Patents by Inventor Vincent Follaca

Vincent Follaca 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: 11952270
    Abstract: A method and system for purification of helium and CO2 from a stream containing at least Helium, CO2, nitrogen or methane uses a combination of cryogenic, membrane and adsorption technologies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignees: L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude, Air Liquide Advanced Technologies U.S. LLC
    Inventors: Paul Terrien, Pierre-Philippe Guerif, Vincent Follaca, Alain Guillard, Youssef Tazi
  • Publication number: 20240051827
    Abstract: Processes for producing hydrogen from a source gas comprising natural gas are described. A process comprises catalytic reaction of a source gas to produce a product stream. The product stream may then be subjected to a number of conversion and/or purification steps to produce a hydrogen product. The hydrogen product may be recycled to the catalytic reactor or a gas turbine as a source of fuel and/or heat to the catalytic reaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2023
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Vincent FOLLACA, Alison Renee NELSON, Dwayne Holly PHILLIPS, Damon DANIELS
  • Publication number: 20230032466
    Abstract: A thermally integrated separation method, including exchanging heat indirectly between an inlet stream and a liquid carbon dioxide/NGL containing stream in a heat exchanger, thereby producing a cold inlet stream and a vaporized carbon dioxide/NGL containing stream, introducing the cold inlet stream into a cryogenic separation unit, thereby producing the liquid carbon dioxide/NGL containing stream and a methane-rich stream, introducing the methane-rich stream into a membrane separation unit, thereby producing a methane rich product stream, and a permeate stream, and introducing the vaporized carbon dioxide/NGL containing stream into a carbon dioxide/NGL separation unit, thereby producing a carbon dioxide rich product stream and a NGL rich product stream. Wherein, at least a portion of the liquid carbon dioxide/NGL containing stream bypasses the heat exchanger and is introduced into the carbon dioxide/NGL separation unit in liquid phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: Michael A. Turney, Vincent Follaca, Abigail Bonifacio
  • Publication number: 20220205714
    Abstract: A method of efficient cold recovery from a liquid hydrogen stream includes warming a cold liquid hydrogen stream by indirect heat exchange with a cold feed air stream in an ASU sub-cooler, thereby producing a warmed liquid hydrogen stream. Wherein at least a portion of the cool inlet air stream is introduced into a cold booster, thereby producing the compressed cool feed air stream. Wherein at least a first portion of the further cooled feed air stream is introduced into an expander, thereby producing an expanded feed air stream. Wherein a second portion of the further cooled feed air stream is further cooled, thereby producing the cold feed air stream. And, wherein the liquid oxygen stream has a first molar mass flow rate, and the cold liquid hydrogen stream has a second molar flow rate that is between 1.5 and 2.5 times the first molar mass flow rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Michael A. TURNEY, Vincent FOLLACA, Alain GUILLARD
  • Patent number: 11359858
    Abstract: A method for liquefying ammonia can include the steps of: providing a pressurized carbon dioxide stream from a power generating facility; expanding the pressurized carbon dioxide stream to a lower pressure that is sufficient to produce a dual phase carbon dioxide fluid; introducing the dual phase carbon dioxide fluid to a gas-liquid separator; withdrawing a liquid stream from the gas-liquid separator; and liquefying an ammonia gas stream in an ammonia liquefier by indirect contact with the liquid stream from the gas-liquid separator, thereby forming a liquid ammonia stream and a gaseous carbon dioxide stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Abigail Bonifacio, Vincent Follaca, Pierre-Philippe Guerif, Alain Guillard
  • Publication number: 20220106190
    Abstract: A method and system for purification of helium and CO2 from a stream containing at least Helium, CO2, nitrogen or methane uses a combination of cryogenic, membrane and adsorption technologies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Applicants: Air Liquide Advanced Technologies US LLC, L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Paul TERRIEN, Pierre-Philippe GUERIF, Vincent FOLLACA, Alain GUILLARD, Youssef TAZI
  • Publication number: 20210348840
    Abstract: A method for increasing the reliability and availability of a cryogenic fluid reliquefaction system is provided. It may comprise at least N sub-coolers comprising a motor and a compressor and at least one variable speed. It may comprise N?1 variable speed systems to be shared between the motors and compressors if N equals 2, or N?2 variable speed systems to be shared between the motors and compressors if N is greater than 2. It may comprise two different liquid cryogenic fluid users are provided liquid cryogenic fluid, utilizing two different main cryogenic tanks, with a common sub-cooler and recirculation loop, wherein the pressure in the two different main cryogenic tanks are controlled with pressure controllers acting on two different subcooled liquid cryogenic fluid valves. And or, it may comprise at least one liquid cryogenic fluid user is provided refrigeration from two or more sub-cooling systems in a lead-lag arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: Pierre-Philippe GUERIF, Alain GUILLARD, Gilles FLAVIEN, Vincent FOLLACA, Paul KONG
  • Publication number: 20210348841
    Abstract: A method for increasing the reliability and availability of a cryogenic fluid reliquefaction system is provided. Wherein the liquid cryogenic fluid is supplied to a cryogenic liquid user in the absence of a pump by elevating the storage height of the main cryogenic storage tank relative to the liquid cryogenic liquid user to a minimum predetermined height. Wherein the temperature of the liquid cryogenic fluid downstream of the sub-cooler is at least 1 degree Celsius above the freezing point of the cryogenic fluid at the internal pressure. The method also includes controlling the internal pressure of the main cryogenic tank by adjusting the recirculation flow to the, and maintaining the cold supply to the liquid cryogenic fluid user when the sub-cooling line is reduced or stopped by venting the vaporized cryogenic fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: Pierre-Philippe GUERIF, Gilles FLAVIEN, Alain GUILLARD, Vincent FOLLACA
  • Publication number: 20210199376
    Abstract: A method for liquefying ammonia can include the steps of: providing a pressurized carbon dioxide stream from a power generating facility; expanding the pressurized carbon dioxide stream to a lower pressure that is sufficient to produce a dual phase carbon dioxide fluid; introducing the dual phase carbon dioxide fluid to a gas-liquid separator; withdrawing a liquid stream from the gas-liquid separator; and liquefying an ammonia gas stream in an ammonia liquefier by indirect contact with the liquid stream from the gas-liquid separator, thereby forming a liquid ammonia stream and a gaseous carbon dioxide stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Applicant: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Abigail BONIFACIO, Vincent FOLLACA, Pierre-Philippe GUERIF, Alain GUILLARD
  • Publication number: 20210190421
    Abstract: A method for temperature-controlled delivery of the gaseous product at temperatures at or below ambient in the event of an air separation unit failure. In one embodiment, a first portion of a stored cryogenic liquid product is sent to the back-up vaporizer and heated to ambient conditions, and a second portion of stored cryogenic liquid product, which is at the cryogenic storage temperature, bypasses the back-up vaporizer using a bypass line controlled by a bypass valve and is mixed with the vaporized gas. This mixed stream will then preferably go through a static mixer in order to get to an homogenous temperature that is below the ambient temperature. A temperature control loop can be used to adjust the opening of the by-pass valve in order to reach the desired product temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2019
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Applicant: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Patrick LE BOT, Pierre-Philippe GUERIF, Vincent FOLLACA
  • Publication number: 20200308494
    Abstract: A method of separating hydrocarbons containing three or more carbon atoms from an off-gas stream is provided. This method includes separating a light ends stream from a fractionator, thereby producing a stream rich in hydrocarbons containing three or more carbon atoms, and a stream lean in hydrocarbons containing three or more carbon atoms, separating the stream lean in hydrocarbons containing three or more carbon atoms in a membrane unit, thereby producing a permeate stream enriched in hydrocarbons containing three or more carbon atoms and a retentate stream, and separating the stream rich in hydrocarbons containing three or more carbon atoms in one or more separation columns, thereby producing one or more streams selected from the group consisting of a propylene stream, a propane stream, a butane stream, a light cat naptha stream, and a heavy cat naptha stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Vincent FOLLACA, Paul TERRIEN, Pascal MARTY, Martin RAVENTOS
  • Patent number: 10712088
    Abstract: A method of temperature balancing for thermal integration of an air separation unit (ASU) with an oxycombustion power generation system, including compressing air through a plurality of compression stages, and routing a first stage compressed air stream through a first heat exchanger in heat exchange communication with a subsequent stage compressed air stream to lower the first stage compressed air stream temperature and increase the temperature of a subsequent stage compressed air stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude
    Inventors: Pierre-Philippe Guerif, Alain Guillard, Vincent Follaca