Patents by Inventor Raphaël Couturier

Raphaël Couturier 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: 9551507
    Abstract: A solar radiation absorber element for a thermal concentrating solar power plant is achieved by forming a selective coating on an outer surface of a substrate made from stainless steel, chosen from stainless steels presenting an aluminum content of more than 0.5% by weight. Formation of the selective coating includes a surface treatment step of the substrate, by polishing, and a heat treatment step of the substrate, in an oxidizing atmosphere, in a temperature range included between 550° C. and 650° C. The heat treatment in particular enables at least one intrinsically selective superficial thin layer to be formed on the outer surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT À L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Gatien Fleury, Raphaël Couturier, Christophe Dubarry, Carole Mollard, Olivier Sicardy
  • Publication number: 20160363349
    Abstract: A method for producing a solar radiation absorber element, for a concentrating thermal solar power plant, including the formation of a selective coating on an outer surface of a steel substrate, formation of the selective coating including the following successive steps: providing a steel substrate having a chromium content between 6% and 12.5% by weight, and an aluminium content less than or equal to 0.05% by weight, performing heat treatment so as to form an oxide layer on the surface of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Applicants: COMMISSARIAT Ä L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES, SALZGITTER MANNESMANN PRECISION ETIRAGE SAS
    Inventors: Gatien FLEURY, Raphaël COUTURIER, Olivier SICARDY, Carole MOLLARD, Benoit BOULAY, Jean-Marc DUHAMEL
  • Patent number: 9274306
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a reflector (6) including a mirror (16) supported by a support structure (18), where the said method includes a step of positioning the mirror relative to the said support structure by moving a mold (30) supporting the mirror relative to the said structure, According to the invention, the method also includes a step of adjustment of multiple links (20) between the mirror and the structure, implemented during the step of positioning of the mirror, and/or after this step, and causing at least a proportion of the links to be moved relative to the structure (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Frédéric Vidal, Raphaël Couturier
  • Patent number: 9222701
    Abstract: A solar receiver for a thermal power plant including a plurality of absorber modules, each absorber module including at least one face configured to be illuminated by a solar flux, wherein the modules are arranged side by side forming a paving. Each absorber module further includes its own fluid circuit in which a fluid to be heated by the solar flux can flow, the fluid circuits of the absorber modules being connected to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignees: Commissariat á l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives, CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE
    Inventors: Franck Pra, Raphaël Couturier, Alain Ferriere, Patrice Tochon
  • Publication number: 20150136115
    Abstract: Heat storage tank comprising an envelope (2) with a longitudinal axis (X) filled with a heat transfer liquid and solid heat storage elements, a first longitudinal end provided with first means (10) for collecting and supplying a liquid at a first temperature and a second longitudinal end provided with second means (12) for collecting and supplying a liquid at a second temperature, in which said solid heat storage elements are distributed across three beds (TH1, TH2 and TH3) superposed along the longitudinal axis (X), separated by a layer of liquid (L1, L2 and L3), the heat transfer liquid being capable of flowing from the first longitudinal end to the second longitudinal end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Arnaud Bruch, Raphaël Couturier, Jean-François Fourmigue
  • Publication number: 20150113806
    Abstract: Method for filling a heat storage tank with solid elements having at least one first particle size greater than at least one second particle size, the method includingthe following steps: a) pouring a first quantity of solid elements of the first particle size into the tank, b) levelling said first quantity of solid elements of the first particle size so as to form a layer of a substantially constant height, c) pouring a second given quantity of solid elements of the second particle size over the layer of solid elements of the first particle size such that the solid elements of the second particle size flow between the solid elements of the first particle size and such that the elements of the second particle size are flush with the layer of the solid elements of the first particle size and so as to form an intermediate layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Raphaël Couturier, Arnaud Bruch, Jean-François Fourmigue
  • Publication number: 20140090639
    Abstract: A solar radiation absorber element for a thermal concentrating solar power plant is achieved by forming a selective coating on an outer surface of a substrate made from stainless steel, chosen from stainless steels presenting an aluminium content of more than 0.5% by weight. Formation of the selective coating includes a surface treatment step of the substrate, by polishing, and a heat treatment step of the substrate, in an oxidizing atmosphere, in a temperature range included between 550° C. and 650° C. The heat treatment in particular enables at least one intrinsically selective superficial thin layer to be formed on the outer surface of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Gatien Fleury, Raphaël Couturier, Christophe Dubarry, Carole Mollard, Olivier Sicardy
  • Publication number: 20130314813
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a reflector (6) including a mirror (16) supported by a support structure (18), where the said method includes a step of positioning the mirror relative to the said support structure by moving a mould (30) supporting the mirror relative to the said structure, According to the invention, the method also includes a step of adjustment of multiple links (20) between the mirror and the structure, implemented during the step of positioning of the mirror, and/or after this step, and causing at least a proportion of the links to be moved relative to the structure (18).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Inventors: Frédéric Vidal, Raphaël Couturier
  • Publication number: 20130125873
    Abstract: A solar receiver for a thermal power plant including a plurality of absorber modules, each absorber module including at least one face configured to be illuminated by a solar flux, wherein the modules are arranged side by side forming a paving. Each absorber module further includes its own fluid circuit in which a fluid to be heated by the solar flux can flow, the fluid circuits of the absorber modules being connected to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicants: Centre National De Le Recherche Scientifique, Commissariat a l'energie atomique et aux energies alternatives
    Inventors: Franck Pra, Raphaël Couturier, Alain Ferriere, Patrice Tochon
  • Patent number: 8246056
    Abstract: A seal intended to be inserted between a first and a second member, the seal including: two contact portions spaced from each other along a spacing direction, respectively intended to contact in a tight manner the first and second members, the contact portions being made of a first alloy displaying superplasticity properties under predetermined stress conditions including predetermined temperature conditions, the contact portions being supported by a support arranged therebetween, produced so as to display, under the predetermined temperature conditions, a greater mechanical compression resistance in the spacing direction than that of the contact portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Magali Reytier, Raphaël Couturier, Olivier Gillia, Emmanuel Rigal