Patents by Inventor Raphael COUTURIER

Raphael 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: 12467697
    Abstract: A module for thermal storage by a phase-change material includes a vat, at least one heat-exchanger having first and second connecting ends configured to be connected to a heat-transfer fluid network, the first and second connecting ends penetrating and opening into the vat, and a structure received in the vat and configured to contain a phase-change material. The structure includes a porous matrix made of a metallic material with communicating cells crossed by the heat-exchanger and in contact with the external surface of the heat-exchanger. The matrix is obtained by moulding around the heat-exchanger. The vat includes at least one wall made of a metallic material formed directly during moulding and integral with the matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2025
    Assignees: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES, GRIMS
    Inventors: Sébastien Vesin, Fabrice Bentivoglio, Raphael Couturier, Cyrille Grimaud, Louane Grimaud
  • Publication number: 20220228815
    Abstract: A module for thermal storage by a phase-change material includes a vat, at least one heat-exchanger having first and second connecting ends configured to be connected to a heat-transfer fluid network, the first and second connecting ends penetrating and opening into the vat, and a structure received in the vat and configured to contain a phase-change material. The structure includes a porous matrix made of a metallic material with communicating cells crossed by the heat-exchanger and in contact with the external surface of the heat-exchanger. The matrix is obtained by moulding around the heat-exchanger. The vat includes at least one wall made of a metallic material formed directly during moulding and integral with the matrix.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Applicants: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES, GRIM
    Inventors: Sébastien VESIN, Fabrice BENTIVOGLIO, Raphael COUTURIER, Cyrille GRIMAUD, Louane GRIMAUD
  • Patent number: 9518764
    Abstract: A solar receiver with a longitudinal axis, including an absorber, a beam extending over an entire length of the solar receiver and configured to suspend the receiver in the power plant, a protective envelope mounted around the beam and including a thermal insulator surrounding the beam, the protective envelope configured to protect the beam from heating due to solar flux, the beam and the protective envelope configured to slide one with respect to the other along the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'energie atomique et aux energies alternatives
    Inventors: Raphael Couturier, Gatien Fleury, Etienne Bregeard, Arnaud Bruch
  • Patent number: 9322576
    Abstract: A receiver module for a solar power station receiver, including a metal structure and an absorber module, the metal structure defining a cavity extending along a longitudinal axis in a base of which the absorber module is housed. The cavity includes an aperture configured to be aligned towards at least one mirror of the solar power station, the aperture is edged by two side portions of the metal structure extending longitudinally on either side of the cavity. The receiver module also includes thermocouples positioned on each of the side portions relative to the longitudinal axis to detect a temperature difference between a reference temperature and two points of the metal structure that are opposite relative to the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Commissariat á l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives
    Inventors: Raphael Couturier, Arnaud Bruch
  • Publication number: 20150369542
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a thermal energy storage device by means of at least one solid/solid phase change material, comprising a thermal energy storage chamber containing the at least one solid/solid phase change material and a heat exchanger of the heat-transfer fluid type for storing and extracting heat of said s/s PCM immersed in said chamber. The invention will find its application in the field of the storage of thermal energy and for example for the application of storing heat in an urban or industrial heat system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Applicant: Commissariat A L'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives
    Inventors: Zoe MINVIELLE, Raphael COUTURIER
  • Patent number: 8911200
    Abstract: A method of assembling together titanium parts and steel parts by diffusion welding, the method interposing two thin layers of niobium or vanadium and copper respectively between a titanium part and a steel part, evacuating the assembly of parts and interposed metal layers, and subjecting the assembly to hot isostatic compression at a temperature lying in a range 900° C. to 950° C. and at a pressure lying in a range 1000 bars to 1500 bars for about two hours. The method can be applied to fabricating turbine shafts for turbomachines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Snecma
    Inventors: Raphael Couturier, Jean-Pierre Ferte, Olivier Gillia, Xavier Firmin Camille Jean Lescure, Bruno Riccetti
  • Patent number: 8844518
    Abstract: A solar power tower solar receiver absorber including: an enclosure; at least one panel configured to be illuminated by solar flux; a core made of at least one material with heat conductivity at least partially encompassed by the enclosure; and a plurality of tubes passing through the core and extending substantially in a parallel direction with respect to the panel configured to be illuminated. The tube is configured for circulation of a fluid to be heated, for example a gas for operating a gas turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignees: Commissariat a l'energie atomique et aux energies alternatives, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Raphael Couturier, Alain Ferriere, Franck Pra, Patrice Tochon, Fabien Vidotto
  • Publication number: 20140109893
    Abstract: A solar receiver with a longitudinal axis, including an absorber, a beam extending over an entire length of the solar receiver and configured to suspend the receiver in the power plant, a protective envelope mounted around the beam and including a thermal insulator surrounding the beam, the protective envelope configured to protect the beam from heating due to solar flux, the beam and the protective envelope configured to slide one with respect to the other along the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE
    Inventors: Raphael Couturier, Gatien Fleury, Etienne Bregeard, Arnaud Bruch
  • Publication number: 20140000581
    Abstract: A receiver module for a solar power station receiver, including a metal structure and an absorber module, the metal structure defining a cavity extending along a longitudinal axis in a base of which the absorber module is housed. The cavity includes an aperture configured to be aligned towards at least one mirror of the solar power station, the aperture is edged by two side portions of the metal structure extending longitudinally on either side of the cavity. The receiver module also includes thermocouples positioned on each of the side portions relative to the longitudinal axis to detect a temperature difference between a reference temperature and two points of the metal structure that are opposite relative to the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: Commissariat a l'energies atomique et aux energies alternatives
    Inventors: Raphael Couturier, Arnaud Bruch
  • Patent number: 8468697
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a heat exchanger system comprising at least one module (1) traversed by a row of fluid circulation channels, the embodiment of said module being implemented as follows: formation of an assembly (4) comprising, in parallel, a plurality of metal conduits (10) each forming, with the inner space thereof, one of the fluid circulation channels, the conduits being arranged between two metal plates (6, 6), the spaces defined by the directly consecutive conduits and said metal plates being filled by a metal filling substance (8), and the assembly also comprising connection elements (20) of the conduits; and treatment of the assembly (4) so as to obtain diffusion welding of the conduits (10) with the substance (8), the plates and the elements (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique et aux Energiest Alternatives
    Inventors: Patrice Tochon, Raphael Couturier, Fabien Vidotto
  • Publication number: 20130152917
    Abstract: A solar power tower solar receiver absorber including: an enclosure; at least one panel configured to be illuminated by solar flux; a core made of at least one material with heat conductivity at least partially encompassed by the enclosure; and a plurality of tubes passing through the core and extending substantially in a parallel direction with respect to the panel configured to be illuminated. The tube is configured for circulation of a fluid to be heated, for example a gas for operating a gas turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicants: Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique, Commissariat a l'energie atomique et aux energies alternatives
    Inventors: Raphael Couturier, Alain Ferriere, Franck Pra, Patrice Tochon, Fabien Vidotto
  • Publication number: 20130118479
    Abstract: An absorber for a solar receiver with a casing of lengthways axis including at a first lengthways end, a collector to supply a heat transfer fluid; and at a second lengthways end, a collector for evacuating the heat transfer fluid. The casing includes a first wall having a face intended to be subjected to a luminous flux, a second wall facing the first wall, and side walls connecting said the first and second walls. The casing is formed by at least one rib extending lengthways, and attached to the first and to the second wall. The at least one rib includes windows, and deflectors associated with the windows. The deflectors cause a portion of the heat transfer fluid to flow through the windows, causing reblending of the heat transfer fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: Commissariat a l'energie atomique et aux energies alternatives
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Fourmigue, Arnaud Bruch, Julien Cigna, Raphael Couturier, Guilhem Roux
  • Patent number: 8408447
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a module with a hollow area by hot isostatic compression, including: making an assembly including superposed elements defining the hollow area, the assembly forming a sealed casing containing the hollow area, including at least one meltable obturation member separating the hollow area from the outside of the assembly; followed by hot isostatic compression of the assembly, to obtain diffusion-welding of its elements, by letting temperature and pressure conditions change over time to cause a rupture of the meltable obturation member allowing pressurization gas to penetrate into the hollow area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'energie atomique et aux energies alternatives
    Inventors: Raphael Couturier, Charlotte Bernard, Magali Reytier, Emmanuel Rigal
  • Publication number: 20120292003
    Abstract: A device forming a chemical reactor including a first circuit configured to form a chemical reactor, wherein the first circuit includes plural channels, wherein flow at least two chemicals intended to react with one another, wherein the channels have a three-dimensional structure including bends and junctions forcing the fluid to change direction, and a second heat exchange circuit including multiple channels, wherein a heat transfer fluid flows, positioned as close as possible to the channels wherein the reaction occurs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: Commissariat a l'energie atomique et aux energies alternatives
    Inventors: Raphael Couturier, Charlotte Bernard, Jean-Marc Leibold, Patrice Tochon, Fabien Vidotto
  • Publication number: 20120168078
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a module with a hollow area by hot isostatic compression, including: making an assembly including superposed elements defining the hollow area, the assembly forming a sealed casing containing the hollow area, including at least one meltable obturation member separating the hollow area from the outside of the assembly; followed by hot isostatic compression of the assembly, to obtain diffusion-welding of its elements, by letting temperature and pressure conditions change over time to cause a rupture of the meltable obturation member allowing pressurization gas to penetrate into the hollow area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: Commissariat a l'energie atomique et aux energies alternatives
    Inventors: Raphael Couturier, Charlotte Bernard, Magali Reytier, Emmanuel Rigal
  • Publication number: 20110176911
    Abstract: A method of assembling together titanium parts and steel parts by diffusion welding, the method interposing two thin layers of niobium or vanadium and copper respectively between a titanium part and a steel part, evacuating the assembly of parts and interposed metal layers, and subjecting the assembly to hot isostatic compression at a temperature lying in a range 900° C. to 950° C. and at a pressure lying in a range 1000 bars to 1500 bars for about two hours. The method can be applied to fabricating turbine shafts for turbomachines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: SNECMA
    Inventors: Raphael Couturier, Jean-Pierre Ferte, Olivier Gillia, Xavier Firmin Camille Jean Lescure, Bruno Riccetti
  • Publication number: 20110173813
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a heat exchanger system comprising at least one module (1) traversed by a row of fluid circulation channels, the embodiment of said module being implemented as follows: formation of an assembly (4) comprising, in parallel, a plurality of metal conduits (10) each forming, with the inner space thereof, one of the fluid circulation channels, the conduits being arranged between two metal plates (6, 6), the spaces defined by the directly consecutive conduits and said metal plates being filled by a metal filling substance (8), and the assembly also comprising connection elements (20) of the conduits; and treatment of the assembly (4) so as to obtain diffusion welding of the conduits (10) with the substance (8), the plates and the elements (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: Commissariat A L'Energie Atomique Et Aux Energies Alternatives
    Inventors: Patrice Tochon, Raphael Couturier, Fabien Vidotto
  • Publication number: 20090155671
    Abstract: The invention relates to a seal (10) intended to be inserted between a first and a second member, said seal comprising two contact portions (16) spaced from each other along a spacing direction, respectively intended to contact in a tight manner said first and second members, said contact portions (16) being made of a first alloy displaying superplasticity properties under predetermined stress conditions including predetermined temperature conditions, said contact portions (16) being supported by a support (22) arranged therebetween, produced so as to display, under said predetermined temperature conditions, a greater mechanical compression resistance in said spacing direction than that of the contact portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: COMMISSARIAT A L' ENERGIE ATOMIQUE
    Inventors: Magali REYTIER, Raphael COUTURIER, Olivier GILLIA, Emmanuel RIGAL