Patents by Inventor Nicolas KOFMAN

Nicolas KOFMAN 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).

  • Patent number: 11885562
    Abstract: In a method for separating argon by cryogenic distillation, in which a flow containing argon, oxygen and nitrogen and being more rich in argon than the air is sent to a distillation column, and an argon-rich gas flow is withdrawn at the top of the column, a portion of the argon-rich gas flow is mixed with beads to form a gas mixture containing beads, the beads being capable of adsorbing oxygen in the presence of argon at the column operating temperatures; the portion of the argon-rich gas flow mixed with the beads is condensed and then sent to the top of the column; and a bottom liquid containing beads is withdrawn from the column and treated to remove the beads, the beads removed being regenerated to remove the adsorbed oxygen and being again mixed with the argon-rich gas flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude
    Inventors: Nicolas Kofman, David Bednarski, Bernard Saulnier, Guillaume Cardon, Mikael Wattiau
  • Publication number: 20230119575
    Abstract: Facility and method for hydrogen refrigeration, comprising a hydrogen circuit to be cooled, comprising:—a first and a second set of heat exchanger(s) arranged in series for exchanging heat with the hydrogen circuit to be cooled;—a first cooling device for exchanging heat with the first set of heat exchanger(s) comprising a refrigerator that operates a refrigeration cycle of a first cycle gas;—a second cooling device for exchanging heat with the second set of heat exchanger(s) comprising a refrigerator that operates a refrigeration cycle of a second cycle gas having a molar mass of less than 3 g/mol, the refrigerator of the second cooling device comprising, arranged in series in a cycle circuit: at least one centrifugal compressor, a cooling member, an expansion member and a member for reheating the second expanded cycle gas;—a system for mixing at least one additional component having a molar mass greater than 50 g/mol with the second cycle gas before it enters the at least one centrifugal compressor and a me
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Applicant: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Patrick LE BOT, Marine ANDRICH, Nicolas KOFMAN
  • Publication number: 20210278131
    Abstract: In a method for separating argon by cryogenic distillation, in which a flow containing argon, oxygen and nitrogen and being more rich in argon than the air is sent to a distillation column, and an argon-rich gas flow is withdrawn at the top of the column, a portion of the argon-rich gas flow is mixed with beads to form a gas mixture containing beads, the beads being capable of adsorbing oxygen in the presence of argon at the column operating temperatures; the portion of the argon-rich gas flow mixed with the beads is condensed and then sent to the top of the column; and a bottom liquid containing beads is withdrawn from the column and treated to remove the beads, the beads removed being regenerated to remove the adsorbed oxygen and being again mixed with the argon-rich gas flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: Nicolas KOFMAN, David BEDNARSKI, Bernard SAULNIER, Guillaume CARDON, Mikael WATTIAU