System for measuring and transmitting a variable dihydrogen content for an external receiver

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for real-time measurement of a variable dihydrogen content (3) in a gas stream and for transmitting information relating to said measured dihydrogen content to at least one external receiver (4) located outside said system and not communicating with a combustion system. The invention also relates to a method for real-time measurement of a variable dihydrogen content in a gas stream and for transmitting information representative of said dihydrogen content to at least one receiver (4) not communicating with a combustion system.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] TITLE: System for measuring and transmitting a variable dihydrogen content for an external receiver

[0003] The present invention relates to a system for measuring in real time a variable content of dihydrogen present in a gas flow and for transmitting information representative of said dihydrogen content measured in the gas flow to at least one external receiver other than a dihydrogen burner.

[0004] The invention also relates to a method for measuring in real time a variable content of dihydrogen present in a gas flow and for transmitting information representative of said dihydrogen content measured in the gas flow to at least one external receiver other than a dihydrogen burner.

[0005] The invention also relates to a method for optimizing a process for producing dihydrogen, preferably chosen from the group consisting of decomposition of natural gas, cracking of ammonia, steam reforming of natural gas or electrolysis of water, or a process for separating a mixture of natural gas and dihydrogen, in particular a process for separation by membrane or electrolysis.

[0006] The invention also relates to an assembly comprising at least one system for producing a gas flow comprising a variable dihydrogen content, connected to at least one system for measuring in real time a variable dihydrogen content present in the gas flow and for transmitting information representative of said measured dihydrogen content to at least one system other than a dihydrogen burner.

[0007] The use of dihydrogen, for example from decarbonized or renewable sources, particularly in natural gas-based mixtures, currently appears to represent an advantageous and promising solution for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in many applications.

[0008] By way of illustration, we can notably cite the production of electricity, by gas turbine on an isolated site or in CCGT type thermal power stations, industrial boilers, in particular hydrogen wall-mounted boilers, or even natural gas engines frequently used for road transport or construction machinery, but we can also cite more generally industrial processes controlled using dihydrogen obtained by a production or fractionation process, for example by ammonia cracking.

[0009] Dihydrogen also has the advantage of being able to be injected directly into existing natural gas transport, distribution or storage networks, which makes it possible to transport hybrid mixtures based on natural gas and dihydrogen without necessarily generating high additional investment costs for the installation of specialized infrastructure.

[0010] Dihydrogen can be obtained by decomposition of natural gas or ammonia, by steam reforming of natural gas with possibly a carbon dioxide capture step, by gasification of coal or biomass, or pyrolysis of methane, or by decomposition of water, in particular by electrolysis.

[0011] Dihydrogen can also be obtained by separating dihydrogen mixed with natural gas, in particular by implementing a membrane or electrochemical separation method within a mixture based on natural gas and dihydrogen.

[0012] However, the performance of gas flows obtained by implementing these methods turns out to depend directly on their instantaneous dihydrogen content, that is to say the conversion rate of the initial flow, gaseous or liquid, into dihydrogen.

[0013] Indeed, this conversion rate generally represents an important factor to take into consideration when implementing industrial processes driven by a dihydrogen production process.

[0014] In other words, the technical, and even environmental, performance of systems controlled by a process for producing or separating dihydrogen, particularly in the context of the applications mentioned above, may be impacted by the instantaneous dihydrogen content.

[0015] Consequently, the parameters aimed at influencing the rate of transformation of an initial gaseous or liquid flow into dihydrogen, for example the conditions of temperature, pressure, electric field, etc., may be interesting to monitor and control in order to best optimize the content obtained in dihydrogen and to lead to gaseous flows more enriched in dihydrogen.

[0016] In order to better control the performance linked to gas flows enriched in dihydrogen, the solutions currently proposed consist, for example, of using gas flows having a fixed average concentration of dihydrogen depending on the desired industrial application.

[0017] Under such conditions, systems controlled by a process for producing dihydrogen or a process for separating a mixture based on natural gas and dihydrogen are not able to take full advantage of the benefits provided by the use of dihydrogen.

[0018] In view of the above, one of the objectives of the present invention is to implement a system capable of precisely controlling in real time the variable content of dihydrogen at a given moment in an initial flow, liquid or gaseous, in particular in order to best optimize the control of processes linked to the production or separation of hydrogen.

[0019] In other words, there is a real need to control and command one or more parameters for converting an initial flow, liquid or gaseous, into dihydrogen in order to best optimize the content obtained in dihydrogen and to lead to flows more enriched in dihydrogen.

[0020] The present invention therefore relates in particular to a system for measuring in real time the content of dihydrogen present in a gas flow and for transmitting information representative of said dihydrogen content to at least one receiver external to said system; said system comprising: at least one unit for measuring the content of dihydrogen contained in the gas flow passing through said system, at least one unit for processing and transmitting information representative of said content of dihydrogen determined by said measurement unit to at least one receiver external to said system not burning dihydrogen.

[0021] The system according to the invention thus makes it possible to determine and monitor in real time the instantaneous content of dihydrogen present in a gas flow and to communicate in real time the information representative of this content to at least one system not burning dihydrogen, i.e. not using dihydrogen or a gas flow containing dihydrogen as fuel.

[0022] In other words, the external receiver is notably different from a combustion system or a unit intended to control one or more combustion parameters of a gaseous flow containing dihydrogen.

[0023] Thus, the external receiver of said system not burning dihydrogen does not communicate with a combustion system. The external receiver corresponds to a control system of a dihydrogen production unit or a unit for separating dihydrogen within a mixture based on natural gas and dihydrogen.

[0024] The system according to the invention makes it possible in particular to measure in real time the dihydrogen (H2) content in a gas flow, at the outlet of a dihydrogen production system (or a system for producing a gas flow enriched in dihydrogen), and to transmit the information representative of said measured H2 content to a system capable of controlling one or more operating parameters of the dihydrogen production system by a closed loop based on said information on the dihydrogen (H2) content.

[0025] The system according to the invention therefore has the advantage of improving the conversion of an initial flow, liquid or gaseous, at the inlet of a system for producing dihydrogen (or a system for producing a gaseous flow enriched in dihydrogen) into dihydrogen, in particular by making it possible to control one or more parameters for converting the initial flow into dihydrogen using information transmitted in real time on the H2 content.

[0026] Thus, thanks to the information transmitted in real time on the H2 content, the system according to the invention can be used in a closed loop to enable the control of one or more parameters, such as temperature, pressure or electric field, implemented during a process for producing dihydrogen in order to improve the dihydrogen content.

[0027] The system according to the invention thus makes it possible to optimize as best as possible the dihydrogen content obtained at the outlet of a system for producing a gas flow containing a variable dihydrogen content.

[0028] In other words, the system according to the invention makes it possible to produce gas flows that are more enriched in dihydrogen.

[0029] The system according to the invention can therefore be advantageously used within a closed control loop in order to control one or more parameters of a dihydrogen production process to obtain gas streams more enriched in dihydrogen.

[0030] In particular, the system according to the invention makes it possible to measure the actual content of dihydrogen present in the gas flow, at the outlet of a dihydrogen production process, and to transmit the corresponding information to a system capable of controlling in a closed loop one or more parameters of the dihydrogen production process, which makes it possible to maximize the concentration of dihydrogen according to the information transmitted.

[0031] Furthermore, the system according to the invention also makes it possible to measure and communicate in real time the content of dihydrogen obtained in particular from a decarbonized source, for example obtained from a water electrolysis process or an ammonia cracking process, or obtained from a carbon source, for example using a methane pyrolysis process or natural gas steam reforming during which the carbon dioxide emitted is possibly captured.

[0032] Preferably, the system according to the invention makes it possible to take full advantage of the dihydrogen from a decarbonized source.

[0033] The system according to the invention also makes it possible to measure and communicate in real time the content of dihydrogen obtained from a separation method within a mixture of natural gas and dihydrogen, for example by means of a membrane or electrochemical separation method.

[0034] The system according to the invention thus has the advantage of allowing the control of systems for producing dihydrogen, for example by decomposition of natural gas or cracking of ammonia, or systems for separating dihydrogen and natural gas by membrane or electrolysis.

[0035] The system according to the invention thus makes it possible to optimize the control of such processes in real time.

[0036] In particular, the system according to the invention makes it possible to quantify the hydrogen taken from a natural gas and hydrogen network in order to supply a hydrogen distribution station.

[0037] In addition, the system according to the invention can also report in real time on the dihydrogen quality of a hybrid fuel mixture and the possible presence of dihydrogen leaks during the mixture delivery process.

[0038] Thus, the system according to the invention makes it possible to report in real time on any fluctuation in the dihydrogen content in a hybrid mixture.

[0039] The present invention also relates to the use of the system as described above for determining the content of dihydrogen present in a gas flow and transmitting information representative of said dihydrogen content to at least one receiver, external to said system, not burning dihydrogen. Preferably, the system according to the invention is used in a dihydrogen production unit, in a natural gas station supplied by at least one dihydrogen production unit.

[0040] The external receiver is as defined previously and corresponds in particular to a control system for a dihydrogen production unit or a dihydrogen separation unit within a mixture based on natural gas and dihydrogen.

[0041] Likewise, the invention also relates to a method for measuring in real time the dihydrogen content contained in a gas flow and for transmitting information representative of said dihydrogen content to at least one receiver not burning dihydrogen, comprising: a step of distributing a gas flow comprising a variable dihydrogen content, obtained by a dihydrogen production unit or a unit for separating a mixture of natural gas and dihydrogen, a step of measuring the variable dihydrogen content present in the gas flow resulting from the production step, a step of processing and transmitting the information representative of said dihydrogen content, determined during the measurement step, to at least one receiver not burning dihydrogen.

[0042] The external receiver is as defined previously and corresponds in particular to a control system for a dihydrogen production unit or a dihydrogen separation unit within a mixture based on natural gas and dihydrogen.

[0043] Advantageously, the method according to the invention comprises a step of controlling the step of producing the gas flow comprising a variable dihydrogen content or the step of separating a mixture of natural gas and dihydrogen as a function of the representative information on the dihydrogen content transmitted during the treatment and transmission step.

[0044] Thus, the method according to the invention is preferably a method for controlling a dihydrogen production unit or a unit for separating a mixture of natural gas and dihydrogen using the measurement and transmission system according to the invention.

[0045] Thus, the method according to the invention is advantageously a method for optimizing a process for producing dihydrogen chosen from the group consisting of the decomposition of natural gas, the steam reforming of natural gas, the cracking of ammonia, the electrolysis of water, or a process for separating a mixture of natural gas and dihydrogen.

[0046] The optimization process thus implemented makes it possible to maximize the dihydrogen content obtained in a gas flow at the outlet of a production or separation process as described previously.

[0047] The invention also relates to an assembly comprising at least one system for producing a gas flow comprising a variable dihydrogen content, connected to at least one measurement and transmission system, as defined previously, and at least one system other than a dihydrogen burner.

[0048] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the description and examples which follow.

[0049] In what follows, and unless otherwise indicated, the limits of a domain of values ​​are included in this domain.

[0050] The expression "at least one" is equivalent to the expression "one or more".

[0051] Measurement and transmission system

[0052] As indicated above, the measurement and transmission system according to the invention comprises: at least one unit for measuring the content of dihydrogen present in the gas flow passing through said system, at least one unit for processing and transmitting information representative of said content of dihydrogen determined by said measurement unit to at least one receiver external to said system not burning dihydrogen.

[0053] The external receiver is as defined previously.

[0054] The measuring unit thus determines in real time the content of dihydrogen present in a gas flow, preferably in a gas flow obtained at the outlet of a dihydrogen production process or a process for separating dihydrogen from a mixture based on natural gas and dihydrogen.

[0055] Preferably, the measuring unit determines in real time the content of dihydrogen present in a gas flow from a unit for producing dihydrogen by decomposition of natural gas or ammonia, or by steam reforming of natural gas, or gasification of coal or biomass, or from a unit for separating dihydrogen from a mixture based on natural gas and dihydrogen.

[0056] For the purposes of the present invention, the gas stream comprises a variable content of dihydrogen.

[0057] By "variable dihydrogen content", it is meant, within the meaning of the present invention, that the average dihydrogen concentration is not limited to a predetermined fixed content, whether in the gas flow obtained at the outlet of a process for producing or separating dihydrogen as described above, or in the initial flow before the implementation of the process for producing or separating dihydrogen.

[0058] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "real-time measurement" means that the measuring unit is capable of continuously measuring in real time the content of hydrogen present in the gas flow.

[0059] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "external receiver not burning dihydrogen" means a receiver other than a receiver of a combustion system or a unit intended to control the combustion, in particular the combustion parameters, of the gas flow comprising dihydrogen. Furthermore, the receiver is not included in the measurement and transmission system according to the invention.

[0060] The receiver external to the system according to the invention is a system for controlling a dihydrogen production unit, as defined previously, or a unit for separating dihydrogen from a mixture based on natural gas and dihydrogen.

[0061] The measuring unit preferably comprises one or more means capable of measuring the dihydrogen content by spectroscopy.

[0062] Preferably, the measuring unit comprises one or more means for measuring the dihydrogen content by spectroscopy, having in particular an acquisition frequency of less than 5 seconds, preferably less than 1 second.

[0063] Preferably, the measuring unit comprises one or more means capable of measuring the molar, mass or volume concentration of dihydrogen in the gas flow by spectroscopy, having an acquisition frequency of less than 5 seconds, more preferably an acquisition frequency of less than 1 second.

[0064] The measuring unit preferably comprises one or more means for measuring the hydrogen content contained in the gas flow by spectroscopy, in particular by Raman spectroscopy or by absorption spectroscopy of a laser beam and for analyzing the signal by wavelength modulation. In other words, the measuring means are in particular devices for measuring by spectroscopy, in particular by Raman spectroscopy or by absorption spectroscopy of a laser beam and for analyzing the signal by wavelength modulation.

[0065] Preferably, the measuring unit comprises one or more sensors capable of measuring the dihydrogen content by spectroscopy, more particularly by Raman spectroscopy or by absorption spectroscopy of a laser beam and analysis of the signal by wavelength modulation.

[0066] The measuring unit can also determine the concentration of other elements present in the gas flow, i.e. the concentration of elements other than dihydrogen from the dihydrogen production or separation unit.

[0067] Thus the measurement unit can determine, for example, the content of natural gas not converted into hydrogen by the hydrogen production unit, for example the content of methane, butane or propane, or the concentration of residues from the decomposition of natural gas or the ammonia cracking process.

[0068] Preferably, the measurement and transmission system according to the invention further comprises one or more means for measuring the flow rate of the gas flow passing through said system.

[0069] The means(s) for measuring the flow rate of the natural gas stream may be separate or an integral part, preferably separate, of the measuring unit determining the dihydrogen content.

[0070] In other words, the means(s) for measuring the flow rate of the gas flow may be included in a unit for measuring the flow rate of the gas flow separate from the measuring unit.

[0071] The flow measurement means may correspond to flow sensors, preferably mass or volume sensors, of the gas flow passing through said system.

[0072] Preferably, the flow rate measuring means are chosen from the group consisting of mechanical flow meters, thermal flow meters, differential pressure flow meters or ultrasonic flow meters.

[0073] The flow rate measuring means may measure a mass or volume flow rate of the gas flow passing through said system, preferably with an accuracy uncertainty of less than 1%, more preferably with an uncertainty of less than 0.5%. Preferably, the measuring and transmission system according to the invention comprises one or more means for measuring the mass flow rate of the gas flow passing through said system.

[0074] More preferably, the measurement and transmission system according to the invention comprises one or more Coriolis effect mass flow meters or one or more thermal mass flow meters.

[0075] Preferably, the measurement and transmission system according to the invention comprises at least one measurement unit, as described previously, and one or more means for measuring the flow rate of the gas flow passing through said system, preferably separate from said measurement unit.

[0076] Preferably, the measurement and transmission system according to the invention comprises: at least one measurement unit, as described previously, in particular containing one or more means for measuring in real time the mass content of dihydrogen contained in the gas flow, and one or more means for measuring the mass flow rate of the gas flow passing through said system, whether or not distinct from said measurement unit, in particular chosen from the group consisting of a Coriolis effect mass flow meter or a thermal mass flow meter.

[0077] The processing and transmission unit makes it possible, on the one hand, to process the information representative of the dihydrogen content measured by the measuring unit, as described previously, and, on the other hand, to transmit said information to at least one receiver external to said system.

[0078] Preferably, the processing and transmission unit comprises one or more means capable of converting the hydrogen content measured by the measurement unit, previously described, into information representative of the hydrogen content, in particular into a measurement signal representative of the hydrogen content.

[0079] In particular, the unit can transmit the information to at least one external receiver not burning dihydrogen, in the form of a signal representative of the real-time measurement of the dihydrogen content contained in the gas flow.

[0080] More particularly, the unit can transmit said information, by wire or not, to at least one receiver different from a receiver of a combustion system or a unit intended to control the combustion parameters. The information representative of the dihydrogen content preferably corresponds to the value of the concentration, in particular volume, mass or molar, of the dihydrogen within the gas flow, in particular from a dihydrogen production or dihydrogen separation unit.

[0081] Alternatively, the information representative of the dihydrogen content may correspond to information from which the dihydrogen content is likely to be deduced.

[0082] The processing of information relating to the dihydrogen content can be done digitally by means of a microprocessor and a computer algorithm.

[0083] The information representative of the dihydrogen content can be transmitted by wire or not, preferably wirelessly, for example by a radio connection, to at least one system other than a combustion system or a unit intended to control the combustion parameters.

[0084] Advantageously, the processing and transmission unit also makes it possible, on the one hand, to process the information representative of the dihydrogen content measured by the measurement unit, as described previously, and the information representative of the flow rate of the gas flow passing through the system according to the invention and, on the other hand, to transmit said information to at least one system other than a combustion system or a unit intended to control the combustion parameters.

[0085] In other words, preferably, the measuring unit comprises one or more sensors for measuring the dihydrogen content by spectroscopy and the processing and transmission unit comprises one or more means capable of converting the dihydrogen measurement into a signal representative of said content and of transmitting said signal by wire or otherwise, preferably wirelessly, for example by a radioelectric connection, to at least one system other than a combustion system or a unit intended to control the combustion parameters.

[0086] The data thus transmitted can correspond to the value of the measured quantity of dihydrogen contained in the gas flow and the value of the flow rate of the gas flow.

[0087] Using the system

[0088] The invention also relates to the use of the measurement and transmission system, as described above, for determining the dihydrogen content contained in a gas flow and transmitting the information representative of said dihydrogen content to at least one external receiver not burning dihydrogen. Preferably, the system, as described above, is used in a dihydrogen production unit, in a natural gas station supplied by at least one dihydrogen production unit.

[0089] Preferably, the dihydrogen production unit may be an ammonia cracking unit, a natural gas steam reforming unit, possibly with carbon dioxide capture, a coal gasification unit, a natural gas decomposition unit or a water electrolysis unit.

[0090] Preferably, the dihydrogen production unit may be a natural gas steam reforming unit, with possible carbon dioxide capture, a natural gas decomposition unit or a dihydrogen production unit by water electrolysis.

[0091] The external receiver is as defined previously and corresponds to a control system for a dihydrogen production unit, as defined previously, or a dihydrogen separation unit within a mixture based on natural gas and dihydrogen.

[0092] Advantageously, the system according to the invention can be used to control a system for producing dihydrogen (or a gas flow comprising a variable content of dihydrogen) chosen from the group consisting of a natural gas decomposition system, an ammonia cracking system, a natural gas steam reforming system, a system for producing dihydrogen by water electrolysis.

[0093] In particular, the natural gas decomposition system can be implemented by heating, including plasma heating, induction heating, microwave heating, or shock wave heating.

[0094] Advantageously, the system according to the invention can be used to control a system for separating dihydrogen and natural gas, in particular a membrane or electrolysis separation system.

[0095] Process

[0096] Another object of the present invention relates to a method for measuring in real time the dihydrogen content contained in a gas flow and for transmitting information representative of said dihydrogen content to at least one receiver not burning dihydrogen, comprising: a step of distributing a gas flow comprising a variable dihydrogen content, a step of measuring the variable dihydrogen content contained in the gas flow, a step of processing and transmitting the information representative of said dihydrogen content determined during the measurement step to at least one receiver not burning dihydrogen.

[0097] The measurement step thus makes it possible to determine in real time the content of dihydrogen present in a gas flow obtained at the outlet of a dihydrogen production unit or a dihydrogen separation unit within a mixture based on natural gas and dihydrogen.

[0098] The dihydrogen present in the gas stream can come from a decarbonized or carbonaceous source, preferably decarbonized.

[0099] The dihydrogen may come from a carbon source, preferably capable of being obtained by a steam reforming process possibly comprising at least one step of capturing carbon dioxide.

[0100] Preferably, the dihydrogen comes from a decarbonized source, preferably capable of being obtained by a water electrolysis process or an ammonia cracking process, more preferably by a water electrolysis process.

[0101] The step of measuring the dihydrogen content is preferably implemented by Raman spectroscopy or by absorption spectroscopy of a laser beam and analysis of the signal by wavelength modulation.

[0102] The measurement step may in particular be implemented by one or more devices, in particular one or more sensors, for measurement by spectroscopy, in particular by Raman or by absorption spectroscopy of a laser beam and analysis of the signal by wavelength modulation.

[0103] Advantageously, the method comprises a step of measuring the dihydrogen content contained in the gas flow, by spectroscopy and a step of measuring the flow rate of the gas flow.

[0104] The step of processing the information representative of the dihydrogen content can be implemented by means of a microprocessor and a computer algorithm.

[0105] Preferably, the step of transmitting the information representative of said dihydrogen content to at least one receiver not burning dihydrogen is implemented by wire or by a radio-type connection.

[0106] Preferably, the external receiver may be chosen from the group consisting of a display system intended to provide information on the instantaneous content of hydrogen contained in the gas flow, a system for detecting leaks of hydrogen in a gas flow, or a system for controlling a process for producing hydrogen or separating hydrogen from a mixture based on natural gas and hydrogen.

[0107] Advantageously, the external receiver is a system for controlling a process for producing dihydrogen or separating dihydrogen from a mixture based on natural gas and dihydrogen.

[0108] Preferably, the external receiver is a system for controlling a dihydrogen production unit, as defined above, or a unit for separating dihydrogen from a mixture based on natural gas and dihydrogen, in particular by membrane or electrolysis.

[0109] Preferably, the method according to the invention is a method for optimizing a process for producing dihydrogen, preferably chosen from the group consisting of decomposition of natural gas, cracking of ammonia, steam reforming of natural gas or electrolysis of water, or a process for separating a mixture of natural gas and dihydrogen, in particular a process for separation by membrane or electrolysis.

[0110] In particular, the method according to the invention comprises: a step of distributing a gas flow comprising a variable content of dihydrogen obtained by a dihydrogen production system or a system for separating a mixture of natural gas and dihydrogen, a step of measuring the variable content of dihydrogen present in the gas flow, a step of processing and transmitting information representative of said dihydrogen content determined during the measurement step to at least one system for controlling the dihydrogen production system or the system for separating a mixture of natural gas and dihydrogen, a step of controlling the dihydrogen production system or the system for separating a mixture of natural gas and dihydrogen as a function of the information received from said dihydrogen content.

[0111] In particular, the step of measuring the dihydrogen content and the step of processing and transmitting the information representative of said dihydrogen content are implemented with the system according to the invention as described previously.

[0112] The method according to the invention thus makes it possible to control one or more operating parameters of a dihydrogen production unit or a unit for separating a mixture of natural gas and dihydrogen, in particular the conditions of temperature, pressure, the electric field, the flow rate of the flow entering the production or separation unit, as a function of the information on the dihydrogen content.

[0113] Together

[0114] The invention also relates to an assembly comprising at least one system for supplying a flow of gas containing a variable content of dihydrogen, connected to at least one measuring and transmission system, as defined previously, and at least one system other than a dihydrogen burner.

[0115] Preferably, the gas flow supply system comprises at least one unit for producing dihydrogen (or a flow comprising a variable content of dihydrogen) or a unit for separating a mixture of natural gas and dihydrogen.

[0116] Preferably, the gas flow supply system comprises at least one unit for distributing a gaseous or liquid flow intended to be conveyed to at least one unit for producing dihydrogen or a unit for separating a mixture of natural gas and dihydrogen.

[0117] Preferably, the stream from the distribution unit is selected from the group consisting of a stream comprising natural gas or a mixture of natural gas, a stream comprising ammonia, a stream comprising a mixture of natural gas and dihydrogen, or a liquid stream comprising water.

[0118] Preferably, the unit for producing dihydrogen (or a stream comprising a variable content of dihydrogen) is chosen from the group consisting of a natural gas decomposition unit, a natural gas steam reforming unit possibly equipped with a carbon dioxide capture system, an ammonia cracking unit, or a unit for producing dihydrogen by water electrolysis.

[0119] Preferably, the unit for producing dihydrogen (or a stream comprising a variable content of dihydrogen) is chosen from the group consisting of a natural gas decomposition unit, an ammonia cracking unit, or a unit for producing dihydrogen by electrolysis of water.

[0120] Preferably, the unit for separating a mixture of natural gas and dihydrogen is a membrane or electrolysis separation unit.

[0121] Preferably, the unit for separating a mixture of natural gas and dihydrogen is a membrane separation unit, for example a membrane in polymer, ceramic or liquid form.

[0122] Thus the gaseous or liquid flow from the distribution unit is conveyed to the production or separation unit, as described previously, to be transformed or converted into dihydrogen or a flow having an enriched dihydrogen content.

[0123] In other words, the flow leaving the production or separation unit, as described above, comprises an increased dihydrogen content compared to the flow entering said production or separation unit.

[0124] The different system of a dihydrogen burner is notably different from a combustion system or a unit intended to control combustion.

[0125] In particular, the system different from a dihydrogen burner is a system for controlling the dihydrogen production unit, as described previously, or the unit for separating the mixture of natural gas and dihydrogen as defined above.

[0126] Thus the different system of a dihydrogen burner receives the information representative of the dihydrogen content from the measurement and transmission system according to the invention.

[0127] Thus, the control system is in particular capable of controlling (or acting on) one or more parameters of the dihydrogen production unit or the unit for separating the mixture of natural gas and dihydrogen, as defined above, to improve the transformation of the flow entering the production or separation unit into dihydrogen as a function of said information representative of the dihydrogen content received.

[0128] In other words, the control system makes it possible in particular to enrich the flow at the outlet of the production or separation unit, as defined above, with dihydrogen relative to the inlet flow by acting on one or more parameters of the production or separation unit, for example the temperature and pressure conditions, the flow rate of the flow at the inlet of said units, the induced electric field. Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on detailed examination of an embodiment taken as a non-limiting example of a measurement and transmission system according to the invention and illustrated by the attached drawing.

[0129] In Figure 1, there is shown an assembly 10 comprising a distribution unit 1 for a gaseous or liquid flow, a production unit 2 for a flow containing a variable content of dihydrogen, a system 3 for measuring the content of dihydrogen and for transmitting information representative of said content to a system 4 other than a dihydrogen burner.

[0130] The distribution unit 1 conveys a gaseous or liquid flow via at least one connection circuit 1a to the production unit 2 so that the flow is treated to be transformed or converted at least in part into dihydrogen.

[0131] The stream thus conveyed may be a stream comprising natural gas or a mixture of natural gas, a stream comprising ammonia, a stream comprising a mixture of natural gas and dihydrogen, or a liquid stream comprising water.

[0132] The production unit 2 is connected to the measurement and transmission system 3 via a connection circuit 2a. In this way, the flow comprising a variable dihydrogen content is conveyed to the system 3.

[0133] As indicated previously, the production unit 2 makes it possible to transform or convert at least part of the input flow into a gaseous flow comprising an enriched content of dihydrogen.

[0134] In other words, the dihydrogen content in the flow leaving unit 2 is higher than the dihydrogen content present in the flow entering.

[0135] The coupling of the distribution unit 1 and the production unit 2 can constitute a distribution system 20 for a gas flow containing a variable content of dihydrogen.

[0136] The system 3 comprises at least one unit 30 for measuring the variable content of dihydrogen present in the gas flow from the production unit 2, and at least one unit 31 for processing and transmitting the information representative of said content of dihydrogen determined by said measuring unit 30.

[0137] The measuring unit 30 determines in real time the content of dihydrogen present in the gas flow from the dihydrogen production unit 2. The unit 30 may comprise one or more sensors for measuring the dihydrogen content implemented by spectroscopy, preferably by Raman spectroscopy.

[0138] The unit 31, on the one hand, digitally processes the information representative of the dihydrogen content measured by the measuring unit 30 and, on the other hand, transmits said information, by wire or radio, to the system 4.

[0139] The system 3 may further comprise a unit 32 for measuring the flow rate of the gas flow passing through the system.

[0140] The measuring unit 32 may comprise flow rate sensors, for example mass sensors of the gas flow.

[0141] The system 4 comprises a receiver 40 of the information representative of the dihydrogen content measured by the measuring unit 30.

[0142] The system 4 also comprises a unit 41 capable of controlling the dihydrogen production unit 2, in particular one or more operating parameters of the dihydrogen production unit 2, to improve the dihydrogen conversion rate.

[0143] Thus, depending on the information emitted by the system 3 on the dihydrogen content, the unit 41 of the system 4 controls one or more control parameters of the dihydrogen production process implemented in the unit 2 in a closed loop to optimize the dihydrogen concentration in the gas flow leaving the unit 2.

[0144] The production unit 2 may preferably be a unit for decomposing a stream comprising natural gas or a mixture of natural gas, a unit for steam reforming a stream comprising natural gas or a mixture of natural gas, a unit for cracking a stream comprising ammonia or a water electrolysis unit.

[0145] Alternatively, in Figure 1, unit 2 may be a unit for separating a mixture of natural gas and dihydrogen.

[0146] In this case, unit 2 is a unit for separating a mixture of natural gas and dihydrogen by membrane or electrolysis.

[0147] Thus, in this case, the unit 1 distributes a flow comprising a mixture of natural gas and dihydrogen and the unit 2 aims to separate, for example by means of a membrane or electrolysis, the mixture of natural gas and dihydrogen to recover a flow containing a dihydrogen content. The coupling of the distribution unit 1 and the separation unit 2 can constitute a distribution system 20 of a gas flow comprising a variable dihydrogen content.

[0148] The measuring unit 30 determines in real time the content of dihydrogen present in the gas flow coming from the separation unit 2 of the mixture of natural gas and dihydrogen.

[0149] Depending on the information transmitted by unit 31 of system 3 on the dihydrogen content, unit 41 of system 4 controls one or more control parameters of the process for separating the mixture of natural gas and dihydrogen in a closed loop to improve the dihydrogen recovery rate.

[0150] Thus, the system 4 can act and / or control the separation method, by membrane or electrolysis, implemented by the separation unit 2.

[0151] The system 3 according to the invention advantageously makes it possible to quantify the hydrogen taken from a natural gas and hydrogen network in order to supply a hydrogen distribution station.

[0152] Thus, the system 3 makes it possible to measure and share in real time the instantaneous content of dihydrogen present in the gas flow passing through the assembly 10.

Claims

DEMANDS 1. A system for the real-time measurement of the dihydrogen content present in a gas stream and for the transmission of information representative of said dihydrogen content to at least one receiver (4) external to said system; said system (3) comprising: at least one unit for measuring the dihydrogen content contained in the natural gas stream passing through said system, at least one unit for processing and transmitting (31) the information representative of said dihydrogen content determined by said unit for measuring (30) to at least one receiver (4) external to said system not burning dihydrogen, said receiver (4) corresponding to a control system for a dihydrogen production unit or a unit for separating dihydrogen within a mixture based on natural gas and dihydrogen.

2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the unit of measurement (30) comprises one or more means for measuring the content of dihydrogen present in the gas stream, having an acquisition frequency of less than 5 seconds, preferably less than 1 second.

3. System according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the unit of measurement (30) comprises one or more means for measuring the dihydrogen content implemented by spectroscopy, preferably by Raman spectroscopy or by laser beam absorption spectroscopy and signal analysis by wavelength modulation.

4. System according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it further comprises at least one unit of measurement (32) of the flow rate of the gas flow through said system (3).

5. Use of the system (3) as defined according to any one of claims 1 to 4, for determining the dihydrogen content present in a gas stream and transmitting information representative of said dihydrogen content to at least one receiver (4) not burning dihydrogen, in a dihydrogen production unit, in a natural gas station supplied by at least one unit of production of dihydrogen; said receiver (4) corresponding to a control system of a dihydrogen production unit or of a dihydrogen separation unit within a mixture based on natural gas and dihydrogen.

6. A method for real-time measurement of the dihydrogen content present in a gas stream and for transmitting information representative of said dihydrogen content to at least one receiver not burning dihydrogen, comprising: a step of distributing a gas stream comprising a variable dihydrogen content obtained by a dihydrogen production unit (2) or a unit for separating a mixture of natural gas and dihydrogen (2), a step of measuring the dihydrogen content present in the gas stream, a step of processing and transmitting information representative of said dihydrogen content determined during the measurement step to at least one receiver (4) not burning dihydrogen; said receiver (4) corresponding to a control system of a dihydrogen production unit (2) or a dihydrogen separation unit (2) within a mixture based on natural gas and dihydrogen.

7. A process according to claim 6, characterized in that the dihydrogen present in the gas stream is from a decarbonized source, preferably obtainable by a water electrolysis process or an ammonia cracking process.

8. Process according to claim 6, characterized in that the dihydrogen present in the gas stream is from a carbon source, preferably obtainable by a steam reforming process possibly comprising at least one carbon dioxide capture step, a coal or biomass gasification process.

9. A process according to claim 6, characterized in that the dihydrogen present in the gas stream is obtained from a separation process in a mixture comprising natural gas and dihydrogen.

10. A process according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises: a step of distributing a gas stream comprising a variable content of dihydrogen obtained by a dihydrogen production system (2) or a system for separating a mixture of natural gas and dihydrogen (2), a step for measuring the variable content of dihydrogen present in the gas stream, a step for processing and transmitting information representative of said dihydrogen content determined during the measurement step to at least one control system (4) of the dihydrogen production system (2) or of the system for separating a mixture of natural gas and dihydrogen (2), a step for controlling the dihydrogen production system (2) or of the system for separating a mixture of natural gas and dihydrogen (2) according to the information received of said dihydrogen content.

11. Assembly (10) comprising at least one supply system (20) for a gaseous stream containing a variable content of dihydrogen, comprising at least one distribution unit (1) for a gaseous or liquid stream, connected to at least one production unit (2) for dihydrogen or a separation unit (2) for a mixture of natural gas and dihydrogen, connected to at least one measurement and transmission system (3), as defined according to any one of claims 1 to 4, and at least one system (4) other than a dihydrogen burner; the system (4) being a control system for a dihydrogen production unit (2) or a control system for a separation unit (2) for the mixture of natural gas and dihydrogen.

12. Assembly (10) according to claim 11, characterized in that the dihydrogen production unit is selected from the group consisting of a natural gas decomposition unit, a natural gas steam reforming unit optionally equipped with a carbon dioxide capture system, an ammonia cracking unit, or a dihydrogen production unit by water electrolysis.

13. Assembly (10) according to claim 11, characterized in that the unit for separating a mixture of natural gas and dihydrogen is a membrane or electrolysis separation unit.

14. Assembly (10) according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the system (4) is a control system for the dihydrogen production unit (2), as defined according to claim 11 or 12, or a control system for the natural gas and dihydrogen mixture separation unit (2), as defined according to claim 11 or 13.

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