Abstract: A large capacity tank for the seasonal storage of hot water from electrical power-generating thermal and nuclear plants to be used seasonally to heat buildings, consisting of a large basin which comprises partitions dividing the basin into several portions communicating with each other in parallel and/or series relationship, at least one hot water supply input from said plants, leading to the distribution systems which open into one portion of the basin and at least one cold make-up and/or return water supply input for the distribution systems opening into another portion of said basin.

Abstract: A method and a device for winding tubes around a core, for example in the manufacture of heat-exchangers, the device including a single horizontal platform concentric with the core and supporting a plurality of winder assemblies. The platform is movable both in translation and in rotation relative to the core so as to perform the winding of the tubes around the core and along the length of the core in a single operation.

Abstract: A method of processing through low temperature heat exchanges natural gases and cracked gases consisting in using a cooling cycle including compressing and then cooling a cycle mixture of gases consisting of C1 hydrocarbons, C2 hydrocarbons and C3 hydrocarbons through outer coolers with attendant total liquefaction of the cycle mixture under pressure; subsequently effecting a sub-cooling of the mixture within heat exchanges in counter-current relation to one expanded part thereof and/or cold returns and rejects of products processed in the cycle and finally expanding said sub-cooled mixture in at least one exchanger where various cooling processes of the treated products are carried out at successive temperature levels.

Abstract: A method of producing, storing, modulating and distributing energy, consisting in: storing in tanks of large capacities hot water excesses produced at least during some working periods by thermal and nuclear electric power generating plants and using these hot water excesses according to the needs with the assistance of a hot water injection, recovery equipment, pipe-lines and facility means.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and a system for cooling a gas for the purpose of effecting the liquefaction of one or more components of this gas. The invention is more precisely concerned with the prevention of losses by evaporation from the tanks of methane-carrier ships during the transport of liquid methane. For this purpose, the evaporation leakages from the tanks in gaseous form are re-liquefied by ad hoc liquefaction apparatus aboard the ship. The apparatus utilizes a cascade frigorific cycle of the open type working with a single refrigerant having a plurality of components. The refrigerant comprises the pure substance to be re-liquefied, and at least one heavy component, less volatile than the said substance, and absent from the composition of the gas treated.

Abstract: 1.

Abstract: .Iadd.17. A process for totally liquefying a gaseous methane-rich feed stream comprising the steps of:a. supplying said methane-rich feed stream at a superatmospheric pressure and precooling said stream,b. providing a multicomponent refrigerant,c. compressing said multicomponent refrigerant to a superatmospheric pressure,d. cooling said multicomponent refrigerant and phase separating a single vapor fraction and a single liquid fraction from said cooled multicomponent refrigerant,e. subcooling said liquid fraction in heat exchange with itself after expansion to form a first subcooled liquid fraction,f. liquefying and subcooling all of said vapor fraction in heat exchange with said first subcooled liquid fraction, and with itself after expansion, to form a second subcooled liquid fraction, andg.

Abstract: .Iadd. .Iadd.8. A method for cooling a second gaseous mixture to low temperature and producing at least one constituent of said mixture in liquid phase, comprising:a. cooling and subjecting first gaseous mixture containing at least one component of said secong gaseous mixture, to a fractionate condensation under a first pressure,b. expanding at least two condensed fractions obtained during the fractionate condensation of said first gaseous mixture, reuniting the expanded condensed fractions with said first gaseous mixture under a second pressure lower than said first pressure, vaporizing and reheating the reunited fractions with said first gaseous mixture under said second pressure, by heat exchange with said second gaseous mixture undergoing cooling, and with said first gaseous mixture undergoing fractionate condensation, and recompressing said first gaseous mixture to said first pressure,c.