Patents by Inventor Fabrice Chopard

Fabrice Chopard 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: 20190131675
    Abstract: A thermal barrier to maintain the temperature of a battery. The barrier comprises elements with respectively cold and hot PCM materials, and elements, thermal isolators, arranged at least in case of some between two of the PCM material elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Applicant: Hutchinson
    Inventors: Fabrice Chopard, Cédric Huillet, Fanny Geffray, Dragisa Jovanovic
  • Publication number: 20190093960
    Abstract: A thermal barrier for helping maintain a temperature in a volumes and/or at least one internal structural component surrounded by said barrier. The barrier comprises a first component containing at least one phase change material (PCM) that changes its state at a first temperature, a second component containing a PCM that changes its state at a second temperature which is different from the first temperature, and a third, thermally insulating component that is disposed between the first and second components containing a PCM or outside the second component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicant: Hutchinson
    Inventors: Fabrice Chopard, Cédric Huillet, Fanny Geffray
  • Publication number: 20190011197
    Abstract: This relates to a unit for storing and releasing thermal energy including a plurality of blocks (3) each having a body (330) the lateral walls of which delimit a chamber (7) suited to receiving storage and release elements (13) of PCM type, to be placed in heat exchange relationship with a refrigerating or heat-transfer fluid (9) circulating between the chambers via passages; and elements (19) for the thermal management of the chambers arranged around said chambers and at least some of which include a thermally insulating material and others a PCM.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Fabrice CHOPARD, Paul BLINE, Boris CHAUVET, Christophe DOMINIAK
  • Publication number: 20190011147
    Abstract: A modular assembly comprising several adjacent modules joined together by means for circulating a flow and which each contain at least one volume wherein there is a refrigerant fluid or coolant circulating in the said volumes under the action of circulation means and elements for storing and restoring a thermal energy. At least one first layer comprising at least one MCP material is disposed at the periphery of at least some of the modules, including on one side wherein two adjacent modules face each other and wherein at least a portion of at least one second layer comprising a thermally insulating material is also interposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Fabrice Chopard, Paul BLINE, Cédric HUILLET, Fanny GEFFRAY, Nadine POUPA, Christophe DOMINIAK
  • Publication number: 20180313613
    Abstract: An assembly having a structure provided with an interior volume in which is present for example at least one fluid capable of circulating in said volume and under the action of circulation means. Thermally insulating elements of VIP construction are arranged around a layer containing a PCM and extending around the peripheral wall that surrounds the volume. Protrusions fixed to the peripheral wall delimit spaces in which the thermally insulating elements are positioned. A sleeve extends around the protrusions and the insulating elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Applicant: Hutchinson
    Inventors: Fabrice Chopard, Paul Bline, Cédric Huillet, Boris Chauvet, Nadine Poupa, Christophe Dominiak
  • Publication number: 20180291798
    Abstract: This relates to a cooling circuit comprising a liquid circulation path and arranged on the path: in series, an engine (2) and a radiator (8), mounted on a first branch in parallel between the inlet and outlet of the radiator, a store-exchanger (10) containing at least one volume: enclosing elements for storing and releasing thermal energy, involving a phase change material PCM, placed in a heat exchange relationship with said liquid (9), and around which are arranged at least one first layer containing a PCM and one second layer containing a porous thermally insulating material, and valves (14, 16, 18) so positioned as to direct the circulation of the liquid arriving from the engine toward the radiator and/or the store-exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Inventors: Fabrice Chopard, Christophe Dominiak
  • Publication number: 20180266619
    Abstract: An assembly comprising a structure provided with an interior volume in which is present for example at least one fluid capable of circulating in said volume and under the action of circulation means. Thermally insulating elements of VIP construction are arranged around a layer containing a PCM and extending around the peripheral wall that surrounds the volume. Protrusions fixed to the peripheral wall delimited spaces in which the thermally insulating elements are positioned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Applicant: Hutchinson
    Inventors: Fabrice Chopard, Paul Bline, Cédric Huillet, Boris Chauvet, Nadine Poupa, Christophe Dominiak
  • Publication number: 20180238636
    Abstract: This relates to a unit for storing and releasing thermal energy including a plurality of blocks (3) each having a body (330) the lateral walls of which delimit a chamber (7) suited to receiving storage and release elements (13) of PCM type, to be placed in heat exchange relationship with a refrigerating or heat-transfer fluid (9) circulating between the chambers via passages; and elements (19) for the thermal management of the chambers arranged around said chambers and at least some of which include a thermally insulating material and others a PCM.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Applicant: Hutchinson
    Inventors: Fabrice Chopard, Paul Bline, Cédric Huillet, Fanny Geffray, Boris Chauvet, Nadine Poupa, Christophe Dominiak
  • Publication number: 20180238635
    Abstract: A thermal device comprising a fluid circulation circuit in which the fluid circulates over time at different temperatures, and a thermal store and heat exchanger arranged on said circuit and enclosing an interior volume in which the fluid circulates, and in which are arranged elements that store and release thermal energy, of PCM type, in contact with the fluid, for heat exchanges. The interior volume of the store and heat exchanger is provided with baffles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Applicant: Hutchinson
    Inventors: Fabrice Chopard, Paul Bline, Boris Chauvet, Christophe Dominiak
  • Publication number: 20180094180
    Abstract: The invention relates to a material including a support consisting of a porous composite material including at least one polymer phase forming a binder based on at least one polymer selected from thermoplastic polymers, elastomers, and elastomer thermoplastics, and at least one filler selected from thermally conductive fillers, the pores of the support consisting of the porous composite material being partially or entirely filled with at least one phase-change material. The invention also relates to a method for producing said material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Applicant: HUTCHINSON
    Inventors: Arnaud PREBE, Bruno DUFOUR, Fabrice CHOPARD, Nicolas GAROIS, Philippe SONNTAG
  • Patent number: 8065038
    Abstract: A method of optimizing a chemical reaction in a plate-type open reactor, the method consisting in: establishing a dynamic model of the reactor for a given reaction on the basis of a model of the reactor and its heat exchanges; applying an integration software tool to the dynamic model in order to solve the above-mentioned equations; determining and optimizing a set of dimension and/or operation parameters of the reactor on the basis of evaluating targets to be achieved, constraints to be complied with, and variable data for the reactor and/or the reaction; building a plate reactor of the said type accordingly to the set of optimized parameters; and doing measurements of physical parameters during the execution of said reaction in the built reactor, for validating its operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Alfa Laval Vicarb
    Inventors: Sébastien Elgue, Fabrice Chopard, Michel Roger Cabassud, Patrick Alain Cognet, Laurent Emile Georges Prat, Christophe Jacques Jean Gourdon
  • Patent number: 7473404
    Abstract: A device for exchange and/or reaction between at least two fluids is taught and described herein comprising at least a first space of selected thickness and including side walls defining a first chamber provided with a central part at least partly recessed for a first fluid flow and at least a second chamber for a second fluid flow, the first and second chambers being separated by a first exchanging wall adapted to ensure exchange and/or reaction between fluids of thermal and/or mass transfer type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignees: Alfa Laval Vicarb, Electricite de France - Service National
    Inventors: Fabrice Chopard, Marc Berthou, Christian Aussudre
  • Patent number: 7419644
    Abstract: A flow directing insert for a reactor chamber in a reactor may have a mainly square-shaped cross-section. The chamber has an inlet at one end of the chamber and an outlet at the other end of the chamber and at least one of the walls of the reactor chamber consists of a heat conductive material or of a membrane. The insert comprises a number of units arranged in rows, which units together with the walls of the chamber define a channel for a fluid. The channel extends from a first side of the chamber to a second side of the chamber and back again to the first side backwards and forwards a number of times. The units are arranged such that the fluid is forced to flow between the units in a serpentine path. A reactor comprises at least one reactor chamber containing a flow directing insert as described above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Alfa Laval Corporate AB
    Inventor: Fabrice Chopard
  • Publication number: 20080140376
    Abstract: A method of optimizing a chemical reaction in a plate-type open reactor, the method consisting in: establishing a dynamic model of the reactor for a given reaction on the basis of a model of the reactor and its heat exchanges; applying an integration software tool to the dynamic model in order to solve the above-mentioned equations; determining and optimizing a set of dimension and/or operation parameters of the reactor on the basis of evaluating targets to be achieved, constraints to be complied with, and variable data for the reactor and/or the reaction; building a plate reactor of the said type accordingly to the set of optimized parameters; and doing measurements of physical parameters during the execution of said reaction in the built reactor, for validating its operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventors: Sebastien Elgue, Fabrice Chopard, Michel Roger Cabassud, Patrick Alain Cognet, Laurent Emile Georges Prat, Christophe Jacques Jean Gourdon
  • Publication number: 20060159600
    Abstract: A flow directing insert for a reactor chamber in a reactor may have a mainly square-shaped cross-section. The chamber has an inlet at one end of the chamber and an outlet at the other end of the chamber and at least one of the walls of the reactor chamber consists of a heat conductive material or of a membrane. The insert comprises a number of units arranged in rows, which units together with the walls of the chamber define a channel for a fluid. The channel extends from a first side of the chamber to a second side of the chamber and back again to the first side backwards and forwards a number of times. The units are arranged such that the fluid is forced to flow between the units in a serpentine path. A reactor comprises at least one reactor chamber containing a flow directing insert as described above.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Publication date: July 20, 2006
    Applicant: Alfa Laval Corporate AB
    Inventor: Fabrice Chopard
  • Publication number: 20040109798
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for exchange and/or reaction between at least two fluids comprising at least a first spacer of selected thickness and including side walls defining a first chamber provided with a central part at least partly recessed for a first fluid flow, and at least a second chamber for a second fluid flow, the first and second chambers being separated by a first exchanging wall adapted to ensure exchange and/or reaction between fluids, of thermal and/or mass transfer type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Applicants: Alfa Laval Vicarb, Electricite de France - Service National
    Inventors: Fabrice Chopard, Marc Berthou, Christian Aussudre
  • Patent number: 6421501
    Abstract: A resistive heater comprises at least one heater chamber defined by walls, two of which are constituted by parallel conductive plates spaced apart by a selected distance. The chamber also has an inlet for introducing a fluid close to a first end of the plates and an outlet placed close to a second end of the plates, opposite from the first, for collecting the fluid after it has flowed between the plates, parallel thereto, and devices are provided to power the plates with electricity so that the fluid is heated in the chamber by the resistive effect while it is flowing parallel to the plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignees: Electricite de France-Service National, Alfa Laval Vicarb
    Inventors: Marc Berthou, Christian Aussudre, Fabrice Chopard
  • Publication number: 20010021308
    Abstract: A resistive heater comprises at least one heater chamber defined by walls, two of which are constituted by parallel conductive plates spaced apart by a selected distance. The chamber also has an inlet for introducing a fluid close to a first end of the plates and an outlet placed close to a second end of the plates, opposite from the first, for collecting the fluid after it has flowed between the plates, parallel thereto, and means are provided to power the plates with electricity so that the fluid is heated in the chamber by the resistive effect while it is flowing parallel to the plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Publication date: September 13, 2001
    Inventors: Marc Berthou, Christian Aussudre, Fabrice Chopard
  • Patent number: 5727118
    Abstract: Electric boiler for heat-transfer liquid (FC) comprising a set of plates (P) having corrugations on both their faces, and which include, in their corners, openings (3, 4, 5, 6) allowing circulation of fluid. Said assembly consists of at least one module comprising two stamped plates (P), the corrugations of which are in the same sense on both their faces between which at least one heater block (I) is inserted, within which heater block a resistance element (R) is embedded, being in the form of a block which also includes orifices (3, 4, 5, 6) as well as herringbone corrugations on both its faces (A) and (B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Vicarb
    Inventors: Claude Roussel, Fabrice Chopard