Patents Assigned to L'Exploitation Des
  • Patent number: 6119480
    Abstract: A plant for liquid-phase filtration of a cryogenic fluid comprising, in an ambient environment:a supply of a cryogenic fluid in liquid phase;a filtration component arranged between an inlet for feeding the cryogenic fluid and an outlet for use of the filtered cryogenic fluid, in which the filtration component filters microorganisms and/or particles and causes a head loss which is less than that which converts liquid phase to a solid or gaseous phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Germain, Philippe Guillaume, Jose Buil
  • Patent number: 6116052
    Abstract: The present invention relates to processes and installations for the production of oxygen and nitrogen by cryogenic distillation. The cost of oxygen and nitrogen production is reduced by providing an improved high pressure process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignees: Air Liquide Process and Construction, L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Bao Ha, Jean-Renaud Brugerolle
  • Patent number: 6116896
    Abstract: A system and method for increasing the amount of oxygen in a kiln chamber is disclosed. The radial surface of a rotatable kiln is provided with at least one oxidant injection port extending through the radial surface into the kiln chamber. A cam is connected to the radial surface adjacent the oxidant injection port. A valve assembly including a valve chamber in fluid communication with an oxidant supply is mounted adjacent the kiln substantially in fixed spatial relation with the rotatable kiln body. The valve assembly includes a follower member adapted to contact a surface to the cam to actuate the valve assembly. Rotation of the kiln body brings the cam into contact with the follower member, thereby actuating the oxidant injection assembly, and injecting oxidant through the injection port into the kiln chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignees: Air Liquide America Inc., L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude Et, l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Mahendra L. Joshi, Ovidiu Marin, Olivier Charon, Jacques Dugue
  • Patent number: 6113798
    Abstract: Process for purification of aqueous solutions of hydrogen peroxide comprising the steps of adding one or more macroligands to said solution to form a mixture and forcing the mixture through an ultrafiltration membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Jean-Marie Dhalluin, Jean-Jacques Wawrzyniak, Henry Ledon
  • Patent number: 6110980
    Abstract: Air is distilled in a single column (8) installed on a boat, and from here an oxygen-enriched liquid flow is drawn-off. This flow is pressurized by a pump (9) and vaporized by heat exchange with air or nitrogen. The oxygen (105) is used for the partial oxidation of a flow (101) containing hydrocarbons, for example natural gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Zhijie Chen
  • Patent number: 6098674
    Abstract: A solenoid valve is provided that includes a valve body (14) having an inlet duct (18), an outlet duct (24) and a plurality of sequentially operated solenoid actuators arranged in a circular configuration for selectively bringing these two ducts into communication with each other. The valve body includes at least two separate passages (19, 20) which connect the inlet duct to the outlet duct, and each of the solenoid actuators operates to periodically and selectively close off one of said passages. The solenoid valve finds particular application in inerting and pressurizing bottles containing still liquids with nitrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Germain, Jean-Marie Disdier
  • Patent number: 6098424
    Abstract: A process and plant for the combined production of carbon monoxide and an ammonia synthesis from a feed gas mixture containing essentially hydrogen, carbon monoxide and other constituents including methane. The process comprises subjecting the feed gas mixture at high pressure to partial condensation through a heat exchanger followed by separation to produce an impure hydrogen flow and a condensed fraction rich in carbon monoxide. The carbon monoxide is cryogenically purified from the condensed fraction by separation and removal of dissolved hydrogen. The hydrogen is sent to a washing column, and is then cryogenically purified by washing with nitrogen in the washing column while drawing off a liquid fraction rich in carbon monoxide at the base of the washing column. An ammonia synthesis mixture is produced by adding a nitrogen supplement taken from a high-pressure nitrogen stream, and from the hydrogen flow produced at the head of the washing column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Jean Gallarda, Franck Wegrzyn
  • Patent number: 6099618
    Abstract: This process uses a pressure variation cycle, in which, at at least one instant in the cycle, a terminal of a compression machine (1, 3) is switched from a first space (A1) which is at a first pressure P1 to a second space (A2) which is at a pressure P2 significantly different from P1. The switching comprises an intermediate operation in which the terminal is brought simultaneously into communication with the first space and with the second space. The process is useful in the production of oxygen from atmospheric air by adsorption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Christian Monereau
  • Patent number: 6094924
    Abstract: Process for controlling the rate of gas extraction of a gas extractor for an enclosure of a cryogenic apparatus comprising a cryogenic fluid feed and an internal atmosphere, the apparatus being in contact with an ambient medium, comprising the steps of:measuring the content (m.sub.02) of the internal atmosphere of the enclosure in terms of a gas of the ambient medium;defining a target content (u.sub.02) for the measured content;calculating the rate of gas extraction (r.sub.c) of the extractor as a function of the measured content (m.sub.02) so as to maintain this content substantially equal to the target content (u.sub.02); andoperating the extractor on the basis of the calculated rate of gas extraction (r.sub.c).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude de l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Nicolas Viard
  • Patent number: 6096278
    Abstract: Process for purifying a gas flow with respect to at least one of the impurities capable of being oxidized and/or reduced which it contains, in which the gas flow is subjected to at least the following steps:(a) compressing the gas flow to a pressure in excess of atmospheric pressure,(b) bringing the compressed gas flow into contact with at least a first bed of particles of a material containing at least one metal peroxide, and(c) bringing the gas flow resulting from step (b) into contact with at least a second bed of at least one catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Daniel Gary
  • Patent number: 6094606
    Abstract: A control device for operation of a system for treating a surface of a solid running substrate by dielectric-barrier electrical discharge in a controlled gaseous atmosphere, comprising (A) a system which includes (i) a treatment device through which a substrate to be treated runs at a speed, (ii) the system is connected to the treatment device for supplying the treatment device with gas, (iii) the system is connected to the device for supplying the treatment device with electrical power in order to produce the electrical discharge and (iv) the system for sucking out the gas (B) a data processing unit designed to receive, as input, a datum regarding the speed at which the substrate is running through the treatment device, the data processing unit being connected, on the output side, to the gas supply system, to the electrical power supply system and to the gas suction system, in order: (a) upon starting the treatment device and when the running speed of the substrate is greater than a predetermined speed, to c
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Gilles Lagrange, Isabelle Hibon
  • Patent number: 6090185
    Abstract: According to this process, in the case of a reduction in the production rate, the maximum pressure PM of the cycle is lowered and the ratio of this maximum pressure to the minimum pressure Pm of the cycle is reduced, in particular by altering the durations of compression and decompression stages. The process is applicable to the production of oxygen at variable rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Christian Monereau, Nathalie Derive, Dominique Rouge, Christophe Montfort, Jean-Claude Calviac
  • Patent number: 6089040
    Abstract: The combined plant comprises at least one furnace (F), at least one air distillation device containing at least one medium-pressure column (MP) and a mixing column (CM) which has an oxygen outlet line (O) for supply to the furnace (F), at least one blowing engine (S) which feeds at least the furnace (F) and the medium-pressure column (MP), and at least one air compressor (C) which supplies at least the mixing column (CM) with air at a pressure which is greater than the pressure of the air supplied by the blowing engine (S).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Alain Guillard
  • Patent number: 6089858
    Abstract: Device for protecting an ejection outlet of a burner mounted through a wall of a furnace, comprising a peripheral heat shield around the ejection outlet of the burner comprising a consumable structure comprising a refractory material and a mounting for heat shield comprising a mover which moves the heat shield relative to the wall of the furnace, between at least two positions which are spaced apart along the axis of the burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: L'air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude de l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Benoit Loiselet, Philippe Beaudoin
  • Patent number: 6089445
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for drying fluxing of a metallic surface before soldering or tinning using an alloy, according to which the surface to be fluxed is treated, at a pressure close to atmospheric pressure, with a gaseous treatment atmosphere comprising excited or unstable species and being substantially free of electrically charged species, which is obtained from a primary gas mixture and, optionally, an adjacent gas mixture, the primary gas mixture being obtained at the gas outlet of at least one apparatus for forming excited or unstable gas species, in which an initial gas mixture comprising an inert gas and/or a reducing gas and/or an oxidizing gas has been converted, the adjacent gas mixture not having passed through the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Thierry Sindzingre, Stephane Rabia
  • Patent number: 6083466
    Abstract: Process for partial oxidation in a Claus furnace of at least one gas stream comprising hydrogen sulphide, comprising the steps of:(a) injecting at least one gas stream comprising hydrogen sulphide and at least one oxygen-enriched gas stream into the Claus furnace, wherein each of the streams is injected at a speed of injection which is substantially parallel,(b) controlling the speed of injection of the gas stream comprising hydrogen sulphide and the speed of injection of the oxygen-enriched gas stream such that the speeds have a ratio between 0.8 and 1.2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Ebrahim Djavdan, Jacques Koening, Jean-Fran.cedilla.ois Nicolas, Vincent Queudot, Olivier Charon
  • Patent number: 6083301
    Abstract: Process for purifying an inert fluid, in particular argon or helium, with respect to at least one of its impurities nitrogen (N.sub.2), oxygen (O.sub.2), carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2), carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbons, in which at least some of the impurities are removed using a first adsorbent of the X zeolite type having a silica to aluminum ratio less than or equal to 1.15, and a purified inert fluid containing at most 10 ppb, preferably at most 1 ppb of impurities is recovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Daniel Gary, Rene Lardeau
  • Patent number: 6082398
    Abstract: A device for regulating the flow of gases having substantially different molar masses, comprisingan always-open feed line connected to a gas source at a defined pressure and to an apparatusa first calibrated restriction placed in the feed line,a bypass line connected via at least one of its two ends to a valve of a branching valve or a 4-way valve, placed in the feed line, and via the other end to a point of connection to the feed line, the valve being switchable between a first position for bringing the feed line into communication with the bypass line and a second position for isolating the bypass line from the feed line, anda second calibrated restriction placed in the bypass line, the first calibrated restriction being placed on the feed line portion lying between the valve and the point of connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Girard, Alain Mail, Yves Marot
  • Patent number: 6082606
    Abstract: The invention relates to a machine for wave soldering or tinning comprisinga 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; andmeans 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: November 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: L'air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Marc Leturmy
  • Patent number: 6079229
    Abstract: In a process for manufacturing glass in a furnace a glass charge in solid form is introduced into a furnace-charging zone at an upstream part of a furnace. The glass charge is moved from the furnace-charging zone to a zone for removing the combustion smoke from the furnace downstream from the furnace-charging zone. The glass charge is moved from the zone for removing combustion smoke to a charge-melting zone downstream from the furnace-charging zone and located substantially in a middle of the furnace and heated by at least one burner. The glass charge is moved from the charge-melting zone to a charge-refining zone downstream from the charge-melting zone. The glass charge is brought to a desired temperature and viscosity in the charge-refining zone. The glass charge is removed from the furnace after the glass charge has been brought to the desired temperature and viscosity. The glass charge, after it has been removed from the furnace, is moved into a feed channel of glass-forming machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes George Claude
    Inventors: Thierry Legiret, Bernard Labegorre, Laurent Rio, Robert Plessier