Power and cooling system

Abstract

Supply and Cooling System The present invention relates to a gas supply and cooling system (1) comprising a tank (2), the supply and cooling system (1) comprising: a supply circuit (3), a liquid gas circuit (8), a cooling circuit (4) for the flow of a refrigerant, comprising a heat exchanger (17) configured to perform heat exchange between the refrigerant and the liquid gas flowing in the liquid gas circuit (8), a discharge branch (22) configured to discharge the gas in vapor form from the tank (2), characterized in that the supply and cooling system (1) comprises a common portion (24) for the cooling circuit (4) and the discharge branch (22) and a compression element (25) disposed in the common portion (24). (Figure 1)

Description

Title of the invention: Supply and cooling system

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of floating structures for the storage and / or transport of gas in liquid state and relates more particularly to a gas supply and cooling system installed within such floating structures.

[0002] During a voyage undertaken by a vessel carrying a tank of liquid gas intended for delivery to a destination point, said vessel may be capable of using at least some of said liquid gas to power at least one of its engines, via a gas supply system. In addition, it is necessary to maintain the pressure within the tank at an acceptable level, in particular by keeping the liquid gas cargo at a suitable temperature.

[0003] In this respect, it is known to use a supply circuit that draws in the evaporated gas and then compresses it to supply the engine(s). In parallel or alternatively, the pressure within the tank can be lowered by means of a cooling circuit that circulates a refrigerant to liquefy a fraction of the gas that has evaporated within the tank.

[0004] These two circuits are commonly found in floating structures and generate significant space and cost. One objective is therefore to improve the supply and cooling system in order to reduce this space and cost. One existing solution is to implement a compression device common to both the supply and cooling circuits, thus compressing both the gas intended to power the engine and the refrigerant, thereby limiting the number of compression devices. However, such a configuration is not optimal because a compression device supplying a gas-consuming appliance has a flow rate that is too low to generate highly effective cooling.

[0005] The invention solves this problem by providing a gas supply and cooling system for a floating structure comprising at least one tank configured to contain the gas, the supply and cooling system comprising: - at least one supply circuit including at least one compression device configured to draw gas in vapor form from the tank and to supply gas to at least one gas-consuming appliance installed on the floating structure, - at least one liquid gas circuit comprising at least one pumping device configured to draw the liquid gas from the tank, - at least one cooling circuit intended to be traversed by a refrigerant fluid, comprising at least one heat exchanger configured to perform heat exchange between the refrigerant fluid and the gas in the liquid state circulating in the gas-in-the-liquid circuit, an internal heat exchanger and a compressor-expander comprising a compression element disposed upstream of a first pass of the internal heat exchanger and a turbine disposed downstream of the first pass of the internal heat exchanger, the compression element and the turbine being linked in rotation by a shaft, - at least one vent branch configured to vent the gas in vapor form out of the tank to a loading terminal during a tank filling operation,

[0006] characterized in that the supply and cooling system comprises at least one portion common to the cooling circuit and the exhaust branch and at least one compression element disposed in the common portion.

[0007] In other words, instead of fluidly connecting the cooling circuit to the compressor device of the supply circuit, the cooling circuit is fluidly connected to the compressor element, which is also responsible for removing the gas in vapor form present during the tank filling operation with liquid gas. Since this compressor element has a higher flow rate than the compressor device, the cooling fluid then circulates at a higher flow rate within the cooling circuit, thus improving its thermal performance.

[0008] During the transport of a cargo of gas in liquid form, the gas may partially vaporize within the tank, either naturally or through induced vaporization, in order to supply the gas-consuming equipment. To lower the internal pressure of the tank, the gas in vapor form can either be vented via the supply circuit or recondensed and sent back into the tank, either directly or indirectly via the cooling circuit.

[0009] The compression device compresses the gas in its vapor state circulating in the supply circuit from the tank. The compressed gas can then flow to one or more gas-consuming appliances to supply them. The supply circuit may optionally include two compression devices arranged in parallel with each other to ensure redundancy in the event of a failure of one of the compression devices.

[0010] The liquid gas contained in the tank can, for example, be pumped by the pumping device to circulate within the liquid gas circuit. The liquid gas circulating in the liquid gas circuit is intended to return to the tank subsequently.

[0011] In the cooling circuit, the compressor and the turbine, through their mechanical linkage, are driven to rotate together. The turbine rotates and thus drives the shaft, which in turn drives the compressor. The refrigerant is therefore initially compressed by the compressor. The refrigerant then passes through the internal heat exchanger via the first pass and is expanded as it passes through the turbine. The refrigerant then passes through the heat exchanger, which is configured to exchange heat between the refrigerant circulating in the cooling circuit and the liquid gas circulating in the liquid gas circuit. Once cooled, the liquid gas returns to the tank to lower the overall temperature of the cargo, which helps to lower the tank saturation pressure.

[0012] The term "compressor-expander," also called "compander" in English, refers to the assembly comprising the compression element and the turbine connected by the shaft. A compressor-expander is driven by an electric motor and consists of at least one compression stage, for example three compression stages, integrated within the compression element, and one expansion stage, integrated within the turbine, all mounted on a common gearbox and frame to produce the necessary cooling of the gas in the liquid state circulating within the heat exchanger.

[0013] The gas in its liquid state can return to the tank via an orifice located at the bottom of the tank or via a device that sprays the gas in its liquid state into the tank head. Spraying the cold, liquid gas into the tank head via the spray device allows for at least partial condensation of the gas in its vapor state present in the tank head. This condensation of the gas vapor thus lowers the pressure within the tank.

[0014] The evacuation branch is integrated into the supply and cooling system and is suitable for being fluidly connected to the loading terminal when filling the tank with gas in the liquid state.

[0015] When the tank is filled with liquid gas, vapor gas initially present within the tank is displaced to the tank head by piston effect. Vapor gas may also form in the tank head, particularly due to turbulence generated during the filling operation. To prevent a pressure increase during tank filling, the vent branch allows the vapor gas to be evacuated and quickly returned to the loading terminal. The vent branch is therefore connected to the tank head and can be connected to the loading terminal. The high flow rate of the compression element allows for rapid evacuation of the vapor gas.

[0016] It is therefore this compression element, which ensures the evacuation of gas in vapor form during the tank filling operation, that also ensures the circulation of refrigerant in the cooling circuit. The common section, which is advantageously a common pipe, allows the fluid connection of the compression element to both the cooling circuit and the discharge branch.

[0017] According to one feature of the invention, the compression element is configured to circulate the refrigerant within the cooling circuit and to discharge the gas in vapor form via the discharge branch. The compression element is thus hybrid and can therefore perform either of these functions as required.

[0018] According to one feature of the invention, the compression element has a higher flow rate than the compression device. It is this higher flow rate that makes the use of the compression element for the cooling circuit advantageous compared to the use of the compression device.

[0019] According to one feature of the invention, the compression element has a flow rate between 5000 m³ / h and 18000 m³ / h. For comparison, the compression device has a maximum flow rate of 4000 m³ / h.

[0020] According to one feature of the invention, the common portion extends between a first junction point of the cooling circuit and the discharge branch and a second junction point of the cooling circuit and the discharge branch, the supply and cooling system comprising a first fluid circulation management element within the common branch, said first management element being disposed upstream of the compression element, and a second fluid circulation management element within the common branch, said second management element being disposed downstream of the compression element.

[0021] The cooling circuit and the drain branch join at the first junction point, from which the common section begins. This section extends to the second junction point, from which the cooling circuit and the drain branch separate again.

[0022] The first control unit and the second control unit allow the control of the circulation of fluids within the common portion in order to determine whether it is the cooling circuit or the evacuation branch which is active and therefore which fluid should circulate within the common portion and the compression element.

[0023] According to one example, the first control unit and / or the second control unit may comprise two valves, one of which is on the discharge branch and the other on the cooling circuit, each being upstream of the first junction point. for the first control unit, or downstream of the second junction point for the second control unit. These valves are capable of switching between an open and a closed position in order to control whether it is the refrigerant fluid or the gas in vapor state that circulates within the common section.

[0024] According to another example, the first control unit and the second control unit are each a three-way valve disposed respectively on the first junction point and on the first junction point.

[0025] According to one feature of the invention, the supply and cooling system comprises a compression module installed in parallel with the compression element, at least the compression element being located on the portion common to the cooling circuit and the discharge branch. The compression module performs an additional function, namely the compression of the gas in the vapor state and / or the refrigerant, depending on the configuration of said compression module.

[0026] According to one feature of the invention, the compression module is configured to exclusively discharge the gas in vapor form via the discharge branch. In a first embodiment, the compression module is connected only to the discharge branch and can therefore only discharge the gas in vapor form. Consequently, the flow rate of the compression module can be higher than the flow rate of the compression element, for example, 30,000 m³ / h. In this configuration, the discharge of the gas in vapor form can be improved if the compression element is also configured to discharge the gas in vapor form and is active simultaneously with the compression module. It is also possible to perform two different operations simultaneously, where the compression module discharges the gas in vapor form from the tank while the compression element is fluidly connected to the cooling circuit and allows the circulation of the refrigerant.

[0027] According to another feature of the invention, the common portion is a first common portion on which the compression element is disposed, the supply and cooling system comprising a second common portion on which the compression module is disposed. According to a second embodiment, the compression module is structurally and functionally identical to the compression element and can therefore perform the same functions, namely circulating the gas in vapor form or the refrigerant as required. Thus, the compression element and the compression module are both arranged on their own common portion.

[0028] Simultaneously using the compression element and the compression module for circulating the gas in vapor state improves its evacuation speed to the loading terminal. This second variant also ensures redundancy. in the event of a failure of the compression element or compression module, in order to ensure that the power and cooling system can function despite said failure.

[0029] According to one feature of the invention, the first common portion and the second common portion both extend between a first junction point and a second junction point and both comprise a first fluid flow management device within the first common branch or the second common branch, said first management device being disposed upstream of the compression element or the compression module, and a second fluid flow management device within the first common branch or the second common branch, said second management device being disposed downstream of the compression element or the compression module.As described previously, in the second variant where both the compression element and the compression module can ensure the circulation of both the gas in vapor form and the refrigerant, the control units are duplicated so that fluid circulation can be controlled for both the first and second common sections. Each control unit includes its own set of valves to control which fluid flows within which common section. The first and second common sections can extend between the same first and second junction points, or they can extend between their own first and second junction points.

[0030] The invention also covers a feeding and cooling method implemented by a feeding and cooling system as described above, during which: - The compression element is used within the exhaust branch to circulate and evacuate the gas in vapor form from the tank.

[0031] or - The compression element is used within the cooling circuit to circulate the refrigerant fluid and cool the gas in the liquid state circulating in the gas-liquid circuit.

[0032] As previously described, depending on the need, the compression element ensures the circulation of the gas in vapor form in the discharge branch in order to evacuate it to the loading terminal, or circulates the refrigerant fluid in order to lower the overall temperature of the tank by cooling the gas in liquid form via the cooling circuit.

[0033] According to a feature of the process: - The compression element and / or compression module is used within the exhaust branch to circulate and evacuate the gas in vapor form from the tank,

[0034] or - The compression element and / or compression module is used within the cooling circuit to circulate the refrigerant and cool the gas in the liquid state circulating in the gas-in-liquid circuit.

[0035] In the case of variants of the supply and cooling system comprising the compression module, the latter and / or the compression element are suitable for implementing the supply and cooling process as described above. Depending on the variant, the compression module may be used exclusively within the discharge branch or, like the compression element, may be used within the discharge branch or the cooling circuit.

[0036] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description on the one hand, and from several illustrative and non-limiting examples of embodiments given with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings on the other hand, in which:

[0037] [Fig. 1] is a general diagram of a power supply and cooling system according to the invention,

[0038] [Fig.2] is a diagram representing the structure of a first variant of the power and cooling system,

[0039] [Fig.3] represents a diagram detailing a section of a second variant of the power and cooling system.

[0040] Figure 1 represents a supply and cooling device 1, which can be arranged within a floating structure suitable for transporting and / or storing gas in liquid form, for example, in a tank 2. This gas is, for example, natural gas. The gas in liquid form is stored in the tank 2 at a very low temperature. For various reasons, for example, naturally during transport, the gas in liquid form may partially evaporate at the top 200 of the tank 2. The evaporation of the gas contributes to an increase in the internal pressure of the tank 2. Such an increase in internal pressure must be regulated, for example, by venting the gas in vapor form that has formed in the top 200 of the tank from the tank 2. It is also possible to recondense the evaporated gas so that it returns to liquid form, which leads to a decrease in the internal pressure of tank 2.

[0041] The supply and cooling system 1 includes a supply circuit 3. This supply circuit 3 is configured to draw in the evaporated gas having formed in the sky 200 of tank 2. The gas can subsequently be used as fuel for a first gas-consuming device 5 and / or a second gas-consuming device 6. As an example, the first gas-consuming device 5 can be an engine enabling the propulsion of the floating structure and the second gas-consuming device 6 can be an auxiliary engine responsible for supplying electricity to the floating structure.

[0042] In order to adjust the pressure of the gas circulating in the supply circuit 3 to a pressure compatible with the gas-consuming appliances, the supply circuit 3 includes at least one compression device 10 that compresses the gas. This gas can then supply the gas-consuming appliances. If these appliances do not require energy input via the gas, this input can be eliminated, for example, via a burner 7. The supply and cooling system 1 may include a first compression device 10a and a second compression device 10b arranged in parallel with each other for the purpose of redundancy, thus ensuring that the supply circuit 3 can still function in the event of a failure of one of the two compression devices 10.

[0043] The supply and cooling system 1 also includes a liquid gas circuit 8, through which liquid gas from tank 2 circulates. The liquid gas circuit 8 can participate in the condensation of vapor gas present in the headspace 200 of tank 2, or lower the overall temperature of the liquid gas contained in tank 2. The liquid gas from tank 2 is drawn into the liquid gas circuit 8 by means of a pumping device 19.

[0044] The supply and cooling system also includes a cooling circuit 4. The cooling circuit 4 is configured, directly or indirectly, to participate in the pressure management of the tank 2, as will be described later. The cooling circuit 4 is configured to circulate a refrigerant such as nitrogen.

[0045] The cooling circuit 4 comprises a compressor-expander 13, an internal heat exchanger 18, and a heat exchanger 17. The compressor-expander 13 comprises a compression element 14 and a turbine 15 mechanically connected to each other by a shaft 16. The compression element 14 is located upstream of a first pass of the internal heat exchanger 18, while the turbine 15 is located downstream of this same first pass of the internal heat exchanger 18. The turbine 15 is set in rotation, thereby driving the shaft 16, which in turn drives the compression element 14. The refrigerant is thus initially compressed by the compression element 14, then passes through the first pass of the internal heat exchanger 18, and is subsequently expanded by the turbine 15. The expansion allows a decrease in the temperature of the refrigerant fluid which circulates through the heat exchanger 17, then through a second pass of the internal heat exchanger 18. There is therefore an exchange of heat between the refrigerant fluid circulating in the first pass of the internal heat exchanger 18 and the refrigerant fluid circulating in the second pass of the internal heat exchanger 18 in order to regulate the temperature of the refrigerant fluid circulating in the cooling circuit 4.

[0046] It is thus understood that the heat exchange carried out within the heat exchanger 17 is carried out between the refrigerant circulating in the cooling circuit 4 and the gas in the liquid state circulating in the gas in the liquid state circuit 8. The gas in the liquid state thus exits cooled from the heat exchanger 17, then circulates again towards the tank 2.

[0047] After being cooled, the gas in liquid state can return to the lower part of the tank 2 via an outlet orifice 21. Such an operation helps to lower the average temperature of the tank 2, which leads to a decrease in the saturation pressure of the tank 2.

[0048] The cooled liquid gas can also be sprayed into the headspace 200 of tank 2. For this purpose, the liquid gas circuit includes a spraying device 20 that sprays the liquid gas. Spraying the liquid gas allows the evaporated gas to condense in the headspace 200 of tank 2. This condensation reduces the amount of evaporated gas, thereby lowering the internal pressure of tank 2. This configuration thus allows the temperature of the liquid gas cargo to be regulated.

[0049] The supply and cooling system 1 further includes a discharge branch 22 for removing gas in vapor form initially present in the tank 2 before a filling operation. Gas in vapor form may also be formed during said tank 2 filling operation. Such a filling operation may, for example, be carried out using a loading terminal 23 that connects fluidly to the tank 2 and fills it with gas in liquid form, using a filling line (not shown). During filling, gas in vapor form is present in the headspace 200 of the tank 2 and must be removed to prevent overpressure in the tank 2 during its filling. The discharge branch 22 ensures this return of gas in vapor form to the loading terminal 23.

[0050] The supply and cooling system 1 is characterized in that it comprises a common portion 24 to the cooling circuit 4 and the discharge branch 22, and that this common portion comprises a compression element 25, which is therefore also common to the cooling circuit 4 and the exhaust branch 22.

[0051] The common portion 24 is a portion of the pipe within which the refrigerant fluid intended to cool the gas in liquid state circulating in the gas in liquid state circuit 8 or the gas in vapor state intended to be discharged to the loading terminal 23 can circulate. The compression element 25 is suitable for circulating the refrigerant fluid or the gas in vapor state according to the desired configuration.

[0052] It is particularly advantageous to use the compression element 25 for circulating the refrigerant within the cooling circuit 4 because the compression element 25 has a higher fluid compression flow rate than the compression device 10. Therefore, it is more practical to use the compression element 25 rather than fluidly connecting the cooling circuit 4 to the supply circuit 3 using the compression device 10, which has a lower flow rate. This increases the refrigerant flow rate circulating in the cooling circuit 4 and thus improves its cooling performance. The compression element 25 has a flow rate between 5000 m³ / h and 18000 m³ / h, while the compression device 10 has a maximum flow rate of 4000 m³ / h.

[0053] Regarding other parameters allowing comparison between the compression device 10 and the compression element 25, the latter has a lower compression ratio than the compression device 10, but the refrigerant does not require a high compression ratio, and the compression element 25 is therefore more suitable for compressing the refrigerant. Furthermore, the compression element 25 is initially designed to compress gas in vapor form but also nitrogen, which can be used as a refrigerant, since for certain maintenance operations on the floating structure, the compression element 25 must be capable of compressing pure nitrogen. It is thus understood that the compression element 25 is more advantageous in all respects for handling the refrigerant than the compression device 10.

[0054] In order to control the configuration of the common portion 24 and which fluid is compressed by the compression element 25, the common portion 24 extends between a first junction point 26 at which the cooling circuit 4 and the discharge branch 22 join to form the common portion 24, and a second junction point 27 from which the common portion 24 separates, again forming the cooling circuit 4 and the discharge branch 22.

[0055] The supply and cooling system 1 also includes a first fluid circulation control element 28 within the common branch 24 and a second fluid circulation control element 29 within the common branch 24, respectively arranged upstream and downstream of the compression element 25 with respect to a direction of flow of the fluid circulating within the common branch 24.

[0056] As illustrated in [Fig. 1], the first control element 28 may consist of a first valve 41 and a second valve 42 positioned respectively on the discharge branch 22 and the cooling circuit 4 upstream of the first junction point 26, while the second control element 29 may consist of a third valve 43 and a fourth valve 44 positioned respectively on the discharge branch 22 and the cooling circuit 4 downstream of the second junction point 27. Alternatively, the first control element 28 and the second control element 29 may each be a three-way valve positioned respectively at the first junction point 26 and the second junction point 27.

[0057] When the compression element 25 is used to circulate the refrigerant in the cooling circuit 4, the first valve 41 and the third valve 43 are closed in order to isolate the common portion 24 from the discharge branch 22, while the second valve 42 and the fourth valve 44 are open.

[0058] Conversely, when the compression element 25 is used to circulate the gas in vapor state to the loading terminal 23, the second valve 42 and the fourth valve 44 are closed in order to isolate the common portion 24 of the cooling circuit 4, while the first valve 41 and the third valve 43 are open.

[0059] According to the configuration illustrated in [Fig. 1], the supply and cooling system 1 can thus implement a supply and cooling process in which the compression element 25 is used within the discharge branch 22 to circulate and discharge the gas in vapor form out of the tank 2, or said compression element 25 is used within the cooling circuit 4 to circulate the refrigerant fluid and cool the gas in liquid form circulating in the liquid gas circuit 8.

[0060] Fig. 2 is a first variant of the power supply and cooling system 1. This first variant differs from what was illustrated in Fig. 1 in that the power supply and cooling system 1 includes a compression module 30 installed in parallel with the compression element 25.

[0061] According to this first variant, the compression module 30 is part of the discharge branch 22 and thus only allows the gas to be discharged in the vapor state formed during the filling of the tank 2. Thus, the parameters of the module Compression module 30 may differ from compression module 25 in that the flow rate of compression module 30 may be higher than that of compression module 25, for example 30,000 m³ / h. The flow of gas in the vapor state through compression module 30 may be controlled by additional valves 31, 32.

[0062] The first variant also allows the cooling circuit 4 and the discharge branch 22 to be implemented simultaneously, if necessary, by isolating them from each other. In this configuration, the compression element 25 ensures the circulation of refrigerant within the cooling circuit, while the compression module 30 ensures the circulation of the gas in vapor form within the discharge branch 22. This variant has the advantage of allowing the cooling circuit 4 to be pre-cooled before use.

[0063] The rest of the structural and functional elements related to the first variant being identical to what has been described previously, reference will be made to the description of [Fig.1] with regard to the elements common to what is illustrated in figures 1 and 2.

[0064] Figure 3 illustrates part of a second variant of the power and cooling system 1 according to the invention. For clarity of reference, only a portion of the power and cooling system is shown, but the illustrated portion constitutes the only structural and functional differences between the first and second variants.

[0065] The second variant differs from the first variant in that the compression module 30 has the same functions as the compression element 25, i.e. the compression module 30 is also configured to circulate the refrigerant within the cooling circuit 4 and to discharge the gas in vapor form via the discharge branch 22.

[0066] Accordingly, the second variant comprises a first common portion 24a at which the compression element 25 is arranged, and a second common portion 24b at which the compression module 30 is arranged. Each common portion 24a, 24b is fluidly connected to the cooling circuit 4 and to the discharge branch 22, thus ensuring that the compression element 25 and the compression module 30 are both capable of performing the two aforementioned functions.

[0067] In addition, each common portion 24a, 24b extends between its own first junction point 26a, 26b and its own second junction point 27a, 27b, and also includes its own first control body 28a, 28b and second control body 29a, 29b, which may include valves 41a, 41b, 42a, 42b, 43a, 43b, 44a, 44b.

[0068] The second variant thus allows different configurations so that the compression element 25 and the compression module 30 each perform a different function from each other, or the same function more efficiently, or simply to ensure redundancy in case of failure of the compression element 25 or the compression module 30.

[0069] Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples just described and many modifications can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0070] The invention, as described above, achieves its intended purpose and provides a supply and cooling system for a floating structure comprising at least one portion common to a liquid gas cooling circuit and a vapor gas discharge branch in order to improve the cooling performance of said cooling circuit. Variations not described here could be implemented without departing from the scope of the invention, provided that, in accordance with the invention, they include a supply and cooling system conforming to the invention.

Claims

1.

2. Demands Gas supply and cooling system (1) for a floating structure comprising at least one tank (2) configured to contain the gas, the supply and cooling system (1) comprising: - at least one supply circuit (3) comprising at least one compression device (10) configured to draw gas in vapor form from the tank (2) and to supply gas to at least one gas-consuming appliance (5, 6) fitted to the floating structure, - at least one liquid gas circuit (8) comprising at least one pumping device (19) configured to draw the liquid gas from the tank (2), - at least one cooling circuit (4) intended to be traversed by a refrigerant fluid, comprising at least one heat exchanger (17) configured to perform heat exchange between the refrigerant fluid and the gas in the liquid state circulating in the gas-in-the-liquid circuit (8), an internal heat exchanger (18) and a compressor-expander (13) comprising a compression element (14) disposed upstream of a first pass of the internal heat exchanger (18) and a turbine (15) disposed downstream of the first pass of the internal heat exchanger (18), the compression element (14) and the turbine (15) being rotationally linked by a shaft (16), - at least one vent branch (22) configured to vent the gas in vapor form out of the tank (2) to a loading terminal (23) during a tank (2) filling operation, characterized in that the supply and cooling system (1) comprises at least one common portion (24) to the cooling circuit (4) and the discharge branch (22) and at least one compression element (25) disposed in the common portion (24). Supply and cooling system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the compression element (25) is configured to circulate the refrigerant within the cooling circuit (4) and to evacuate the gas in vapor form via the evacuation branch (22).

3. Supply and cooling system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the compression element (25) has a flow rate greater than a flow rate of the compression device (10).

4. Supply and cooling system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the compression element (25) has a flow rate between 5000m3 / h and 18000m3 / h.

5. Supply and cooling system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the common portion (24) extends between a first junction point (26) of the cooling circuit (4) and the discharge branch (22) and a second junction point (27) of the cooling circuit (4) and the discharge branch (22), the supply and cooling system (1) comprising a first fluid circulation control element (28) within the common branch (24), said first control element (28) being disposed upstream of the compression element (25), and a second fluid circulation control element (29) within the common branch (24), said second control element (29) being disposed downstream of the compression element (25).

6. Supply and cooling system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising a compression module (30) installed in parallel with the compression element (25), at least the compression element (25) being disposed on the common portion (24) to the cooling circuit (4) and the discharge branch (22).

7. Supply and cooling system (1) according to claim 6, wherein the compression module (30) is configured to exclusively discharge the gas in the vapor state via the discharge branch (22).

8. Supply and cooling system (1) according to claim 6, wherein the common portion (24) is a first common portion (24a) on which the compression element (25) is disposed, the supply and cooling system (1) comprising a second common portion (24b) on which the compression module (30) is disposed.

9. A supply and cooling system (1) according to claim 8, wherein the first common section (24a) and the second common section (24b) both extend between a first junction point (26, 26a, 26b) and a second junction point (27, 27a, 27b) and both comprise a first fluid circulation control element (28, 28a, 28b) within the first common branch (24a) or the second common branch (24b), said first control element (28, 28a, 28b) being disposed upstream of the compression element (25) or the compression module (30), and a second fluid circulation control element (29, 29a, 29b) within the first common branch (24a) or the second common branch (24b), said second control element (29, 29a, 29b) being disposed downstream of the compression element (25) or the compression module (30).

10. A feeding and cooling method implemented by a feeding and cooling system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: - the compression element (25) is used within the discharge branch (22) to circulate and discharge the gas in the vapor state out of the tank (2), or - the compression element (25) is used within the cooling circuit (4) to circulate the refrigerant fluid and cool the gas in the liquid state circulating in the liquid gas circuit (8).

11. A feeding and cooling method according to claim 10, implemented by a feeding and cooling system (1) according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein: - the compression element (25) and / or the compression module (30) is used within the discharge branch (22) to circulate and discharge the gas in the vapor state out of the vessel (2), or The compression element (25) and / or the compression module (30) is used within the cooling circuit (4) to circulate the refrigerant fluid and cool the gas in the liquid state circulating in the gas-in-liquid circuit (8).

Images