Abstract: A heat exchanger having a stack of multiple plates which are parallel to one another and to a longitudinal direction, and stacked spaced apart from one another so as to define, between one another, a first series of passages for the flow of at least a first fluid in an overall flow direction parallel to the longitudinal direction, each passage being delimited by closure bars disposed between the plates. A filtering device is arranged in at least one passage of the first series, the filtering device extending for the one part between two adjacent plates defining the passage and for the other part between two of the closure bars delimiting the passage, the filtering device having a metal sheet material chosen from among a metal fabric, a nonwoven of metal fibres, a sintered metal powder or sintered metal fibres, a metal foam, or a microperforated plate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an insertion device for inserting at least one packing section for a gas/liquid separation column into a cylindrical casing, comprising a base provided with retaining means which are configured to grip a packing section and which are arranged uniformly around a main axis, characterized in that the insertion device comprises at least two fastening means secured to the base, said fastening means being configured to fasten the insertion device to the casing. The invention also covers an insertion system for inserting at least one packing section into a cylindrical casing, comprising such an insertion device, and a method for inserting at least one packing section into a cylindrical casing that is implemented by such an insertion system.

Abstract: A packing section intended to be installed in a casing so as to form a gas/liquid separation column comprises a block for treating a fluid that has a generally cylindrical shape extending along a longitudinal direction, the treatment block being formed by a stack of plates for treating the fluid along the longitudinal direction, the treatment block having a first disc-shaped face and a second disc-shaped face that each extend in planes parallel to one another, the treatment block having an external face extending over the perimeter of said treatment block between the first disc-shaped face and the second disc-shaped face, the packing section having at least one element for holding the treatment block that extends at least partially around the external face of the treatment block, the holding element having a portion for holding the treatment plates of the treatment block in position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an insertion device for inserting at least one packing section for a gas/liquid separation column into a cylindrical casing, comprising a base provided with retaining means which are configured to grip a packing section and which are arranged uniformly around a main axis, characterized in that the insertion device comprises at least two fastening means secured to the base, said fastening means being configured to fasten the insertion device to the casing. The invention also covers an insertion system for inserting at least one packing section into a cylindrical casing, comprising such an insertion device, and a method for inserting at least one packing section into a cylindrical casing that is implemented by such an insertion system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an insertion device for inserting at least one section of packing for a gas/liquid separation column into a cylindrical casing, characterized in that a deployment module comprises a main member centred about a main axis of the insertion device, and a plurality of peripheral members arranged circumferentially and uniformly around the main axis, each of the peripheral members comprising an attachment means configured to grasp hold of a packing section, the deployment module comprising a plurality of branches arranged as pairs of branches connecting the main member to one of the peripheral members, the deployment module being able to modify the dimension of the insertion device by modifying a radial distance between the main member and each of the peripheral members.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for inserting at least one packing section into a cylindrical shell, comprising a base provided with gripping means configured to grip hold of a packing section and arranged at regular intervals around a main axis, wherein the insertion device comprises at least two telescopic devices secured to the base and at least one pushing means secured to one end of each of the two telescopic devices, the telescopic devices being configured to extend and cause the pushing means to move.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a gripping device for gripping a packing section, having a support forming a chassis and retaining means connected to this support and distributed angularly so as to surround the packing section that is to be gripped, characterized in that at least one of the retaining means has movable shoes respectively intended to be in contact with a peripheral edge of the packing section and a plurality of platforms disposed in at least two stages, each platform bearing articulation means able to interact with a platform of a different stage or one of the movable shoes.

Abstract: A heat exchanger having a stack of multiple plates which are parallel to one another and to a longitudinal direction, and stacked spaced apart from one another so as to define, between one another, a first series of passages for the flow of at least a first fluid in an overall flow direction parallel to the longitudinal direction, each passage being delimited by closure bars disposed between the plates. A filtering device is arranged in at least one passage of the first series, the filtering device extending for the one part between two adjacent plates defining the passage and for the other part between two of the closure bars delimiting the passage, the filtering device having a metal sheet material chosen from among a metal fabric, a nonwoven of metal fibres, a sintered metal powder or sintered metal fibres, a metal foam, or a microperforated plate.

Abstract: The invention concerns a heat exchanger having an exchange body having first passages for the flow of a first fluid and second passages for the flow of a second fluid exchanging heat with the first fluid, a first inlet manifold for introducing the first fluid into the first passages, a first outlet manifold for discharging the first fluid from the first passages). The heat exchanger also includes an inlet filter arranged facing the inlet surface of the exchange body, and/or an outlet filter arranged facing the outlet surface of the exchange body, the inlet filter and/or the outlet filter having a sheet metallic material selected from a metal gauze, a non-woven fabric of metallic fibres, a sintered metallic powder or sintered metallic fibres.

Abstract: The invention relates to a seal assembly, which includes: (a) a ceramic tube (1); (b) a first ring (2) made of a refractory alloy including: a cylindrical opening (21) for receiving the ceramic tube; a first shoulder (22) which is located at the lower end of the ring, which is directed towards the interior of the cylindrical opening and which enables said ceramic tube to be supported; a second shoulder (23) forming, at the upper end of the ring, an annular space between the ceramic tube and the first ring made of a refractory alloy; (c) a second ring (3) which is made of a material that can be deformably sealed by heat-treatment, and which is located in the annular space formed by the second shoulder of the ring made of a refractory material; and (d) a third ring (4) made of a metal alloy, which is positioned on the upper edge of the first ring (2).

Abstract: A method of operating a mixed ionic-electronic conducting ceramic membrane having an oxidizing side and a reducing side, said method comprising a start-up phase and a production phase, for producing a gas stream, characterized in that the start-up phase comprises a step of introducing, on the oxidizing side and the reducing side of the membrane respectively, first and second gas mixtures not capable of chemically degrading the membrane; and a step of establishing a stream of oxygen through the membrane.

Abstract: A method of operating a mixed ionic-electronic conducting ceramic membrane having an oxidizing side and a reducing side, said method comprising a start-up phase and a production phase, for producing a gas stream, characterized in that the start-up phase comprises a step of introducing, on the oxidizing side and the reducing side of the membrane respectively, first and second gas mixtures not capable of chemically degrading the membrane; and a step of establishing a stream of oxygen through the membrane.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a corrugated crisscross packing and to a column incorporating such a packing.

Abstract: A method of limiting the maximum stress developed in a hybrid ion-conducting ceramic membrane, a startup procedure for a reactor containing such a membrane, a shutdown procedure for a reactor containing such a membrane, and a process for producing a syngas implementing said startup and shutdown procedures are provided.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.