Cryogenic fluid production facility

Abstract

The invention relates to an installation (1) for the production of a cryogenic fluid comprising: a first cryogenic fluid storage (10); a circuit (2) of gas to be cooled; a set of heat exchangers (5, 6) in heat exchange with the circuit (2); a pre-cooling device (8) in heat exchange with at least a first part (5) of the set of exchangers (5, 6); a cryogenic cooling device (9) in heat exchange with at least a second part (6) of the set of exchangers (5, 6); a cryogenic purification device (3) disposed in the circuit (2); the pre-cooling device (8) comprising a thermosiphon (48) fluidically connected to a second storage (4) of pre-cooling fluid, configured to receive fluid from the second storage (4) to maintain a predetermined level of pre-cooling fluid in the thermosiphon (48). Abstract figure: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: Installation for the production of a cryogenic fluid

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

[0002] In a manner known per se, a cryogenic fluid production installation comprises a circuit of gas to be cooled having an upstream end intended to be connected to a gas source and a downstream end to deliver the cryogenic fluid, for example a liquefied gas.

[0003] The gas source can be produced from renewable energy sources, in particular renewable energy sources powered by the sun and / or wind. For example, electrolyzers powered by electricity produced from wind or solar energy are known.

[0004] When the gas source is produced at least partially from renewable energy sources, the gas source flow rate varies frequently and significantly. It is therefore essential that such an installation be able to adapt to these variations. In certain cases, particularly when the gas source flow rate is too low, the installation must shut down. As soon as the gas source flow rate becomes acceptable again, the installation must be able to restart quickly.

[0005] One problem is that in order to restart quickly, in particular to be able to perform a cold restart, it is necessary to keep certain components of the installation at sufficiently low temperatures.

[0006] There is therefore a need for a cryogenic fluid production installation capable of adjusting its operating mode according to the flow rate of the gas source, in particular to maintain, under all circumstances, certain components at sufficiently low temperatures.

[0007] The present invention aims to effectively overcome these drawbacks by proposing an installation for the production of a cryogenic fluid, for example liquefied hydrogen, comprising: - an initial storage facility to allow for the storage of the cryogenic fluid; - a circuit for the gas to be cooled having an upstream end intended to be connected to a gas source and a downstream end to deliver the cryogenic fluid, for example a liquefied gas, the downstream end being connected to the first storage for the storage of the cryogenic fluid; - a set of heat exchangers in heat exchange with the gas circuit to be cooled; - a pre-cooling device in heat exchange with at least a first part of the heat exchanger assembly and configured to pre-cool the gas circuit to be cooled to a first determined temperature, the pre-cooling device comprising a refrigerator with a refrigeration cycle of a pre-cooling fluid in a pre-cooling circuit, the pre-cooling circuit comprising a pre-cooling fluid compression element; - a cryogenic cooling device in heat exchange with at least a second part of the heat exchanger assembly and configured to cool the gas circuit to be cooled to a second determined temperature lower than the first temperature, the cryogenic cooling device comprising a cycle refrigerator for refrigerating a cycle gas in a cycle circuit, the cycle circuit comprising a cycle gas compression element; - a cryogenic purification device disposed in the circuit of gas to be cooled, in particular upstream of the second part of the assembly of exchangers; the pre-cooling device comprising a first thermosiphon of the pre-cooling fluid comprising an inlet and an outlet connected to a loop of the pre-cooling circuit, the first thermosiphon being fluidly connected to a second storage of pre-cooling fluid and being configured to receive pre-cooling fluid from the second storage, in particular in liquid form, to allow to maintain a determined level of pre-cooling fluid in the first thermosiphon.

[0008] Such an arrangement makes it possible to maintain the fluid exiting the cryogenic purification device at a temperature less than or equal to 100 K, for example less than or equal to 90 K, even when the flow rate of gas to be liquefied becomes too low, i.e. when the liquefier is no longer able to produce liquefied gas.

[0009] This allows a cold restart which reduces the restart time of a cryogenic fluid production installation.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the first determined temperature is between 100 K and 70 K.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the second determined temperature is between 48 K and 18 K.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the pre-cooling fluid compression unit comprises a compressor and / or a pump.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the cycle gas compression unit comprises a compressor and / or a pump.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the cryogenic purification device comprises at least one temperature-modulated adsorption unit.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the second storage is configured to be mobile and / or removable from the installation, for example by being integrated into a truck or trailer.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the cooling device includes a second cycle gas thermosiphon comprising an inlet and an outlet connected to a loop of the cycle circuit, the second thermosiphon being fluidically connected to the first storage and configured to receive cryogenic fluid from the first storage to maintain a determined level of cryogenic fluid in the second thermosiphon, the determined level of cryogenic fluid being, for example, greater than 10% of the total capacity of the second thermosiphon, in particular greater than 30%.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the determined level of pre-cooling fluid is greater than 10% of the total capacity of the first thermosiphon, for example greater than 30%.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the cryogenic purification device is arranged between the first part of the heat exchanger assembly and the second part of the heat exchanger assembly, in particular by being configured to be supplied with a gas having a temperature between 20 °C and -250 °C, for example between -100 °C and -250 °C.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the cryogenic purification device is configured so that the gas to be cooled circulating in the gas to be cooled circuit passes through at least a part of the first part of the exchanger assembly before entering the cryogenic purification device.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the first part of the set of exchangers is arranged in a first cold box, the first thermosiphon being in particular arranged in the first cold box.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the cryogenic purification device is arranged in the first cold box.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the cryogenic purification device is arranged upstream of the second thermosiphon.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the second part of the set of exchangers is arranged in a second cold box, the second thermosiphon being in particular arranged in the second cold box.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the pre-cooling circuit comprises a device for cooling the compressed pre-cooling fluid, a device for expanding the compressed and cooled pre-cooling fluid and a device for heating the expanded pre-cooling fluid.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the precooling fluid cooling device and / or the precooling fluid heating device includes at least the first part of the heat exchanger assembly.

[0026] According to one embodiment, the cycle circuit includes a cooling element for the compressed cycle gas, an expansion element for the compressed and cooled cycle gas and a heating element for the expanded cycle gas.

[0027] According to one embodiment, the cycle gas cooling element and / or the cycle gas heating element comprises at least the first part and / or the second part of the heat exchanger assembly.

[0028] According to one embodiment, the cycle gas comprises at least one of: hydrogen, helium, neon.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the gas to be liquefied and the cycle gas each comprise hydrogen and / or each comprise helium and / or each comprise neon.

[0030] According to one embodiment, the pre-cooling fluid comprises at least one of the following: nitrogen, a mixture of refrigerants also called "MR".

[0031] According to one embodiment, the gas circuit to be cooled is equipped with a first valve downstream of the downstream end, being configured to regulate the pressure in the first storage, the first valve comprising for example a pressure relief valve, in particular a Joule-Thomson pressure relief valve.

[0032] According to one embodiment, the gas circuit to be cooled is fluidly connected to the second thermosiphon, in particular via a bypass downstream of the downstream end.

[0033] According to one embodiment, the gas circuit to be cooled is fluidly connected to the second thermosiphon via a bypass downstream of the first valve.

[0034] This allows the cryogenic fluid to be redirected into the gaseous phase.

[0035] According to one embodiment, the installation includes a pre-cooling fluid source, in particular mobile, to allow the filling of the first thermosiphon.

[0036] According to one embodiment, the installation includes a draw-off line fluidly connecting the first thermosiphon with the pre-cooling circuit, to allow the transfer of pre-cooling fluid into the first thermosiphon.

[0037] The invention further relates to a method for controlling an installation as described above, the installation being configured to operate in a first nominal mode in which the installation delivers liquefied gas and / or in which the flow rate of the gas source is between a threshold value and a determined nominal flow rate and / or in which the cycle gas compressor is in operation and / or in which the pre-fluid compressor cooling is in operation, the installation being further configured to operate in a second standby mode in which the flow rate of the gas source is less than the threshold value and / or in which the cycle gas compression unit is stopped and / or in which the pre-cooling fluid compression unit is stopped, when the installation is in the second mode, the process includes a step of maintaining the determined level of pre-cooling fluid in the first thermosiphon by drawing pre-cooling fluid from the second pre-cooling fluid storage.

[0038] Such a process makes it possible to maintain the cryogenic purification device at a temperature less than or equal to 100 K, for example less than or equal to 90 K, while the installation is operating in the second mode.

[0039] According to one embodiment, the determined nominal flow rate is between 3 tpd and 300 tpd.

[0040] According to one embodiment, the threshold value is between 10% and 70% of the flow rate determined nominal flow rate, in particular between 20% and 60% of the determined nominal flow rate.

[0041] According to one embodiment, when the installation is in the second mode, the process includes a step of maintaining the predetermined level of cryogenic fluid in the second thermosiphon by drawing cryogenic fluid from the first storage.

[0042] This allows the gradients to be maintained in the heat exchanger assembly and provides cooling to maintain a predetermined temperature in the heat exchanger assembly, in a catalyst in the installation, and in the cryogenic purification device. This also allows a sufficient level to be maintained in the first and / or second thermosiphon to allow for a faster restart. Such a step of maintaining the predetermined level of cryogenic fluid in the second thermosiphon, in combination with the step of maintaining the predetermined level of precooling fluid in the first thermosiphon, makes it possible to maintain the precooling temperature as well as the temperature of the cryogenic fluid at the downstream end.

[0043] According to one embodiment, when the installation is in the second mode, the process includes a step of drawing fluid from the downstream end of the circuit of gas to be cooled, before it enters the first storage, to maintain a predetermined level of cryogenic fluid in the second thermosiphon.

[0044] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description and examining the accompanying figures. These figures are given only to illustrate, but in no way limit, the invention.

[0045] [Fig-1] is a schematic representation of an installation according to the invention; and

[0046] [Fig.2] is a schematic representation of the steps of a process according to the invention.

[0047] Identical, similar, or analogous elements retain the same reference from one figure to another.

[0048] Fig. 1 represents an installation 1 for the production of a cryogenic fluid, for example liquefied hydrogen.

[0049] Installation 1 includes a first storage 10 to allow the storage of the cryogenic fluid.

[0050] The installation 1 includes a circuit 2 of gas to be cooled having an upstream end 21 intended to be connected to a gas source and a downstream end 22 for delivering the cryogenic fluid, for example a liquefied gas, the downstream end 22 being connected to the first storage 10 for the storage of the cryogenic fluid.

[0051] Installation 1 further comprises a set of heat exchangers 5, 6 in thermal exchange with the circuit 2 of gas to be cooled.

[0052] The installation 1 includes a pre-cooling device 8 in heat exchange with at least a first part 5 of the heat exchanger assembly 5, 6 and configured to pre-cool the circuit 2 of gas to be cooled to a first determined temperature, the pre-cooling device 8 comprising a refrigerator with a refrigeration cycle of a pre-cooling fluid in a pre-cooling circuit 18, the pre-cooling circuit 18 comprising a pre-cooling fluid compression element 28.

[0053] In the example of [Fig.1], the first temperature determined is between 100 K and 70 K.

[0054] The installation 1 includes a cryogenic cooling device 9 in heat exchange with at least a second part 6 of the heat exchanger assembly 5, 6 and configured to cool the circuit 2 of gas to be cooled to a second determined temperature lower than the first temperature, the cryogenic cooling device 9 comprising a cycle refrigerator for refrigerating a cycle gas in a cycle circuit 19, the cycle circuit 19 comprising a cycle gas compression element 29.

[0055] In the example of [Fig.1], the second temperature determined is between 48 K and 18 K.

[0056] Installation 1 includes a cryogenic purification device 3 disposed in the circuit 2 of gas to be cooled, in particular upstream of the second part 6 of the heat exchanger assembly 5, 6; the pre-cooling device 8 includes a first thermosiphon 48 of the pre-cooling fluid having an inlet and an outlet connected to a loop of the pre-cooling circuit 18, the first thermosiphon 48 being fluidly connected to a second storage 4 of pre-cooling fluid and being configured to receive pre-cooling fluid from the second storage 4, in particular in liquid form, to allow a determined level of pre-cooling fluid to be maintained in the first thermosiphon 48.

[0057] In the example shown, the cryogenic purification device includes at least one temperature-modulated adsorption unit, otherwise called a TSA unit for "Temperature Swing Adsorption" in English.

[0058] In the example shown, the second storage unit 4 is configured to be fixed relative to the installation. Alternatively, the second storage unit 4 is configured to be mobile and / or removable relative to the installation, for example by being integrated into a truck, trailer, or semi-trailer.

[0059] The cooling device 9 includes a second thermosiphon 49 of the cycle gas comprising an inlet and an outlet connected to a loop of the cycle circuit 19, the second thermosiphon 49 being fluidly connected to the first storage 10 and configured to receive cryogenic fluid from the first storage 10 to maintain a determined level of cryogenic fluid in the second thermosiphon 49, the determined level of cryogenic fluid being, for example, greater than 10% of the total capacity of the second thermosiphon 49, in particular greater than 30%.

[0060] The determined level of pre-cooling fluid is greater than 10% of the total capacity of the first thermosiphon 48, for example greater than 30%.

[0061] The cryogenic purification device 3 is disposed between the first part 5 of the heat exchanger assembly 5, 6 and the second part 6 of the heat exchanger assembly 5, 6, in particular by being configured to be supplied with a gas having a temperature between 20 °C and -250 °C, for example between -100 °C and -250 °C.

[0062] As shown, the cryogenic purification device is configured so that the gas to be cooled circulating in the gas to be cooled circuit passes through at least a part of the first part of the exchanger assembly before entering the cryogenic purification device.

[0063] The first part 5 of the exchanger assembly 5, 6 is arranged in a first cold box (not shown), the first thermosiphon 48 being arranged in the first cold box.

[0064] The cryogenic purification device is arranged in the first cold box.

[0065] As shown, the cryogenic purification device 3 is arranged upstream of the second thermo siphon 49.

[0066] The second part 6 of the exchanger assembly 5, 6 is arranged in a second cold box (not shown), the second thermosiphon being in particular arranged in the second cold box.

[0067] The pre-cooling circuit 18 includes a device for cooling the compressed pre-cooling fluid, a device for expanding the compressed and cooled pre-cooling fluid 38 and a device for heating the expanded pre-cooling fluid.

[0068] The circuit 2 of gas to be cooled is provided with a first valve 11 downstream of the downstream end 22, being configured to regulate the pressure in the first storage 10, the first valve 11 comprising for example a pressure relief valve, in particular a Joule-Thomson pressure relief valve.

[0069] The circuit 2 of gas to be cooled is fluidly connected to the second thermosiphon 49, in particular via a bypass downstream of the downstream end 22.

[0070] In the example shown, the circuit 2 of gas to be cooled is further fluidically connected to the second thermosiphon 49 via a bypass downstream of the first valve 11.

[0071] The installation includes a draw-off line fluidly connecting the first thermosiphon 48 with the pre-cooling circuit 18, to allow the transfer of pre-cooling fluid into the first thermosiphon 48.

[0072] Figure 2 represents the steps of a process for controlling an installation 1 as described above, the installation 1 being configured to operate in a first nominal mode in which the installation 1 delivers liquefied gas and / or in which the flow rate of the gas source is between a threshold value and a determined nominal flow rate and / or in which the cycle gas compression unit 29 is in operation and / or in which the precooling fluid compression unit 28 is in operation, the installation 1 being further configured to operate in a second standby mode M2 ​​in which the flow rate of the gas source is less than the threshold value and / or in which the cycle gas compression unit 29 is stopped and / or in which the precooling fluid compression unit 28 is stopped.

[0073] In the example considered, the determined nominal flow rate is between 3 tpd and 300 tpd.

[0074] The threshold value is between 10% and 70% of the determined nominal flow rate, in particular between 20% and 60% of the determined nominal flow rate.

[0075] When the installation 1 is in the second mode M2, the process includes a step El of maintaining the determined level of pre-cooling fluid in the first thermosiphon 48 by drawing pre-cooling fluid from the second pre-cooling fluid storage 4.

[0076] Thanks to this process, the cryogenic purification device is maintained at a temperature less than or equal to 100 K, for example less than or equal to 90 K, when the installation is operating in the second mode.

[0077] When the installation 1 is in the second mode M2, the process includes a step E2 of maintaining the predetermined level of cryogenic fluid in the second thermosiphon 49 by drawing cryogenic fluid from the first storage 10.

[0078] When the installation 1 is in the second mode, the process includes a step E3 of drawing fluid from the downstream end 22 of the circuit 2 of gas to be cooled, before it enters the first storage 10, to maintain a predetermined level of cryogenic fluid in the second thermosiphon 49.

[0079] Such a step of maintaining the predetermined level of cryogenic fluid in the second thermosiphon, in combination with the step of maintaining the predetermined level of pre-cooling fluid in the first thermosiphon, makes it possible to maintain the pre-cooling temperature as well as the temperature of the cryogenic fluid at the downstream end.

Claims

1. Demands Installation (1) for the production of a cryogenic fluid, for example liquefied hydrogen, comprising: - a first storage (10) to allow the storage of the cryogenic fluid; - a circuit (2) of gas to be cooled having an upstream end (21) intended to be connected to a gas source and a downstream end (22) to deliver the cryogenic fluid, for example a liquefied gas, the downstream end (22) being connected to the first storage (10) for the storage of the cryogenic fluid; - a set of heat exchangers (5, 6) in thermal exchange with the circuit (2) of gas to be cooled; - a pre-cooling device (8) in heat exchange with at least a first part (5) of the heat exchanger assembly (5, 6) and configured to pre-cool the circuit (2) of gas to be cooled to a first determined temperature, the pre-cooling device (8) comprising a refrigerator with a refrigeration cycle of a pre-cooling fluid in a pre-cooling circuit (18), the pre-cooling circuit (18) comprising a pre-cooling fluid compression element (28), a cooling device for the compressed pre-cooling fluid, an expansion device (38) for the compressed and cooled pre-cooling fluid and a heating device for the expanded pre-cooling fluid; - a cryogenic cooling device (9) in heat exchange with at least a second part (6) of the heat exchanger assembly (5, 6) and configured to cool the circuit (2) of gas to be cooled to a second determined temperature lower than the first temperature, the cryogenic cooling device (9) comprising a refrigerator with a refrigeration cycle of a cycle gas in a circuit (19) of cycle, the cycle circuit (19) comprising a cycle gas compression element (29); - a cryogenic purification device (3) disposed in the circuit (2) of gas to be cooled, in particular upstream of the second part (6) of the assembly of exchangers (5, 6); the pre-cooling device (8) comprising a first thermosiphon (48) of the pre-cooling fluid comprising an inlet and an outlet connected to a loop of the pre-cooling circuit (18), the first thermosiphon (48) being fluidly connected to a second storage (4) of pre-cooling fluid and being configured to receive pre-cooling fluid from the second storage (4), in particular in liquid form, to allow a determined level of pre-cooling fluid to be maintained in the first thermosiphon (48).

2. Installation (1) according to the preceding claim, the cooling device (9) comprising a second thermosiphon (49) of the cycle gas having an inlet and an outlet connected to a loop of the cycle circuit (19), the second thermosiphon (49) being fluidly connected to the first storage (10) and configured to receive cryogenic fluid from the first storage (10) to maintain a determined level of cryogenic fluid in the second thermosiphon (49), the determined level of cryogenic fluid being, for example, greater than 10% of the total capacity of the second thermosiphon (49), in particular greater than 30%.

3. Installation (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, the determined level of pre-cooling fluid being greater than 10% of the total capacity of the first thermosiphon (48), for example greater than 30%.

4. Installation (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, the cryogenic purification device (3) being disposed between the first part (5) of the heat exchanger assembly (5, 6) and the second part (6) of the heat exchanger assembly (5, 6), in particular being configured to be supplied with a gas having a temperature between 20 °C and -250 °C, for example between -100 °C and -250 °C.

5. Installation (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, the first part (5) of the assembly of exchangers (5, 6) being arranged in a first cold box, the first thermosiphon (48) in particular being arranged in the first cold box.

6. Installation (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, the cycle circuit (19) comprising a compressed cycle gas cooling element, a compressed and cooled cycle gas expansion element (39) and an expanded cycle gas heating element.

7. Installation (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, the circuit (2) of gas to be cooled being fluidly connected to the second thermosiphon (49), in particular via a bypass downstream of the downstream end (22).

8. A method for controlling an installation (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, the installation (1) being configured to operate in a first nominal mode in which the installation (1) delivers liquefied gas and / or in which the flow rate of the gas source is between a threshold value and a determined nominal flow rate and / or in which the cycle gas compression device (29) is in operation and / or in which the pre-cooling fluid compression device (28) is in operation, the installation (1) being further configured to operate in a second standby mode (M2) in which the flow rate of the gas source is less than the threshold value and / or in which the cycle gas compression device (29) is off and / or in which the pre-cooling fluid compression device (28) is off, when the installation (1) is in the second mode (M2),The process includes a step (E1) of maintaining the determined level of pre-cooling fluid in the first thermosiphon (48) by drawing pre-cooling fluid from the second pre-cooling fluid storage (4).

9. Method according to the preceding claim in combination with claim 2, when the installation (1) is in the second mode (M2), the method includes a step (E2) of maintaining the predetermined level of cryogenic fluid in the second thermosiphon (49) by drawing cryogenic fluid from the first storage (10).

10. A method according to any one of claims 8 to 9 in combination with claim 2, where the installation (1) is in the second mode (M2), the process includes a step (E3) of drawing fluid from the downstream end (22) of the circuit (2) of gas to be cooled, before it enters the first storage (10), to maintain a predetermined level of cryogenic fluid in the second thermosiphon (49).

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