Liquid hydrogen delivery method

Abstract

A method for delivering liquid hydrogen from a target tank in a system comprising the target tank, a hydrogen source, and an intermediate tank intended to be supplied by the source and intended to deliver liquid hydrogen to the target tank, comprising the steps: a) determining an initial state vector relating to an initial state of the system; b) determining delivery plan information for delivering liquid hydrogen to the target tank by means of the intermediate tank, the delivery plan information being determined from a delivery plan generation model and the initial state vector; c) determining initial performance information from a performance estimation model, the delivery plan information and the initial state vector, the initial performance information comprising an initial performance level.

Description

Title of the invention: Method for delivering liquid hydrogen

[0001] The present invention relates to a method of delivering liquid hydrogen, in particular in the context of distributing liquid hydrogen from a source to a target reservoir.

[0002] A cryogenic liquid, in particular liquid hydrogen, is produced at a production site, forming a cryogenic liquid source such as a liquid hydrogen source. The cryogenic liquid can also be stored in a storage tank as a source.

[0003] The storage tank may be located at the production site or at a remote site. The cryogenic liquid is then distributed to users in at least one target tank. Most frequently, intermediate tanks are filled from the source to fill the target tank.

[0004] The target tank may be fixed or mobile. A mobile target tank may be moved, or may move itself, to a distribution site where it will be filled with cryogenic liquid from an intermediate tank.

[0005] An intermediate reservoir is understood to be any mobile or fixed reservoir of cryogenic liquid which is filled by the cryogenic liquid source, and from which the filling of the target reservoir is carried out.

[0006] Examples of production or storage sites include liquefaction plants and / or depot sites where the cryogenic liquid is stored in tanks. Examples of distribution sites include vehicle fuel tank filling sites, such as fuel stations for land vehicles, train stations and airports, boat and ship fuel tank filling sites, and industrial sites where the cryogenic liquid is used for site operation or maintenance.

[0007] Particular constraints arise in the case of liquid hydrogen. In particular, the desire to use it as a fuel, in order to address the challenges of climate change, leads to particular constraints related to its characteristics, especially its thermodynamic characteristics, and its use.

[0008] The main problems that arise are related to the cryogenic nature of liquid hydrogen and the retention time for cryogenic liquid tanks, especially mobile ones.

[0009] A cryogenic fluid contained in a cryogenic tank receives energy from the external environment, which is at a higher temperature than the temperature of the cryogenic fluid, in particular in the form of heat inputs.

[0010] Due to heat inputs to the intermediate and / or target tanks, some of the cryogenic liquid evaporates and generates boil-off gas (BOG). Over time, the generation of this boil-off gas leads to a decrease in the cryogenic liquid level in these tanks, as well as a rise in pressure and temperature of the cryogenic liquid within them.

[0011] This can pose a problem for ensuring that target tanks are filled under good conditions, i.e., under thermodynamic conditions allowing the exploitation and use of the greatest quantity of the cryogenic liquid, ideally all of it.

[0012] A known solution for the distribution of liquid hydrogen consists of increasing or decreasing the pressure of the intermediate tank, just before a delivery from a target tank, so that it is compatible with a process of filling the target tank.

[0013] It is known to distribute liquid hydrogen in delivery systems where the intermediate tank adapts to the thermodynamic conditions of the target tank during delivery. One problem with this known solution is that the liquid hydrogen is then delivered under conditions, particularly thermodynamic ones, that are not optimal with respect to the intended use of the target tank by the operator. This leads to losses of hydrogen, which are often released into the atmosphere.

[0014] A further problem arises when a single intermediate tank supplies several target tanks. Adapting the intermediate tank to the conditions of a first target tank can then prevent or complicate the adaptation of the same intermediate tank to the conditions of a second target tank, thus causing an increase in the amount of hydrogen lost.

[0015] A solution for improving the safety of a liquid hydrogen system by modifying the parameters of the intermediate tank is also known from documents US2022 / 170597 and US11796132. Again, the target tank is considered a given and immutable element, while the conditions, particularly thermodynamic conditions, of the intermediate tank are adapted to the needs of the other elements of the system.

[0016] This type of solution does not allow for the optimization of the thermodynamic conditions of the liquid hydrogen delivered to the target tank and / or the quality of the liquid hydrogen delivered to the target tank. This can lead to a significant loss of hydrogen molecules, for example during venting, which poses problems, particularly in the presence of an explosive atmosphere.

[0017] The present invention aims to effectively remedy all or part of these drawbacks by proposing a method for delivering liquid hydrogen to at least one target tank, in a system comprising the target tank, at least one source of liquid hydrogen such as a liquefier, and at least one intermediate tank intended to be supplied by the source and intended to deliver liquid hydrogen to the target tank, the method comprising the following steps: - a) determination of an initial state vector relative to an initial state of the system; - b) determination of delivery plan information to deliver liquid hydrogen to the target tank by means of the intermediate tank, the delivery plan information being determined from a delivery plan generation model and the initial state vector; - c) determination of initial performance information, from a performance estimation model, delivery plan information and the initial state vector, the initial performance information including an initial performance level; - d) implementation of at least part of the delivery plan, to deliver liquid hydrogen to the target tank by means of the intermediate tank; - e) dynamic determination, in particular during the execution of the delivery plan: - of an updated state vector of the system relating to an updated state of the system; - of updated performance information, from the performance estimation model, the delivery plan information and the updated state vector, the updated performance information including an updated performance level; - f) dynamic adjustment of delivery plan information, in particular during the execution of the delivery plan, from the delivery plan generation model and the updated state vector, if a gap between the initial performance level and the updated performance level is greater than a first determined threshold.

[0018] The invention thus makes it possible to deliver liquid hydrogen under better thermodynamic conditions, therefore allowing optimized exploitation of the target reservoir and limiting the impacts on the environment.

[0019] For example, when the gas pressure in a tank becomes too high, it is essential to vent some of this gas to the atmosphere to return to an acceptable pressure level. This process avoids releasing hydrogen into the atmosphere due to unnecessary heating of the liquid, thus ensuring that every hydrogen molecule is delivered.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the method includes a step of dynamically adjusting the delivery plan generation model from the initial state vector and / or the updated state vector.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the method includes a step of dynamically adjusting the performance estimation model from the initial state vector and / or the updated state vector.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the initial state vector and / or the updated state vector includes at least one piece of information relating to the filling level and one piece of information relating to a thermodynamic parameter of the target tank, for example, information on the pressure and / or temperature of the hydrogen in the target tank.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the initial state vector and / or the updated state vector includes information relating to a need for liquid hydrogen in the target reservoir.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the delivery plan information includes a plurality of tasks, in particular sequential ones, each task including at least one of the following: a movement of the intermediate tank in particular to a determined place, a movement of the target tank in particular to a determined place, a delivery of the target tank, a filling of the intermediate tank.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the delivery plan information defines an order in which the same intermediate tank successively delivers a plurality of target tanks.

[0026] According to one embodiment, steps b) and c) are repeated as long as the initial performance level is below a determined level.

[0027] According to one embodiment, the intermediate tank is mobile and the target tank is fixed, in particular intended to supply a hydrogen consumer.

[0028] According to one embodiment, the initial performance information and / or the updated performance information includes at least: a distance traveled by the intermediate tank, a difference between a quantity of hydrogen requested by the customer for filling the target tank and a quantity of hydrogen actually delivered by the intermediate tank, a ratio between a quantity of hydrogen contained in the intermediate tank before the execution of the delivery plan and the actual quantity of hydrogen delivered by the intermediate tank after the execution of the plan.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the target tank includes at least one communicating sensor, in particular for measuring the filling level and / or a thermodynamic parameter of the target tank, for example, pressure and / or temperature information of the hydrogen in the target tank.

[0030] According to one embodiment, the intermediate tank includes at least one communicating sensor, in particular for measuring the fill level and / or a parameter thermodynamics of the intermediate tank, for example pressure and / or temperature information of the hydrogen in the intermediate tank.

[0031] According to one embodiment, the target reservoir is fixed or mobile.

[0032] According to one embodiment, the intermediate reservoir is fixed or mobile.

[0033] The invention may also relate to any alternative method comprising any combination of the above or below features.

[0034] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description.

[0035] The invention relates to a method for delivering liquid hydrogen to at least one target tank in a system comprising the target tank, at least one source of liquid hydrogen such as a liquefier, and at least one intermediate tank intended to be supplied by the source and intended to deliver liquid hydrogen to the target tank, the method comprising the following steps: - a) determination of an initial state vector relative to an initial state of the system; - b) determination of delivery plan information to deliver liquid hydrogen to the target tank by means of the intermediate tank, the delivery plan information being determined from a delivery plan generation model and the initial state vector; - c) determination of initial performance information, from a performance estimation model, delivery plan information and the initial state vector, the initial performance information including an initial performance level; - d) implementation of at least part of the delivery plan, to deliver liquid hydrogen to the target tank by means of the intermediate tank; - e) dynamic determination, in particular during the execution of the delivery plan: - of an updated state vector of the system relating to an updated state of the system; - of updated performance information, from the performance estimation model, the delivery plan information and the updated state vector, the updated performance information including an updated performance level; - f) dynamic adjustment of delivery plan information, in particular during the execution of the delivery plan, from the delivery plan generation model and the updated state vector, if a gap between the initial performance level and the updated performance level is greater than a first determined threshold.

[0036] In one embodiment, the delivery plan generation model is implemented by machine learning, in particular trained on a plurality of datasets comprising a series of training state vectors.

[0037] In one embodiment, the performance estimation model is implemented by machine learning, in particular trained on a plurality of datasets comprising a series of training delivery plan information associated with a series of training state vectors, each training delivery plan information comprising an associated performance level.

[0038] In one embodiment, the method includes a step of dynamically adjusting the delivery plan generation model from the initial state vector and / or the updated state vector.

[0039] In one embodiment, the method includes a step of dynamically adjusting the performance estimation model from the initial state vector and / or the updated state vector.

[0040] In one embodiment, the initial state vector and / or the updated state vector includes at least one piece of information relating to the filling level and one piece of information relating to a thermodynamic parameter of the target tank, for example, information on the pressure and / or temperature of the hydrogen in the target tank.

[0041] In one embodiment, the initial state vector and / or the updated state vector includes information relating to a liquid hydrogen requirement of the target tank.

[0042] In one embodiment, the delivery plan information includes a plurality of tasks, including sequential ones, each task including at least one of the following: a movement of the intermediate tank, in particular to a specified location, a movement of the target tank, in particular to a specified location, a delivery of the target tank, a filling of the intermediate tank.

[0043] In an example embodiment, the task may include one of the following: a pause, delivery of the target tank with gaseous head connection, delivery of the target tank without gaseous head connection, a fluidic connection between the intermediate tank and one of the target tanks, pressurization of the gaseous head, a fluidic disconnection between the intermediate tank and one of the target tanks, depressurization of the intermediate tank, a homogenization operation of the intermediate tank in particular by a brief movement followed by an abrupt stop, a coupling / decoupling between a vehicle and an intermediate tank.

[0044] When a delivery is carried out without a gaseous head connection, the gaseous head of the intermediate tank and the gaseous head of the target tank remain fluidly separated before and during the transfer of liquid hydrogen. This delivery method is known per se and will not be described in further detail.

[0045] When a delivery is made with a gaseous head connection, the gaseous head of the intermediate tank and the gaseous head of the target tank are connected Fluidic before and, preferably, during the transfer of liquid hydrogen. This delivery method is well-known and will not be described in further detail.

[0046] In one embodiment, the delivery plan information defines an order in which the same intermediate tank successively delivers a plurality of target tanks.

[0047] In one embodiment, steps b) and c) are repeated as long as the initial performance level is below a determined level.

[0048] In one embodiment, the intermediate tank is mobile and the target tank is fixed, in particular intended to supply a hydrogen consumer.

Claims

1. Demands A method for delivering liquid hydrogen to at least one target tank in a system comprising the target tank, at least one source of liquid hydrogen such as a liquefier, and at least one intermediate tank intended to be supplied by the source and intended to deliver liquid hydrogen to the target tank, the method comprising the following steps: - a) determination of an initial state vector relative to an initial state of the system; - b) determination of delivery plan information to deliver liquid hydrogen to the target tank by means of the intermediate tank, the delivery plan information being determined from a delivery plan generation model and the initial state vector; - c) determination of initial performance information, from a performance estimation model, delivery plan information and the initial state vector, the initial performance information including an initial performance level; - d) implementation of at least part of the delivery plan, to deliver liquid hydrogen to the target tank by means of the intermediate tank; - e) dynamic determination, in particular during the execution of the delivery plan: - of an updated state vector of the system relating to an updated state of the system; - of updated performance information, from the performance estimation model, the delivery plan information and the updated state vector, the updated performance information including an updated performance level; - f) dynamic adjustment of delivery plan information, in particular during the execution of the delivery plan, from the delivery plan generation model and the updated state vector, if a gap between the initial performance level and the updated performance level is greater than a first determined threshold.

2. A method according to claim 1, comprising a step of dynamically adjusting the delivery plan generation model from the initial state vector and / or the updated state vector.

3. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 2, comprising a step of dynamically adjusting the performance estimation model from the initial state vector and / or the updated state vector.

4. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the initial state vector and / or the updated state vector comprising at least one piece of information relating to the filling level and one piece of information relating to a thermodynamic parameter of the target tank, for example, information on the pressure and / or temperature of the hydrogen in the target tank.

5. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the initial state vector and / or the updated state vector comprising information relating to a liquid hydrogen requirement of the target tank.

6. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, the delivery plan information comprising a plurality of tasks, in particular sequential, each task comprising at least one of: a movement of the intermediate tank in particular to a specified location, a movement of the target tank in particular to a specified location, a delivery of the target tank, a filling of the intermediate tank.

7. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, the delivery plan information defining an order in which the same intermediate tank successively delivers to a plurality of target tanks.

8. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein steps b) and c) are repeated as long as the initial performance level is below a specified level.

9. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, the intermediate tank being mobile and the target tank being fixed, in particular intended to supply a hydrogen consumer.