Device and method for filling a storage tank

Abstract

The invention relates to a filling device for filling pressurized tanks, comprising a fluid transfer circuit provided with an upstream end for connection to a source (2) of gas and at least two parallel downstream ends (6, 16, 26) for connection to different tanks (7) to be filled, the transfer circuit (8) comprising a temperature regulating member (9) for regulating the temperature of the gas transferred from the source (2) to the downstream ends, the gas temperature regulating member (9) being located in the transfer circuit (8) upstream of the at least two downstream ends (6, 16, 26), meaning that the gas temperature regulating member (9) is common to the at least two downstream ends (6, 16, 26), characterised in that each of the at least two downstream ends (6, 16, 26) of the circuit comprises a respective control member (15) for controlling the flow and / or pressure of the transferred gas and configured to independently control the flow and / or pressure in each downstream end (6, 16, 26). The invention also relates to a method for filling a plurality of pressurized gas tanks (7) via a filling device (1).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a device and a method for filling a storage tank.

[0002] More particularly, the present invention relates to a device for filling a pressurized gas tank, in particular a vehicle hydrogen tank, comprising a fluid transfer circuit provided with an upstream end for connection to a source of gas and with at least two parallel downstream ends for connection to different tanks to be filled, said transfer circuit comprising a temperature regulating member for regulating the temperature of the gas transferred from said source to said downstream ends, said gas temperature regulating member being located in said transfer circuit upstream of said at least two downstream ends, which means that said gas temperature regulating member is common to said at least two downstream ends. Background Art

[0003] In order to quickly fill a pressurized gaseous hydrogen tank, it is usually necessary to pre-cool the gas to avoid overheating of the tank being filled.

[0004] Existing installations or filling / gas stations are usually small in size and have one or two filling points, each equipped with its own cooling device.

[0005] Therefore, an increase in the capacity of the filling station and the number of filling points will increase the number of cooling devices.

[0006] Furthermore, such pre-cooling of hydrogen before filling is very demanding. The gas stream to be cooled may have a highly variable flow rate (e.g. 0.5-1.8 kg / min) with a highly variable inlet temperature (room temperature, -20°C to 40°C). Furthermore, the greater the Joule-Thomson effect, the greater the expansion of such high-pressure gas supplied by the gas source.

[0007] In known installations, hydrogen is first transported towards a dispenser. Thereafter, it is expanded to the required pressure at the dispenser. It is then cooled via a heat exchanger inside the dispenser in order to counteract the Joule-Thomson effect. Therefore, each dispenser must be equipped with a heat exchanger and a connection to a cooling system. For high-volume filling stations, such a cooling system increases the cost and complexity of the installation.

[0008] Document EP0933583A2 describes a tank filling installation comprising a common upstream cooling system for the simultaneous filling of a plurality of cylinders. This design does not allow for the filling of different tanks which may have different structural characteristics and / or different starting pressures, for example. Summary of the invention

[0009] An object of the present invention is to solve all or part of the above-mentioned deficiencies of the prior art.

[0010] To this end, according to the invention, on the other hand, the device according to its superordinate definition given by the above-mentioned preamble is mainly characterized by at least two downstream ends of the circuit, each downstream end comprising respective means for controlling the flow and / or pressure of the gas being transferred and configured to independently control the flow and / or pressure in each downstream end.

[0011] Additionally, embodiments of the present invention may include one or more of the following features:

[0012] - the means for controlling the flow and / or pressure for each downstream end comprise a controlled pressure control and / or flow control valve, the filling device comprising an electronic controller configured to control said valve;

[0013] - the controller is configured to control the valves according to one or more fast filling algorithms so as to establish the same or different respective rates of pressure increase in the tanks;

[0014] - the device comprises, at each downstream end, a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the gas, the temperature sensor being connected to a controller;

[0015] - said temperature sensor is positioned downstream of the respective flow control and / or pressure control member;

[0016] - the controller is configured to control the flow control and / or pressure control member for each downstream end as a function of the temperature measured by the temperature sensor for the downstream end;

[0017] - the controller is configured to increase the filling rate of the storage tank connected to the downstream end when the temperature measured by the sensor for measuring the temperature of the downstream end decreases, and to decrease the filling rate of the storage tank connected to the downstream end when the temperature measured by the temperature sensor for the downstream end increases;

[0018] - the device comprises a flow meter for measuring the flow of gas in each downstream end, the flow meter being connected to the controller, the controller being configured to control the flow control and / or pressure control member for each downstream end as a function of the flow measured by the flow meter for the downstream end;

[0019] - the controller is configured to calculate an average temperature of the gas quantity diverted in each downstream end based on the measurements obtained from the temperature sensor and from the flow meter, the controller being configured to control the flow control and / or pressure control means for each downstream end as a function of said average temperature of the gas quantity diverted, in particular in order to increase the filling rate of the tanks connected to the downstream end when the average temperature of the gas quantity diverted decreases and to decrease the filling rate of the tanks connected to the downstream end when this average temperature of the gas quantity diverted increases;

[0020] - the controller is configured to control the flow control and / or pressure control member using feedback control;

[0021] - the transfer circuit comprises, between an upstream end and a downstream end, a portion comprising at least two parallel and distinct lines, each of said parallel lines comprising a respective gas temperature regulating member, each of said parallel lines comprising a first end for connection to said source and a second end for connection to each downstream end of said circuit via a respective set of valves;

[0022] - the device comprises a source comprising one or more pressurized gas reservoirs connected in series and / or in parallel to the upstream end of the circuit;

[0023] - the source comprises at least two groups of fluids at different temperatures, the gas temperature regulating means comprising a mixer configured to mix the fluids from the at least two groups to obtain a determined temperature;

[0024] - the device comprises a source comprising at least one liquefied gas reservoir, the gas temperature regulating member comprising a parallel portion of a transfer circuit having two parallel branches, one of the two branches comprising an exchanger for heating the fluid, the temperature regulating device further comprising a set of valves configured to control the distribution of the fluid coming from the liquefied gas reservoir to the two parallel branches in order to regulate the temperature of the mixture of the fluids downstream of the temperature regulating member;

[0025] - the gas temperature regulating means comprises a heat exchanger which provides heat exchange between the gas of the circuit and a heat sink such as a cooling fluid;

[0026] - the temperature regulating means are controlled in such a way that the pressurized gas is cooled to a determined temperature which is a function of the filling rate imposed by the gas flow control and / or gas pressure control means;

[0027] - wherein the source comprises one or more pressurized gas reservoirs connected in series and / or in parallel to the upstream end of the circuit, said temperature regulation means being controlled in such a way as to cool the pressurized gas to a determined temperature which is a function of the pressure difference between, on the one hand, the high pressure of the gas supplied by the pressurized gas reservoir during the gas transfer and, on the other hand, the low pressure of the tank to be filled;

[0028] - The temperature regulating means is controlled in such a way that the pressurized gas is cooled to a determined temperature which ensures a gas temperature downstream of the flow control and / or pressure control means of between -25°C and -40°C, in particular between -17.5°C and -40°C.

[0029] The invention also relates to a method for filling a plurality of pressurized gas tanks, in particular vehicle hydrogen tanks, via such an arrangement, the arrangement comprising a fluid transfer circuit provided with an upstream end connected to at least one gas source and at least two parallel downstream ends for connection to different tanks, the method comprising a step of cooling the gas transferred from the source to the downstream end in the one and the same common temperature regulating member, the method comprising a step of transferring the gas to different tanks connected to the respective downstream ends, the flow rate and / or pressure of the gas transferred to the tanks being independently controlled via different respective regulating members located in the downstream ends.

[0030] The invention also relates to any alternative device or method falling within the scope of the claims, comprising any combination of the features described above or below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] Other details and advantages will become apparent upon reading the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0032] Figure 1 is a partial schematic diagram showing an example of the structure and operation of the filling device according to the present invention;

[0033] Figure 2 is a partial schematic diagram showing another example of the structure and operation of the filling device according to the present invention;

[0034] Figure 3 is a partial schematic diagram showing yet another example of the structure and operation of the filling device according to the present invention;

[0035] Figure 4 A characteristic curve of a filling example according to the prior art is depicted;

[0036] Figure 5 The characteristic curve of a filling example according to the invention is depicted. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] exist Figure 1 The pressurized gas tank filling device 1 schematically shown in FIG. 1 can be, in particular, a filling station for filling a vehicle hydrogen tank 7 .

[0038] The device generally comprises a fluid transfer circuit 8 equipped with an upstream end connected to at least one source 2 of pressurized gas (preferably at least two sources) and at least two parallel downstream ends 6, 16, 26 for connection to different tanks 7 to be filled (for example dispensing hoses equipped with nozzle guns or equivalent).

[0039] The transfer circuit 8 comprises a temperature regulating member 9 for regulating the temperature of the gas transferred from the source 2 towards one or more downstream ends. The temperature regulating member 9 is particularly designed to regulate the transferred gas to a determined temperature as described in detail below. In particular, the regulating member 9 can be configured in such a way as to cool the gas from the source 2 (when the gas from the source is at a higher temperature than the determined temperature) and / or heat the gas (when the gas from the source is at a temperature below the determined temperature).

[0040] The gas temperature regulating member 9 is located in the transfer circuit 8 upstream of the at least two downstream ends 6, 16, 26. This means that the gas temperature regulating member 9 is common to several downstream ends 6, 16, 26. Therefore, the gas transferred to the tank 7 being filled (simultaneously or not) in each downstream end has been temperature regulated by the same one common member 9.

[0041] Furthermore, each of the downstream ends 6 , 16 , 26 of the transfer circuit 8 comprises a respective control member 15 for controlling the flow and / or pressure of the transferred gas and configured to independently control the flow and / or pressure in each downstream end 6 , 16 , 26 .

[0042] This allows the cooling of a plurality of distributors to be performed in common, while allowing the performed charging to be optimized for different situations by expanding or regulating the flow rate of the upstream cooled high pressure gas.

[0043] The means 15 for controlling the flow and / or pressure of each downstream end 6, 16, 26 may for example comprise a control valve 15 for controlling the pressure or any other suitable means capable of regulating the flow and / or pressure downstream. The filling device 1 preferably comprises an electronic controller 17 configured to control the valve 15 or equivalent. The controller 17 may comprise a computer or a set of processors or any other suitable electronic device for data storage and data processing capable of controlling at least the valve 15.

[0044] The controller 17 may be configured (programmed) in particular to control the valve 15 according to one or more fast filling algorithms so as to establish respective rates of pressure increase in the same or different tanks being filled.

[0045] Preferably, a temperature sensor 18 is provided in each downstream end 6, 16, 26 to measure the temperature of the gas, said sensor 18 being connected to the controller 17. Preferably, the temperature sensor 18 is positioned downstream of the respective flow rate control and / or pressure control member 15, so as to measure the temperature of the gas after expansion / flow rate adjustment just before the gas is transferred to the tank 7.

[0046] In particular, the controller 17 may advantageously be configured to control the flow rate control and / or pressure control member 15 for each downstream end 6 , 16 , 26 as a function of the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 18 for said downstream end 6 , 16 , 26 .

[0047] For example, the controller 17 may be configured to increase the filling rate of the storage tank 7 connected to the downstream end when the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 18 for measuring the temperature used for the downstream end 6, 16, 26 decreases, and to decrease the filling rate of the storage tank connected to the downstream end when the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 18 for measuring the temperature used for the downstream end 6, 16, 26 increases.

[0048] Preferably, the device comprises a flow meter 19 for measuring the flow of gas in each downstream end 6, 16, 26 (see Figure 2 ), said flow meter 19 being connected to a controller 17, and the controller 17 being configured to control the flow control and / or pressure control member 15 for each downstream end according to the flow measured by said flow meter 19 for said downstream end 6, 16, 26. For example, the controller 17 is configured to calculate the average temperature of the quantities of gas transferred to each storage tank 7 connected to the downstream end 6, 16, 26 based on the measured values ​​of the temperature sensor 18 and the flow meter 19. The controller 17 may be configured to control the flow control and / or pressure control member 15 for each downstream end according to this average temperature of the quantities of gas transferred, in particular so as to increase the filling rate of the storage tank connected to the downstream end when the average temperature of the quantities of gas transferred decreases and to decrease the filling rate of the storage tank connected to the downstream end when the average temperature of the quantities of gas transferred increases. Preferably, the controller 17 does not regulate the temperature regulating member 9 (the member 9 is preferably independent).

[0049] The flow meter 19 is not limited to a member that directly measures the flow of gas in the circuit. Alternatively or in combination, the flow can be calculated using known measures from pressure and temperature measurements in the circuit and / or in the tank to be filled (especially downstream of each regulating valve 15).

[0050] The controller 17 may in particular be configured to control the flow control and / or pressure control member 15 using feedback control.

[0051] The device 1 thus cools the gas upstream of the circuit 8 at the filling station, which enables the cooling means to be common to each downstream distributor 6, 16, 26. By controlling the filling flow independently for each downstream end 6, 16, 26, preferably in real time and with feedback control according to the temperature of the gas at the distributor, the device makes it possible to compensate temperature fluctuations independently by means of pressure variations, characteristic for each distributor, by the Joule-Thomson effect. This arrangement makes it possible to avoid overheating of the tanks 7 to be filled.

[0052] Thus, the device 1 provides cooling of the gas at high pressure (ie before the gas expands in each distributor 6, 16, 26). As explained above, the regulated temperature may be selected and calculated according to at least one of the following:

[0053] - Desired filling rate;

[0054] - the expected Joule-Thomson effect after expansion (depending on the pressure level of the tank 7 to be filled);

[0055] - Known heat losses along the line.

[0056] The number of pressure (step / series / cascade) levels available at the filling station has an influence on the expansion level. The more pressure levels available, the less the need for downstream expansion. For example, if two pressure levels are available (e.g. 450 bar and 900 bar), at a temperature difference of 0-20°C, the regulated temperature will be regulated between -45°C and -40°C. On the other hand, if there are three different pressure levels available (e.g. 300 bar, 600 bar, 900 bar), the temperature difference may be between 0-14°C and the temperature may be regulated between -35°C and -40°C.

[0057] For example, for a filling station 1 in which hydrogen is stored in two buffer tanks at respective pressure levels of 450 bar and 900 bar in the source 2, the Joule-Thomson effect results in a heating of about 0 to 20° C. in the case of hydrogen. In order to have an average gas temperature of -33° C. at the downstream outlet of the distributor 6, 16, 26, the hydrogen needs to be cooled upstream to a temperature typically between -45° C. and -40° C. before its expansion.

[0058] This temperature may be different for different pressure levels in the filling station.

[0059] exist Figure 2In the example shown, the gas source comprises a gas reservoir 3 (e.g. a plurality of parallel gas containers containing gas under pressure, in particular at a pressure between 50 bar and 500 bar). Downstream, in the transfer circuit 8, a first compressor 22 allows filling (e.g. at a pressure between 200 bar and 700 bar) of a first buffer reservoir 4. A second compressor 23 may be provided downstream of the first buffer reservoir 4 to fill the second buffer reservoir 5 at a higher pressure (e.g. at a pressure between 500 bar and 900 bar).

[0060] The hydrogen from the source 2 may thus be compressed by one or more compressors 22, 23 so that it can be stored in the buffer reservoirs at different pressures in order to transfer the gas to the storage tank 7 by a successive (cascade / step-by-step / series) pressure equalization operation. Thus, the buffer reservoirs 4, 5 may be connected in parallel (and in series) to each downstream end 6, 16, 26 of the transfer loop 8. A cooling heat exchanger 10 is provided for cooling the gas leaving each buffer reservoir 4, 5 before it is fed to the downstream end 6, 16, 26.

[0061] As shown in the figure, the heat exchanger 10 can be a heat exchanger that provides heat exchange between the gas of the loop 8 and the cold source 21, such as a cooling fluid that may or may not circulate in the loop. Therefore, the gas temperature adjustment component 9 can include the heat exchanger 10 or be composed of the heat exchanger 10.

[0062] As shown, the transfer circuit 8 preferably comprises a portion with at least two different parallel pipelines 28 between the upstream and downstream ends 6, 16, 26. Each of the parallel pipelines 28 comprises a respective gas temperature regulating member 9 (in this example, a cooling heat exchanger 10). The two parallel pipelines 28 are connected upstream to the outlets of the two buffer reservoirs 4, 5, respectively. The two parallel pipelines 28 are connected downstream to all downstream ends 6, 16, 26 of the distribution circuit 8 via a set of valves 27.

[0063] Thus, the downstream end 6, 16, 26 is connected in parallel to each of the two parallel lines 28 of the circuit. In this way, the tank 7 connected to the downstream end 6, 16, 26 can in any case be supplied with gas from one or the other (or two) buffer reservoirs 4, 5 (in the present example there are two buffer reservoirs, but there may also be three or more buffer reservoirs) using a common upstream cooler 9, 10.

[0064] These valves 27 make it possible to select the cooled hydrogen from the source 2 having the most suitable pressure level for filling the tank 7 .

[0065] For example, if the required pressure is below the pressure in the corresponding intermediate pressure buffer reservoir 4, then a so-called intermediate pressure line ( Figure 1 Hydrogen is extracted from the upper line 28 in the . This hydrogen can then be expanded downstream in the valve 15 to reduce the required pressure. Due to the Joule-Thomson effect, the expanded hydrogen will have a temperature preferably between -40°C and -25°C.

[0066] As schematically indicated by dashed lines, all components of the transfer circuit 8 up to the temperature regulating means 9 , 10 may form part of an upstream entity or “upstream station”.

[0067] Likewise, all components downstream of the temperature regulating means 9 may form part of the downstream distribution entity (accessible to the user). Between these two entities, the one or more cooling gas transfer lines may be thermally insulated and / or cooled.

[0068] exist Figure 3 In the example shown, the source 2 comprises a liquefied gas reservoir 20 which supplies two parallel lines 28, each comprising a respective gas temperature regulating member 9, via respective valves or pumps 14. As previously described, these two parallel lines 28 are connected downstream via a set of valves 27 to all the downstream ends 6, 16, 26 of the distribution circuit 8, respectively.

[0069] Furthermore, a cross-connection line 24 (equipped with an optional valve 25 ) may be provided for transferring fluid from one line 28 upstream of another gas temperature regulating component 9 .

[0070] Downstream of the pump 14 and upstream of the respective temperature regulating member 9, each line 28 may include an optional valve 29. That is, the line 24 and the valves 25 and 29 may be eliminated.

[0071] The gas temperature regulating member 9 may include a parallel portion of the transfer circuit 8, the parallel portion having two parallel / parallel branches, one of which includes an exchanger 11 for heating the fluid. The temperature regulating member 9 also includes a set of valves / valve groups 12, 13, which are configured to control the distribution of the fluid from the liquefied gas reservoir 20 to the two parallel branches to adjust the temperature of the fluid to a determined temperature. That is, the pressurized fluid is distributed between the heating exchanger 11 and the bypass portion that bypasses the exchanger 11 to adjust the temperature of the pressurized fluid downstream. The gas at the desired temperature can supply the corresponding buffer reservoir 12 and / or supply the downstream pipeline of the distribution end 6, 16, 26 leading to the downstream.

[0072] Thus, liquid hydrogen may be extracted (pumped) from the liquid reservoir 2 and then stored in the buffer reservoirs 12, 13 at different pressures (either at room temperature or kept cold at a controlled temperature).

[0073] Hydrogen at a determined temperature can thus be obtained in a manner known per se by mixing cold hydrogen directly from the pump 14 with warmer hydrogen from the buffer reservoirs 12 , 13 .

[0074] More generally, temperature regulation can be achieved by performing a suitable mix between relatively hot hydrogen and relatively cold hydrogen. The relatively hot hydrogen can, for example, come from one or more pressurized gas buffer reservoirs and / or from a cold source via a heating operation (using, for example, a heat exchanger). The cooler hydrogen can, for example, come from a cryogenic liquid source and / or from a source of a hotter fluid but cooled by a cooling system (e.g., by means of a cold fluid such as liquid nitrogen). Any other suitable type of temperature regulation is contemplated.

[0075] As shown, a temperature sensor 30 may be positioned in each pipeline 28 downstream of the buffer reservoirs 12 , 13 and downstream of the temperature regulating member 9 .

[0076] In the example above, two buffer reservoirs are desired. Of course, as an alternative, one or more than two buffer reservoirs (especially three) may be desired. These buffer reservoirs can be filled with gases at different pressure levels. During the filling of the storage tank 7, hydrogen is preferably extracted from one or more buffer reservoirs at a higher pressure level that is closest to the storage tank 7 to be filled. When the pressure between the first buffer reservoir and the storage tank 7 to be filled is balanced (when the pressure and / or flow difference is below a threshold), the device 1 then uses another buffer reservoir (changes the pressure bank), and so on.

[0077] This enables minimization of heating by the Joule-Thomson effect.The high pressure gas, after being cooled at the upstream station, is delivered to a distributor (downstream end 6, 16, 26) where it is expanded (valve 15) before being delivered to a receiving tank.

[0078] It should be noted that such a serial / cascaded / step-by-step gas transfer may be supplemented and / or replaced and / or substituted, for example, by at least one other pressure source, such as a compressor.

[0079] This architecture thus allows combining serial / cascaded / step-by-step filling, common upstream cooling before expansion / regulation, while allowing control of the filling in each downstream end. Preferably, the pressure in each downstream end 6, 16, 26 is controlled via a fast filling algorithm. For example, the controller controls the expansion valve 15 according to the so-called "MC" filling method, described in particular in document US2011259469A. Thus, the filling rate can be calculated based on the average temperature according to theoretical or empirical equations, in particular those described by the MC method or those described by the standard SAE J2601 filling protocol.

[0080] As previously mentioned, the control of the filling rate of the tank 7 is preferably implemented at the corresponding valve 15 via a pressure ramp (for example a valve of the PCV "pressure control valve" type). This control of the downstream filling rate can be implemented dynamically based on the measurement of the actual temperature of the gas at the downstream distributor. At any moment, the temperature at the distributor 6, 16, 26 can be measured. The average temperature weighted by the delivery mass can be calculated. This makes it possible to estimate the amount of energy introduced into the tank 7 being filled and the extent to which the tank 7 is heated. The filling rate (pressure ramp) can be controlled using feedback control based on the average temperature at the distributor. Filling is accelerated when the average temperature is low, or vice versa.

[0081] As an alternative or in combination / addition, the control of the downstream filling rate may be dynamically implemented as a function of the temperature of the tank and / or as a function of the temperature of the gas in the tank. This temperature may be communicated by the tank 7 to the controller and / or may be estimated by the controller as a function of other parameters, such as those described in the results published by the European "HyTransfer" project (see in particular the document entitled "Pre-Normative Research for Thermodynamic Optimization of Fast Hydrogen Transfer" from the Hytransfer project (https: / / www.fch.europa.eu / project / pre-normative-research-thermodyna mic-optimization-fast-hydrogen-transfer)).

[0082] The above-described apparatus and method enable the structure or operation of a high-capacity service / filling station to be simplified by minimizing the number of connecting structures between the upstream portion of the filling station and the downstream dispenser.

[0083] The device 1 also makes it possible to limit the number, cost and complexity of cooling components, in particular for filling stations with liquefied gas sources where a mixture of cold and hot is difficult to achieve.

[0084] This architecture makes it possible to improve the modular nature of the filling station. In particular, one or more dispensers can be easily added without changing the overall upstream architecture of the circuit.

[0085] The bulkiness of the downstream distributor is also reduced.

[0086] The proposed filling may be more irregular than conventional filling, but achieves the same filling time without the need to accurately control the temperature of the downstream expanding fluid.

[0087] Can be respectively Figure 4 and Figure 5 See the characteristic curves of the following parameters measured at the downstream end as a function of time for an example of a filling tank according to the prior art and an example of a filling tank according to the present invention: P, pressure (indicating the pressure of tank 7); Q, gas flow; and T, temperature.

[0088] If you can Figure 4 It can be seen that the pressure P increases linearly, the temperature T of the gas in the distributor is basically constant, and the flow rate Q increases and then decreases continuously.

[0089] exist Figure 5 In the example according to the present invention, the rise in pressure P is not linear or has a low degree of linearity, the variation in flow rate Q is more irregular, and the temperature T of the gas in the downstream end experiences discontinuity / interruption at the moment of buffer reservoir change during the serially / stepwise / stepwise connection.

[0090] Therefore, according to the invention, before changing the pressure reservoir (e.g. around 200-400 bar), the temperature of the filling gas may be relatively low. This results in a high filling rate at these pressures, where the filling flow is the maximum filling flow. This high filling flow compensates for the phase of reduced flow after changing the pressure reservoir due to the high temperature at the distributor.

[0091] Thus, advantageously, the filling station may integrate a source of liquefied gas (hydrogen). It may be of interest to refrigerate / generate cold by mixing a cryogenic gas with a hotter gas (eg room temperature) via a temperature control device.

[0092] In a first integration possibility, the same valve performs both the temperature control and the pressure ramp control of the gas transferred to the tank to be filled (eg the amount of gas per unit time).

[0093] In this case, it may be necessary to provide a set of valves and interconnecting lines to connect each downstream end to the storage tank.

[0094] According to possible particularities (in combination with the above aspects or independently of the above aspects), at least two buffer reservoirs intended for separate lines can be used for the same filling line. If two (or more) buffer reservoirs are at the same pressure (for example one buffer reservoir has a pressure of up to 180 bar and the other is also at this pressure), these buffer reservoirs can be used in parallel. Their respective valves are opened simultaneously and the tanks remain interconnected.

[0095] This prevents excessive pressure differences and limits the number of valve openings and closings during the life of the component. This prolongs the service life of the component. The electronic control is also simplified. The performance of the filling station is improved.

Claims

1. A filling device for filling a pressurized gas tank, the filling device comprising a fluid transfer circuit (8) provided with an upstream end for connection to a source (2) of gas and at least two parallel downstream ends (6, 16, 26) for connection to different tanks (7) to be filled, the fluid transfer circuit (8) comprising a gas temperature regulating member (9) for regulating the temperature of the gas transferred from the source (2) to the downstream ends, the gas temperature regulating member (9) being located in the fluid transfer circuit (8) upstream of the at least two parallel downstream ends (6, 16, 26), which means that the gas temperature regulating member (9) is common to the at least two parallel downstream ends (6, 16, 26), characterized in that Each of the at least two parallel downstream ends (6, 16, 26) of the fluid transfer circuit comprises a respective control member (15) for controlling the flow and / or pressure of the transferred gas and configured to independently control the flow and / or pressure in each downstream end (6, 16, 26), the control member for controlling the flow and / or pressure for each downstream end (6, 16, 26) comprising a controlled pressure control and / or flow control valve, the filling device (1) comprising an electronic controller (17) configured to control the controlled pressure control and / or flow control valve, the electronic controller (17) being configured to control the controlled pressure control and / or flow control valve according to one or more fast filling algorithms, thereby establishing respective pressure increase rates in the same or different storage tanks (7).

2. The filling device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The filling device comprises, in each downstream end (6, 16, 26), a temperature sensor (18) for measuring the temperature of the gas, the temperature sensor (18) being connected to the electronic controller (17).

3. The filling device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The temperature sensor (18) is located downstream of the respective control member (15) for flow control and / or pressure control.

4. The filling device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: The electronic controller (17) is configured to control a control member (15) for flow control and / or pressure control for each of the downstream ends (6, 16, 26) according to a temperature measured by a temperature sensor (18) for each of the downstream ends (6, 16, 26).

5. The filling device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The electronic controller (17) is configured to increase the filling rate of the storage tank connected to the downstream end when the temperature measured by the temperature sensor (18) for measuring the temperature of the downstream end (6, 16, 26) decreases, and to decrease the filling rate of the storage tank connected to the downstream end when the temperature measured by the temperature sensor (18) for measuring the temperature of the downstream end (6, 16, 26) increases.

6. The filling device according to claim 3 or 5, characterized in that: The filling device comprises a flow meter (19) for measuring the flow of gas in each downstream end (6, 16, 26), the flow meter (19) being connected to the electronic controller (17), the electronic controller (17) being configured to control a control member (15) for flow control and / or pressure control for each downstream end according to the flow measured by the flow meter (19) for the downstream end (6, 16, 26).

7. The filling device according to claim 6, characterized in that: The electronic controller (17) is configured to calculate the average temperature of the gas quantity transferred in each downstream end (6, 16, 26) based on the measurement values ​​obtained from the temperature sensor (18) and the flow meter (19), and the electronic controller (17) is configured to control the control member (15) for flow control and / or pressure control for each downstream end according to the average temperature of the gas quantity transferred, so as to increase the filling rate of the storage tank connected to the downstream end when the average temperature of the gas quantity transferred decreases and to reduce the filling rate of the storage tank connected to the downstream end when the average temperature of the gas quantity transferred increases.

8. The filling device according to claim 5 or 7, characterized in that: The electronic controller (17) is configured to control the control member (15) for flow control and / or pressure control using feedback control.

9. The filling device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, 5 and 7, characterized in that: The fluid transfer circuit (8) comprises, between an upstream end and a downstream end (6, 16, 26), a portion comprising at least two parallel distinct lines (28), each of the parallel distinct lines (28) comprising a respective gas temperature regulating member (9), each of the parallel distinct lines (28) comprising a first end for connection to the source (2) and a second end for connection to each downstream end (6, 16, 26) of the fluid transfer circuit (8) via a respective set of valves (27).

10. The filling device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, 5 and 7, characterized in that: The filling device comprises the source (2) comprising one or more pressurized gas reservoirs (4, 5, 12, 13) connected in series and / or in parallel to the upstream end of the fluid transfer circuit (8).

11. The filling device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, 5 and 7, characterized in that: The source (2) comprises at least two groups of fluids at different temperatures, and the gas temperature regulating member (9) comprises a mixer configured to mix the fluids from the at least two groups to obtain a determined temperature.

12. The filling device according to claim 10, characterized in that: The source (2) comprises a plurality of pressurized gas reservoirs (4, 5, 12, 13) connected in parallel to the upstream end of the fluid transfer circuit (8), wherein at least two of the plurality of pressurized gas reservoirs are used to supply different downstream ends respectively but can be combined and used for the same downstream end.

13. The filling device according to claim 11, characterized in that: The source (2) comprises a plurality of pressurized gas reservoirs (4, 5, 12, 13) connected in parallel to the upstream end of the fluid transfer circuit (8), wherein at least two of the plurality of pressurized gas reservoirs are used to supply different downstream ends respectively but can be combined and used for the same downstream end.

14. The filling device according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that: The multiple pressurized gas reservoirs can be used simultaneously at the same downstream end when they are at the same pressure.

15. The filling device according to any one of claims 1-3, 5, 7, 12 and 13, characterized in that The filling device comprises the source (2), which includes at least one liquefied gas reservoir (20), wherein the gas temperature regulating member (9) comprises a parallel part of the fluid transfer circuit (8), the parallel part having two parallel branches, one of the two parallel branches comprising an exchanger (11) for heating the fluid, and the gas temperature regulating member (9) further comprises a valve assembly (12, 13) configured to control the distribution of the fluid from the liquefied gas reservoir (20) to the two parallel branches, thereby regulating the temperature of the fluid mixture downstream of the gas temperature regulating member.

16. The filling device according to claim 15, characterized in that The valve assembly (12, 13) is configured to control the distribution of fluid from the liquefied gas reservoir (20) to the two parallel branches to regulate the temperature of the fluid mixture downstream of the gas temperature regulation member while providing pressure ramp regulation of the gas transferred to the tank to be filled, i.e. the same valve performs both temperature regulation and regulation of the respective pressure rise rates in the tanks.

17. The filling device according to any one of claims 1-3, 5, 7, 12-13 and 16, characterized in that The gas temperature regulating member (9) comprises a heat exchanger (10) for performing heat exchange between the gas of the fluid transfer circuit (8) and a cold source (21).

18. The filling device according to claim 17, characterized in that The cold source (21) is a cooling fluid.

19. The filling device according to any one of claims 1-3, 5, 7, 12-13, 16 and 18, characterized in that The tank is a vehicle hydrogen tank.

20. A method for filling a plurality of pressurized gas storage tanks (7) via a filling device (1), the filling device comprising a fluid transfer circuit (8), the fluid transfer circuit being provided with an upstream end for connection to at least one source (2) of gas and at least two parallel downstream ends (6, 16, 26) for connection to different storage tanks (7), the method comprising the step of cooling the gas transferred from the source (2) to the downstream ends (6, 16, 26) in the same common gas temperature regulating member (9), the method comprising the step of transferring the gas to different storage tanks (7) connected to the respective downstream ends (6, 16, 26), the flow rate and / or pressure of the gas transferred to the storage tanks (7) being independently controlled via different respective controlled pressure control and / or flow control valves located in the downstream ends (6, 16, 26) for establishing the same or different respective pressure increase rates in the storage tanks (7).

21. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that The tank is a vehicle hydrogen tank.

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