Patents by Inventor Bernard Verger

Bernard Verger has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4160287
    Abstract: The invention concerns an electrolyzer power supply, especially for use in the industrial production of hydrogen. It is constituted by four sub-assemblies placed side-by-side in a filter-press type structure. These sub-assemblies each comprise electrodes coupled two by two, electrolytic compartments being defined between two groups of electrodes. One group of these electrodes, preferably half of them being made of a metal that has a rectifying effect on AC current, and preferably being aluminum, aluminum-zinc alloys, niobium or tantalum. The counter-electrodes are adapted to evolve oxygen. They are preferably iron, nickel or carbon. A generator providing an alternating current is connected between the end electrodes and between the second and third sub-assemblies. DC is taken from between the first and second and from between the third and fourth sub-assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1977
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1979
    Assignee: Societe Generale de Constructions Electriques et Mecaniques "Alsthom et Cie"
    Inventors: Nicole Chillier-Duchatel, Bernard Verger
  • Patent number: 4154662
    Abstract: An electrolyzer for an alkaline aqueous solution and having an anode and a cathode wherein at least the cathode is made of a ternary alloy of nickel-beryllium-titanium, the proportions of beryllium and titanium being respectively 1 to 3% and 0.1 to 1% by weight. The electrolyzer is preferably used at temperatures above 110.degree. C. and at high current densities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1979
    Assignee: Alsthom-Atlantique
    Inventors: Bernard Verger, Philippe Demange
  • Patent number: 4131532
    Abstract: Electrochemical device for producing very pure oxygen. The device contains at least one electrochemical cell comprising an anode compartment and a cathode compartment separated by a semi-permeable membrane. The apparatus also includes an oxidation reactor chamber wherein air oxidizes the reduced form of a compound to form a peroxide capable of spontaneously decomposing into water and into the oxidized form of said compound. A portion of said decomposed peroxide is fed to the anode compartment and another portion to the cathode compartment. Oxygen is formed at the anode by electrolysis of water. The cathode reduces the oxidized form of said compound. Oxygen is removed from the anode compartment products. The remaining products of the anode compartment and the cathode compartment are returned to the oxidation reactor chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1978
    Assignee: Societe Generale de Constructions Electriques et Mecaniques "Alsthom et Cie"
    Inventors: Nicole Chillier-Duchatel, Bernard Verger
  • Patent number: 4102757
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an electrochemical device capable of producing very pure oxygen. Air is made to react with a reduced form of anthraquinone 2-7 sodium disulphonate in order to obtain a peroxide of this compound which decomposes to an oxidized form and to hydrogen peroxide or water depending on the pH value of the medium, said hydrogen peroxide being decomposed to water, and the water being electrochemically oxidized thus releasing the oxygen, while said oxidized form is electrochemically reduced. The invention is used for the production of very pure oxygen suitable for purifying used water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1978
    Assignee: Societe Generale de Constructions Electriques et Meccaniques "Alsthom et Cie"
    Inventors: Nicole Chillier-Duchatel, Bernard Verger
  • Patent number: 4098667
    Abstract: Apparatus for producing high purity oxygen comprising an oxidizing reactor coupled to at least one compartment of an electrochemical cell. Air is used to oxidize a reduced form of a special compound to form a peroxide which spontaneously decomposes to a mixture of the oxidized form of said compound and hydrogen peroxide. This mixture is positoned in the anode compartment of said cell and oxidized to cause the hydrogen peroxide to give off oxygen which is removed and recovered. The oxidized form of said compound is transferred to the cathode compartment wherein it is reduced and then recycled to the oxidizing reactor. The apparatus also provides a filter press-type cell containing a plurality of side-by-side compartmented electrochemical cells formed by alternating bipolar electrodes separated by porous membranes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1977
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1978
    Assignee: Societe Generale de Constructions Electriques et Mecaniques "Alsthom et Cie"
    Inventors: Nicole Chillier-Duchatel, Bernard Verger
  • Patent number: 4068042
    Abstract: The invention provides an electric cell having an anode compartment, a cathode compartment, and a membrane separating said compartments. The cell also has a peroxidation vessel in which sodium anthraquinone-2,7-disulfonate is peroxidized. The peroxide then decomposes to form a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and the anthraquinone oxide. This mixture is fed to the cathode compartment. When the electric cell is operated as a fuel cell, the anthraquinone oxide from the cathode compartment is conveyed to a reduction vessel in which it is reduced by contact with fuel. All or a portion of the reduced anthraquinone is then contacted with oxygen to form the anthraquinone oxide. The electric cell may also be utilized as a storage battery. The invention also includes the method of operating these electric cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1975
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1978
    Assignee: Societe Generale de Constructions Electriques et Mecaniques "Alsthom et Cie"
    Inventors: Nicole Chillier-Duchatel, Bernard Verger
  • Patent number: 4061554
    Abstract: Method for preparing very pure oxygen, consisting in making air in a basic medium react with the reduced form of a compound so as to form a peroxide which is capable of decomposing spontaneously into hydrogen peroxide and into the oxidized form of the said compound, and electrochemically oxidizing said hydrogen peroxide to evolve oxygen, and reducing the said oxidized form to regenerate the reduced form of the said compound. The invention is implemented in the chemical industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1977
    Assignee: Societe Generale de Constructions Electriques et Mecaniques "Alsthom et Cie"
    Inventors: Nicole Chillier-Duchatel, Bernard Verger
  • Patent number: 4048384
    Abstract: The invention concerns the regulation of an electrochemical system of the Redox type. It consists in immersing three electrodes in a stream to or from a cell in the said Redox system. Two of the electrodes, referred to as measuring electrodes, are connected by two resistors defining a junction point therebetween. A direct current is applied across these electrodes. The potential of the other electrode, called the reference electrode, is compared with the potential of said junction point. The ratio between the resistors is determined so that the potentials of the said junction point and of the said reference electrode is equal, this being so for a determined power supplied by the said electrochemical system. Variation of the potential are used to regulate the flow of fuel and/or of oxidizing agent to the said electrochemical system. The invention is more particularly implemented in fuel cells using the Redox system containing anthraquinone 2-7 sodium disulphonate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1976
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1977
    Assignee: Societe Generale de Constructions Electriques et Mecaniques "Alsthom et Cie"
    Inventors: Nicole Chillier-Duchatel, Bernard Verger