Gas supply installation with several gas sources supplying a hospital network

Abstract

The invention relates to a gas supply installation (1) for supplying gas to a gas pipeline (2) carrying gas within a hospital establishment comprising a first and a second gas source (10A, 10B) comprising gas containers (10.1, 10.2) for supplying gas to the gas pipeline (2) at a nominal pressure (P1); a backup source (30) for supplying gas at a backup pressure (P3) to the gas pipeline (2); and a peak source (20) for supplying gas at a peak pressure (P2) to the gas pipeline (2). The nominal pressure (P1), peak pressure (P2) and emergency pressure (P3) are chosen such that the nominal pressure (P1) is greater than the peak pressure (P2), and the peak pressure (P2) is greater than or less than the emergency pressure (P3), respectively, depending on the nominal pressure (P1) which may be greater than or equal to the emergency pressure (P3), respectively.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a gas supply installation intended to supply a hospital network of a hospital establishment, i.e. one or more gas conduits or pipes, with a gas under pressure, for example oxygen, air, nitrous oxide or another medical gas, used within said hospital establishment, such as a hospital, clinic or the like.

[0002] Medical gas distribution facilities or plants supply hospitals with medical gases, also called medicinal gases, typically oxygen (O2), medical air, nitrous oxide (N2O), carbon dioxide (CO2) or others.

[0003] To ensure an uninterrupted supply of gas to the hospital's gas pipeline network and to the distribution outlets supplied by this network, a hospital gas distribution installation must take into account not only the so-called "service" pressure of the gas in question to which the gas in question must be supplied to the network, but also the gas flow rate that can be requested within the hospital, which varies according to the demand for gas, i.e. the use of gas to treat patients, for example.

[0004] In other words, a gas distribution system must be able to supply, under all circumstances, the gas flow rate drawn from within the hospital, including when consumption increases drastically on a temporary basis, i.e., during a peak in consumption. For example, such peaks in oxygen consumption were recurrent during the Covid-19 pandemic, sometimes leading to disruptions in the supply of medical oxygen in certain hospitals due to demand exceeding the capacity and sizing of existing systems.

[0005] Generally speaking, it is understood that any peak in gas consumption (i.e., excessive flow rate) can also cause a corresponding drop in pressure in the network. Many existing installations encounter this problem because they were not designed to handle a peak flow rate, i.e., a consumption peak, exceeding the usual consumption under normal operating conditions.

[0006] BE1011819 describes an installation comprising several gas sources supplying a hospital network. Pressure regulators reduce the gas pressure to an operating pressure of 6 to 9 bar. This installation is designed to prevent fire or other hazards in the event of overheating due to adiabatic compression in the high-pressure sections of the installation, typically exceeding 100 bar. It is not designed to accommodate peak gas consumption.

[0007] To address this problem, oversized systems capable of handling very high flow rates, such as peak demand, have been proposed. However, these are not ideal because they create problems related to their size, particularly their larger dimensions, which make their installation impossible in some hospitals lacking suitable facilities. Their significantly higher cost is also often a barrier to their deployment, especially since these systems operate most of the time in a so-called 'normal' mode (i.e., non-excessive flow rates), and peak consumption represents only exceptional situations.

[0008] Hospital facilities wishing to equip themselves with a gas distribution installation or plant capable of also meeting peak flow rates or other peaks in gas consumption are currently encountering all or part of these problems.

[0009] In this context, the present invention aims to attempt to solve all or part of the problems related to peak gas consumption, by proposing an improved gas distribution installation or plant, in particular capable of providing a standard gas flow rate under normal operating conditions but also, in the event of a peak consumption, of increasing the flow capacity delivered and thus ensuring an uninterrupted supply of medical gases during said peak consumption.

[0010] One solution of the invention relates to a gas supply installation or plant for supplying gas to at least one gas pipeline (i.e., gas conduit or transmission line) carrying said gas, typically a medical or medicinal gas, within a hospital establishment, comprising at least a portion of said at least one pipeline and: A) a first gas source comprising a first group of containers and a second gas source comprising a second group of containers, each group of containers comprising one or more gas containers containing the gas to be supplied, said first and second gas sources, also called main sources, being fluidly connected to said gas pipeline, at at least a first connection point to supply the gas to said gas pipeline at a first pressure, called "normal" or "nominal" pressure (P1), B) a third gas source, called "backup" or "emergency" source, containing the gas to be supplied, being fluidly connected to the gas pipeline to supply the gas at a third pressure, called "emergency" pressure (P3), to said gas pipeline, and C) a fourth gas source, called "peak" or "boost" source, containing the gas to be supplied, fluidly connected to the gas pipeline,to supply the gas at a second pressure, called peak pressure (P2), to said gas pipeline.

[0011] In the installation of the invention, the nominal pressure (P1), the peak pressure (P2), and the emergency pressure (P3) are such that: P1 > P2 > P3. In other words: P1 > P2, that is, the nominal pressure (P1) is greater than the peak pressure (P2), and P2 > P3, that is, the peak pressure (P2) is greater than the emergency pressure (P3).

[0012] Alternatively, according to another embodiment of the installation, the nominal pressure (P1), the peak pressure (P2) and the emergency pressure (P3) are such that: P1 > P2, that is, the nominal pressure (P1) is greater than the peak pressure (P2), and P2 < P3 and P1 = P3, that is, the peak pressure (P2) is less than the emergency pressure (P3), when the nominal pressure (P1) is equal to the emergency pressure (P3).

[0013] Depending on the embodiment considered, the gas supply installation or plant of the invention may include one or more of the following features: The backup source connects to the gas pipeline downstream of the first and second gas sources. The backup source connects to the gas pipeline at a third connection point located downstream of at least one of the first connection points of the first and second gas sources. The fourth gas source is fluidly connected to the gas pipeline at a second connection point located downstream of at least one of the first connection points of the first and second gas sources and / or upstream of the third connection point of the third gas source, i.e., the backup source. The first and second gas sources, also called the main sources, are fluidly connected to the gas pipeline at a common first connection point.The first and second gas sources are fluidly connected to the gas pipeline via two initial connecting sections and a second common section to which the first two connecting sections are fluidly connected. The third gas source, i.e., the backup source, is fluidly connected to the gas pipeline via a third connecting section. The fourth gas source, i.e., the peak source, is fluidly connected to the gas pipeline via a fourth connecting section. Initial pressure-reducing means are arranged downstream of the first and second gas sources. These initial pressure-reducing means are configured to reduce the pressure of the gas from the first and second gas sources, i.e., the main sources, to the nominal pressure (P1).Second pressure-reducing means are arranged downstream of the third gas source, i.e., the backup source. These second pressure-reducing means are configured to reduce the pressure of the gas from the third gas source, i.e., the backup source, to the backup pressure (P3). Third pressure-reducing means are arranged downstream of the fourth gas source, i.e., the peak source. These third pressure-reducing means are configured to reduce the pressure of the gas from the fourth gas source, i.e., the peak source, to the peak pressure (P2). The first pressure-reducing means are arranged on the second common section and / or on the first two connecting sections. The second pressure-reducing means are arranged on the third connecting section, i.e., the section connecting the backup source to the pipeline.The third pressure-reducing means are arranged on the fourth connecting section, that is, the one connecting the peak source to the pipeline. The first pressure (P1) is between 4 and 18 bar, preferably less than 15 bar. The first pressure (P1) is between 7 and 12 bar, preferably less than 10 bar. The emergency pressure (P3) is between 4.5 and 15 bar, preferably less than 12 bar. The emergency pressure (P3) is between 5 and 11 bar, preferably less than 9.5 bar. The peak pressure (P2) is between 3.6 and 15 bar, preferably less than 12 bar. The peak pressure (P2) is between 3.6 and 10 bar, preferably less than 8 bar. The peak pressure (P2) is between 4 and 9 bar. the first and second gas sources contain the gas at at least a first high pressure (P 01 ), that is to say a first pressure before expansion.The first pressure-reducing means are configured to reduce the gas pressure from the first high pressure (P01) to the first pressure or nominal pressure (P1), i.e., the first pressure-reducing pressure (with P1 < P01). The backup source contains the gas at at least a third high pressure (P03), i.e., a third pressure before pressure-reducing. The second pressure-reducing means are configured to reduce the gas pressure from the third high pressure (P03) to the backup pressure (P3), i.e., a third pressure-reducing pressure (i.e., P3 < P03). The peak source contains the gas at at least a second high pressure (P02), i.e., a second pressure before pressure-reducing. the third means of expansion are configured to operate a reduction of the gas pressure from said second high pressure (P 02 ) to the peak pressure (P 2 ), i.e. a second expansion pressure (i P 2 < P 02 ).The two groups of gas containers supply the gas sequentially; that is, the first group of gas containers from the first gas source supplies the gas first, then the second group of gas containers from the second gas source takes over when the first group no longer has (or no longer has enough) gas, i.e., when the containers are empty or almost empty.

[0014] Furthermore, depending on the embodiment considered, the gas supply installation or plant of the invention may include one or more of the following features: According to one embodiment, the nominal pressure (P1), i.e., the first expansion pressure, is between 4 and 10 bar. According to another embodiment, the nominal pressure (P1) is between 8.5 and 10.5 bar, for example, around 9 bar. According to yet another embodiment, the nominal pressure (P1) is less than 8.2 bar, for example, around 5 bar. Preferably, the ratio of the peak pressure (P2) to the nominal pressure (P1) is such that: P2 / P1 ≥ 80%, preferably between 85% and 95%, and even more preferably between 87% and 93%. According to one embodiment, the peak pressure (P2) is between 5 and 10 bar, preferably between 5 and 9 bar, preferably between 7 and 8.5 bar, for example in the order of 8.1 bar. The first means of pressure reduction include at least one upstream pressure reduction device and at least one downstream pressure reduction device.Preferably, the downstream pressure-reducing device(s) is / are arranged downstream of the upstream pressure-reducing device(s) so as to perform a pressure reduction in (at least) two successive stages of the gas from the first and second gas sources. In another embodiment, the first pressure-reducing means comprise a single pressure-reducing device so as to perform a single-stage pressure reduction of the gas from the first gas source. The nominal pressure (P1) corresponds to the gas pressure measured (i.e., exerted) downstream of the first pressure-reducing means arranged on the second common section, that is, downstream of the upstream and downstream pressure-reducing devices. The second pressure-reducing means comprise at least one second pressure-reducing device. The emergency pressure (P3) corresponds to the gas pressure measured (i.e., exerted) downstream of the second pressure-reducing means arranged on the third pipeline section.The peak pressure (P2) corresponds to the gas pressure within (i.e., exerted in) the third pressure-reducing device located on the fourth pipeline section. The first gas source, the second gas source, the third gas source (i.e., backup source), and / or the fourth gas source (peak source) each comprise one or more pressurized gas vessels, preferably several pressurized gas vessels. The gas vessels are or comprise pressurized gas cylinders. In one embodiment, the first gas source, the second gas source, the third gas source, and / or the fourth gas source each comprise at least two pressurized gas vessels, preferably at least three pressurized gas vessels.The first and second gas sources comprise two groups of gas cylinders arranged in parallel, each supplying the second common section, specifically via the first two connecting sections. The first two connecting sections are connected to the second common section by means of a junction device. The gas cylinders have a capacity (volume or internal capacity) of between 10 and 150 L (water equivalent), preferably between 50 and 100 L. The first high pressure (P01) and / or the second high pressure (P02) and / or the third high pressure (P03) are less than 350 bar, preferably less than or equal to 300 bar, typically less than 250 bar. the first high pressure (P 01 ) and / or the second high pressure (P 02 ) and / or the third high pressure (P 03 ) are at least 150 bar (before withdrawal), preferably at least 180 bar.The gas flow rate from the first and / or second gas source is at least 30 m³ / h, typically between 30 and 120 m³ / h. The gas pipeline is in fluid communication with a hospital network, also called a gas or fluid network, comprising several gas pipelines or lines, to supply said hospital network with gas. The installation therefore supplies, via the gas pipeline, gas from: ▪ the first gas source or the second gas source, that is to say, one and / or the other of the main sources, when network consumption is normal, that is to say, in the event of "usual" demand and without excess. ▪ or, where applicable, from the first and / or second gas source and also from the fourth source, i.e. the peak source, in the event of a peak in consumption and "unusual" and excessive demand from the network, for example as during episodes related to Covid 19.▪ or, where applicable, the third gas source, i.e., the backup source, when the first and second gas sources are empty or nearly empty, meaning that the third gas source acts as a backup or emergency gas source. The first, second, and third means of pressure reduction are or include one or more gas regulators. Each gas container is equipped with a gas distribution valve and possibly a protective cover around said valve. The gas pipeline and / or sections of conduit are fixed to one or more walls of the hospital building, such as walls, partitions, ceilings, etc. The hospital network carries the gas to gas distribution outlets, i.e., wall outlets, used to distribute or supply the gas, particularly to appliances connected to them.

[0015] The invention also relates to the use of a gas supply installation according to the invention to supply gas to the hospital network comprising several gas pipes, arranged within a hospital establishment.

[0016] According to another aspect, the invention also relates to a method for controlling a gas supply installation or plant according to the invention, enabling the supply of gas to at least one gas pipeline carrying said gas, within a hospital establishment, typically a medical or medicinal gas, in which the nominal pressure (P1), the peak pressure (P2) and the emergency pressure (P3) are selected and / or controlled and / or supplied such as: P1 > P2 and P2 > P3 when P1 > P3 or P2 < P3 when P1 = P3. Définitions

[0017] Within the scope of the invention: The term "gas" is used to refer to a single gaseous constituent or compound, such as oxygen (O₂), or a mixture of several gaseous constituents or compounds, such as air (i.e., a mixture containing O₂, N₂, etc.). Pressures are expressed in bar relative. The term "hospital establishment" refers to a building of the hospital, clinic, or similar type. The term "pipeline" is considered equivalent to and interchangeable with the terms "conduit," "pipe," and / or "line," or similar terms. The terms "upstream" and "downstream" are considered in relation to the normal direction of gas flow in the installation, i.e., from the gas sources and toward the network. The term "gas cylinder" is considered equivalent to the terms "gas cylinder" or "gas cylinder."

[0018] The invention will now be better understood through the following detailed description, given by way of illustration but not limitation, with reference to the figure 1 attached diagram which illustrates an embodiment of a gas supply installation according to the invention.

[0019] There Fig. 1 diagram shows an embodiment of a gas supply installation 1 according to the invention intended to supply gas, i.e. a medical gas (also called medicinal or therapeutic gas), to a gas pipeline 2 carrying this gas and supplying a network of gas pipelines 4 arranged within a hospital establishment, such as a hospital, clinic or similar.

[0020] Oxygen is used as an example of a medical gas below, but installation 1 can supply other gases (i.e., a single constituent or a mixture of several constituents), such as air, N2O, CO2, or any other medical gas.

[0021] Such a hospital network 4 usually carries the gas(s) to wall outlets used to distribute the gas to patient rooms, operating rooms, treatment rooms, recovery rooms or other areas of the hospital facility, such as the wall outlets described by FR2628820, EP3922895, EP3922894, EP3922339 or EP3719377.

[0022] Installation 1 here comprises a first and a second gas source 10A, 10B each comprising one (or more) group 10.1, 10.2 of one or more gas containers 3, preferably several gas containers 3, typically pressurized gas cylinders, namely here two groups 10.1, 10.2 each comprising three gas containers 3, such as pressurized oxygen cylinders.

[0023] The two groups 10.1, 10.2 of gas containers 3 supply the gas sequentially, that is to say the first group 10.1 of gas containers 3 from the first gas source 10A supplies the gas first, then the second group of gas containers 3 from the second gas source 10B takes over when the first group 10.1 no longer has any gas, that is to say the containers are empty or almost empty.

[0024] The first and second gas sources 10A, 10B, i.e. the gas containers 3, are fluidically connected to the gas pipeline 2 in order to supply it with pressurized gas, for example oxygen, at a main gas flow rate.

[0025] In the gas containers 3, the gas has a first high pressure P 01 of at least 150 bar, which can rise to 200 bar, or even 250 bar, or even 350 bar when the gas containers 3 are full, i.e. before any withdrawal.

[0026] In other words, these pressure values ​​correspond to the maximum gas pressure measured in the container 3, before any use or withdrawal of gas. Naturally, the pressure decreases within the container 3 as gas is used; that is, the more gas is sent to the gas pipeline 2 and subsequently to the network 4, the lower the pressure in the container 3.

[0027] According to one embodiment, the pressure within the containers 3 of the same group 10.1, 10.2 is substantially equal since they are all fluidly connected, via first gas sections 12 and a joining device 14, to the same pipe section 42, called second common section 42, as explained below, so the containers 3 empty substantially in a quasi-simultaneous or quasi-synchronized manner, and the internal pressures within them are balanced.

[0028] Furthermore, first pressure-reducing means 11 are arranged downstream of each group of containers 10.1, 10.2 of the first gas source 10, i.e. downstream of the containers 3, in order to ensure a pressure-reducing of the gas, as detailed below.

[0029] In the implementation of Fig. 1 The first pressure-reducing means 11 comprise upstream pressure-reducing devices 11.1 and downstream devices 11.2 arranged in series to achieve a two-stage pressure reduction, i.e., according to two levels of pressure reduction. Each of the groups of containers 10.1, 10.2 of the first and second gas sources 10A, 10B supplies a first section of pipe 12 with gas from one or more containers 3, for example oxygen at 200 bar or another high pressure (i.e., > 9 bar).

[0030] The first pressure-reduction means 11 are configured to operate a pressure reduction or decrease, i.e. a gas expansion, of the gas coming from the containers 3 of the first and second gas sources 10A, 10B, i.e. the main sources, for example of oxygen at the first high pressure P 01 of 200 bar (or another high pressure), also called initial high pressure, down to a first fixed pressure, called nominal or normal pressure P 1, i.e. a first expansion pressure, which is less than the first pressure P 01, i.e. P 1 < P 01, of the gas within the containers 3. The first pressure or normal or nominal pressure P 1 corresponds to the usual or normal operating pressure of the installation, i.e. when the demand is not occasionally high.

[0031] In the implementation of Fig. 1 , the expansion takes place in two stages, that is to say that the gas from each group 10.1, 10.2 of gas containers 3 is first expanded once by one of the upstream expansion devices 11.1 to a given intermediate pressure level or plateau Pi (also called "pre-expansion"), then a second time by the downstream expansion device 11.2 arranged in series after the upstream expansion devices 11.1, until the desired nominal pressure P1 is reached.

[0032] During this first expansion, carried out by the first upstream expansion device(s) 11.1, the gas pressure can decrease from the initial high pressure P01, for example at least 200 bar, to a lower intermediate pressure Pi, which can be, for example, between 13 and 20 bar, for example set at 14 bar. Then, during the second expansion, carried out by the downstream expansion device 11.2, the gas pressure is brought to its final level, the nominal expansion pressure (P1), for example a nominal pressure of approximately 9 bar.

[0033] After its expansion within the first expansion means 11, the expanded gas (i.e. downstream of the downstream expansion device 11.2) which is at the nominal pressure (P 1 ), feeds the gas pipeline 2 and is sent to the network 4.

[0034] More specifically, as can be seen here, each first upstream pressure-reducing device 11.1 is arranged on the first section of pipe 12 which connects fluidly, downstream, via a suitable junction device 14, to the second common section 42 (at a first connection site 13) to supply it with the gas reduced to the nominal pressure (P 1), for example oxygen at 9 bar, which second common section 42 subsequently supplies the gas pipeline 2 with the gas at the first pressure, i.e. the nominal pressure P 1.

[0035] Furthermore, the downstream pressure-reducing device 11.2 is arranged in series and downstream of the aforementioned upstream pressure-reducing devices 11.1, meaning that it can be arranged directly on the gas pipeline 2 or, depending on the embodiment considered (as illustrated in Fig. 1 ), on the second common section 42 forming an intermediate gas section which connects fluidly downstream to the gas pipeline 2.

[0036] Of course, according to another embodiment, the first means of expansion 11 could comprise only one single gas expansion device operating a single expansion (i.e. without a step) or, conversely, one or more additional gas expansion devices to operate a cascade expansion in 3 or more steps / levels of expansion.

[0037] In all cases, the gas expanded to the first pressure, i.e. to the nominal pressure P 1, such as oxygen at 9 bar, from the first and second gas sources 10A, 10B, i.e. from the two groups 10.1, 10.2 of gas containers 3, is then supplied to the hospital network 4, during the usual or normal operation of the installation 1.

[0038] In addition, the installation 1 may also include a third gas source 30 acting as a "backup", called a backup source, to allow gas to be supplied to the network for example when the first and second gas sources 10A, 10B run dry or are empty, and while waiting for their empty containers 3 to be replaced with full containers.

[0039] To do this, a third gas source or backup source 30 containing the gas at at least a third high pressure P 03 is advantageously provided, which connects fluidly (at 33) to the gas pipeline 2, for example, downstream of the first and second gas sources 10A, 10B.

[0040] The backup source 30 comprises a group of several gas containers 3 which connect, via a third section of pipe 32, to the pipeline 2 and therefore also to the network 4.

[0041] Second means of pressure reduction 31, such as a gas pressure reducing device, are also arranged downstream of the emergency source 30, and configured to operate a pressure reduction of the gas coming from the emergency source 30 down to a fixed third pressure reduction called emergency pressure P3 lower than the third high pressure (P03), and then supply the gas at the emergency pressure P3 to the gas pipeline 2.

[0042] The relief pressure P3, i.e. after expansion, is lower than the first pressure (i.e. nominal pressure), i.e. P1 > P2. For example, the relief pressure P3 may be around 7 bar when the first nominal P1 may be around 9 bar, and the gas is oxygen.

[0043] Furthermore, in order to ensure continuity of gas supply during peak consumption or overconsumption, the installation 1 also includes a fourth gas source, called the "peak" source 20 or "boost" source, containing the gas, for example oxygen, at at least a second high pressure P 02, fluidly connected to the gas pipeline 2. The peak source 20 supplies the gas at an additional gas flow rate.

[0044] The second high pressure (P 02) is also a high pressure, for example at least 150 to 200 bar, or even more. It may be equal to or of the same order as the first high pressure (P 01), or it may be different.

[0045] This peak source 20 connects to the gas pipeline 2, for example downstream of the first and second gas sources 10A, 10B, i.e. the main sources, and for example upstream of the backup source 30, i.e. between the first and second gas sources 10A, 10B, and the backup source 30.

[0046] The peak source 20 here comprises a group of several gas containers 3, such as pressurized gas cylinders, for example three gas containers 3. The peak source 20 is fluidly connected (at 23) to the gas pipeline (2) via a fourth pipe section 22. Third pressure-reducing means 21, such as a gas pressure-reducing device, are arranged on this fourth pipe section 22 to ensure the gas is depressurized, i.e. a pressure reduction.

[0047] As before, third pressure-reducing means 21, such as a pressure-reducing device, are arranged downstream of the fourth gas source 20 and are configured to operate a pressure reduction of the gas from the peak source 20 to a pressure-reducing, i.e. the peak pressure P 2, and supply the gas at said peak pressure P 2 to said gas pipeline 2.

[0048] According to the invention, the normal / nominal pressure P1, the peak pressure P2 and the relief pressure P3 are such that: P1 > P2 > P3 According to an alternative embodiment, we can have: P1 > P2 and P2 < P3 when P1 = P3.

[0049] In other words, depending on the embodiment, we have: P1 ≥ P3.

[0050] Preferably, we choose the normal / nominal pressure P1, the peak pressure P2 and the relief pressure P3 such that: P1 > P2 > P3.

[0051] Preferably, in order to better cope with peak consumption, i.e. a gas demand, typically occasional, greater than the usual or normal consumption of the installation, the nominal pressure P 1 and the peak pressure P 2 are chosen so that P 2 / P 1 ≥ 80%, preferably P 2 / P 1 ≥ 85%, for example P 2 / P 1 is equal to about 90%.

[0052] For example, the nominal pressure P1 is between 4 and 18 bar, preferably less than 15 bar, typically between 4 and 10 bar, for example around 9 bar, as illustrated in Fig. 1 . Thus, if the nominal pressure P 1 is set at 9 bar for example, then the peak pressure P 2 can be chosen to be around 8.1 bar, which corresponds to a ratio P 2 / P 1 of 90%.

[0053] Such an arrangement makes it possible to respond to peak gas consumption, i.e., high, one-off demands, within the hospital, by increasing the flow rate capacity delivered to the hospital's network 4. Indeed, when, particularly during a one-off consumption peak, the demand for gas flow from the hospital's network 4 increases, the pressure in network 4 will drop due to the excessive demand until it becomes insufficient for the first or second gas source 10A, 10B to supply the full amount of gas required. This pressure drop in network 4 will then propagate, i.e., travel up, to pipeline 2, and the pressure will then decrease there even if the first or second gas source 10A, 10B continues to supply it with gas at the nominal pressure P1, such as oxygen at 9 bar, for example, in the example of Fig. 1 because the quantity of gas supplied will be insufficient.

[0054] Therefore, when the pressure within network 4, and thus within pipe 2, falls below the value of P2, for example below 8.1 bar in the example of Fig. 1 (i.e., ratio P2 / P1 of 90%), the peak source 20 will then begin to supply gas at peak pressure P2 in order to assist the first and second gas sources 10A, 10B and to supplement gas at this relief pressure P2 in pipeline 2 which will then be conveyed to network 4 by it.

[0055] In other words, in the event of overconsumption of gas by network 4, the installation 1 of the invention makes it possible to ensure an additional supply of gas, such as oxygen, to the pipeline 2 and therefore also to network 4. In this case, the gas supplied to network 4 therefore comes not only from the first or second gas source 10A, 10B but also from the peak source 20.

[0056] Using a P2 / P1 ratio of at least 80%, for example 90%, ensures that the additional gas supply from the peak source 20 does not occur too early or unexpectedly, i.e. only in the event of an excessive pressure drop.

[0057] Installation 1 of the invention has the advantage of not requiring any electronic control and pressure or flow sensors to operate since its operation is totally pneumatic (i.e. gas pressures).

[0058] The peak source 20 therefore acts as a "boost" source in case of peak consumption, being able to deliver gas to the hospital network 4 whose flow (i.e. additional flow) then adds to the flow (i.e. main flow) from the first or second gas source 10A, 10B, which deliver in the case sequentially, so as to meet the flow required by the network 4.

[0059] As an example, the main flow rate from the first or second gas source 10A, 10B and the additional flow rate from the peak source 20 may be equal or different, preferably they are several tens of m³ / h each, in particular at least 50 m³ / h each, typically between 50 and 120 m³ / h each.

[0060] Thus, when the main flow and the additional flow are 80 m³ / h each, their addition leads to a combined flow of 160 m³ / h, which is double the nominal / usual flow coming from only the first or second gas source 10A, 10B, which combined flow makes it possible to meet the peak consumption of network 4 by limiting the risks of disruptions in the supply of network 4, therefore the risks for patients needing gas, for example gaseous oxygen.

[0061] Installation 1 of the invention has an additional advantage, namely that it can be easily installed on existing power plants or installations to which the peak source 20 and the required piping and expansion elements are added.

[0062] Of course, the pressure relief levels P1, P2, P3 can vary from one installation 1 to another depending on the specifics of each installation 1. Choosing the most suitable pressure relief levels for a given installation 1 can be done easily, in particular through simple routine tests.

[0063] In summary, installation 1 of the invention supplies gas to gas pipeline 2 and therefore to the hospital network 4 with gas, for example oxygen, from: either from the first or second gas source 10A, 10B when the gas flow consumed is less than the nominal flow delivered by the first or second gas source 10A, 10B, for example a nominal flow of 80 m³ / h, or from the first or second gas source 10A, 10B and the peak source 20, i.e. the "boost" source, in case of peak flow, i.e. overconsumption of gas by the network 4, so as to ensure a flow much greater than the nominal flow, in particular a doubled nominal flow, for example a combined flow of 160 m³ / h, or from the backup source 30, i.e. in case of unavailability or malfunction of the first and second gas sources 10A, 10B, for example when they are being replaced when they are empty.

[0064] Generally speaking, since the installation 1 of the invention is controlled according to different pressures, the connections of the first, second and third gas sources 10-30 to the gas pipeline 2 could be made, within the scope of the invention, at sites different from those shown on Fig. 1 .

[0065] More generally, a gas supply installation 1 according to the invention makes it possible to supply any gas network, in particular an oxygen, air or nitrous oxide network, arranged in said hospital establishment and which supplies gas distribution outlets, i.e. wall outlets.

Claims

1. Gas supply installation (1) for supplying gas to at least one gas pipeline (2) carrying said gas within a hospital establishment comprising at least part of said at least one gas pipeline (2) and: A) a first gas source (10A) comprising a first group (10.1) of receptacles (3) and a second gas source (10B) comprising a second group of receptacles (10.2), each group of receptacles (10.1; 10.2) comprising one or more gas containers (3) containing the gas to be supplied, said first and second gas sources (10A, 10B) being fluidly connected to said gas pipeline (2), at at least a first connection site (13) to supply the gas to said gas pipeline (2) at a nominal pressure (P1), B) a backup source (30) containing the gas to be supplied, being fluidly connected to the gas pipeline (2) to supply the gas at a backup pressure (P3) to said gas pipeline (2), and C) a peak source (20) containing the gas to be supplied, fluidly connected to the gas pipeline (2), to supply the gas at a peak pressure (P2) to said gas pipeline (2), and wherein the nominal pressure (P1), the peak pressure (P2) and the backup pressure (P3) are such that: P1 > P2 > P3.

2. Installation according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe first and second gas sources (10A, 10B) connect fluidly to the gas pipeline (2), at a first common connection site (13).

3. Installation according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that - the first and second gas sources (10A, 10B) are fluidly connected to the gas pipeline (2) via two first connecting sections (12) and a second common section (42) to which the first two connecting sections (12) are fluidly connected, - the backup source (30) is fluidly connected to the gas pipeline (2) via a third connecting section (32), and / or - the peak source (20) is fluidly connected to the gas pipeline (2) via a fourth connecting section (22).

4. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that- First expansion means (11; 11.1, 11.2) are arranged downstream of said first and second gas sources (10A, 10B), and configured to operate a pressure reduction of the gas from said first and second gas sources (10A, 10B) down to the nominal pressure (P1), - Second expansion means (31) are arranged downstream of said backup source (30), and configured to operate a pressure reduction of the gas from the third gas source (30) down to the backup pressure (P3), and / or - Third expansion means (21) are arranged downstream of the peak source (20), and configured to operate a pressure reduction of the gas from the peak source (20) down to the peak pressure (P2).

5. Installation according to claims 4 and 5, characterized in that- the first means of decompression (11; 11.1, 11.2) are arranged on the second common section (42) and / or on the first two connecting sections (12), - the second means of decompression (31) are arranged on the third connecting section (32), and / or - the third means of decompression (21) are arranged on the fourth connecting section (22).

6. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - the nominal pressure (P1) is between 4 and 18 bar, preferably less than 15 bar, - the peak pressure (P2) is between 3.6 and 15 bar, preferably less than 12 bar, and / or - the emergency pressure (P3) is between 3.5 and 10 bar, preferably less than 8 bar.

7. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The gas is chosen from O2, air, N2O and CO2.

8. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe gas pipeline (2) is in fluidic communication with a hospital network (4) comprising several gas pipelines to supply said hospital network (4) with gas.

9. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the containers (3) include gas cylinders.

10. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the containers (3) include a high pressure (P 01 , P 02 , P 03 ) of at least 150 bar.

11. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the containers (3) include a high pressure (P 01 , P 02 , P 03 ) less than 350 bar, preferably less than or equal to 300 bar.

12. Use of a gas supply installation (1) according to any one of the preceding claims for supplying gas to the hospital network (4) comprising several gas pipelines arranged within a hospital establishment, said hospital network (4) being supplied by said at least one gas pipeline (2).

13. Use according to claim 12, characterized in that the hospital network (4) is configured to supply gas distribution outlets, typically wall outlets.

14. Use according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that The gas is oxygen.

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