Patents Assigned to L'Exploitation Des
  • Process and unit for the production of a fluid enriched in oxygen by cryogenic distillation
    Patent number: 6434973
    Abstract: A plant for the separation of air includes at least three columns, including an auxiliary column and two other columns, of which at least one is fed with air and of which that operating at the lowest pressure operates between 2 and 10 bar. A flow between 40 and 95 mol % of argon originating from the auxiliary column is optionally mixed with a gas enriched in nitrogen from the column operating at the lowest pressure. The auxiliary column operates at the same pressure as the column from which it is fed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Benoit Davidian
  • Device and method for separating substances by cryogenic distillation
    Patent number: 6427485
    Abstract: A separation device which does not produce ultra-pure products. At least one distillation column which has a diameter of at least 4 m and/or is configured for operation at a pressure above 4.5 bar, consists of non-oxidizing steel or steel containing 9 to 10% by weight nickel. The separation device can be an air separation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: L'Ari Liquide, Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Alain Guillard, Bernard Saulnier
  • Method and device for packaging carbon dioxide snow in a plastic film
    Patent number: 6427481
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for packaging carbon dioxide snow in a plastic film bag, in which method the following steps are employed: a—a fluid which has a temperature below the dew point of the air is injected into and in contact with the plastic film bag, then b—the carbon dioxide snow is introduced into the plastic film bag, then c—the plastic film bag is closed. The invention also relates to apparatus for implementing this method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Claude Gibot, Gérard Lenfant, Xavier Benedetti
  • Machine for wave soldering of tinning
    Patent number: 6427902
    Abstract: The invention relates to a machine for wave soldering or tinning comprising a solder reservoir (9); means that can form at least one solder wave with a so-called laminar form (8b); a conveyor system (2) that can bring a piece (1) to be soldered or tinned into contact with said laminar wave; and means for injecting (12) a gas in the vicinity of the wave; characterized in that the said injection means includes an injector located in a position adjacent to and downstream from the wave and provided with a wall (17) facing the solder wave, wherein the wall of the injector has at least a first group (15) of openings positioned so as to provide a first gas jet directed toward the flat surface of the solder wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Marc Leturmy
  • Process and plant for the preparation and delivery of ozonated water to a user point
    Patent number: 6428710
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation and delivery of ozonated water to at least one user point, according to which a storage buffer tank is provided for the ozonated water, and an upstream ozonation loop is provided, making it possible to feed the tank with ozonated water, the upstream ozonation loop comprising a component for controling the flow of water flowing in the loop. A fresh-water supply line is also provided, connected by its downstream part to the upstream ozonation loop and fitted with a component for interrupting the freshwater flow, the loop portion located between the tank and the connection point of the fresh-water supply line being fitted with a component for interrupting the recirculation flow upstream of the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour L'etude et L'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Carinne Kempen, Stéphane Laroye
  • Process for purifying air by adsorption over a barium-exchanged zeolite
    Patent number: 6425937
    Abstract: A process for purifying a gas stream containing at least one impurity chosen from the group formed by propane, nitrogen protoxide and ethylene, in which process: (a) the gas stream to be purified is brought into contact with at least one adsorbent including at least one X zeolite containing barium cations; (b) at least one impurity is adsorbed on the adsorbent. Preferably, the adsorbent includes particles of X zeolite exchanged to at least 70%, preferably at least 89%, with barium cations, it being possible for the adsorbent to furthermore include a bed of activated alumina particles which is located upstream of the bed of barium-exchanged X zeolite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Georges Kraus, Cyrille Millet, Serge Moreau, Jean-Pierre Gabillard
  • Adsorbent with a high macroporosity, usable in a gas adsorption process, especially a PSA process
    Patent number: 6423658
    Abstract: A macroporous adsorbent comprising pores having a pore volume (Vm) and a mean pore diameter (dm) such that: Vm≧1 cc.g−1 and dm≧1 &mgr;m, Vm and dm being determined by mercury porosimetry; their manufacturing process using a spheronization and freeze-drying technique; and their use for separating or purifying gases, such as air, synthesis gases or hydrocarbons, especially olefins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Jean-Yves Thonnelier, Bernard Lledos, Jacques Labasque, Frédéric Crayssac
  • Device for storing and mixing two gases
    Patent number: 6418965
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for storing and mixing two gases or mixtures of gases under pressure. The device includes: an outer chamber containing the first of the gases and being equipped with an opening; an inner chamber arranged inside the outer chamber containing the second gas, and being equipped with an opening; a two-way valve which includes a body fixed hermetically in the opening of the outer chamber, a first passage having one end connected to the inner chamber and being equipped with a first controllable shut-off device, and a second passage having a first end connected to the outer chamber and being equipped with a second controllable shut-off device; first and second flow rate and pressure adjusting devices, each being connected to one of the passages of the valve; and first and second pipes for connecting the outlet of each adjusting device to a single outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Francis Bryselbout
  • Method for filling gas-insulated electric current transmission lines with gas and process for manufacturing lines which incorporates such a filling method
    Patent number: 6418980
    Abstract: A method for filling a gas-insulated electric current transmission line with gas using an insulating gas mixture, which line comprises an outer tubular sheath, at least one conductor internal to the sheath and coaxial with this sheath, and a space lying between the at least one conductor and the outer sheath, comprising the steps of: a) applying at least one purging cycle to the space comprising: a pumping step, down to a first vacuum level; a purge step comprising introducing a purge gas and obtaining a first internal atmosphere including the purge gas; b) applying to the space a filling cycle comprising: a pumping step, down to a second vacuum level; a filling step using the insulating gas to obtain a second internal atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Christian Larquet, Bertrand Dutournier, Philippe Brosseau, Jean-Louis Dumas
  • Oxy-fuel burner
    Patent number: 6416317
    Abstract: The oxy-fuel burner comprises at least one fuel supply pipe (16) and at least one pipe (18) for supplying an oxygen-rich gas, the said outlets of the pipes being directed approximately in the same direction, the burner being designed to be mounted through a wall of a furnace with the pipes directed into the furnace. It carries at least one auxiliary member (50, 60) intended to act on the flame and the said auxiliary member (50, 60) is placed on the burner upstream of the zone where the fuel gas and the oxygen-rich gas meet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme A Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance Pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Stéphane Arnoux, Dominique Robillard
  • Methods of improving productivity of black liquor recovery boilers
    Patent number: 6408771
    Abstract: Methods are presented to increase the throughput of a recovery boiler equipped with at least primary and secondary levels of injection of air. The methods comprise operating the recovery boiler with a third level of oxidant injection below or at the same level as the secondary level, and oxygen enrichment applied to at least the secondary level and said third level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignees: Air Liquide America Corporation, American Air Liquide, L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et, l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude, Jansen Combustion and Boiler Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Louis C. Philippe, Eric L. Duchateau, David R. Scheeff, Arie Verloop, Edward C. Dye
  • Device for measuring the fluid consumption of a user over a given time
    Patent number: 6411909
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for measuring the fluid consumption of a user over a given measurement time, including a volumetric meter (26) connected to a central information processing unit (28). This unit is designed to take a series of readings at successive intervals in said measurement time, so as to compare each reading with a reference value that corresponds to a predetermined nominal consumption threshold and thus from this deduce the quantity consumed over said measurement time corresponding to consumption with a flow rate higher than the nominal consumption threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Christophe Charrier, Véronique Dulphy Vigor, Antoine Willemot, Patrick Dilly, Xavier Vigor, Dominique Jouvaud
  • Adsorbent having improved selectivity for the separation of gases
    Patent number: 6406520
    Abstract: A porous adsorbent includes pores having a pore diameter (Dm) of between 1 nm and 14 nm and an oxygen adsorptivity, measured at +20° C. and 1 bar, of at most 10 Scc/g. This adsorbent is used in a process for adsorbing at least one gaseous compound contained in a gas mixture containing several gaseous compounds of different polarity. Preferably, the gas mixture to be separated or to be purified is chosen from mixtures containing oxygen and nitrogen, particularly air, mixtures containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen, and hydrocarbons, especially olefins, advantageously, the process is of the PSA or VSA type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Bernard Lledos
  • Process for purifying a gas by adsorption of the impurities on several active carbons
    Patent number: 6402813
    Abstract: The gas stream containing one or more gaseous impurities from the group formed by carbon dioxide, water vapor, H2S, alcohols, SO2 and C1-C8 saturated or unsaturated, linear, branched or cyclic hydrocarbons is brought into contact with several different porous carbon adsorbents, that is to say active carbons having different properties and characteristics. The gas is air, nitrogen, hydrogen produced by the reforming or cracking of ammonia or the combustion gas or fermentation gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme a Directoire ét Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Christian Monereau, Serge Moreau
  • Process for the treatment of a gas by temperature swing adsorption
    Patent number: 6402814
    Abstract: The regeneration phase of the adsorption cycle includes a depressurization step, a heating/elution step, during which the bed is purged with a hot heating/elution gas, and a cooling/elution step, during which the bed is purged with a cold cooling/elution gas. The cooling/elution step is terminated while the cooling/elution gas leaving the bed is at a temperature markedly higher than the temperature of the gas to be treated and the adsorption phase comprises an initial adsorption step during which the bed is cooled down to the low adsorption temperature due to the effect of the gas to be treated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Georges Kraus, Patrick Le Bot, Lian-Ming Sun
  • Use of gaseous mixture containing an inert gas and an oxygen containing gas in desulphurization of blister copper during anode refining
    Patent number: 6403043
    Abstract: The invention is concerned with an improved process for the desulphurization of blister copper during anode refining, wherein a mixture of an inert gas and an oxygen containing gas is blown into liquid blister copper. The improvement resides in varying the amount of oxygen containing gas in the mixture of nitrogen and oxygen during the desulphurization of blister copper. The process of the invention enables one to increase the recovery of copper, decrease the recycling of highly oxidized slag, decrease the time of desulphurization, decrease refractory wear, decrease subsequent time of reduction and decrease the amounts of reactants used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Torstein Utigard, Alejandro Bustos
  • Method for an improved energy input into a scrap bulk
    Patent number: 6402805
    Abstract: Provided is a method for improving energy input in heating and melting of a scrap bulk. The method includes burning a channel into a scrap bulk with a hot, oxygen-containing gas jet having a temperature of at least 500° C. Additional energy for the heating and melting of the scrap bulk is then input through this channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Survillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Daniel Deloche, Karl Brotzmann
  • Management of an air purification system with thermal regeneration
    Patent number: 6402809
    Abstract: A process and a system for purifying gas, such as air, before cryogenic distillation, in which at least one energy parameter, chosen from the flow rate of the regeneration gas entering and/or leaving at least one adsorber, the duration of the regeneration step and the regeneration temperature of the regeneration gas entering at least one adsorber, is controlled, modified and/or regulated depending on at least one operating condition chosen from the pressure of the gas to be purified entering and/or leaving at least one adsorber, the flow rate of the gas to be purified entering and/or leaving at least one adsorber, the temperature (Ta) of the gas to be purified entering at least one adsorber and the content of impurities contained in the gas to be purified entering at least one adsorber and depending on the thermal profile of the heat front output by at least one adsorber at the end of regeneration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Christian Monereau, Didier Miniscloux, Alain Combier
  • Apparatus and method for inerting a wave soldering installation
    Patent number: 6398104
    Abstract: Provided is a method of operating an apparatus for inerting a wave soldering installation having a solder bath and a conveying system for producing one or more solder waves comprising an immersion box which is closed on all sides, shaped like a frame, can be immersed in the solder bath and which has porous pipes to distribute nitrogen, the pipes being arranged inside the immersion box in housings being designed such that the porous pipes are arranged therein in such a way that the porous pipes essentially cannot be struck by solder splashes produced during the operation of the wave soldering installation. The method includes supplying the inert gas at a temperature far below the temperature of the solder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Fernand Heine
  • Oxy-fuel combustion firing configurations and methods
    Patent number: 6398547
    Abstract: An oxy-combustion firing configuration, process, and apparatus can reduce the consumption of oxygen and fuel in an oxy-fuel combustion processes. Processes in accordance with the present invention include operation of an automated logic control device which controls an oscillating valve and controller. The valve and controller are used to oscillate the fuel and/or oxygen supplied to individual burners in a furnace. The oscillating parameters, such as frequency, amplitude, duty cycle, and phase difference between individual burners and their stoichiometry ratio are set to initiate preferable oxy-combustion in that furnace. Selective burner placement in the furnace enables the formation of deflagration zones which can provide very intense heating and complete combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignees: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude, American Air Liquide inc.
    Inventors: Mahendra L. Joshi, Harley Borders, Olivier Charon