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.

[0002] The invention relates more particularly to a device for filling a pressurized gas tank comprising a distributor for supplying the tank with pressurized gas from a fluid source, the device comprising a refrigeration system for cooling a gas flow from the distributor, the refrigeration system comprising a circuit of heat transfer fluid, such as brine, the heat transfer fluid circuit comprising the following elements arranged in series in this order: a heat transfer fluid reservoir, comprising an upper part configured to house a hot mass of the heat transfer fluid and a lower part configured to house a cold mass of the heat transfer fluid, at least one first heat exchanger having an inlet connected to an outlet of the lower part of the reservoir by a first line, the at least one first heat exchanger being configured to ensure heat exchange between the heat transfer fluid and a cold source, and a second heat exchanger having an inlet connected to the at least one first heat exchanger by a second line of the heat transfer fluid circuit, and an outlet connected to an inlet of the upper part of the reservoir by a third line of the heat transfer fluid circuit, the second heat exchanger being configured to ensure heat exchange between the heat transfer fluid and the gas flow of the distributor.

[0003] In a filling system as described above, the intermediate position of at least one heat exchanger between the reservoir and the second heat exchanger ensures, for a given temperature of the heat transfer fluid exiting the reservoir, a lower temperature at the inlet of the second heat exchanger. Furthermore, this intermediate position of the first heat exchanger increases the coefficient of performance of the refrigeration unit associated with the filling system.

[0004] However, with the system described above, the temperature of the heat transfer fluid in and out of the reservoir remains difficult to control. Consequently, the temperature of the heat transfer fluid at the inlet and outlet of at least one heat exchanger also remains difficult to control.

[0005] Devices conforming to this generic description are known for example from documents CN113606805 A, US2019 / 086031 A1, CN217464063 U and JP5732709 B1.

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

[0007] To this end, the device according to a first aspect of the invention, which otherwise conforms to the generic definition given in the preamble above, is essentially characterized in that the refrigerant circuit includes a first bypass portion connecting the second pipe to the lower part of the reservoir to allow a transfer of refrigerant selectively from at least one first heat exchanger to the lower part of the reservoir, or from the lower part of the reservoir to the second heat exchanger without passing through at least one first heat exchanger.

[0008] By providing a first bypass section connecting the second pipe to the lower part of the reservoir, the device according to this first aspect of the invention allows at least a portion of a heat transfer fluid flow, having passed through at least one first heat exchanger, to be returned to the lower part of the reservoir. The return of the heat transfer fluid to the lower part of the reservoir allows for the accumulation of cooling energy and the (re)constitution, at least partially, of the cold mass of the heat transfer fluid, independently of the cooling requirements at the distributor. Thus, the device according to this first aspect of the invention promotes and / or allows for the maintenance within the reservoir of a separation between the cold mass of the heat transfer fluid located in the lower part and the hot mass of the heat transfer fluid located in the upper part.

[0009] Furthermore, a partial return of the heat transfer fluid from at least one first heat exchanger to the lower part of the reservoir limits the flow of heat transfer fluid transferred to the second heat exchanger from said at least one first heat exchanger. Thus, the device according to this first aspect of the invention makes it possible to control (reduce) the cooling capacity supplied to the second heat exchanger from at least one first heat exchanger.

[0010] Furthermore, by providing an initial bypass section connecting the second pipe to the lower part of the reservoir, the device according to this first aspect of the invention allows the second heat exchanger to be supplied with a flow of cold mass directly from the lower part of the reservoir. This flow of cold mass directly from the lower part of the reservoir to the second heat exchanger can supplement or replace a flow of heat transfer fluid cooled after passing through at least one first heat exchanger to the second heat exchanger. Thus, in the event of a shutdown of at least one first heat exchanger, the flow of cold mass directly from the lower part of the reservoir to the second heat exchanger ensures continuous operation of the filling system.

[0011] It should be noted that with two cold mass flows available at the inlet of the second heat exchanger, namely a first flow coming directly from the lower part of the reservoir, and a second flow passing through at least one first heat exchanger, the device according to this first aspect of the invention introduces more latitude in the control of the temperature of the heat transfer fluid at the level of this inlet.

[0012] According to a second aspect of the invention and in combination with the first aspect above, the refrigerant circuit includes a fourth pipe connecting an outlet from the upper part of the reservoir to the inlet of at least one first heat exchanger.

[0013] By providing a fourth pipe in addition to the first pipe to connect at least one heat exchanger to the reservoir, the device according to this second aspect of the invention offers greater flexibility in controlling / regulating the amount of hot and cold mass contained in the reservoir. Similarly, the device according to this second aspect of the invention offers greater flexibility in controlling / regulating the temperature of the heat transfer fluid at the inlet and / or outlet of at least one heat exchanger, thanks to various possible mixtures of hot mass flowing from the upper part of the reservoir and cold mass flowing from the lower part of the reservoir.

[0014] Furthermore, embodiments of the device according to the first and / or second aspect of the invention may include one or more of the following characteristics: The first, second, and third pipes of the refrigerant circuit define a first refrigeration loop of the device; the fourth, second, and third pipes of the refrigerant circuit define a second refrigeration loop of the device; the first and second refrigeration loops are configured to be put into operation simultaneously or sequentially; the first branch portion connects the first pipe to the second pipe; the reservoir includes at least one perforated transverse plate configured to separate the upper and lower parts of the reservoir so as to limit the transfer of refrigerant between the hot mass located at the upper part and the cold mass located at the lower part;The refrigerant circuit includes a second branch section connecting the second line to the third line to allow all or part of the refrigerant exiting at least one first heat exchanger to return to the reservoir without passing through the second heat exchanger; the refrigerant circuit includes a third branch section connecting the third line to the second line to allow all or part of the refrigerant exiting the second heat exchanger to return to said second exchanger without passing through the reservoir or through at least one first heat exchanger; the refrigerant circuit includes at least one device for circulating the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit and / or at least one device for controlling the temperature of the refrigerant;The refrigerant circuit includes at least one set of valve(s) configured to control the flows in the circuit, for example one or more three-way valves arranged at a junction between two or more of the pipes and / or branch sections; the first branch section and the second branch section are connected to the second pipe by the same set of valves, for example a three-way valve.

[0015] The invention also relates to a method of filling a pressurized gas tank by means of a device according to the first aspect above and any one of the characteristics above or below, in which a flow of heat transfer fluid is transferred through the first portion of bypass selectively from at least one first heat exchanger to the lower part of the tank, or from the lower part of the tank to the second heat exchanger without passing through at least one first heat exchanger.

[0016] Depending on possible particularities, the flow of refrigerant transferred from the lower part of the reservoir to the second heat exchanger without passing through at least one first heat exchanger is in addition to or in substitution of a flow of refrigerant transferred from at least one first heat exchanger to the second heat exchanger.

[0017] Depending on possible particularities, the process includes a step of circulating a hot mass flow and a cold mass flow of the heat transfer fluid from the reservoir to at least one first heat exchanger through respectively the first pipe and the fourth pipe to regulate the temperature of the heat transfer fluid at the inlet and / or outlet of at least one first heat exchanger.

[0018] 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.

[0019] Other features and advantages will become apparent upon reading the description below, which refers to the following figures in which: [ Fig.1 ] represents a schematic and partial view illustrating a possible example of the structure and operation of a device of the invention according to a first embodiment; [ Fig.2 ] represents a schematic and partial view illustrating a possible example of the structure and operation of a device of the invention according to a second embodiment.

[0020] The illustrated pressurized gas tank filling device 1 is, for example, a pressurized hydrogen tank filling station. This device 1 includes a distributor 2 (a flexible hose equipped with a nozzle, for example) for supplying a tank 3 with pressurized gas from a fluid source 4 (storage unit(s) and / or compressor(s) and / or other). The device 1 also includes a refrigeration system 1A for cooling the gas flow from the distributor 2.

[0021] In particular, the refrigeration system 1A includes a circuit 5 of heat transfer fluid, such as brine for example. This circuit 5 includes a reservoir 6 of heat transfer fluid, at least one first heat exchanger 7 ensuring heat exchange between the heat transfer fluid and a cold source 8, and at least one second heat exchanger 9 ensuring heat exchange between the flow of heat transfer fluid and a flow of gas from the distributor 2. The reservoir 6, the at least one first heat exchanger 7, and the at least one second heat exchanger 9 are arranged in series in a closed loop and define, in that order, the direction of circulation of the heat transfer fluid within the loop.

[0022] The reservoir 6 comprises an upper portion 61 configured to house a relatively warmer mass of the heat transfer fluid and a lower portion 62 configured to house a relatively colder mass of the heat transfer fluid. The warmer mass has a higher average temperature than the colder mass.

[0023] The upper part 61 and the lower part 62 of the reservoir 6 each have at least one opening allowing the flow of the heat transfer fluid through the reservoir 6. In the illustrated example, the upper part 61 has separate inlets and outlets for the flow of the hot mass of the heat transfer fluid through the reservoir 6. The lower part 62 has an inlet and outlet formed by a single opening for the flow of the cold mass of the heat transfer fluid through the reservoir 6.

[0024] In addition, the reservoir 6 may include in its volume at least one perforated transverse plate configured to separate the upper part 61 and the lower part 62 of the reservoir 6 so as to limit the transfers of refrigerant between the hot mass located at the level of the upper part 61 and the cold mass located at the level of the lower part 62. Such a plate promotes a temperature stratification of the refrigerant in the reservoir 6.

[0025] In the illustrated example, the reservoir 6 comprises two perforated plates which define between them an intermediate part 63 located between the upper part 61 and the lower part 62. The heat transfer fluid located at the level of the intermediate part 63 has an average temperature between that of the cold mass and that of the hot mass.

[0026] The at least first heat exchanger 7 comprises an inlet which is connected to the outlet of the lower part 62 of the reservoir 6 by a first line 51 of the refrigerant circuit 5. Advantageously, the at least first heat exchanger 7 is an evaporator.

[0027] Without limitation, the cooling source 8 associated with at least one first heat exchanger 7 may include a refrigerant circuit (not shown), comprising in a loop: a pump, an evaporator, a refrigerant reservoir, and then a passage through at least one first heat exchanger 7. This passage is configured to cool the heat transfer fluid (here, brine) circulating in the heat transfer fluid circuit 5.

[0028] The second heat exchanger 9 has an inlet connected to an outlet of the first heat exchanger 7 by a second line 52 of the refrigerant circuit 5. Furthermore, the second heat exchanger 9 has an outlet connected to the inlet of the upper part 61 of the reservoir 6 by a third line 53 of the refrigerant circuit 5.

[0029] It should be noted that the second heat exchanger 9 may include a conductive mass which can be pre-cooled by the heat transfer fluid to increase the thermal inertia of the cooling (and where appropriate to cool even without simultaneous passage of heat transfer fluid).

[0030] The first pipe 51, the second pipe 52 and the third pipe 53 form a first refrigeration loop of the refrigerant fluid circuit 5.

[0031] According to a first aspect of the invention, the refrigerant circuit 5 includes a first bypass portion 10 connecting the second pipe 52 to the lower part 62 of the reservoir 6. Thus, the first bypass portion 10 allows a selective transfer of refrigerant from the first heat exchanger 7 to the lower part 62 of the reservoir 6, or from the lower part 62 of the reservoir 6 to the second heat exchanger 9 without passing through the first heat exchanger 7.

[0032] By providing a first portion 10 of bypass connecting the second pipe 52 to the lower part 62 of the reservoir 6, the device 1 according to this first aspect of the invention makes it possible to return to the lower part 62 of the reservoir 6 at least a part of a flow of heat transfer fluid having passed through the first heat exchanger 7.

[0033] The return of the refrigerant fluid into the lower part 62 of the reservoir 6 allows for the accumulation of cooling and the (re)constitution, at least in part, of the cold mass of the refrigerant fluid, independently of the cooling requirements at the distributor 2. The upper part 61 of the reservoir 6 remains little affected by this return of refrigerant fluid.

[0034] Thus, device 1 according to this first aspect of the invention promotes and / or allows to maintain in the reservoir 6 a separation between the cold mass of the refrigerant fluid located in the lower part 62, and the hot mass of the refrigerant fluid located in the upper part 61.

[0035] Furthermore, the return of the heat transfer fluid to the lower part 62 of the reservoir 6 limits the flow of heat transfer fluid transferred from the first heat exchanger 7 to the second heat exchanger 9. Thus, the device 1, according to this first aspect of the invention, makes it possible to control (reduce) the cooling capacity supplied to the second heat exchanger 9 from the first heat exchanger 7 without losing cooling capacity.

[0036] Furthermore, by providing a first bypass section 10 connecting the second pipe 52 to the lower part 62 of the reservoir 6, the device 1, according to this first aspect of the invention, allows the second heat exchanger 9 to be supplied with a flow of cold mass directly from the lower part 62 of the reservoir 6. This flow of cold mass directly from the lower part 62 of the reservoir 6 to the second heat exchanger 9 can supplement or replace a flow of heat transfer fluid cooled after passing through the first heat exchanger 7 to the second heat exchanger 9. Thus, in the event of a shutdown of the first heat exchanger 7, the flow of cold mass directly from the lower part 62 of the reservoir 6 to the second heat exchanger 9 ensures the continued operation of the filling device 1.

[0037] It should be noted that with two cold mass flows available at the inlet of the second heat exchanger 9—namely, a first flow coming directly from the lower part 62 of the reservoir 6, and a second flow passing through the first heat exchanger 7—the device 1 according to this first aspect of the invention introduces greater latitude in controlling the temperature of the heat transfer fluid at this inlet. Indeed, the two cold mass flows can be at different temperatures, and their mixing in judiciously chosen proportions makes it possible to obtain an intermediate temperature at the inlet of the second heat exchanger 9.

[0038] Advantageously, the first branch section 10 connects the first pipe 51 to the second pipe 52. This arrangement allows a cold mass flow to be distributed from the lower part 62 of the reservoir 6 between these two pipes 51, 52.

[0039] According to a second aspect of the invention, in combination with the first aspect above, the refrigeration circuit 5 comprises a fourth pipe 54 which connects the outlet of the upper part 61 of the reservoir 6 to the inlet of the first heat exchanger 7. Thus, according to this second aspect of the invention, the heat transfer fluid circuit 5 comprises two pipes 51 and 54 which connect the inlet of the first heat exchanger 7 respectively to the outlet of the lower part 62 of the reservoir 6 and to the outlet of the upper part 61 of the reservoir 6.

[0040] By providing a fourth pipe 54 in addition to the first pipe 51 to connect the first heat exchanger 7 to the reservoir 6, the device 1 according to this second aspect of the invention offers more latitude to control / regulate the quantity of hot mass and the quantity of cold mass contained in the reservoir 6. Similarly, the device 1 according to this second aspect of the invention offers more latitude to control / regulate the temperature of the heat transfer fluid at the inlet and / or outlet of the first heat exchanger 7, thanks to different possible mixtures between a flow of hot mass exiting the upper part 61 of the reservoir 6 and a flow of cold mass exiting the lower part 62 of the reservoir 6.

[0041] Advantageously, the fourth pipe 54 is connected to the first pipe 51. The two pipes 51 and 54 have a common segment 55 connected to the inlet of the first heat exchanger 7. The mixing of the cold mass flow passing through the first pipe 51 and the hot mass flow passing through the fourth pipe 54 takes place at the common segment 55.

[0042] The fourth pipe 54 forms, together with the second pipe 52 and the third pipe 53, a second refrigeration loop. Thus, the heat transfer fluid circuit 5 according to this second aspect of the invention comprises two refrigeration loops that cooperate with each other.

[0043] It should be noted that the above refrigeration loops can be selectively activated. Each of these loops can then be connected to the first bypass line 10 to form a filling device in accordance with the spirit of the first aspect of the invention.

[0044] Advantageously, the heat transfer fluid circuit 5 may include a second bypass section 11 connecting the second line 52 to the third line 53. This second bypass section 11 is configured to allow all or part of the heat transfer fluid exiting the first heat exchanger 7, particularly in the event of its shutdown, to return to the reservoir 6 without passing through the second heat exchanger 9. More specifically, the heat transfer fluid returns to the upper part 61 of the reservoir 6 to form the hot mass. This return does not reach the lower part 62 of the reservoir 6, thus maintaining a separation between the hot mass and the cold mass within it.

[0045] Advantageously, the refrigerant circuit 5 may include a third bypass portion 12 connecting the third line 53 to the second line 52. The third bypass portion 12 is configured to allow all or part of the refrigerant fluid at the outlet of the second heat exchanger 9 to return to said second heat exchanger 9 without passing through the reservoir 6 or the first heat exchanger 7.

[0046] Advantageously, the refrigerant circuit 5 preferably includes at least one component 13, 14 for circulating the refrigerant in the circuit 5 and / or at least one component 15, 16 for controlling the temperature of the refrigerant. The at least one component 13, 14 for circulating the refrigerant in the circuit 5 may be, for example, a pump. In the illustrated example, a first circulating component 13 and a first temperature control component 15 are positioned at the segment 55 common to the lines 51, 54.

[0047] Advantageously, the heat transfer fluid circuit 5 preferably includes at least one set of valve(s) 17, 18, 19 configured to control the flows in the circuit 5. The at least one set of valve(s) 17, 18, 19 consists, for example, of one or more three-way valves disposed at a junction between two or more of the pipes 51, 52, 53, 54 and / or the bypass portions 10, 11, 12.

[0048] In the illustrated example, a first set of valves 17, for example a three-way valve, connects the first pipe 51, the fourth pipe 54, and their common segment 55. A second set of valves 18, for example a three-way valve, connects the first branch portion 10 and the second branch portion 11 to the second pipe 52.

[0049] In an embodiment illustrated in the [ Fig.2Device 1 may include several distributors (here, two distributors 2a, 2b) intended to supply separate reservoirs 3a, 3b, simultaneously or not. To do this, device 1 includes several secondary heat exchangers (here, two heat exchangers 9a, 9b), each associated with a distributor 2a, 2b. The secondary heat exchangers are arranged in parallel on circuit 5. In the illustrated example, device 1 may also include several primary heat exchangers 7a, 7b arranged in parallel on circuit 5.

[0050] In order to integrate the various first heat exchangers 7a, 7b into the circuit 5, the common segment 55 presents a first set of parallel branches passing respectively through the various first heat exchangers 7a, 7b.

[0051] Furthermore, in order to integrate the various secondary heat exchangers 9a, 9b into circuit 5, the second pipe 52 has a second set of parallel branches (here, two branches), each connecting an inlet of a secondary heat exchanger 9a, 9b to an outlet of the assembly formed by the primary heat exchangers 7a, 7b. Similarly, the third pipe 53 has a third set of parallel branches (here, two branches), each connecting an outlet of a secondary heat exchanger 9a, 9b to the inlet of the reservoir 6.

[0052] In other words, in this second embodiment, the second pipe 52 and the third pipe 53 together form a series of parallel branch pairs passing through the second heat exchangers 9a and 9b, respectively. Each pair in this series comprises one branch belonging to the second pipe 52 and one branch belonging to the third pipe 53.

[0053] Between a branch of the second pipe 52 and a branch of the third pipe 53, which pass through a given second heat exchanger 9a, 9b, the device 1 may include a bypass portion 12a, 12b. This bypass portion 12a, 12b is configured to allow all or part of the heat transfer fluid exiting the second heat exchanger 9 to return to it without passing through the reservoir 6 or the assembly formed by the first heat exchangers 7a, 7b. Alternatively, this bypass portion 12a, 12b may be configured to allow all or part of the heat transfer fluid exiting the assembly formed by the first heat exchangers 7a, 7b to return to the reservoir 6 without passing through the second heat exchanger 9.

[0054] As in the first embodiment, here too the circuit 5 includes a set of fluid circulation components 14a, 14b and a set of valve(s) 19a, 19b configured to control the flows in the circuit 5. In particular, distribution valve(s) (not shown) may be provided to control the flow of heat transfer fluid to the various secondary heat exchangers 9a, 9b.

Claims

1. A device (1) for filling pressurized gas tanks, comprising a dispenser (2) intended to supply a tank (3) with pressurized gas from a fluid source (4), the device (1) comprising a refrigeration system (1A) for cooling a gas flow from the dispenser (2), the refrigeration system (1A) comprising a heat transfer fluid circuit (5), such as brine, the circuit (5) comprising the following elements arranged in series in this order: - a heat transfer fluid reservoir (6), comprising an upper part (61) configured to house a hot mass of the heat transfer fluid and a lower part (62) configured to house a cold mass of the heat transfer fluid, - at least a first heat exchanger (7) having an inlet connected to an outlet of the lower part (62) of the reservoir (6) by a first conduit (51), the at least one first heat exchanger (7) being configured to ensure a thermal exchange between the heat transfer fluid and a cold source (8), and - a second heat exchanger (9) having an inlet connected to the first heat exchanger (7) by a second conduit (52) of the heat transfer fluid circuit (5), and an outlet connected to an inlet of the upper part (61) of the reservoir (6) by a third conduit (53) of the heat transfer fluid circuit (5), the second heat exchanger (9) being configured to ensure a heat exchange between the heat transfer fluid and the gas flow of the dispenser (2), characterized in that the circuit (5) comprises a first bypass portion (10) connecting the second conduit (52) to the lower part (62) of the reservoir (6) to allow a selective transfer of heat transfer fluid from the at least one first heat exchanger (7) to the lower part (62) of the reservoir (6), or from the lower part (62) of the reservoir (6) to the second heat exchanger (9) without passing through the at least one first heat exchanger (7).

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first conduit (51), the second conduit (52) and the third conduit (53) of the heat transfer fluid circuit (5) define a first refrigeration loop of the device.

3. The device according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the inlet of the at least one first heat exchanger (7) is also connected to an outlet of the upper part (61) of the reservoir (6) by a fourth conduit (54) of the heat transfer fluid circuit (5).

4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that the fourth conduit (54), the second conduit (52) and the third conduit (53) of the heat transfer fluid circuit (5) define a second refrigeration loop of the device.

5. The device according to claim 4 as dependent on claim 2, characterized in that the first refrigeration loop and the second refrigeration loop are configured to be put into service simultaneously or sequentially.

6. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first bypass portion (10) connects the first conduit (51) to the second conduit (52).

7. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reservoir (6) comprises at least one perforated transverse plate configured to separate the upper (61) and lower (62) parts of the reservoir (6) so as to limit the transfers of heat transfer fluid between the hot mass located at the level of the upper part (61) and the cold mass located at the level of the lower part (62).

8. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heat transfer fluid circuit (5) comprises a second bypass portion (11) connecting the second conduit (52) to the third conduit (53) to allow all or part of the heat transfer fluid at the outlet of the at least one first heat exchanger (7) to return to the reservoir (6) without passing through the second heat exchanger (9).

9. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heat transfer fluid circuit (5) comprises a third bypass portion (12) connecting the third conduit (53) to the second conduit (52) to allow all or part of the heat transfer fluid at the outlet of the second heat exchanger (9) to return to said second heat exchanger (9) without passing through the reservoir (6) nor through the at least one first heat exchanger (7).

10. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heat transfer fluid circuit (5) comprises at least one means (13, 14) for circulating the heat transfer fluid in the heat transfer fluid circuit (5) and / or at least one means (15, 16) for controlling the temperature of the heat transfer fluid.

11. The device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the heat transfer fluid circuit (5) comprises at least one set of valve(s) (17, 18, 19) configured to control the flows in the circuit (5), for example one or more three-way valves arranged at a junction between two or more of the conduits (51, 52, 53, 54) and / or the bypass portions (10, 11, 12).

12. The device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the first bypass portion (10) and the second bypass portion (11) are connected to the second conduit (52) by a same set of valves (18), for example a three-way valve.

13. A method of filling a pressurized gas tank by means of a device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a flow of heat transfer fluid is transferred through the first bypass portion (10) selectively from the at least one first heat exchanger (7) to the lower part (62) of the reservoir (6), or from the lower part (62) of the reservoir (6) to the second heat exchanger (9) without passing through the at least one first heat exchanger (7).

14. The method according to the preceding claim, wherein the flow of heat transfer fluid transferred from the lower part (62) of the reservoir (6) to the second heat exchanger (9) without passing through the at least one first heat exchanger (7) is complementary to or in substitution of a flow of heat transfer fluid transferred from the at least one first heat exchanger (7) to the second heat exchanger (9).

15. The method according to the preceding claim, comprising a step of circulating a hot mass flow and a cold mass flow of the heat transfer fluid from the reservoir (6) to the at least one first heat exchanger (7) through the first conduit (51) and the fourth conduit (54) respectively to regulate the temperature of the heat transfer fluid at the inlet and / or outlet of the at least one first heat exchanger (7).