Method for storing and supplying gas under pressure
By cooling hydrogen during filling and warming it during racking using a thermal reserve, the process enhances hydrogen storage efficiency in a given volume, addressing the inefficiencies of existing methods.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2023012198
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Utility models
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-11-09
- Publication Date
- 2025-05-16
- Estimated Expiration
- Not applicable · inactive patent
AI Technical Summary
The existing methods for storing and supplying pressure gas, such as hydrogen, require large volumes under moderate pressure or increased storage pressure, leading to inefficient use of space and energy.
The process involves cooling the hydrogen during the filling phase by passing it through a thermal reserve and warming it during the racking phase, utilizing the thermal energy stored in the material to optimize storage volume and efficiency.
This method effectively increases the quantity of hydrogen stored in a given volume at a given pressure by utilizing temperature variation, while maintaining energy efficiency by using thermal energy exchange.
Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: Method for storing and supplying pressurized gas
[0001] The invention relates to a method for storing and supplying pressurized gas, for example hydrogen.
[0002] The invention relates in particular to a method for storing and supplying pressurized gas, such as hydrogen, comprising a step of transferring pressurized gas into a storage facility and a step of withdrawing gas from the storage facility to a consumer.
[0003] In the context of the increasing use of renewable energies, hydrogen is considered an efficient energy carrier and storage. Hydrogen is produced, for example by electrolysis of water, during so-called load periods (abundant and economical renewable energy), or energy production exceeds demand.
[0004] One of the ways of restoring the energy stored in hydrogen is the storage of hydrogen produced under pressure then re-dissociation of the hydrogen in a fuel cell to generate electrical energy in so-called discharge periods (renewable energy of low availability), or the production of energy (excluding that restored from the stored hydrogen) is lower than the demand.
[0005] Depending on the distribution of hydrogen production / consumption times, the quantities to be stored may prove significant.
[0006] The volumes to be stored are:
[0007] • proportional to the quantities to be stored
[0008] • inversely proportional to the difference between the storage pressure and the operating pressure.
[0009] For large volumes to be stored, we are therefore forced to:
[0010] • have large storage volumes under moderate pressure, and / or
[0011] • increase the storage pressure (use of compressors for example).
[0012] An aim of the present invention is to overcome all or part of the drawbacks of the prior art noted above.
[0013] To this end, the method according to the invention, moreover in accordance with the generic definition given in the preamble above, is essentially characterized in that, during the withdrawal step, the gas is cooled by passing with heat exchange in a reserve of cooled material, during the withdrawal step the gas returning frigories to the reserve to heat itself.
[0014] The invention may also relate to any alternative device or method comprising any combination of the above or below features within the scope of the claims.
[0015] Other features and advantages will appear on reading the description below. Detailed description
[0016] In all the figures, the same references refer to the same elements.
[0017] In this detailed description, the following embodiments are examples. Although the description refers to one or more embodiments, this does not mean that the features apply only to a single embodiment. Single features of different embodiments may also be combined and / or interchanged to provide other embodiments.
[0018] The proposed invention uses another variable to increase the quantity stored in a given volume at a given pressure: lowering its temperature.
[0019] In order not to generate energy consumption linked to the generation of the cold necessary to lower the temperature, a thermal reserve is associated with the storage.
[0020] During the filling phases, the hydrogen to be stored is cooled by passing through the thermal reserve, in contact with a material at a relatively colder temperature.
[0021] During the withdrawal phases, the cold stored hydrogen (thermally insulated tank) releases its cold during a counter-current passage in the thermal reserve to cool the material and thus heat the withdrawn gas.
[0022] The quantities of material stored and removed from storage are preferably the same, the temperature amplitudes during passage into the thermal storage are thus similar. Thus, the hydrogen leaving the storage is at a temperature similar to that of the temperature before entering the storage.
[0023] The volume occupied by the stored hydrogen mass was divided by the ratio of absolute temperatures between the inlet of the thermal storage and its outlet.
[0024] Thus, a combined storage of hydrogen by variation of pressure and temperature is proposed in which: - during the filling phase, the hydrogen under high pressure is cooled before storage by direct contact with a material suitable for storing thermal energy, and at a temperature lower than the temperature of the hydrogen, - during the withdrawal phase, the stored hydrogen is heated by direct contact with the same material suitable for storing thermal energy and to a temperature higher than the temperature of the stored hydrogen.
[0025] The temperature of the hydrogen at the inlet of the thermal reserve during the phases of filling and the temperature at the outlet of the thermal storage during the destocking phases preferably do not differ by more than 10°C.
[0026] The directions of passage of hydrogen in the thermal reserve are preferably opposite in the storage and destocking phases.
[0027] The heat required to heat the stock material in the withdrawal phase comes largely from the cooling of the hydrogen in the filling phase.
[0028] The cold required to cool the reserve material in the filling phase comes from the heating of the hydrogen in the withdrawal phase.
[0029] Of course, according to other possible particularities: - hydrogen pressures may be different between the filling and withdrawal phases, - the heat exchanged between the hydrogen and the reserve material is sensible heat on the gas, latent sensible heat, or a combination of the two, - there is a supply of cold energy during the filling phase by an external cold source.
Claims
Claims
1. Method for storing and supplying pressurized gas, in particular hydrogen, comprising a step of transferring pressurized gas into a storage facility and a step of withdrawing gas from the storage facility to a consumer, in which, during the withdrawing step, the gas is cooled by passing with heat exchange through a reserve of cooled material, during the withdrawing step the gas returning frigories to the reserve to heat up.