Liquefied cryogenic fluid production and storage facility

Abstract

The invention relates to an installation (100) for the production and storage of liquefied cryogenic fluid comprising: a liquefier (3) configured to produce liquefied cryogenic fluid from a feed gas (30); a first storage (4) configured to be fed by the liquefier (3); a second storage (7) configured to store liquid hydrogen having a degree of purity greater than or equal to a predetermined first degree of purity; a gaseous hydrogen source (8) configured to deliver gaseous hydrogen having, in particular, a degree of purity greater than or equal to the predetermined first degree of purity; an air source (2) configured to deliver air (1); a gaseous nitrogen source (6) configured to deliver gaseous nitrogen; a control unit configured to selectively sweep and / or purge the first storage (4) with air (1), gaseous nitrogen, gaseous hydrogen and liquid hydrogen. Abbreviated figure: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: Installation for the production and storage of liquefied cryogenic fluid

[0001] The present invention relates to an installation for the production and storage of liquefied cryogenic fluid and a method for preparing such an installation.

[0002] A hydrogen liquefier is generally configured to produce Liquid hydrogen production is not guaranteed, especially when the availability of the feed gas depends on the presence of solar or wind power. The liquid hydrogen produced by the liquefier is therefore stored in one or more liquefied hydrogen storage tanks, from which tanks such as semi-trailers are filled. Thus, even when the liquefier is not operating (for example, when it is not delivering a fluid such as hydrogen or when it is delivering a fluid such as hydrogen at a temperature of -150°C or higher), it is still possible to ensure the filling of one or more tanks.

[0003] When the liquefier is put into operation, while the storage tank does not contain liquid hydrogen, it is necessary to prepare the tank by removing any impurities it may contain in order to prevent contamination. It is also essential to reduce the temperature of the inner wall of the storage tank to a value below -150 °C.

[0004] A problem arises particularly when the liquefier is stopped, notably due to the presence of impurities in the fluid delivered by the liquefier when its temperature is greater than or equal to -150 °C.

[0005] The present invention aims to effectively overcome these drawbacks by proposing an installation for the production and storage of liquefied cryogenic fluid, for example liquefied hydrogen, comprising: - a liquefier configured to produce a liquefied cryogenic fluid from a feed gas; - a first storage configured to be supplied by the liquefier, with liquefied cryogenic fluid and being configured to allow the storage of the liquefied cryogenic fluid; - a second storage facility configured to store liquid hydrogen having a degree of purity greater than or equal to a first predetermined degree of purity, the first predetermined degree of purity being, for example, greater than or equal to 99.9999% mol, the installation being configured to allow the transfer into the first storage facility of at least a portion of the liquid hydrogen from second storage, via a first transfer pipe equipped with a first valve of a set of valves; - a gaseous hydrogen source configured to deliver gaseous hydrogen having in particular a degree of purity greater than or equal to the first predetermined degree of purity, the installation being configured to allow the transfer into the first storage, of at least a part of the gaseous hydrogen delivered by the gaseous hydrogen source, via a second transfer line equipped with a second valve of a set of valves; - an air source configured to deliver air, the installation being configured to allow the transfer into the first storage of at least part of the air delivered by the air source, via a third transfer line equipped with a third valve of the valve assembly; - a nitrogen gas source configured to deliver nitrogen gas, the installation being configured to allow the transfer into the first storage of at least part of the nitrogen gas delivered by the nitrogen gas source, via a fourth transfer line equipped with a fourth valve of the valve assembly; - a control unit configured to control at least the set of valves to selectively sweep and / or purge the first storage with air, gaseous nitrogen, gaseous hydrogen and liquid hydrogen, the first storage being in particular fluidically isolated from the liquefier and / or the liquefier being stopped.

[0006] The invention thus makes it possible to prepare the first storage, in particular by removing the impurities it could contain and / or by lowering the temperature of the mass of the first storage, even when the liquefier is stopped.

[0007] According to one embodiment, when the liquefier is stopped, it does not deliver any fluid such as hydrogen or it delivers a fluid such as hydrogen at a temperature greater than or equal to -150 °C.

[0008] According to one embodiment, the second storage is configured to be mobile relative to the liquefier, for example by being transported by a trailer or a truck.

[0009] According to one embodiment, the gaseous hydrogen source comprises a first vaporizer supplied with liquid hydrogen from the second storage, the first vaporizer being in particular configured to selectively operate in a first mode in which it delivers gaseous hydrogen at a first temperature and in a second mode in which it delivers gaseous hydrogen at a second temperature lower than the first temperature, in particular lower by at least 100 °C.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the installation includes a third storage unit intended to store liquid nitrogen, the gaseous nitrogen source comprising a second vaporizer configured to receive liquid nitrogen from the third storage and to deliver gaseous nitrogen.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the first storage comprises a double-walled enclosure separated by thermal insulation.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the installation includes a filling line equipped with a filling valve for filling a tank to be filled with liquefied cryogenic fluid from the first storage.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the installation includes a collection line equipped with a collection valve, configured to allow the transfer of a gas collected in a gaseous headspace from the tank to be filled, to the liquefier, for the purpose of its recycling.

[0014] The invention further relates to a method for preparing an installation as described above, the first storage being in particular fluidically isolated from the liquefier and / or the liquefier being in particular shut down, the method comprising the steps: - a) sweep and / or purge the first storage area with air, in particular to dry the inside of the first storage area; - b) sweep and / or purge the first storage with nitrogen gas, in particular to remove oxygen from inside the first storage; - c) sweep and / or purge the first storage with hydrogen gas, in particular to remove nitrogen from inside the first storage; - d) reduce the temperature of an internal wall of the first storage until it reaches a value below -150 °C, the inside of the first storage containing an amount of nitrogen below 0.1 ppm, the temperature of the internal wall being reduced in particular by a maximum of 5 °C per hour, for example by a maximum of 8 °C per hour.

[0015] According to one embodiment, step c) is implemented as soon as the first storage contains less than 0.5% dioxygen.

[0016] According to one embodiment, steps a), b), c, and d) are carried out successively one after the other.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the first storage includes a pressure relief valve configured to selectively allow or prevent overpressure inside the first storage from being discharged outside, steps a), b) and c) in particular being carried out while the pressure relief valve is configured to allow the discharge of overpressure inside the first storage.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the process comprises step e) of filling the first storage tank at least partially, for example to at least 10% of its total capacity, with liquid hydrogen from the second storage tank, the wall temperature internal temperature of the first storage being notably less than or equal to -250 °C.

[0019] According to one embodiment, step b) is carried out with gaseous nitrogen at a temperature between 0 °C and 50 °C, step c) being carried out with gaseous hydrogen at a temperature between 0 °C and 50 °C.

[0020] According to one variant, step b) is carried out with gaseous nitrogen at a temperature between -150 °C and 0 °C and step c) is carried out with gaseous hydrogen at a temperature between -150 °C and 0 °C.

[0021] According to one embodiment, step d) is implemented by an alternating operation of sweeping and / or purging the first storage with gaseous hydrogen at a temperature between -151 °C and -250 °C and / or with liquid hydrogen at or below -250 °C.

[0022] According to one embodiment, steps b) and / or c) include a sweep, for example at low pressure, the low pressure being in particular between 1.0 and 3.5 bara, the sweep being in particular carried out with gaseous nitrogen and respectively with gaseous hydrogen, the sweep being followed by a plurality of compression / expansion cycles.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the compression / expansion cycles are accompanied by an alternation of openings / closings of the pressure relief valve.

[0024] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description and examining the accompanying figures. These figures are given only by way of illustration and in no way limit the invention.

[0025] [Fig-1] is a schematic representation of an installation according to the invention;

[0026] [Fig.2] is a schematic representation of a method according to the invention.

[0027] With reference to [Fig.1], a 100 installation for the production and storage of liquefied cryogenic fluid, for example liquefied hydrogen.

[0028] Installation 100 comprises: - a liquefier 3 configured to produce a liquefied cryogenic fluid from a feed gas 30; - a first storage 4 configured to be supplied by the liquefier 3, with liquefied cryogenic fluid and being configured to allow the storage of the liquefied cryogenic fluid; - a second storage 7 configured to store liquid hydrogen having a degree of purity greater than or equal to a first predetermined degree of purity, the first predetermined degree of purity being for example greater than or equal to 99.9999% mole, the installation 100 being configured to allow the transfer into the first storage 4, of at least a part of the liquid hydrogen from the second storage 7, via a first transfer line 21 equipped with a first valve 11 of a set of valves 11, 12, 13, 14; - a gaseous hydrogen source 8 configured to deliver gaseous hydrogen having in particular a degree of purity greater than or equal to the first predetermined degree of purity, the installation 100 being configured to allow the transfer into the first storage 4, of at least a part of the gaseous hydrogen delivered by the gaseous hydrogen source 8, via a second transfer line 22 equipped with a second valve 12 of a set of valves 11, 12, 13, 14; - an air source 2 configured to deliver air 1, the installation 100 being configured to allow the transfer into the first storage 4, of at least part of the air delivered by the air source 2, via a third transfer line 23 equipped with a third valve 13 of the set of valves 11, 12, 13, 14; - a nitrogen gas source 6 configured to deliver nitrogen gas, the installation 100 being configured to allow the transfer into the first storage 4 of at least part of the nitrogen gas delivered by the nitrogen gas source 6, via a fourth transfer line 24 equipped with a fourth valve 14 of the set of valves 11, 12, 13, 14; - a control unit configured to control at least the set of valves 11, 12, 13, 14 to selectively sweep and / or purge the first storage 4 with air 1, gaseous nitrogen, gaseous hydrogen and liquid hydrogen, the first storage 4 being in particular fluidically isolated from the liquefier 3 and / or the liquefier 3 being shut down.

[0029] The installation 100 includes an inlet pipe 20 equipped with an inlet valve 10, the inlet pipe 20 being configured to allow the feed gas 30 to enter the liquefier 3.

[0030] The second storage 7 is configured to be mobile relative to the liquefier 3, for example by being transported by a trailer or a truck.

[0031] The gaseous hydrogen source 8 comprises a first vaporizer 8 supplied with liquid hydrogen from the second storage 7, the first vaporizer 8 being in particular configured to selectively operate in a first mode in which it delivers gaseous hydrogen at a first temperature and in a second mode in which it delivers gaseous hydrogen at a second temperature lower than the first temperature, in particular lower by at least 100 °C.

[0032] The installation 100 includes a third storage 5 for storing liquid nitrogen, the gaseous nitrogen source 6 including a second vaporizer 6 configured to receive liquid nitrogen from the third storage 5 and to deliver gaseous nitrogen.

[0033] The first storage 4 comprises a double-walled enclosure separated by a thermal insulation.

[0034] The installation 100 includes a filling line 25 equipped with a filling valve 15 for filling a tank to be filled 9 with liquefied cryogenic fluid from the first storage 4. The tank to be filled 9 is for example a mobile tank such as a tank truck.

[0035] The installation 100 includes a collection line 27 equipped with a collection valve 17, configured to allow the transfer of a gas collected in a gaseous head of the tank to be filled 9, to the liquefier 3, for recycling by the liquefier 3.

[0036] The installation 100 includes a supply line 26 fluidically connecting the liquefier 3 to the first storage 4, to supply the first storage 4 with liquefied cryogenic fluid. The supply line 26 is equipped with a supply valve 16 to allow or prevent the flow of liquefied cryogenic fluid from the liquefied 3 to the first storage 4.

[0037] Fig. 2 represents a method for preparing an installation 100 as described above, the first storage 4 being in particular fluidically isolated from the liquefier 3 and / or the liquefier 3 being in particular stopped.

[0038] The process comprises the following steps: - a) sweep and / or purge the first storage 4 with air, in particular to dry the inside of the first storage 4; - b) sweep and / or purge the first storage 4 with nitrogen gas, in particular to remove oxygen from inside the first storage 4; - c) sweep and / or purge the first storage 4 with hydrogen gas, in particular to remove nitrogen from inside the first storage 4; - d) reduce the temperature of an internal wall of the first storage 4 until it reaches a value below -150 °C, the interior of the first storage 4 containing an amount of nitrogen below 0.1 ppm, the temperature of the internal wall being reduced in particular by a maximum of 5 °C per hour, for example by a maximum of 8 °C per hour; - e) fill at least partially the first storage 4, for example with at least 10% of its total capacity, with liquid hydrogen from the second storage 7, the temperature of the internal wall of the first storage 4 being in particular less than or equal to -250 °C.

[0039] Steps a), b), c), and d) are carried out successively one after the other.

[0040] The first storage 4 includes a pressure relief valve configured to selectively allow or prevent overpressure inside the first storage 4 from being discharged outside.

[0041] Steps a), b) and c) are performed while the pressure relief valve is configured to allow the release of overpressure inside the first storage 4.

[0042] Step b) is carried out with gaseous nitrogen at a temperature between 0 °C and 50 °C, step c) being carried out with gaseous hydrogen at a temperature between 0 °C and 50 °C.

[0043] Alternatively, step b) is carried out with gaseous nitrogen at a temperature between -150 °C and 0 °C and step c) is carried out with gaseous hydrogen at a temperature between -150 °C and 0 °C.

[0044] Step d) is implemented by an alternating operation of sweeping and / or purging the first storage 4 with gaseous hydrogen at a temperature between -151 °C and -250 °C and / or with liquid hydrogen at or below -250 °C.

[0045] Steps b) and / or c) include a sweep, for example at low pressure, the low pressure being in particular between 1.0 and 3.5 bara, the sweep being in particular carried out with gaseous nitrogen and respectively with gaseous hydrogen, the sweep being followed by a plurality of compression / expansion cycles.

[0046] The compression / expansion cycles are accompanied by an alternation of openings / closings of the pressure relief valve.

Claims

1. Claims Installation (100) for producing and storing liquefied cryogenic fluid, for example hydrogen, comprising: - a liquefier (3) configured to produce a liquefied cryogenic fluid from a feed gas (30); - a first storage (4) configured to be supplied by the liquefier (3), with liquefied cryogenic fluid and being configured to allow the storage of the liquefied cryogenic fluid; - a second storage (7) configured to store liquid hydrogen having a degree of purity greater than or equal to a first predetermined degree of purity, the first predetermined degree of purity being for example greater than or equal to 99.9999 mol %, the installation (100) being configured to allow the transfer into the first storage (4), of at least a portion of the liquid hydrogen from the second storage (7), via a first transfer pipe (21) provided with a first valve (11) of a set of valves (11, 12, 13, 14) - a source of gaseous hydrogen (8) configured to deliver gaseous hydrogen having in particular a degree of purity greater than or equal to the first predetermined degree of purity, the installation (100) being configured to allow the transfer into the first storage (4), of at least a portion of the gaseous hydrogen delivered by the source of gaseous hydrogen (8), via a second transfer pipe (22) provided with a second valve (12) of a set of valves (11, 12, 13, 14); - an air source (2) configured to deliver air (1), the installation (100) being configured to allow the transfer into the first storage (4), of at least a portion of the air delivered by the air source (2), via a third transfer pipe (23) provided with a third valve (13) of the set of valves (11, 12, 13, 14); - a source of gaseous nitrogen (6) configured to deliver gaseous nitrogen, the installation (100) being configured to allow the transfer into the first storage (4), of at least a portion of the nitrogen gas delivered by the nitrogen gas source (6), via a fourth transfer line (24) provided with a fourth valve (14) of the set of valves (11, 12, 13, 14); - a control unit configured to control at least the set of valves (11, 12, 13, 14) to selectively flush and / or purge the first storage (4) with air (1), nitrogen gas, hydrogen gas and liquid hydrogen, the first storage (4) being in particular fluidically isolated from the liquefier (3) and / or the liquefier (3) being stopped.

2. Installation (100) according to the preceding claim, the source of gaseous hydrogen (8) comprising a first vaporizer (8) supplied with liquid hydrogen from the second storage (7), the first vaporizer (8) being in particular configured to selectively operate according to a first mode in which it delivers gaseous hydrogen at a first temperature and according to a second mode in which it delivers gaseous hydrogen at a second temperature lower than the first temperature, in particular lower by at least 100°C.

3. Installation (100) according to one of the preceding claims, the installation comprising a third storage (5) intended to store liquid nitrogen, the source of gaseous nitrogen (6) comprising a second vaporizer (6) configured to receive liquid nitrogen from the third storage (5) and to deliver gaseous nitrogen.

4. Installation (100) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a filling pipe (25) provided with a filling valve (15) for filling a tank to be filled (9) with liquefied cryogenic fluid coming from the first storage (4).

5. Installation (100) according to the preceding claim, comprising a collection pipe (27) provided with a collection valve (17), configured to allow the transfer of a gas collected in a gaseous atmosphere of the tank to be filled (9), to the liquefier (3), for the purpose of its recycling.

6. Method for preparing an installation (100) according to one of the preceding claims, the first storage (4) being in particular fluidically isolated from the liquefier (3) and / or the liquefier (3) being in particular when stopped, the method comprising the steps: - a) sweeping and / or purging the first storage (4) with air, in particular to dry the interior of the first storage (4); - b) sweeping and / or purging the first storage (4) with nitrogen gas, in particular to remove oxygen from the interior of the first storage (4); - c) sweeping and / or purging the first storage (4) with hydrogen gas, in particular to remove nitrogen from the interior of the first storage (4); - d) reducing the temperature of an internal wall of the first storage (4) until it reaches a value lower than -150°C, the interior of the first storage (4) comprising a quantity of nitrogen lower than 0.1 ppm, the temperature of the internal wall being in particular reduced at a rate of maximum 5°C per hour, for example at a rate of maximum 8°C per hour, steps a), b), c, and d) being in particular carried out successively one after the other.

7. Method according to the preceding claim, the first storage (4) comprising a pressure relief valve configured to selectively authorize or prevent an overpressure inside the first storage (4) from being evacuated to the outside, steps a), b) and c) being carried out in particular while the pressure relief valve is configured to authorize the evacuation of an overpressure inside the first storage (4).

8. Method according to one of claims 6 to 7, comprising step e) of at least partially filling the first storage (4), for example at least 10% of its total capacity, with liquid hydrogen coming from the second storage (7), the temperature of the internal wall of the first storage (4) being in particular less than or equal to -250°C.

9. Method according to one of claims 6 to 8, step d) being implemented by alternating the operation of sweeping and / or purging the first storage (4) with gaseous hydrogen at a temperature between -151°C and -250°C and / or with liquid hydrogen less than or equal to -250°C.

10. Method according to one of claims 6 to 9, steps b) and / or c) comprising a sweep, for example at low pressure, the low pressure being in particular between 1.0 and 3.5 bara, the sweep being in particular carried out with nitrogen gas and respectively with hydrogen gas, the sweeping being followed by a plurality of compression / expansion cycles.

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