DEVICE AND METHOD FOR FILLING A COMPRESSED GAS TANK

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device and a method for filling a pressurized gas tank. Such a device is known from US2020041070A1.

[0002] The invention relates more particularly to a device for filling pressurized gas tanks comprising a distributor intended to supply a tank with pressurized gas from a fluid source, the device comprising a refrigeration system for cooling the gas flow from the distributor, the refrigeration system comprising a refrigerant circuit such as brine and a heat exchanger ensuring a heat exchange between the heat transfer fluid and the gas flow from the distributor, the heat transfer fluid circuit comprising, arranged in series in a loop, a heat transfer fluid reserve, a member for circulating the heat transfer fluid in the circuit and at least one evaporator ensuring a heat exchange between the heat transfer fluid and a cold source.

[0003] A first method of cooling hydrogen in or upstream of the dispenser of a filling station consists of supplying a heat exchanger with an antifreeze heat transfer fluid, typically brine. This heat transfer fluid (or refrigerant) is itself cooled in the evaporator of a refrigeration unit (see for example JP2015092108A).

[0004] In a second embodiment, there is a single loop from the brine tank passing successively through the evaporator of the refrigeration unit and through the exchanger of the distributor (see for example EP3457019A1).

[0005] This second embodiment is generally more efficient. Indeed, at a given brine temperature, the distributor exchanger can be supplied at a lower temperature because the evaporator provides additional cooling by being inserted between the brine tank and the distributor exchanger. In addition, for a given cooling target on the hydrogen, the evaporator being supplied with warmer brine, the evaporation temperature of the refrigerant can be higher and therefore the coefficient of performance of the refrigeration unit is increased. In addition, for a given compressor size on the refrigeration unit, the second embodiment makes it possible to cool the hydrogen at a lower temperature and / or to have more cooling power.

[0006] An aim of the present invention is to overcome all or part of the drawbacks of the prior art noted above.

[0007] To this end, the device according to the invention, moreover in accordance with the generic definition given in the preamble above, is essentially characterized in that the circuit comprises a bypass portion and a set of bypass valve(s) allowing all or part of the heat transfer fluid to avoid passing into the heat exchanger of the distributor to cool the heat transfer fluid in the reserve and to accumulate frigories there independently of the need for frigories at the distributor.

[0008] Furthermore, embodiments of the invention may include one or more of the following features: according to the direction of circulation of the heat transfer fluid in the heat transfer fluid circuit, the at least one evaporator is located between the reserve and the heat exchanger of the distributor, downstream of the fluid circulation member and upstream of the heat exchanger of the distributor, according to the direction of circulation of the heat transfer fluid in the heat transfer fluid circuit, the at least one evaporator is located between the heat exchanger of the distributor and the reserve, i.e. downstream of the heat exchanger of the distributor and upstream of the reserve, the heat transfer fluid circuit comprises two evaporators arranged respectively upstream and downstream of the reserve, a first evaporator located between the reserve and the heat exchanger of the distributor and a second evaporator between the heat exchanger of the distributor and the reserve,the heat transfer fluid circuit comprises a bypass of the at least one evaporator and a set of valve(s) to allow direct supply of the heat exchanger of the distributor from the reserve? the device comprises several distributors intended to supply separate reservoirs and each comprising a heat exchanger, the heat transfer fluid circuit being common to the plurality of distributors and comprising a set of parallel branches passing respectively through the different heat exchangers and a set of distribution valve(s) to control the flow of heat transfer fluid to the heat exchanger(s), the device comprising a bypass portion and a set of valve(s) for all or part of the heat exchangers.

[0009] The invention also relates to a method for filling a pressurized gas tank by means of a device according to any one of the characteristics above or below, in which a gas flow is circulated in the distributor and through the heat exchanger and a heat transfer fluid flow is also circulated in the heat transfer fluid circuit and passes into the heat exchanger (5) of the distributor.

[0010] According to possible features, the method comprises a step of circulating at least a portion of the heat transfer fluid in the bypass portion without passing through the heat exchanger of the distributor to cool the heat transfer fluid in the reserve and / or reduce the cold power supplied to the heat exchanger.

[0011] The invention may also relate to any alternative device or method comprising any combination of the above or below features within the scope of the claims.

[0012] Other features and advantages will become apparent upon reading the following description, given with reference to the figures in which: [ Fig.1 ] represents a schematic and partial view illustrating a possible example of structure and operation of the invention according to a first embodiment, [ Fig.2 ] represents a schematic and partial view illustrating a possible example of structure and operation of the invention according to a second embodiment, [ Fig.3 ] represents a schematic and partial view illustrating a possible example of structure and operation of the invention according to a third embodiment, [ Fig.4 ] represents a schematic and partial view illustrating a possible example of structure and operation of the invention according to a fourth embodiment.

[0013] The device 1 for filling pressurized gas tanks illustrated is for example a station for filling pressurized hydrogen tanks. This device 1 comprises a distributor 2 (flexible provided with a nozzle for example) intended to supply a tank 3 with pressurized gas from a source 4 of fluid (storage(s) and / or compressor(s) and / or other).

[0014] The device 1 comprises a refrigeration system for cooling the gas flow from the distributor 2. This refrigeration system comprises a circuit 6 of heat transfer fluid such as brine and a heat exchanger 5 ensuring a heat exchange between the heat transfer fluid flow and the gas flow from the distributor 2. The heat exchanger 5 may comprise a conductive mass which may be pre-cooled by the heat transfer fluid to increase the thermal inertia of the cooling (and where appropriate cool even without simultaneous passage of heat transfer fluid).

[0015] The heat transfer fluid circuit 6 is for example a closed loop and comprises, arranged in series in the loop, a reserve 7 of heat transfer fluid (for example a brine reserve), a member 8 for circulating the heat transfer fluid in the circuit 6 (for example a pump) and an evaporator 9 ensuring a heat exchange between the heat transfer fluid and a cold source 10 (for example a heat exchanger).

[0016] The circuit comprises a bypass portion 11 and a set of bypass valve(s) 12 allowing all or part of the heat transfer fluid to avoid passing through the heat exchanger 5 of the distributor 2. This bypass of the flow without passing through the heat exchanger 5 makes it possible to cool the heat transfer fluid in the reserve 7 and to accumulate frigories there independently of the need for frigories at the distributor 2. That is to say that the circulation of the heat transfer fluid in the circuit without passing through the heat exchanger 5 makes it possible to cool this heat transfer fluid. This bypass also makes it possible to regulate the quantity of cold supplied to the hydrogen in the heat exchanger 5. That is to say that this bypass makes it possible to control (reduce) the cold power supplied to the heat exchanger 5.

[0017] Note that, as shown in dotted lines at [ Fig.1 ], it is also possible to envisage such a bypass 14 of the evaporator 9 and a set of valve(s) 15 to allow a direct supply of the heat exchanger 5 of the distributor 2 from the reserve 7. If the evaporator 9 has heated up following a prolonged shutdown, this would make it possible not to heat the heat transfer fluid while the refrigeration unit 10 starts up.

[0018] In the embodiment of the [ Fig.1 ], the evaporator 9 is located between the reserve 7 and the heat exchanger 5 of the distributor 5, downstream of the fluid circulation member 8 and upstream of the heat exchanger 5 of the distributor (depending on the direction of circulation of the heat transfer fluid in the heat transfer fluid circuit 6).

[0019] In the embodiment of the [ Fig.2 ], the evaporator 9 is located between the heat exchanger 5 of the distributor 5 and the reserve 7, downstream of the heat exchanger 5 of the distributor 5 and upstream of the reserve 7 (depending on the direction of circulation of the heat transfer fluid in the heat transfer fluid circuit 6).

[0020] As illustrated in the embodiment of the [ Fig.3 ], the heat transfer fluid circuit 6 may comprise two evaporators 9, a first evaporator 9 located downstream of the reserve 7 and upstream of the heat exchanger 5, for example between the fluid circulation member 8 and the heat exchanger 5 of the distributor 5 and a second evaporator 9 located between the heat exchanger 5 of the distributor 2 and the reserve 7.

[0021] As illustrated in the embodiment of the [ Fig.4 ], the device may comprise several distributors 2 intended to supply separate tanks 3 and for example simultaneously or not and each comprising a heat exchanger 5. The heat transfer fluid circuit 6 is common to the plurality of distributors 2 and comprises a set of parallel branches passing respectively through the different heat exchangers 5 and a set of distribution valve(s) 13 for controlling the flow of heat transfer fluid to the heat exchanger(s) 5. As illustrated, the device 1 may comprise a bypass portion 11 and a set of valve(s) 12 as described above for each of the heat exchangers 5.

[0022] Note that the [ Fig.4] details a non-limiting example of the cold source 10 in a little more detail. In this example, the cold source comprises a loop circuit of a refrigerant which comprises a pump 16, evaporator 17, a reserve 18 of refrigerant then a passage in the evaporator 9 which cools the brine circulating in the circuit 6 of heat transfer fluid. This type of cold source can be used in the other embodiments.

Claims

1. Device for filling pressurized-gas tanks comprising a distributor (2) intended to supply a tank (3) with pressurized gas from a source (4) of fluid, the device (1) comprising a refrigeration system for cooling the flow of gas in the distributor (2), the refrigeration system comprising a circuit (6) of heat-transfer fluid, such as brine, and a heat exchanger (5) ensuring an exchange of heat between the heat-transfer fluid and the flow of gas in the distributor (2), the circuit (6) of heat-transfer fluid comprising, arranged in series in a loop, a member (8) for circulating the heat-transfer fluid in the circuit (6) and at least one evaporator (9) ensuring a thermal exchange between the heat-transfer fluid and a source (10) of cold, characterized in that the circuit comprises a reserve (7) of heat-transfer fluid, a bypass portion (11) and a set of one or more bypass valves (12) allowing all or some of the heat-transfer fluid to avoid passing through the heat exchanger (5) of the distributor (2) in order to cool the heat-transfer fluid in the reserve (7) and to accumulate cold energy therein independently of the need for cold energy in the distributor (2).

2. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that, in the direction of circulation of the heat-transfer fluid in the circuit (6) of heat-transfer fluid, the at least one evaporator (9) is located between the reserve (7) and the heat exchanger (5) of the distributor (5), downstream of the fluid-circulating member (8) and upstream of the heat exchanger (5) of the distributor (2).

3. Device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, in the direction of circulation of the heat-transfer fluid in the circuit (6) of heat-transfer fluid, the at least one evaporator (9) is located between the heat exchanger (5) of the distributor (2) and the reserve (7), that is to say downstream of the heat exchanger (5) of the distributor (5) and upstream of the reserve (7).

4. Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the circuit (6) of heat-transfer fluid comprises two evaporators (9) respectively arranged upstream and downstream of the reserve (7), a first evaporator (9) located between the reserve (7) and the heat exchanger (5) of the distributor (2), and a second evaporator (9) between the heat exchanger (5) of the distributor (2) and the reserve (7).

5. Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the circuit (6) of heat-transfer fluid comprises a bypass of the at least one evaporator (9) and a set of one or more valves in order to allow the heat exchanger (5) of the distributor (2) to be supplied directly from the reserve (7).

6. Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of distributors (2) intended to supply separate tanks (3) and each comprising a heat exchanger (5), the circuit (6) of heat-transfer fluid being common to the plurality of distributors (2) and comprising a set of parallel branches respectively passing through the various heat exchangers (5) and a set of one or more distribution valves (13) for controlling the flow of heat-transfer fluid to the one or more heat exchangers (5), the device (1) comprising a bypass portion (11) and a set of one or more valves (12) for all or some of the heat exchangers (5).

7. Method for filling a pressurized-gas tank by means of a device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a flow of gas is circulated in the distributor (2) and through the heat exchanger (5) and a flow of heat-transfer fluid is also circulated in the circuit (6) of heat-transfer fluid and passes through the heat exchanger (5) of the distributor (2).

8. Method according to Claim 7, characterized in that it comprises a step of circulating at least some of the heat-transfer fluid in the bypass portion (11) without passing through the heat exchanger (5) of the distributor (2) in order to cool the heat-transfer fluid in the reserve (7) and / or to reduce the cold capacity provided to the heat exchanger (5).