Patents by Inventor Francois Fuentes

Francois Fuentes 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: 20240286908
    Abstract: In a process for the scrubbing of a gas stream, liquid (7) from the scrubbing tower (K) is vaporized (E1) in order to cool ambient air (19) which is subsequently used to cool water (25), producing cooling water (27) to be used upstream or downstream of the scrubbing process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2024
    Publication date: August 29, 2024
    Inventors: Gian Luigi CALORO, Martin Raventos, Francois Fuentes
  • Patent number: 10968100
    Abstract: A process for producing synthesis gas using at least a first and a second steam reforming reactor each having at least one reaction stage enabling the circulation of a reaction mixture and at least one heat supply stage enabling the circulation of a heat transfer fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude
    Inventors: Matthieu Flin, Solène Valentin, François Fuentes, Marc Wagner, Quentin Saniez
  • Publication number: 20150158726
    Abstract: A process for producing hydrogen from a gas mixture comprising hydrogen (H2), and at least one impurity to be eliminated using an H2 PSA unit comprising N adsorbers subjected to a pressure cycle of duration T with N>1, comprising the following successive steps: a) said gas mixture is introduced into said unit, b) at least a first hydrogen-enriched stream having a mean impurity content Ypd is extracted, c) at least a second hydrogen-enriched stream having a mean impurity content Yhp is extracted, d) at least a third hydrogen-enriched stream having a mean impurity content Ypd? is extracted, with Ypd>3Yhp and Ypd?>3Yhp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Inventors: Francois Fuentes, Guillaume Rodrigues
  • Patent number: 8782888
    Abstract: A method for repairing a plate heat exchanger of the type comprising a plurality of plates which, together with side bars arranged on the plates, define fluid flow paths is presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Bernard Saulnier, Jean-Pierre Tranier, François Fuentes, Sophie Deschodt
  • Publication number: 20120227583
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for purifying a gas flow including at least a first compound selected from the compounds of a first group including water, ammonia, aromatics, alkane-, alkene-, or alkyne-type hydrocarbons containing at least 5 carbon atoms, aldehydes, ketones, halogen hydrocarbons, hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen chloride, and at least second and third compounds selected from the compounds of a second group including helium, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, argon, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons lower than C5, wherein said method comprises a variable-pressure adsorption implementing at least one main adsorber comprising at least one contactor having parallel passages, characterized in that said first compound is at least partially stopped upstream from said main adsorber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Christian Monereau, Francois Fuentes, Celine Carriere, Bhadra S. Grover, Yudong Chen, Madhava Kosuri
  • Publication number: 20110258853
    Abstract: A method for repairing a plate heat exchanger of the type comprising a plurality of plates which, together with side bars arranged on the plates, define fluid flow paths is presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: L'AIR LIQUIDE SOCIETE ANONYME POUR L'ETUDE ET L'EXPLOITATION DES PROCEDES GEORGES CLAUDE
    Inventors: Bernard Saulnier, Jean-Pierre Tranier, François Fuentes, Sophie Deschodt
  • Publication number: 20100255432
    Abstract: A method for regulating the flow of combustible gas conveyed to the burners of the reforming furnace of a steam reformer, enabling the gas flow feeding the ignited burners of said furnace to be regulated is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Ex ploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Francois Fuentes, Alain Caillaud, Lian-Ming Sun
  • Patent number: 7648562
    Abstract: In a PSA separation method with compression (C1, C2) of at least one offgas (3), in case of temporary shutdown of one of the compressors (C1, C2), the operating parameters of the PSA unit (S) are changed to increase the outlet pressure of the offgas (3), in order to maintain a production level above 50% with a single compressor (C1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Christian Monereau, François Fuentes, Philippe Merino
  • Patent number: 7628843
    Abstract: A feedstock hydrogen-enriched gas (3) is supplied to a PSA purification unit (1) which delivers pure hydrogen at a production output (4) and a hydrogen-deficient gas at a residual output. Said hydrogen-deficient gas is compressed (9) and injected into a line (10) wherein a gaseous combustible mixture circulates whose part (12) is extracted upstream of the PSA unit (1), compressed (13) and reinjected into said feedstock of the PSA unit (1). Said invention is used, in particular for petrochemical sites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme A Directoire Et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude Et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Christian Monereau, François Fuentes, Guillaume De Souza
  • Publication number: 20070039467
    Abstract: In a PSA separation method with compression (C1, C2) of at least one offgas (3), in case of temporary shutdown of one of the compressors (C1, C2), the operating parameters of the PSA unit (S) are changed to increase the outlet pressure of the offgas (3), in order to maintain a production level above 50% with a single compressor (C1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2006
    Publication date: February 22, 2007
    Inventors: Christian Monereau, Francois Fuentes, Philippe Merino
  • Publication number: 20060156921
    Abstract: A feedstock hydrogen-enriched gas (3) is supplied to a PSA purification unit (1) which delivers pure hydrogen at a production output (4) and a hydrogen-deficient gas at a residual output. Said hydrogen-deficient gas is compressed (9) and injected into a line (10) wherein a gaseous combustible mixture circulates whose part (12) is extracted upstream of the PSA unit (1), compressed (13) and reinjected into said feedstock of the PSA unit (1). Said invention is used, in particular for petrochemical sites.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2004
    Publication date: July 20, 2006
    Inventors: Christian Monereau, Francois Fuentes, Guillaume De Souza
  • Patent number: 6817407
    Abstract: In such an exchanger, in which the blocks have fluid inlet openings in communication with the interior space of a supply box which runs alongside the block and communicates with at least one analogous box of an adjacent block to form a fluid supply line, in order to even out the distribution of fluid between the openings of the blocks, the supply line contains at least one grating (30) leaving perforations (301) and solid parts (302) which are distributed in such a way as to create pressure drops which are such that the flow velocities of the fluid in the inlet openings downstream of the grating have similar values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: L'Air Liquid—Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Marc Wagner, François Fuentes, Zhijie Chen
  • 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
  • Patent number: 6776005
    Abstract: The pressurized waste nitrogen (11) from a column of an air separation unit (10) is sent, optionally after being compressed, to a combustion chamber (15) where it is heated, to a turbine (17) in which it is expanded and again to the combustion chamber (15) where it is mixed with the flue gases in order to give up waste heat thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide - Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: François Fuentes, Richard Dubettier
  • Publication number: 20040141902
    Abstract: According to this process:
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Inventor: Francois Fuentes
  • Patent number: 6718794
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for generating energy, which consists in conveying to an air separation apparatus (5) air from a compressor (1) coupled to an expansion machine (3). A nitrogen-enriched gaseous flow (11) containing between 3 and 18% of oxygen is conveyed to a combustion chamber (19) with a combustible flow (17) and the combustion gases (33) are expanded in the expansion machine. Optionally air from an auxiliary compressor (21) can be conveyed to the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Société Anonyme à Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude
    Inventors: Jean-Renaud Brugerolle, Francois Fuentes
  • Patent number: 6669922
    Abstract: The feed gas contains essentially hydrocarbons, particularly methane, and impurities including helium. The process includes the conversion of the hydrocarbons into hydrogen and CO2, and the purification by adsorption of the hydrogen contained in the resulting gaseous mixture. Prior to the conversion of the hydrocarbons, the feed gas is processed in a unit for separation by permeation producing a retentate gas impoverished in helium, containing essentially hydrocarbons, and a permeate gas enriched in helium, the retentate gas being then treated by the conversion of the hydrocarbons, particularly of the methane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide - Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance Pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: François Fuentes
  • Publication number: 20030140653
    Abstract: The pressurized waste nitrogen (11) from a column of an air separation unit (10) is sent, optionally after being compressed, to a combustion chamber (15) where it is heated, to a turbine (17) in which it is expanded and again to the combustion chamber (15) where it is mixed with the flue gases in order to give up waste heat thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Francois Fuentes, Richard Dubettier
  • Publication number: 20030136147
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for generating energy, which consists in conveying to an air separation apparatus (5) air from a compressor (1) coupled to an expansion machine (3). A nitrogen-enriched gaseous flow (11) containing between 3 and 18% of oxygen is conveyed to a combustion chamber (19) with a combustible flow (17) and the combustion gases (33) are expanded in the expansion machine. Optionally air from an auxiliary compressor (21) can be conveyed to the combustion chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Inventors: Jean-Renaud Brugerolle, Francois Fuentes
  • Patent number: 6543252
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vaporizer-condensor (4) of the bath type, comprising at least one heat exchange body (13), having a multitude of flat passages (18) for the countercurrent circulation of two fluids in a same direction, and a sealed chamber (14) for confining a fluid containing the or each heat exchange body, the confinement chamber comprising a central section (50) of generally cylindrical shape along a longitudinal axis (Y—Y). The longitudinal axis of the central section of said or each confinement chamber is orthogonal to the direction of countercurrent circulation of the fluids in the flat passages of the corresponding heat exchange body. Use in double column air distillation installations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide - Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Francois Fuentes, Marc Wagner, Claude Gerard