Fluid storage and supply device and vehicle comprising such a device.

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for storing and supplying fluid, in particular hydrogen, to a vehicle comprising a cryogenic tank (2) for storing liquefied fluid, a withdrawal circuit comprising a withdrawal pipe (3) having a first upstream end (13) located in the tank (2) and a second downstream end (23) intended to be connected to a user member, the device (1) further comprising a system for pressurizing the tank (2) comprising a pressurizing pipe having two ends connected to the inside of the tank (2), a vaporization heat exchanger (4) and a set of valve(s) (6, 16, 26, 36) configured to allow the withdrawal of liquid from the tank (2), the heating of the withdrawn liquid in the vaporization heat exchanger (4) and its reintroduction into the tank (2),the device (1) further comprising a filling circuit comprising an upstream end (5) intended to be connected to a source and a downstream end (7) opening into the tank, characterized in that the filling circuit comprises a portion of pipe merged or concentric with a part of the pressurization pipe located in the tank (2). Abstract figure: Fig. 1,

Description

Title of the invention: Device for storing and supplying fluid and vehicle comprising such a device.

[0001] The invention relates to a fluid storage and supply device and a vehicle comprising such a device.

[0002] The invention relates to a device for storing and supplying fluid, in particular an on-board device for storing and supplying hydrogen to a user member, comprising a cryogenic tank for storing liquefied fluid, a withdrawal circuit comprising a withdrawal pipe having a first upstream end located in the tank and a second downstream end intended to be connected to a user member, the device further comprising a tank pressurization system comprising a pressurization pipe having two ends connected to the inside of the tank, a vaporization heat exchanger and a set of valve(s) configured to allow the withdrawal of liquid from the tank, the heating of the withdrawn liquid in the vaporization heat exchanger and its reintroduction into the tank,the device further comprising a filling circuit comprising an upstream end intended to be connected to a source and a downstream end opening into the reservoir.

[0003] On-board hydrogen storage in hydrogen-fueled vehicles uses compressed gaseous or liquid hydrogen.

[0004] If the required stored capacities are greater than 50 kg, on-board storage in liquid form is preferred. Liquid hydrogen is generally stored in a low-pressure tank (less than 13 bar abs). At equilibrium, the temperature of the hydrogen is set by the tank pressure via the saturation curve between the liquid phase and the gas phase. This is valid up to the critical point of hydrogen, at a pressure slightly less than 13 bar abs.

[0005] Liquid hydrogen is generally produced at a pressure close to atmospheric pressure, generally between 1.15 and 1.3 bar abs, corresponding to a temperature between 20.8K and 21.2 K. It is transported and transferred into the on-board tank using cryogenic trucks and filling stations.

[0006] Fuel cells generally operate at a pressure of less than 2 bar abs at the core of the cell (or between 30 and 40 bar for internal combustion engines running on hydrogen (ICE or "Internal Combustion Engine" in English). However, for various operational reasons, most cell manufacturers require an interface pressure with the tank which is greater than 6-8 bar abs.

[0007] The consumption of hydrogen reducing the pressure in the tank by expansion, it is then necessary to maintain its pressure up to a pressure higher than that of the fuel cell and to control this pressure as gas is consumed. It is therefore necessary to include in the tank a means of controlling its pressure. In this type of device the number and length of pipes must be minimized to minimize cost and thermal inputs.

[0008] An aim of the present invention is to overcome all or part of the drawbacks of the prior art noted above.

[0009] To this end, the device according to the invention, moreover in accordance with the generic definition given in the preamble above, is essentially characterized in that the filling circuit comprises a portion of pipe merged or concentric with a part of the pressurization pipe located in the tank.

[0010] The device allows filling of the tank, control of its pressure and withdrawals with reduced piping.

[0011] The device can in particular use a high-performance horizontal injection ramp without complicating the device.

[0012] Furthermore, embodiments of the invention may include one or more of the following features: - the upstream end of the filling circuit is the same as or distinct from the second downstream end of the withdrawal pipe, the downstream end of the filling circuit opening into the upper part of the tank, and comprising for example an injection ramp with several orifices, - the withdrawal pipe has, downstream of an outlet of the vaporization heat exchanger, a bypass portion forming a round trip in the tank with a portion of the heat exchanger located in the tank, the valve assembly(s) of the device being configured to allow the fluid withdrawn and heated outside the tank to circulate again in the tank, - the first upstream end of the withdrawal pipe is located in the lower part of the tank, - the set of valve(s) comprises at least one of: a pair of valves located respectively on either side of the vaporization heat exchanger (4), a valve on the filling circuit.

[0013] The invention also relates to a vehicle, in particular a boat, comprising such a device.

[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, given with reference to the figures in which: Brief description of the figures

[0016] The invention will be better understood on reading the following description given solely by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0017] [Fig-1] is a schematic and partial vertical sectional view illustrating a device for storing pressurized fluid according to a first embodiment,

[0018] [Fig.2] is a schematic and partial vertical sectional view illustrating a device for storing pressurized fluid according to a second embodiment,

[0019] [Fig.3] is a schematic and partial vertical sectional view illustrating a device for storing pressurized fluid according to a third embodiment. Detailed description

[0020] In all the figures, the same references refer to the same elements.

[0021] 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.

[0022] Referring to [Fig.l], the device 1 comprises a cryogenic tank 2 for storing liquefied fluid, for example a tank with two spaced walls with vacuum insulation between the two walls.

[0023] The device has a withdrawal circuit comprising a first withdrawal pipe 3 comprising a first upstream end 13 connected to the lower part of the reservoir 2 and a second downstream end 23 intended to be connected to a user member.

[0024] The first withdrawal pipe 3 comprises a first reheating (or vaporization) heat exchanger 4 located outside the tank 2. The withdrawal circuit comprises a second reheating heat exchanger 8 located inside the tank 2, preferably in the liquid part, i.e. in the lower part of the tank 2.

[0025] As illustrated, the second reheat heat exchanger 8 located inside the tank may be located on a bypass loop of the draw-off pipe, downstream of the first heat exchanger 4 and upstream of the second downstream end 23.

[0026] The device comprises a set of valves 6, 16, 26 configured to allow the withdrawal of liquid from the reservoir 2, the reheating of the withdrawn liquid in the vaporization heat exchanger 4 and its distribution at the second downstream end 23.

[0027] The set of valves 6, 16, 26 also allows the withdrawal of liquid from the reservoir 2, the reheating of the withdrawn liquid in the vaporization heat exchanger 4 then its passage into the second exchanger 8 in the reservoir 2 then its distribution to the level of the second downstream end 23 and / or its return into the reservoir 2.

[0028] The device 1 further comprises a filling circuit comprising an upstream end 5 intended to be connected to a source of cryogenic fluid and a downstream end 7 opening into the tank.

[0029] As illustrated in this example, the filling circuit comprises a portion of pipe concentric with a part of the pressurization / withdrawal pipe located in the tank 2. That is to say that the filling pipe of the tank 2 can pass through the walls of the tank together with the pipe which withdraws the liquid and possibly returns the heated fluid. As illustrated, the filling pipe of the tank 2 can be arranged concentrically around the withdrawal / return pipe. Similarly, as illustrated, the filling pipe can open into the upper part of the tank, for example in the form of a horizontal injection bar.

[0030] The embodiment of [Fig.l] differs from that of [Fig.l] in that the downstream end 7 of the filling circuit which opens into the reservoir 2 is merged with the withdrawal end 13 of the withdrawal circuit. That is to say that the same pipe end is used for filling or withdrawing fluid, for example in the upper part of the reservoir 2.

[0031] In the embodiment of [Fig. 3], the device 1 does not include a heat exchanger within the tank 2. A liquid withdrawal pipe 3 is provided for withdrawing liquid from the lower part of the tank 2. Another pipe is provided to form a pressurization system for the tank 2. This pressurization pipe has two ends connected to the inside of the tank 2, a vaporization heat exchanger 4 and a set of valve(s) 6, 16, 26 configured to allow the withdrawal of liquid from the tank 2, the heating of the withdrawn liquid in the vaporization heat exchanger 4 and its reintroduction into the tank 2 and / or the sending to a user at one end 5 via a set of valves 6, 16, 26. Similarly, gas can optionally be withdrawn from the tank via the upper end of the pressurization pipe connected to the end 5.

[0032] Note that the illustrated example is in no way limiting. Thus, in particular, all or part of the valves 6, 36 and 26 may be omitted (optional).

[0033] As shown diagrammatically in [Fig.2], the device 1 can be integrated into a vehicle 10, for example a boat or an airplane. That is to say, the device 1 can be embarked in a boat, airplane, truck at a fixed station or in “full versus empty” mode of use.

Claims

Claims

1. Device for storing and supplying fluid, in particular an on-board device for storing and supplying hydrogen to a user member, comprising a cryogenic tank (2) for storing liquefied fluid, a withdrawal circuit comprising a withdrawal pipe (3) having a first upstream end (13) located in the tank (2) and a second downstream end (23) intended to be connected to a user member, the device (1) further comprising a system for pressurizing the tank (2) comprising a pressurization pipe having two ends connected to the inside of the tank (2), a vaporization heat exchanger (4) and a set of valve(s) (6, 16, 26, 36) configured to allow the withdrawal of liquid from the tank (2), the heating of the withdrawn liquid in the vaporization heat exchanger (4) and its reintroduction into the tank (2),the device (1) further comprising a filling circuit comprising an upstream end (5) intended to be connected to a source and a downstream end (7) opening into the tank, characterized in that the filling circuit comprises a portion of pipe merged or concentric with a part of the pressurization pipe located in the tank (2).,

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the upstream end (5) of the filling circuit is the same as or distinct from the second downstream end (23) of the withdrawal pipe (3), the downstream end (7) of the filling circuit opening into the upper part of the tank, and comprising for example an injection ramp with several orifices.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the withdrawal pipe (3) has, downstream of an outlet of the vaporization heat exchanger (4), a bypass portion forming a return flow in the tank (2) with a heat exchanger portion (8) located in the tank, the set of valve(s) (6, 16, 26, 36) of the device (1) being configured to allow the fluid withdrawn and heated outside the tank to circulate again in the tank (2).

4. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the first upstream end (13) of the withdrawal pipe (3) is located in the lower part of the reservoir (2).

5. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized

6. in that the set of valve(s) comprises at least one of: a pair of valves (6, 16, 26, 36) located respectively on either side of the vaporization heat exchanger (4), a valve (36) on the filling circuit. Vehicle, in particular a boat, comprising a device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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