Patents by Inventor Stéphane Walspurger

Stéphane Walspurger 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: 20230416085
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrogen plant for producing a hydrogen-comprising gas product comprising—a reformer system comprising at least one heat-recuperating reformer reaction unit (5) or a reformer system comprising two or more reformer units (5,22) in parallel, wherein at least one of said parallel reformer units (5) is present in the radiant section (12) of the reformer system, and at least one reformer unit (22) is located outside the radiant section (12) of the reformer system; —a unit (8) configured to obtain hydrogen product gas; —a carbon dioxide capture unit; the hydrogen plant further comprising a passage way configured to feed a hydrogen-comprising gas stream to the radiant section. The invention further relates to a process for producing a hydrogen-comprising gas product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: Jan-Jaap Riegman, Antonio Farace, Roland Van Uffelen, Stéphane Walspurger, Matthew Bowers Pitcher
  • Patent number: 11661340
    Abstract: Heat exchanger-reformer for use in a hydrogen production plant for producing syngas, for instance by means of a steam methane reforming method, wherein the reformer comprises vessel with a first inlet for supplying feed and a second inlet for supplying hot reformer effluent, preferably coming from a main steam methane reformer, wherein the heat exchanger-reformer further comprises a heat exchanging section that is arranged in fluid connection with the first and second inlets for exchanging heat between the feed and reformer effluent to effectuate steam reforming of hydrocarbon to produce syngas, wherein the heat exchanging section comprises a plate heat exchanger assembly for heat exchange between said feed and said reformer effluent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: TECHNIP ENERGIES FRANCE
    Inventors: Sanjiv Ratan, Stephane Walspurger, Antonio Farace
  • Publication number: 20220234018
    Abstract: Method of loading a tubular reactor with a catalyst tube assembly, method of unloading a catalyst tube assembly from a tubular reactor, and catalyst tube assembly for a tubular reactor, such as a steam reformer, comprising an outer reactor tube having an inlet end and an outlet end opposite the inlet end, and including an inwardly protruding element; a centering assembly including an inner tube having an inlet end and an outlet end; a tubular boundary having a closed end and an open end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: Zlatko Mackic, Stephane Walspurger, Antonio Farace, Franciscus Van Soest
  • Patent number: 11117110
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for heating a process gas in a top or bottom fired reformer, a method for improving the temperature spread over a top or bottom fired reformer, and to a top or bottom fired reformer wherein these methods can applied. This can be achieved by the lane flow rate of at least one outer tube lane being different from the lane flow rate of at least one inner tube lane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Technip France
    Inventors: Roland Van Uffelen, Stephane Walspurger
  • Publication number: 20200010318
    Abstract: Heat exchanger-reformer for use in a hydrogen production plant for producing syngas, for instance by means of a steam methane reforming method, wherein the reformer comprises vessel with a first inlet for supplying feed and a second inlet for supplying hot reformer effluent, preferably coming from a main steam methane reformer, wherein the heat exchanger-reformer further comprises a heat exchanging section that is arranged in fluid connection with the first and second inlets for exchanging heat between the feed and reformer effluent to effectuate steam reforming of hydrocarbon to produce syngas, wherein the heat exchanging section comprises a plate heat exchanger assembly for heat exchange between said feed and said reformer effluent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventors: Sanjiv Ratan, Stephane Walspurger, Antonio Farace
  • Patent number: 10472236
    Abstract: The inventions is directed to a new design for catalyst tubes, which makes it possible to apply the concept of regenerative reforming into steam reformers having catalyst tube inlets and outlets at opposite sides of the furnace chamber. The catalyst tube comprises an inlet for process gas to enter the catalyst tube and an outlet for process gas to exit the catalyst tube, which inlet and outlet are located at opposite ends of the catalyst tube. The catalyst tube further comprises a first annular channel comprising the catalyst, a second annular channel for process gas to flow countercurrently or co-currently to the process gas flowing through the first annular channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: TECHNIP FRANCE
    Inventors: Antonio Farace, Stephane Walspurger
  • Patent number: 10434456
    Abstract: A process for altering the composition of a feed gas containing H2S equivalents is disclosed. The process comprises (a) contacting the feed gas with a solid adsorbent at a temperature of 250-500° C., to obtain a loaded adsorbent, (b) purging the loaded adsorbent with a purge gas comprising steam, thus producing a product stream which typically contains substantially equal levels of CO2 and H2S. The process further comprises a step (c) of regenerating the purged adsorbent by removal of water. The adsorbent comprises alumina and one or more alkali metals, such as potassium oxides, hydroxide or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: STICHTING ENERGIEONDERZOEK CENTRUM NEDERLAND
    Inventors: Hendricus Adrianus Johannes Van Dijk, Paul Dean Cobden, Stéphane Walspurger
  • Publication number: 20190233284
    Abstract: The inventions is directed to a new design for catalyst tubes, which makes it possible to apply the concept of regenerative reforming into steam reformers having catalyst tube inlets and outlets at opposite sides of the furnace chamber. The catalyst tube comprises an inlet for process gas to enter the catalyst tube and an outlet for process gas to exit the catalyst tube, which inlet and outlet are located at opposite ends of the catalyst tube. The catalyst tube further comprises a first annular channel comprising the catalyst, a second annular channel for process gas to flow countercurrently or co-currently to the process gas flowing through the first annular channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Applicants: TECHNIP FRANCE, TECHNIP FRANCE
    Inventors: Antonio Farace, Stephane Walspurger
  • Publication number: 20190076807
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for heating a process gas in a top or bottom fired reformer, a method for improving the temperature spread over a top or bottom fired reformer, and to a top or bottom fired reformer wherein these methods can applied. This can be achieved by the lane flow rate of at least one outer tube lane being different from the lane flow rate of at least one inner tube lane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: Roland VAN UFFELEN, Stephane WALSPURGER
  • Publication number: 20170333826
    Abstract: A process for altering the composition of a feed gas containing H2S equivalents is disclosed. The process comprises (a) contacting the feed gas with a solid adsorbent at a temperature of 250-500° C., to obtain a loaded adsorbent, (b) purging the loaded adsorbent with a purge gas comprising steam, thus producing a product stream which typically contains substantially equal levels of CO2 and H2S. The process further comprises a step (c) of regenerating the purged adsorbent by removal of water. The adsorbent comprises alumina and one or more alkali metals, such as potassium oxides, hydroxide or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Applicant: Stichting Energieonderzoek Centrum Nederland
    Inventors: Hendricus Adrianus Johannes VAN DIJK, Paul Dean COBDEN, Stéphane WALSPURGER
  • Patent number: 9260302
    Abstract: High-pressure steam supply in hydrogen production process is made more efficient by water gas shift process which comprises, in alternating sequence: (a) a reaction stage wherein a feed gas comprising CO and H2O is fed into a water gas shift reactor containing a sorbent material capable of adsorbing H2O and CO2 and wherein a product gas issuing from the reactor is collected, (b) a regeneration stage wherein CO2 is removed from the reactor, (c) a loading stage, wherein H2O is fed into the reactor; wherein said feed gas mixture has a molar ratio of H2O to CO below 1.2, and the loading stage is performed at a lower pressure than the pressure of the reaction stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Stichting Energieonderzoek Centrum Nederland
    Inventors: Hendricus Adrianus Johannes Van Dijk, Paul Dean Cobden, Stéphane Walspurger, Jan Wilco Dijkstra
  • Patent number: 9056306
    Abstract: Two or more acidic gaseous species such as hydrogen sulphide and carbon dioxide from an adsorbent can be selectively removed from a feed gas by contacting the feed gas with an adsorbent for these acidic species, followed by: a. subjecting the adsorbent to a first purging gas, said first purging gas not containing said first acidic gaseous species and containing said second acidic gaseous species at a partial pressure which is at least the partial pressure of said second gaseous species in said feed gas; b. subsequently subjecting the adsorbent to a second purging gas, said second purging gas not containing said first gaseous species and, containing this second gaseous species at a partial pressure which is lower than the partial pressure of said second gaseous species in said feed gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Stichting Energieonderzoek Centrum Nederland
    Inventors: Paul Dean Cobden, Hendricus Adrianus Johannes Van Dijk, Stéphane Walspurger
  • Publication number: 20150014595
    Abstract: High-pressure steam supply in hydrogen production process is made more efficient by water gas shift process which comprises, in alternating sequence: (a) a reaction stage wherein a feed gas comprising CO and H20 is fed into a water gas shift reactor containing a sorbent material capable of adsorbing H20 and C02 and wherein a product gas issuing from the reactor is collected, (b) a regeneration stage wherein C02 is removed from the reactor, (c) a loading stage, wherein H20 is fed into the reactor; wherein said feed gas mixture has a molar ratio of H20 to CO below 1.2, and the loading stage is performed at a lower pressure than the pressure of the reaction stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: Stichting Energieonderzoek Centrum Nederland
    Inventors: Hendricus Adrianus Johannes Van Dijk, Paul Dean Cobden, Stéphane Walspurger, Jan Wilco Dijkstra
  • Publication number: 20140213430
    Abstract: Two or more acidic gaseous species such as hydrogen sulphide and carbon dioxide from an adsorbent can be selectively removed from a Fig. la feed gas by contacting the feed gas with an adsorbent for these acidic species, followed by: a. subjecting the adsorbent to a first purging gas, said first purging gas not containing said first acidic gaseous species and containing said second acidic gaseous species at a partial pressure which is at least the partial pressure of said second gaseous species in said feed gas; b. subsequently subjecting the adsorbent to a second purging gas, said second purging gas not containing said first gaseous species and, containing this second gaseous species at a partial pressure which is lower than the partial pressure of said second gaseous species in said feed gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: Stichting Energieonderzoek Centrum
    Inventors: Paul Dean Cobden, Hendricus Adrianus Johannes Van Dijk, Stephane Walspurger
  • Patent number: 8617512
    Abstract: The invention provides a water gas shift process comprising a reaction stage. The reaction stage comprises (a) providing a gas mixture comprising CO, H2O and an acid gas component to a reactor containing an adsorbent, and (b) subjecting the gas mixture to water gas shift reaction conditions to perform the water gas shift reaction. The adsorbent comprises an alkali promoted alumina based material. The acid gas component comprises H2S.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Stichting Energieonderzoek Centrum Nederland
    Inventors: Paul Dean Cobden, Stéphane Walspurger, Rudolf Willem Van Den Brink, Hendricus Adrianus Johannes Van Dijk
  • Publication number: 20110293509
    Abstract: The invention provides a water gas shift process comprising a reaction stage. The reaction stage comprises (a) providing a gas mixture comprising CO, H2O and an acid gas component to a reactor containing an adsorbent, and (b) subjecting the gas mixture to water gas shift reaction conditions to perform the water gas shift reaction. The adsorbent comprises an alkali promoted alumina based material. The acid gas component comprises H2S.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Inventors: Paul Dean COBDEN, Stéphane Walspurger, Rudolf Willem Van Den Brink, Hendricus Adrianus Johannes Van Dijk