Patents by Inventor Fabien Durand

Fabien Durand 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: 20240151464
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device for liquefying a fluid, comprising a fluid circuit to be cooled, the device comprising a heat exchanger assembly in heat exchange with the fluid circuit to be cooled, at least one first cooling system in heat exchange with at least a portion of the heat exchanger assembly, the first cooling system being a refrigerator having a cycle for refrigerating a cycle gas mainly comprising helium, said refrigerator comprising in series in a cycle circuit: a mechanism for compressing the cycle gas, at least one member for cooling the cycle gas, a mechanism for expanding the cycle gas, and at least one member for reheating the expanded cycle gas, wherein the compression mechanism includes at least four compression stages in series composed of a centrifugal compressor assembly, the compression stages being mounted on shafts that are rotationally driven by a motor assembly, the expansion mechanism comprising at least three expansion stages in series composed of a set of centripetal turbines, the at le
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Applicant: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l’Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Pierre BARJHOUX, Fabien DURAND
  • Publication number: 20240142170
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device for liquefying a fluid, comprising a fluid circuit to be cooled, the device comprising a heat exchanger assembly in heat exchange with the fluid circuit to be cooled, at least one first cooling system in heat exchange with at least a portion of the heat exchanger assembly, the first cooling system being a refrigerator having a cycle for refrigerating a cycle gas mainly comprising helium, said refrigerator comprising in series in a cycle circuit: a mechanism for compressing the cycle gas, at least one member for cooling the cycle gas, a mechanism for expanding the cycle gas, and at least one member for reheating the expanded cycle gas, wherein the compression mechanism includes at least four compression stages in series composed of a centrifugal compressor assembly, the compression stages being mounted on shafts that are rotationally driven by a motor assembly, the expansion mechanism comprising at least three expansion stages in series composed of a set of centripetal turbines, the at le
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Applicant: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l’Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Pierre BARJHOUX, Fabien DURAND
  • Publication number: 20240125547
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device for liquefying a fluid, comprising a fluid circuit to be cooled, the device comprising a heat exchanger assembly in heat exchange with the fluid circuit to be cooled, at least one first cooling system in heat exchange with at least a portion of the heat exchanger assembly, the first cooling system being a refrigerator having a cycle for refrigerating a cycle gas mainly comprising helium, said refrigerator comprising in series in a cycle circuit: a mechanism for compressing the cycle gas, at least one member for cooling the cycle gas, a mechanism for expanding the cycle gas, and at least one member for reheating the expanded cycle gas, wherein the compression mechanism includes at least four compression stages in series composed of a centrifugal compressor assembly, the compression stages being mounted on shafts that are rotationally driven by a motor assembly, the expansion mechanism comprising at least three expansion stages in series composed of a set of centripetal turbines, the at le
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l’Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Pierre BARJHOUX, Fabien DURAND
  • Publication number: 20240125545
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device for refrigerating or liquefying a fluid such as natural gas or hydrogen, comprising a fluid circuit that is to be cooled and has an upstream end for connection to a source of gaseous fluid as well as a downstream end for connection to a member for collecting the cooled or liquefied fluid, the device comprising a heat exchanger assembly in heat exchange with the fluid circuit to be cooled, the device comprising a refrigerator in heat exchange with at least a portion of the exchanger assembly, the refrigerator being of the type that has a cycle for refrigerating a cycle gas containing at least one of: helium, hydrogen, nitrogen or neon; said refrigerator comprising in series in a cycle circuit: a mechanism for compressing the cycle gas, at least one member for cooling the cycle gas, a mechanism for expanding the cycle gas, and at least one member for reheating the expanded cycle gas, wherein the compression mechanism comprises a plurality of compression stages in series composed of a centr
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l’Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Mathieu ROIG, Remi NICOLAS, Fabien DURAND, Guillaume DELAUTRE
  • Publication number: 20240118025
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device for refrigerating or liquefying a fluid such as natural gas or hydrogen, comprising a fluid circuit that is to be cooled and has an upstream end for connection to a source of gaseous fluid as well as a downstream end for connection to a member for collecting the cooled or liquefied fluid, the device comprising a heat exchanger assembly in heat exchange with the fluid circuit to be cooled, the device comprising a refrigerator in heat exchange with at least a portion of the exchanger assembly, the refrigerator being of the type that has a cycle for refrigerating a cycle gas containing at least one of: helium, hydrogen, nitrogen or neon; said refrigerator comprising in series in a cycle circuit: a mechanism for compressing the cycle gas, at least one member for cooling the cycle gas, a mechanism for expanding the cycle gas, and at least one member for reheating the expanded cycle gas, wherein the compression mechanism comprises a plurality of compression stages in series composed of a centr
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l’Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Mathieu ROIG, Remi NICOLAS, Fabien DURAND, Guillaume DELAUTRE
  • Publication number: 20240118024
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device for refrigerating or liquefying a fluid such as natural gas or hydrogen, comprising a circuit for fluid that is to be cooled and has an upstream end for connection to a source of gaseous fluid and a downstream end for connection to a member for collecting the cooled or liquefied fluid, the device comprising a heat exchanger assembly in heat exchange with the circuit of fluid to be cooled, the device comprising a refrigerator in heat exchange with at least a portion of the heat exchanger assembly, the refrigerator being of the type that has a cycle for refrigerating a cycle gas containing at least one of: helium, hydrogen, nitrogen or neon; said refrigerator comprising, arranged in series in a cycle circuit: a mechanism for compressing the cycle gas, at least one member for coding the cycle gas, a mechanism for expanding the cycle gas, and at least one member for reheating the expanded cycle gas, wherein the compression mechanism comprises a plurality of compression stages in series compo
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l’Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Mathieu ROIG, Remi NICOLAS, Fabien DURAND, Guillaume DELAUTRE
  • Patent number: 11815295
    Abstract: Low-temperature refrigeration device arranged in a frame and comprising a working circuit forming a loop and containing a working fluid, the working circuit forming a cycle comprising in series: a compression mechanism, a cooling mechanism, an expansion mechanism and a heating mechanism, the device comprising a refrigeration heat exchanger intended to extract heat from at least one member by exchanging heat with the working fluid, the mechanisms for cooling and reheating the working fluid comprising a common heat exchanger in which the working fluid transits in counter-flow in two separate transit portions of the working circuit, the compression mechanism comprising at least two compressors and at least one motor for driving the compressors, the working fluid expansion mechanism comprising at least one rotary turbine, the device comprising at least one drive motor comprising a drive shaft, one end of which drives a compressor and the other end of which is coupled to a turbine, the motor being attached to the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Fabien Durand, Guillaume Delautre
  • Patent number: 11552531
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical machine comprising a stator and a rotor that are disposed in a casing comprising a first face provided with ribs and intended to be in contact with a cooling fluid, the machine being provided with a closing structure which is fastened in a leaktight manner to the first face of the casing so as to delimit with the first face of the casing a space forming a circuit for the cooling fluid of the motor, the closing structure being fastened to the first face of the casing by welding and/or brazing and/or crimping and comprising at least one cover, characterized in that the closing structure is fastened to the casing by welding and/or brazing and/or crimping only at said ribs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Fabien Durand
  • Patent number: 11549646
    Abstract: The invention primarily concerns a facility for storing and cooling a liquefied gas, for example a liquefied natural gas, the facility comprising at least one tank configured to contain the liquefied gas, a closed cooling circuit configured to be supplied with liquefied gas in the liquid state coming from the tank, at least one injection member configured for reinjecting cooled liquefied gas into the tank, the facility being characterized in that it comprises at least one connection line configured to recover a cooled gas from at least one remote container that is separate and independent from the facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Bernhardt, Fabien Durand, Cecile Gondrand, Veronique Grabie
  • Patent number: 11519425
    Abstract: Device and method for centrifugal compression of a working gas comprising a plurality of centrifugal compressors forming a plurality of compression stages and plurality of drive motors for driving the compressors, the device comprising a gas circuit comprising a first, inlet, pipe for the gas to be compressed, connected to an inlet of a first compressor, the circuit comprising a second pipe connected to an outlet of said first compressor, the second pipe being connected to an inlet of a second compressor, the circuit comprising at least one third, cooling, pipe having one end connected to the outlet of at least one of the compressors and at least one second end connected to an inlet of at least one motor for cooling thereof, the third, cooling, pipe comprising a first member for cooling the gas and two parallel branches respectively supplying two distinct motors of the device for their respective cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Fabien Durand
  • Publication number: 20220357103
    Abstract: Plant and method for liquefying a flow of gas, comprising a cooling circuit which is provided with an upstream end which is intended to be connected to a source of pressurised gas to be liquified and a downstream end which is intended to be connected to a user member, the plant comprising, between the upstream and downstream ends, a set of members which are intended to liquefy the gas and comprise at least one exchanger for cooling the gas, and at least one expansion turbine which is mounted on a rotary axle which is supported by at least one bearing of the gas-static type, the cooling circuit comprising a pressurised gas injection conduit having an upstream end which is intended to receive pressurised gas supplied by the source and a downstream end which is connected to the bearing in order to provide support to the rotary axle, the plant comprising a conduit for recovering the gas which has been used in the bearing, the conduit for recovering the gas comprising an upstream end which is connected to the bear
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Applicant: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Pierre BARJHOUX, Fabien DURAND, Franck DELCAYRE
  • Publication number: 20220333828
    Abstract: Low-temperature refrigeration device arranged in a frame and comprising a working circuit forming a loop and containing a working fluid, the working circuit forming a cycle comprising in series: a compression mechanism, a cooling mechanism, an expansion mechanism and a heating mechanism, the device comprising a refrigeration heat exchanger intended to extract heat from at least one member by exchanging heat with the working fluid, the mechanisms for cooling and reheating the working fluid comprising a common heat exchanger in which the working fluid transits in counter-flow in two separate transit portions of the working circuit, the compression mechanism comprising at least two compressors and at least one motor for driving the compressors, the working fluid expansion mechanism comprising at least one rotary turbine, the device comprising at least one drive motor comprising a drive shaft, one end of which drives a compressor and the other end of which is coupled to a turbine, the motor being attached to the
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Applicant: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Fabien DURAND, Guillaume DELAUTRE
  • Publication number: 20220333830
    Abstract: Refrigeration device intended to extract heat from at least one member by heat exchange with a working fluid circulating in the working circuit comprising in series: a fluid compression mechanism a fluid cooling mechanism, preferably isobaric or substantially isobaric, a fluid expansion mechanism, and a fluid heating mechanism, in which device the compression mechanism is of the centrifugal compression type and consists of two compression stages arranged in series in the circuit, the device comprising two respective electric drive motors driving the two compression stages, the expansion mechanism consisting of a turbine coupled to the motor of one of the compression stages, the turbine of the expansion mechanism being coupled to the drive motor of the first compression stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2022
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Applicant: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Fabien DURAND
  • Publication number: 20220333859
    Abstract: Disclosed is a low-temperature refrigeration device which is arranged in a frame and comprises a working circuit that forms a loop and contains a working fluid, the working circuit forming a cycle comprising, connected in series: a compression mechanism, a cooling mechanism, an expansion mechanism and a heating mechanism, wherein the mechanisms for cooling and heating the working fluid comprise a common heat exchanger in which the working fluid flows in opposite directions in two separate transit portions of the working circuit, the device further comprising a refrigeration heat exchanger for extracting heat from at least one member by exchanging heat with the working fluid flowing in the working circuit, the compression mechanism comprising two separate compressors, the mechanism for cooling the working fluid comprising two cooling heat exchangers which are arranged respectively at the outlet of the two compressors and ensure heat exchange between the working fluid and a cooling fluid, wherein the frame exte
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Applicant: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Fabien DURAND, Guillaume DELAUTRE
  • Publication number: 20220282891
    Abstract: Disclosed is a low-temperature refrigeration device comprising a working circuit that forms a loop and contains a working fluid the working circuit forming a cycle which includes, connected in series: a compression mechanism, a cooling mechanism, an expansion mechanism and a heating mechanism, the device further comprising a refrigeration heat exchanger for extracting heat from at least one member by exchanging heat with the working fluid flowing in the working circuit, the compression mechanism comprising two separate compressors, the mechanism for cooling the working fluid comprising two cooling heat exchangers which are arranged respectively at the outlet of the two compressors and ensure heat exchange between the working fluid and a cooling fluid, each cooling heat exchanger comprising a cooling fluid inlet and a cooling fluid outlet, characterized in that the cooling fluid outlet of one of the two cooling heat exchangers is connected to the cooling fluid inlet of the other cooling heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Applicant: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l?Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Fabien DURAND, Guillaume DELAUTRE
  • Publication number: 20220275999
    Abstract: Disclosed is a refrigeration and/or liquefaction method using a system that includes a low-temperature refrigeration device comprising a working circuit which forms a loop and contains a working fluid, the working circuit forming a cycle comprising, connected in series: a compression mechanism, a cooling mechanism, an expansion mechanism and a heating mechanism the refrigeration device further comprising a cooling exchanger for extracting heat from the useful fluid stream by exchanging heat with the working fluid flowing in the working circuit, the system comprising a pipe through which the useful fluid stream flows in the cooling exchanger, the method comprising a cooling step in which the refrigeration device is in a first operating mode for cooling the cooling exchanger while a useful fluid stream flows in the cooling exchanger, the method comprising, after said cooling step, a step of cleaning impurities that have solidified in the cooling exchanger, characterized in that during the cleaning step, the ref
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Applicant: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Fabien DURAND, Damien GUILLET, Remi NICOLAS, Cecile GONDRAND, Jean-Marc BERNHARDT
  • Publication number: 20220268516
    Abstract: Disclosed is a low-temperature refrigeration device comprising a working circuit that forms a loop and contains a working fluid, the device further comprising a cooling exchanger for extracting heat from at least one member by exchanging heat with the working fluid, the working circuit forming a cycle comprising, connected in series: a compression mechanism, a cooling mechanism, an expansion mechanism and a heating mechanism, wherein the mechanism for cooling the working fluid and the heating mechanism comprise a common heat exchanger in which the working fluid flows in opposite directions in two separate transit portions of the circuit according to whether it is cooled or heated, the device being designed to ensure equal mass flow rates in the two transit portions in the common heat exchanger, the device also comprising a bypass for bypassing one of the two transit portions, said bypass comprising a bypass valve which, in the open state, changes the mass flow rate in one of the two transit portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Applicant: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Fabien DURAND, Remi NICOLAS, Cecile GONDRAND, Jean-Marc BERNHARDT
  • Publication number: 20220260310
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for cooling and/or liquefying a user fluid flow the method using a cooling and/or liquefying system comprising a low-temperature refrigeration device, the refrigeration device comprising a working circuit forming a loop and containing a working fluid, the refrigeration device comprising a cooling exchanger intended to extract heat from the user fluid flow by heat exchange with the working fluid circulating in the working circuit, the working circuit forming a cycle comprising, in a series: a compression mechanism a cooling mechanism, an expansion mechanism, and a reheating mechanism, the system comprising a pipe for circulation of the user fluid flow to be cooled in heat exchange with the cooling exchanger of the refrigeration device, the method comprising a step of cooling a user fluid flow in the cooling exchanger and after this cooling step, a step of cleaning impurities solidified in the cooling exchanger, the cleaning step comprising stopping of the refrigeration device
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Applicant: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l?Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Fabien DURAND, Remi NICOLAS, Cecile GONDRAND, Jean-Marc BERNHARDT
  • Publication number: 20220263379
    Abstract: Electric machine, in particular an electric motor for driving at least one compressor or circulator, comprising a stator and a rotor that are disposed in a casing, the machine comprising a cooling device disposed around the stator and comprising a circulation circuit for a cooling fluid, characterized in that the cooling device comprises a circulation pipe for the cooling fluid, comprising a portion embedded in a mass of material with high thermal conductivity such as metal or a metal alloy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Applicant: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Fabien DURAND, Loic BRUNET MANQUAT, Guillaume DELAUTRE
  • Patent number: 11408648
    Abstract: Refrigeration device intended to extract heat from at least one member by heat exchange with a working fluid circulating in the working circuit comprising in series: a fluid compression mechanism a fluid cooling mechanism, preferably isobaric or substantially isobaric, a fluid expansion mechanism, and a fluid heating mechanism, in which device the compression mechanism is of the centrifugal compression type and consists of two compression stages arranged in series in the circuit, the device comprising two respective electric drive motors driving the two compression stages, the expansion mechanism consisting of a turbine coupled to the motor of one of the compression stages, the turbine of the expansion mechanism being coupled to the drive motor of the first compression stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Fabien Durand