Patents Assigned to L'Exploitation Des
  • Bath reboiler-condenser and corresponding air distillation plant
    Patent number: 6374636
    Abstract: This bath reboiler-condenser (4), of the brazed plate type, includes vaporization passages (11) subdivided into a plurality of stacked vaporization regions (13A to 13C) each of which is immersed in a partial height bath (28A to 28C), and means for feeding the top vaporization region (13C) with liquid. The vaporization regions (13A to 13C) are spaced vertically and each region is entirely open at its top and bottom ends. Application to the main reboiler-condensers of double air distillation columns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Jean-Yves Thonnelier, Jean-Yves Lehman, Jean-Renard Brugerolle, Etienne Werlen
  • Evaluation and regulation of the thermal power of a flow of combustible gas; characterization of a thermal mass flowmeter
    Patent number: 6371147
    Abstract: The subject of the present invention is: processes for the evaluation and the regulation, to a value P0, of the net (or gross) thermal power P of a flow of a combustible gas CG of composition close to that of a reference gas, said flow of gas passing through a flowmeter (7) of thermal mass technology, which is standardized, or standardized and calibrated, for said reference gas; a method of characterizing a flowmeter of thermal mass technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Louis Philippe
  • Method for preparing polyazacycloalkanes grafted on silica gel and use of grafted compounds
    Patent number: 6372903
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for preparing polyazacycloalkanes immobilised on a silica gel from a polyazacycloalkane of formula (A) in which: R1 and R2 represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl radical, or a [hetero(aryl)]alkyl radical; W1, W2 and W3 represent a radical of formula (B): —[(CT1T2)n—[N(R3)]p—(CT3T4)m]l— such as defined in the description; R3 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl radical or a [hetero(aryl)]alkyl radical, provided that the polyazacycloalkane ring of the compound of formula (A) comprises not more than 30 cyclic carbon atoms, and not more than 6 cyclic nitrogen atoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignees: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique, L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Ahmad Mehdi, Franck Denat, Frédéric Barbette, Roger Guilard, Gilles Lagrange
  • Method and device for treating items stored in containers and storage apparatus equipped with such a device
    Patent number: 6363626
    Abstract: This device for treating items stored in at least one container (12), comprises means (14) for supplying the containers with a treatment gas and means (16) for continuously purging the containers, the supply means being equipped with means (22) for regulating the pressure of the treatment gas upstream of the containers. The purging means comprise a gas ejector (28) connected to the outlet of the containers (12) and supplied with a drive gas so as to regulate the pressure of the treatment gas downstream of the containers (12) and thus control the flow rate of the treatment gas therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Denis Fiorillo, Benjamin Jurcik, Sébastien Charles
  • System and method for controlled delivery of liquefied gases from a bulk source
    Patent number: 6363728
    Abstract: Provided is a novel system and method for delivery of gas from a liquefied state. The system includes (a) a delivery vessel holding a bulk quantity of liquefied gas therein; (b) a heat exchanger disposed on the delivery vessel to provide or remove energy from the liquefied gas only; and (c) a pressure controller for monitoring and adjusting the energy delivered to the vessel. The system and method allow for controlled delivery of liquefied gas from a delivery vessel at a predetermined flow rate. Particular applicability is found in the delivery of gases to semiconductor process tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignees: American Air Liquide Inc., Air Liquide America Corporation, L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Richard J. Udischas, Benjamin J. Jurcik, Hwa-Chi Wang, Robert G. Irwin
  • Injector for a burner and corresponding injection system
    Patent number: 6360677
    Abstract: An injector for a burner is provided in which assemblies for injecting the main and auxiliary fuels and the oxidizer are arranged radially, one around the other, about a longitudinal axis. The injector has a main-fuel outlet, an oxidizer outlet, and an auxiliary-fuel outlet on the respective assemblies. The injector can be used in incinerator applications, such as in methods for producing clinker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Dominique Robillard, Thierry Borissoff, Celso Zerbinatti, Dora Sophia Alves, Jacques Dugue
  • Oxygen-enriched air feed for a non-ferrous metal production unit
    Publication number: 20020033566
    Abstract: All of the air is compressed in a single compressor (1), which feeds the smelter (2) for smelting the ore, the converter (6) for converting the matte coming from the smelter (2) and an air separation unit (4) which delivers two oxygen streams (9, 10) for enriching the air. A buffer tank (7) is used to deliver a variable flow of enriched air to the converter (6). Application to the production of copper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2001
    Publication date: March 21, 2002
    Applicant: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude et L'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Didier Magnet, Norbert Rieth
  • Process for the annealing of drawn carbon steel rolls and coils of carbon steel sheet
    Patent number: 6358337
    Abstract: Improved process for the annealing of drawn carbon steel rolls and coils of rolled carbon steel sheet. This process is characterized in that in the stage of roll heating the heating is stopped before reaching the temperature at which the reaction between carbon and H2O in the vapour phase starts. The core of the steel roll is then allowed to heat up progressively until its temperature reaches that of the outer part of the roll. With progressive removal of moisture from the core of the steel roll, heating is applied progressively until a minimum moisture level guaranteeing a sufficiently low partial pressure to avoid the reaction between the carbon in the steel and water vapour is reached. Heating is then continued up to the desired annealing temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Luis Vidal Esteban Sanz, Jorge Aixa Barcelo
  • Transfer line for cryogenic fluid and its use for the transfer of liquid helium
    Patent number: 6354090
    Abstract: Each spacing member (3) between the internal tube (2) for the transfer of fluid and the external envelope (1) have a contact zone (30) at least with the envelope (1) having an angular extent less than 90°, the contact zones with the envelope (30) and with the tube (31) being angularly offset. The spacing member (3) is made of a non-metallic material with low thermal conductivity and is coated, at least on its axial surfaces, with a layer of reflecting product, typically a metallic deposit. Use in the transfer of super-cold fluids, in particular liquid helium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Jean-Paul Sengelin
  • Combustion assembly for a furnace and method of use
    Patent number: 6350118
    Abstract: Combustion assembly adapted to be placed in a wall of a furnace including an axis having at least one pair of burners with axes, one oxidant lance arranged between the burners of the pair and having a lance axis and a source of oxidant connected to the burners and to the lance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Louis Philippe, Eric Duchateau, Dominique Jouvaud, Robert Plessier, Claude Pivard, Etienne Lepoutre
  • Process for supplying electrical energy to the network with an AC generator associated with a turbine
    Patent number: 6351103
    Abstract: Process for supplying electrical energy to the network with an AC generator associated with a turbine, by means of a transformer, characterized in that it consists in evaluating the generator precisely as a function of the needs of the site by lowering its nominal voltage as low as possible while continuing to satisfy the capacity of the generator to send active power delivered by the turbine and the reactive power corresponding to this active power required by a consumer or the network manager.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claudes
    Inventors: Serge Mourier, Marc Vezinet
  • Heat exchanger, in particular plate heat exchanger for an air separation unit
    Patent number: 6347662
    Abstract: An exchanger comprises a plurality of plates (8) made of copper, nickel or aluminium or an alloy of these metals, which are separated by exchange corrugations made of copper or a copper alloy (6) and two outer sheets (7). The distance between the plates is more than 6 mm, optionally 8 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Benoît Davidian, Marc Wagner
  • Process and installation for the recovery and/or purification of the nitrous oxide contained in a waste gas
    Patent number: 6348083
    Abstract: An installation and a process for the recovery and/or purification of at least one portion of the nitrous oxide (N2O) contained in a flow of waste gas containing nitrous oxide and at least one other gaseous compound, in which: (a) at least one nitrous oxide portion contained in the flow of waste gas is separated by permeation, and (b) at least a portion of the gaseous nitrous oxide separated in step (a) is recovered. Preferably, the source of the flow of waste gas is an industrial unit using an industrial process giving off the waste gas, preferably a unit for the production of adipic acid, a unit for the production of nitrous oxide, a unit for the production of glycoxylic acid or a unit for the production of nitric acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Gilbert Chevalier, Philippe Urner
  • Gas pressure-regulating device for dispensing working fluid
    Patent number: 6347641
    Abstract: A system for providing gas to a container includes a source of gas under pressure, a container, and a pressure regulating device. The pressure-regulating device includes an inlet intended to be connected to a source of the gas under pressure, an outlet, connected by a duct to the inlet and intended to be placed in communication with the container, a first valve for limiting the pressure at the outlet to a predetermined maximum value Ps, which valve is a delivery valve placed in a first passage which connects the duct to an orifice for discharging inert gas. The device also includes a second valve for keeping the pressure at the outlet above a predetermined minimum value Pi, which valve is an intake valve placed in a second passage which connects the duct to an orifice that lets fluid into this duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Georges Guarneri
  • Method for preparing tall oil
    Patent number: 6348566
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for enhancing the cooking step in a tall oil preparation process comprising: a neutralization step in which soap is neutralied to form soap oil, and a cooking step in which soap oil is cooked with sulphuric acid to form tall oil, the soap oil obtained in the neutralization step being subjected to an intermediate treatment before the cooking step, the intermediate treatment comprising heating of the soap oil to release gases dissolved in and bound to the soap oil. The invention also relates to a method for preparing tall oil comprising the steps mentioned above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Seppo Sarasto
  • Cryogenic distillation system for air separation
    Patent number: 6347534
    Abstract: Air is separated in a triple column comprising a high pressure column, an intermediate pressure column and a low pressure column, the intermediate pressure column being fed by oxygen enriched liquid from the high pressure column. The low pressure column feeds an argon column with argon enriched liquid and operates at a higher pressure than the argon column. Heat is supplied to the bottom of the argon column by sending gas to a bottom reboiler. This gas is preferably rich in nitrogen and may come from the top of the low pressure column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignees: Air Liquide Process and Construction, L'Air Liquid, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes George Claude
    Inventor: Bao Ha
  • Method and apparatus for treating the internal surface of a gas bottle
    Patent number: 6348241
    Abstract: The method for treating the internal surface of a gas bottle includes the following steps: a) an incident laser treatment beam is introduced into a bottle through its mouth, approximately along the axis of the bottle; b) the laser beam is deflected in the bottle onto the internal surface of the bottle; c) a relative rotation between the bottle and the deflected laser beam is made approximately about the axis of the bottle; and d) a relative displacement between the bottle and the deflected laser beam is made so as to scan most of the internal surface of the bottle with the deflected laser beam. The apparatus for treating a bottle is designed to implement the steps of the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Catherine Ronge, Daniel Boucheron, Roberto Frande
  • Method of detecting the presence of impurities, unit and method for vaporizing liquid, and double air distillation column
    Publication number: 20020017112
    Abstract: A film-type vaporizer (2) in a vaporization enclosure (1), for example the upper column of a double air-distillation column, is associated with a measurement and analysis box (3) where a polished surface (4) and a spillway (6) reconstruct the flow of liquid in the vaporizer in order to check for the absence of the deposition of impurities in the liquid that is to be evaporated or, if such a deposition occurs, to quantify and analyse the impurities involved and take appropriate action on the settings of the machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Publication date: February 14, 2002
    Applicant: L'air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Jean-Yves Lehman
  • Method of detecting the presence of impurities, unit and method for vaporizing liquid, and double air-distillation column
    Patent number: 6344361
    Abstract: A film-type vaporizer in a vaporization enclosure, for example the upper column of a double air-distillation column, is associated with a measurement and analysis box where a polished surface and a spillway reconstruct the flow of liquid in the vaporizer in order to check for the absence of the deposition of impurities in the liquid that is to be evaporated. If deposition occurs, the impurities involved are quantified and analyzed and appropriate action taken on the settings of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Jean-Yves Lehman
  • Column for the cryogenic separation of gaseous mixtures and method for the cryogenic separation of a mixture containing hydrogen and CO using this column
    Publication number: 20020011077
    Abstract: Column for the cryogenic separation of gaseous mixtures comprising:
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2001
    Publication date: January 31, 2002
    Applicant: L'AIR LIQUIDE, SOCIETE ANONYME POUR L'ETUDE ET L'EXPLOITATION DES PROCEDES GEORGES CLAUDE
    Inventors: Jean Gallarda, Francois Cam