Patents by Inventor Etienne Werlen

Etienne Werlen 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).

  • Publication number: 20200041071
    Abstract: A device and process for refuelling containers with pressurized gas comprising a pressurized gas source, a transfer circuit comprising one upstream end, the device comprising a refrigeration system for cooling the gas flowing from the gas source prior to its entering into the container, the refrigeration system comprising a refrigerant cooling loop circuit comprising, arranged in series, a compressor, a condenser section, an expansion valve and an evaporator section, the refrigeration system comprising a cold source in heat exchange with the condenser section and a heat exchanger located in the transfer circuit and comprising a heat exchange section between the gas flowing in the transfer circuit and the evaporator section, the refrigerant cooling loop circuit comprising a bypass conduit comprising an upstream end connected to the outlet of the compressor and a downstream end connected to the refrigerant cooling loop circuit upstream the compressor inlet and bypassing the condenser section and expansion valve
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Applicant: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Etienne WERLEN, Marcus BUCK
  • Patent number: 7445040
    Abstract: A heat exchange fin spacer. The fin may be sandwiched between two plates in a brazed-plate heat exchanger. The fin is based upon a corrugated product having wave legs which, when mounted, define flow channels for a gas to be condensed. The fin has at least one condensed liquid drainage channel on the wave legs and deviation elements that drain the liquid towards at least one lateral edge of the wave legs. The deviation elements are provided with at least one leading edge and/or at least one inclined trailing edge. The invention is suitable for use in the main heat exchanger of an air separation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Claire Szulman, Etienne Werlen, Fabienne Chatel
  • Publication number: 20080245651
    Abstract: A distillation installation comprises a cross-corrugated packing module formed from strips of sheet material, comprising corrugations (8) that form alternately first and second main peaks (10; 12), the corrugations (8) defining channels (14) having a general orientation (Dc) that is inclined to a general flow direction (Df) of a liquid. The strip 2 comprises adjacent rows (R) of inverted portions (22) that lie in the cross section of a channel (14). The strip defines a peak length (LC) between the said rows (R) and an inverted portion length (LPI).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2005
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: Etienne Werlen, Francois Leclercq, Gilles Lebain
  • Publication number: 20080017497
    Abstract: This distillation column comprises a cross-corrugated packing module formed from strips having corrugations that define channels (14), each channel lying between two main peaks (12; 10) and each channel having two channel legs (16) that are joined together by a top main peak (10; 12). The strip (2) comprises an inverted portion (22) which lies within the cross section of one of the channels (14) and which includes a first intermediate peak (26) oriented in the opposite direction to the top main peak (10; 12). The inverted portion (22) includes a second intermediate peak (28; 30) oriented in the direction of the top main peak (10; 12). Application to air distillation installations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2005
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Applicant: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme A Directoire Et Conseil De Surviellance Pour L'Etude Et L'Expl....
    Inventors: Etienne Werlen, Francois Leclercq, Gilles Lebain
  • Patent number: 7147215
    Abstract: A corrugated strip made of sheet material, which may be used in a packing module. The peaks and the troughs of the strip, when viewed in a side view, define lines which have a general sloping direction relative to the direction the fluid flow. Each strip includes a spanning zone and a transition zone. In the transition zone, each peak/trough line extends inside a specific area centered on a curve which extends tangentially from the peak/trough line of the spanning zone. The structured interface region between the spanning and transition zones helps to reduce head loss across the strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Georges Claude
    Inventors: Jean-Yves Lehman, Etienne Werlen, Gilles Lebain
  • Patent number: 7059397
    Abstract: The invention concerns a heat exchanger which includes a stack of plates defining passages, containing corrugated fins which include a transverse section with repeated corrugated pattern extending between two upper and lower end planes. The pattern includes a base corrugated pattern that includes corrugated legs linked to corrugated summits and corrugated bases, this base pattern being modified by a sub-pattern which defines, between at least some corrugated legs, additional leading edges located at an intermediate level between the end planes. The invention is applicable to cryogenic gas—gas heat exchangers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme A Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance Pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Fabienne Chatel, Gilles Lebain, Claire Szulman, Etienne Werlen
  • Patent number: 7024907
    Abstract: A folding-pressing operation is carried out on the strip (17) in successive steps, by means of two opposed dies (11,12) with a relative movement alternating between coming together and moving apart, these dies having active surfaces (11,12) which are substantially conjugate with the two faces of the corrugation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: L'air Liquide - Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance Pour L'Etude et L'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Beauvois, Son Ha Giang, Gilles Lebain, Etienne Werlen
  • Publication number: 20050121181
    Abstract: A heat exchange fin spacer. The fin may be sandwiched between two plates in a brazed-plate heat exchanger. The fin is based upon a corrugated product having wave legs which, when mounted, define flow channels for a gas to be condensed. The fin has at least one condensed liquid drainage channel on the wave legs and deviation elements that drain the liquid towards at least one lateral edge of the wave legs. The deviation elements are provided with at least one leading edge and/or at least one inclined trailing edge. The invention is suitable for use in the main heat exchanger of an air separation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2003
    Publication date: June 9, 2005
    Inventors: Claire Szulman, Etienne Werlen, Fabienne Chatel
  • Publication number: 20050040549
    Abstract: The invention concerns a corrugated packing module for treating a fluid delimited by two channels (18). It comprises a running zone (4) whereof the channels define ridge lines (26) having a global sloping direction (D1) relative to a general direction of circulation (Df) of the fluid. The strip comprises a transition zone (6, 8) adjacent to the running zone (4). Each ridge line (26) of the transition zone (6, 8) extends inside a specific zone centered on a curve (A) which extends tangentially the ridge line (26) of the running zone (4). The radial width (Lr) is 10% of the corresponding radius of curvature of the curve (A). The radius of curvature (Rc) of the curve (A) is at all points 1.5 times greater than the hydraulic diameter (Dh) of a channel (18). The invention is applicable to air distillation columns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Publication date: February 24, 2005
    Inventors: Jean-Yves Lehman, Etienne Werlen, Gilles Lebain
  • Publication number: 20040173919
    Abstract: The invention relates to a strip, made from a sheet material, for a packing module for treatment of liquids, comprising corrugations, which are mainly oriented at an inclination to the direction of flow of said liquid, when the strip is in an approximately vertical plane with the edges thereof approximately horizontal. The strip comprises openings (44) with extended edges. The direction of the edges on the lower section of the openings and the natural direction of flow (S) of the liquid on at least 75% of the length of the edges of said lower section form an included angle of between 0° and 20°. The above finds application in air distillation columns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2003
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Inventors: Etienne Werlen, Patrick Le Bot, Jean-Yves Lehman
  • Publication number: 20040173344
    Abstract: The invention concerns a louvered fin comprising an assembly of wave stems (123) alternately linked by a wave crest (121) and a wave base (122), and wherein the wave stems (123) are provided with flaps (125) cut out in said wave stems (123) and sloping at angle relative to the main undulating direction (D1). The wave stems (123), crests (121) and bases (122) form, in cross-section relative to the main undulating direction (D1), rectilinear segments, the crests and the bases being mutually parallel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Inventors: David Averous, Michael Grivel, Marc Wagner, Fabienne Chatel-Pelage, Francois Fuentes, Claire Szulman, Etienne Werlen
  • Publication number: 20040144525
    Abstract: The invention concerns a heat exchanger comprising a stack of plates defining passages, containing corrugated fins comprising a transverse section with repeated corrugated pattern extending between two upper and lower end planes. The pattern comprises a base corrugated pattern (M) comprising corrugated legs (13) linked to corrugated summits (16) and corrugated bases (17), said base pattern being modified by a sub-pattern (M1) which defines, between at least some corrugated legs, additional leading edges (20, 21) located at an intermediate level between the planes. The invention is applicable to cryogenic gas-gas heat exchangers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2004
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Inventors: Fabienne Chatel, Gilles Lebain, Claire Szulman, Etienne Werlen
  • Patent number: 6695043
    Abstract: An evaporator has main passages placed in a heat-exchange relationship, an arrangement for forming a pool of the liquid to be evaporated so that it flows through at least a first of the main passages, and a device for introducing a refrigerant into at least a second of the main passages so that evaporation of the liquid is ensured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide - Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Marc Wagner, Jean-Yves Thonnelier, Etienne Werlen, Jean-Renaud Brugerolle, Jean-Yves Lehman
  • Patent number: 6672572
    Abstract: This column includes at least one exchange section (5, 9, 10, 11) defined between an associated upper liquid distributor (4, 6, 7, 8) and a lower fluid inlet/outlet (21, 23) or an associated lower liquid distributor (7, 8), the exchange section including an upper portion (5A, 9A) and, under it, another portion (5B, 9B, 10B, 11B) preferably of the conventional type. The upper packing portion of at least one packing section includes a packing module having less transfer units than a packing module of the conventional packing portion of the same section. Application to double columns for air distillation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide - Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Etienne Werlen
  • Publication number: 20030047820
    Abstract: The invention concerns a packing module (2) comprising an assembly of deflectors (7, 9, 11) which define a set of horizontal layers of fixed mixing ventilators (3, 4, 5). In at least one axial end zone (6) of the module, the deflectors constitute transition deflectors (9, 11) defining at least one layer of fixed transition ventilators (4, 5) whereof the mixing effect is reduced relative to that of the layers (3) located in the current part of the module. The invention is useful for air distillation columns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Inventors: Jean-Yves Lehman, Etienne Werlen
  • Publication number: 20020112811
    Abstract: A folding-pressing operation is carried out on the strip (17) in successive steps, by means of two opposed dies (11,12) with a relative movement alternating between coming together and moving apart, these dies having active surfaces (11,12) which are substantially conjugate with the two faces of the corrugation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2002
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Beauvois, Son Ha Giang, Gilles Lebain, Etienne Werlen
  • Patent number: 6415855
    Abstract: In this corrugated fin, each corrugation leg (10A, 10B) has a notch (18A, 18B) on at least one edge (11A) and over at least part of its height. Application to brazed-plate heat exchangers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Nordon Cryogenie SNC
    Inventors: Claude Gerard, Claire Szulman, Fabienne Chatel, Jean-Yves Thonnelier, Etienne Werlen
  • Patent number: 6397630
    Abstract: A floating structure having an oscillation angle i not more than about 10°, bears an air distilling column with corrugated criss-cross packing. The undulating configuration of the corrugated strips of at least one pack is selected such that d/i<0.6, where d is the axis deviation of the cone spreading the liquid, when each pair of adjacent strips of the pack is inclined at an angle i in its general plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2000
    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
    Inventors: Philippe Fraysse, Etienne Werlen
  • Publication number: 20020050657
    Abstract: This column includes at least one exchange section (5, 9, 10, 11) defined between an associated upper liquid distributor (4, 6, 7, 8) and a lower fluid inlet/outlet (21, 23) or an associated lower liquid distributor (7, 8), the exchange section including an upper portion (5A, 9A) and, under it, another portion (5B, 9B, 10B, 11B) preferably of the conventional type. The upper packing portion of at least one packing section includes a packing module having less transfer units than a packing module of the conventional packing portion of the same section. Application to double columns for air distillation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2001
    Publication date: May 2, 2002
    Inventor: Etienne Werlen
  • 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