during the application of a charge current circulating in the cell between the negative electrode and the second positive oxygen-release electrode, the absolute value of a potential of the negative electrode is compared with a critical threshold value, the potential of the negative electrode being determined relative to the first positive air electrode. When the absolute value of the potential of the negative electrode reaches the threshold value, a surplus charging current, depending on the difference between the current applied to the cell and the charging current, is diverted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Electricite de France
    Inventors: Philippe Stevens, Julien Lhermenault, Gwenaelle Toussaint
  • Patent number: 9735603
    Abstract: The invention relates to a control facility, and the associated control method, for an energy storage battery (2) intended to be coupled to an intermittent electrical production source for providing an electrical energy network with a total electrical power approximating a total power setpoint (Prod (T)) according to a production plan, the control facility (1) is adapted for determining a reference trajectory of the state of charge of the battery (SOC_ref(t)) on the basis of a modeling of the battery (5) and of an optimized battery setpoint (Pbatt(T)), said optimized battery power setpoint (Pbatt(T)) being determined on the basis of the total power setpoint (Prod(T)), and the control facility (1) is adapted for implementing a closed-loop regulation of the state of charge of the battery so as to force the state of charge (SOC(t)) to follow the reference trajectory of the state charge of the battery (SOC_ref(t)).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: ELECTRICITE DE FRANCE
    Inventors: Chady Kharrat, Ala Ben-Abbes
  • Patent number: 9732897
    Abstract: A sealing device is provided suitable for making at least partially fluid-tight a connection between a first pipe and a smaller second pipe, a part of the second pipe being able to be engaged in the first pipe while leaving an inter-pipes space between the two pipes in the radial direction. The sealing device is mounted on a supporting pipe and is adapted to spread out in the inter-pipes space from a guard position to a sealing position. It comprises at least one sealing set including substantially rigid movable sealing members which extend each along a predetermined angular sector in a circumferential direction and are individually guided in displacement between the guard position and the sealing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Electricite de France
    Inventor: Christophe Legendre
  • Patent number: 9702269
    Abstract: A device for capture of acid gas of combustion fumes of a thermal power plant, including: absorption means (10) of the gas by capture fluid, a regenerator (1) where the capture fluid and a regeneration fluid steam are put in contact, introduction means (11) of the regeneration fluid in the regenerator, condensation means (2, 3, 4), at the head of said regenerator, separation means (6) of liquid phase of the regeneration fluid and gaseous phase rich in acid gas, Wherein: the regeneration fluid steam introduced is superheated, the regenerator (1) includes means limiting the contact time to substantially maintain the flow rate of regeneration fluid steam, the condensation means (2, 3, 4) are in thermal exchange with first evaporation means of working fluid, and first reintroduction means (13) of steam obtained in a turbine (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: ELECTRICITE DE FRANCE
    Inventor: Yann Le Moullec
  • Patent number: 9627564
    Abstract: An optoelectronic device comprising: a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, an active layer between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer, wherein the active layer comprises a submicrometer size structure of hexagonal type crystals of an element or alloy of elements selected from the carbon group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignees: Electricite de France, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), University of Houston
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Guillemoles, Par Olsson, Julien Vidal, Alexandre Freundlich