Patents Assigned to L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
  • Patent number: 6197090
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for recovering a gas using a semipermeable membrane in an apparatus having a simple structure. The method is capable of maintaining a purity of a product gas at a constant value even if a feed amount of a feed stream is fluctuated. A feed stream G1 is a gas mixture of a fast gas having a relatively high permeability to a membrane 1 and a slow gas having a relatively low permeability to the membrane 1. The feed stream G1 is pressurized by a compressor 3 and fed to a membrane 1 separation unit 2 having the membrane 1. Part G7 of the permeate stream on the permeate side of the membrane 1 is recirculated to the upstream side of the compressor 3 through the first recirculation line 17 and merged into a stream of the feed stream G1. Simultaneously, another part of the permeate stream G2 on the permeate side of the membrane 1 is recovered through a product gas recovering line 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Naohiko Yamashita, Takao Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6196024
    Abstract: Process for separating air by cryogenic distillation and apparatus including a high pressure column, an intermediate pressure column, a low pressure column having a bottom reboiler and an argon column having a top condenser, a conduit for sending air to the high pressure column, a conduit for sending at least part of a first oxygen enriched liquid from the high pressure column to the intermediate pressure column, a conduit for sending a second oxygen enriched fluid from the bottom of the intermediate pressure column to the low pressure column, a conduit for sending a second nitrogen enriched fluid from the top of the intermediate pressure column to the low pressure column or to a top condenser of the argon column, a conduit for sending a heating gas to the bottom reboiler of the low pressure column, a conduit for removing a third oxygen enriched fluid from the low pressure column, a conduit for sending a nitrogen enriched liquid from the high pressure column to the low pressure column, a conduit for sending a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Bao Ha
  • Patent number: 6196831
    Abstract: The invention relates to a combustion process for burning a fuel, in which the point of injection of each main oxidizer jet (7, 8) with respect to the point of injection of a fuel jet (4) closest to it is arranged a distance D away satisfying the following relation: D A > 5 ⁢   ⁢ and / or ⁢   ⁢ D B > 5 D being the minimum distance between the outer edge of the relevant oxidizer jet (7, 8) and the outer edge of the fuel jet (4) closest to it, at their respective points of injection, A and B being, respectively, the cross section of the main jet (7, 8) of the oxidizer and the cross section of the fuel jet, considered at their respective points of injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Jacques Dugue, Jean-Michel Samaniego, Bernard Labegorre, Olivier Charon
  • Patent number: 6193173
    Abstract: The invention relates to a burner including an injector one end zone (33) of which can be taken to high temperatures during operation of the burner. This end zone is made of an alloy comprising between 16 and 22% by weight of Cr, between 3 and 6% by weight of Al, between 0.1 and 1.0% by weight of Ti, between 0.1 and 1.0% by weight of Y2O3, and between 70 and 80% by weight of Fe. The burner can be used in a furnace in the glassmaking industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Pierre Bodelin, Patrick Recourt, Annie Meyer, Jean-Paul Guedra
  • Patent number: 6190510
    Abstract: Provided are a process and apparatus for purifying a gas. In accordance with the process, the gas to be purified flows through a hollow dielectric tube. An electric field is created in the gas to be purified by a traveling electromagnetic wave which travels in the dielectric tube and creates, in the gas, an atmospheric-pressure plasma which is not in local thermodynamic equilibrium, for the purpose of dissociating impurities in the gas to form reactive compounds. The formed reactive compounds are reacted with a corresponding reactive material for eliminating the reactive compounds from the gas to be purified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Jean-Christophe Rostaing, Jean-Claude Parent, Francis Bryselbout, Michel Moisan
  • Patent number: 6189369
    Abstract: The present invention provides a gas leakage detecting apparatus capable of detecting a gas leak in a cylinder cabinet with accuracy. The gas leakage detecting apparatus comprises a first air take-out pipe for taking out air from the inside of an exhaust duct of a cylinder cabinet and leading the same air to a gas sensor; a second air take-out pipe for taking out air at a given position in said cylinder cabinet and leading the same air to said gas sensor; a first shut-off valve and a second shut-off valve respectively provided on the respective air take-out pipes so that air from these air take-out pipes is selectively led to said gas sensor; and a control means for controlling the opening and closing operation of these shut-off valves. Owing to this construction, one is able to monitor the location of the gas leak upon taking out air from the cylinder cabinet through the second air take-out pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Kazuo Yokogi
  • Patent number: 6190158
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the combustion of a fuel in a burner (1) of the type comprising at least one injector (2), which injector includes at least an inner first oxidizer feed passage (8), an intermediate fuel feed passage (9) externally surrounding the first oxidizer feed passage, and an outer second oxidizer feed passage (10) externally surrounding the fuel feed passage. The fuel feed passage (9) is supplied so that the velocity of the fuel exiting this passage is between approximately 1 and 15 m/s. Application to the supply of heat in processes for the production of materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Thierry Legiret, Laurent Rio
  • Patent number: 6192296
    Abstract: An installation for exchanging gas cylinders includes an enclosed space preferably with controlled access, at least a couple of stations, one for depositing an article to be exchanged and the other for collecting an article to be taken away, each station having a device for retaining the article that can be switched between an open configuration and a locked configuration, the retaining devices of the two stations being coupled such that the locking of one retaining device around an article to be deposited in the deposit station authorizes at least temporarily the opening of the retaining device of an article to be taken away for its removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Gilles Colmant, Jean-Paul Fillias, Dominique Gilbert, Didier Kayser, Anthony McCord, Sebastien Meneux, Daniel Payraudeau, Jean-Marie Verghade, Claude Weber
  • Patent number: 6189338
    Abstract: In this condenser in which the fluid as it condenses flows downward, in cross section, that part of the outlet box (18) which lies between its lowermost point (28) and the point (31) of a liquid-outlet pipe (30; 35) connected to this box, lies completely at a level that is lower than the level of the lowermost point (A) of the distributor corrugation (13). Application to the main vaporizer-condensers of double air-distillation columns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Jean-Yves Lehman
  • Patent number: 6188143
    Abstract: A system for supplying electrical energy to an electrical apparatus includes devices for generating electrical energy for ensuring the supply of the electrical apparatus, and compensating devices for compensating for disturbances in the supply to the apparatus including a compensation device with an active element for storing active electrical energy, adapted to exchange the active energy with the electrical apparatus upon the appearance of a disturbance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Marc Vezinet, Jean Gerard, Claude Blondel
  • Patent number: 6187189
    Abstract: Provided is a process for the preparation of an ultrapure hydrogen peroxide solution. The process comprises at least one sequence which includes passing a solution to be purified successively through at least one bed of anion-exchange adsorbents (AEA) and at least one bed of cation-exchange adsorbents (CEA). A non-zero proportion of the solution exiting from one of the beds is recycled to a point upstream of the one bed or upstream of a preceding bed or upstream of the first bed of the first of the at least one sequence. Also provided is a plant for the implementation of the inventive process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: L'air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Henry Ledon, Christine Devos, Didier Demay
  • Patent number: 6182713
    Abstract: An installation for filling cylinders with gas whose nature is in accordance with a predetermined specification, it comprises a plurality of sources of supply (18, 20), a network of control valves (12), selectively connecting the outlet of each supply gas source to the cylinders, and a unit (16) for controlling the network of valves adapted to control the condition of the valves. The control unit (16) comprises a unit (60) for inputting into a program constituted by a sequence of procedures, each procedure being an elemental task that can be performed by the valves under the control of the control unit (16). It moreover comprises a unit (62) for processing the successive procedures constituting the program. They are adapted to control the network of valves (12) by the sequential performance of the elemental tasks described successively in the sequence of operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Philippe Deck, Jean-Philippe Dhalluin, Christophe Knapik
  • Patent number: 6183638
    Abstract: Provided is a process for the preparation of an ultrapure hydrogen peroxide solution. The process includes at least one sequence which includes successively passing a solution to be purified through at least one bed of cation-exchange adsorbents (CEA) and at least one bed of anion-exchange adsorbents (AEA). The beds of adsorbents each exhibit a height to diameter ratio of greater than 3. Also provided is a plant for the implementation of the inventive process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Henry Ledon, Christine Devos
  • Patent number: 6182519
    Abstract: Provided is a safe method for qualifying the cylinder valves on gas cylinders, which method can also clean the cylinder valve when necessary. Compressed gas residing in a gas cylinder is discharged through the flow path of a cylinder valve with the cylinder valve on the gas cylinder in an open position. During this process ultrasound vibrations from the generator are applied to the cylinder valve and the number of particles in the outflowing gas is counted by a detector. The cleanliness of the cylinder valve is evaluated based on the detected value of the number of particles provided by the detector. When the detected value exceeds a standard value, the application of ultrasound vibrations, counting of the number of particles, and evaluation of the cleanliness are repeated until the detected value reaches or falls below the standard value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Masao Kimura, Kohei Tarutani
  • Patent number: 6182470
    Abstract: In this air distillation plant (1) comprising a double column and a mixing column (5), the medium-pressure column (2), the low-pressure column (3) and the mixing column (5) are placed one on top of another, forming a single erected structure. Application to the supply of impure oxygen for the iron and steel industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Alain Guillard
  • Patent number: 6183246
    Abstract: The products (1) pass from a charging end (2) to a discharging end (3); at the discharging end side, the furnace exhibits a heating zone (4) equipped with air/fuel burners (41), possibly doped with oxygen, and, on the charging end side, exhibits a flue-gas recuperation or drainage zone (5) in which the flue gases are removed. At least one fuel body in the gaseous state is incorporated into the flue gases, and oxygen is introduced upstream of that possibly doped air/fuel burner (41) which is situated furthest upstream when referring to the direction of travel of the products (1), so as to burn the gaseous fuel body and thus raise the temperature in the recuperation zone (5). Possible use for heating steel-making products prior to rolling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Gérard Le Gouefflec
  • Patent number: 6178774
    Abstract: In the process of the invention, an ammonia synthesis mixture and carbon monoxide are produced. The hydrogen is purified in a nitrogen-washing column (61). The carbon monoxide is recovered cryogenically from a first liquid fraction (51) collected at the base of the said washing column (61), in a medium-pressure stripping column (62), then in a low-pressure distillation column (63). A second liquid fraction (52) is drawn from a position intermediate between the base and head of the washing column (61).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Jean Billy, Daniele Fauroux
  • Patent number: 6180146
    Abstract: A process is provided for treating food products in order to reduce or eliminate the detrimental effects of the presence of oxygen in the atmosphere which is in contact with the products and, more particularly, the external surface of the products. A non-zero quantity of oxygen is extracted from the atmosphere by implementing a solid electrolyte which is an O2− ion conductor and is essentially impermeable to the gases. The invention has applicability to preserving frying oil baths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Pascal Del Gallo, Gilles LaGrange, Lucie Prost
  • Patent number: 6173585
    Abstract: An apparatus for the cryogenic separation of a mixture containing at least hydrogen, carbon monoxide and methane comprises two phase separators (A, H), two heat exchangers (D, K) and two stripping columns (B, I). The mixture cooled in the first exchanger is sent into a phase separator and at least some of the condensed fraction is sent into the first stripping column (B). At least some of the head gas from the stripping column is sent into the second phase separator (H) and the liquid produced is sent into the head of the second stripping column (I). The base liquid from the first stripping column may be sent into a purification column (C).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Jean Billy, Francois Fuentes, Nathalie Sosson
  • Patent number: 6170290
    Abstract: In this process, the fluid is compressed (at 2) in the gaseous state to a pressure called the high pressure, the fluid is precooled on passing through a precooling first stage (3), cooled and liquefied, at least partially, on passing through a cooling second stage (4), at least some of the cooled and expanded fluid is collected in a tank (5) for storing the fluid in a two-phase state and some of the gas phase is sent back via a warming line (7) from the tank through the first and second stages. The precooled fluid is divided into at least two separate streams which are expanded in parallel in the second stage, mainly a first stream intended to supply, at least partly, a first source of refrigeration (at 8), and at least a second stream, one of these streams being partially liquefied separately (at 27) on passing through the second stage (4). The process is applicable to the cooling of superconducting components using helium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Guy Gistau-Baguer