Cryogenic fluid production and storage facility

Abstract

Installation (1) for the production of a cryogenic fluid, comprising: a gas circuit to be cooled (2) having an upstream end (21) and a downstream end (22); a set of heat exchangers (5, 6); a pre-cooling device (8); a cooling device (9) comprising a cooling circuit (13); an injection line (7) configured to draw cryogenic fluid from the gas circuit to be cooled (2), the injection line (7) comprising a heating element (11) configured to vaporize the cryogenic fluid into a vaporized fluid, the injection line (7) being configured to allow the injection of the vaporized fluid into the cooling circuit (13); a transfer line (12) for transferring cycle gas from the cooling circuit (13) into the gas circuit to be cooled (2). Abbreviated figure: Fig. 1

Description

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

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

[0002] A cryogenic fluid production installation, for example a liquefier, produces a cryogenic fluid by cooling a gas from a gas source.

[0003] When the gas source originates from a production process using renewable energy sources, for example, when the gas is hydrogen produced by an electrolyzer powered by renewable electricity, the flow rate of the gas produced may become low. The gas flow rate delivered by the gas source may become less than or equal to 50% of a setpoint, the setpoint representing, for example, a specific nominal flow rate of gas delivered by the gas source.

[0004] Such cryogenic fluid production facilities must be able to operate properly even when the gas flow delivered by the gas source becomes low, for example by allowing a load reduction to follow the electrical levels of renewable energies.

[0005] The present invention aims to effectively overcome these drawbacks by proposing an installation for the production and storage of a cryogenic fluid, in particular liquefied hydrogen, comprising: - a circuit for the gas to be cooled having an upstream end intended to be connected to a gas source and a downstream end intended to be connected to at least one cryogenic storage to allow the storage of the cryogenic fluid; - a set of heat exchangers configured to be 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, for example a temperature close to 80 K; - 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, for example a temperature close to 20 K, the cryogenic cooling device comprising a refrigeration cycle cooling circuit of a cycle gas such as hydrogen, the cooling circuit comprising a component of compression of the cycle gas and a final expansion device for the cycle gas; the circuit of gas to be cooled having a first portion intended to be in heat exchange with the first part of the heat exchanger assembly, a second portion intended to be in heat exchange with the second part of the heat exchanger assembly, a third portion upstream of the first portion, a fourth portion between the first portion and the second portion and a fifth portion downstream of the second portion; the circuit of gas to be cooled comprising an expansion device mounted at the level of the fifth portion being configured to regulate the flow of the cryogenic fluid intended for cryogenic storage; - a cryogenic purification device disposed in the gas circuit to be cooled, at the level of the fourth portion, being configured to purify the cryogenic fluid; - an injection line configured to allow the withdrawal of a portion of the cryogenic fluid from the gas circuit to be cooled, at the level of the fifth portion and / or the fourth portion, the injection line comprising a heating element configured to vaporize the withdrawn cryogenic fluid into a vaporized fluid and / or configured to heat the withdrawn cryogenic fluid to a third determined temperature into a heated fluid, the injection line being configured to allow the injection of the vaporized fluid and / or the heated fluid into the cooling circuit; - a transfer line configured to allow the transfer of cycle gas from the cooling circuit into the gas circuit to be cooled, for example at the level of the third portion.

[0006] The invention thus makes it possible to maintain in operation a cryogenic fluid production installation, even when the gas flow delivered by the gas source becomes less than or equal to 50% of a determined nominal gas flow delivered by the gas source.

[0007] According to one embodiment, the injection line has an inlet fluidly connected to the fifth portion and / or the fourth portion and an outlet fluidly connected to the cooling circuit, upstream of the cycle gas compression unit.

[0008] According to one embodiment, the outlet of the injection line is fluidly connected to the cooling circuit, downstream of the final expansion device of the cycle gas.

[0009] According to one embodiment, the heating element is configured to heat the cryogenic fluid to an ambient temperature, such as a temperature between -20 °C and 40 °C.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the third determined temperature is at an ambient temperature, such as a temperature between -20 °C and 40 °C.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the cycle gas compression element comprises, in the direction of cycle gas flow, an upstream cycle gas compression element and a downstream cycle gas compression element.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the injection line is configured to allow the injection of the vaporized fluid and / or the heated fluid into the cooling circuit, upstream of the downstream cycle gas compression unit and for example configured to allow the injection of the vaporized fluid and / or the heated fluid into the cooling circuit, downstream of the upstream cycle gas compression unit.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the injection line is configured to allow the injection of vaporized fluid and / or heated fluid into the cooling circuit, between the upstream cycle gas compression unit and the downstream cycle gas compression unit, for example so that the vaporized fluid and / or heated fluid is injected by mixing with the cycle gas, the cycle gas having a pressure between 4 and 10 bara.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the installation is configured to selectively, for example when the gas flow delivered by the gas source is less than or equal to 50% of a determined nominal gas flow delivered by the gas source: take a portion of the cryogenic fluid from the gas circuit to be cooled and / or vaporize the cryogenic fluid from the gas circuit to be cooled into a vaporized fluid and / or heat the cryogenic fluid from the gas circuit to be cooled to a third determined temperature into a heated fluid and / or inject the vaporized fluid and / or the heated fluid into the cooling circuit and / or transfer a portion of the cycle gas from the cooling circuit into the gas circuit to be cooled.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the transfer line is fluidly connected by one of its ends to the cooling circuit, downstream of the downstream compression unit of the cycle gas and upstream of the final expansion unit of the cycle gas, the transfer line being fluidly connected by another of its ends to the circuit of gas to be cooled, for example upstream of the first portion, for example at a connection point.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the installation is configured to transfer cycle gas from the cooling circuit into the gas circuit to be cooled, when the pressure in the cooling circuit is greater than a determined threshold, the pressure being measured downstream of the downstream compression element of the cycle gas and upstream of the final expansion element of the cycle gas.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the upstream cycle gas compression unit comprises a low-pressure compressor, for example configured to compress the gas cycle from an inlet pressure of between 1 and 3 bara to an outlet pressure of between 4 and 10 bara, the downstream cycle gas compression unit comprising a high-pressure compressor, for example configured to compress the cycle gas from an inlet pressure of between 4 and 10 bara to an outlet pressure of between 40 and 60 bara.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the installation is configured to draw a portion of the cryogenic fluid from the gas circuit to be cooled when the gas flow rate delivered by the gas source is less than or equal to 50%, for example between 10% and 50%, of a setpoint, the setpoint representing, for example, a specific nominal gas flow rate delivered by the gas source.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the installation is configured to take a portion of the cryogenic fluid from the gas circuit to be cooled, as long as the gas flow delivered by the gas source is less than or equal to 50%, for example between 10% and 50%, of the setpoint.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the installation is configured to transfer part of the cycle gas from the cooling circuit into the gas circuit to be cooled, when the gas flow delivered by the gas source is less than or equal to 50%, for example between 10% and 50%, of the setpoint.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the installation is configured to transfer part of the cycle gas from the cooling circuit into the gas circuit to be cooled, so that the gas flow rate in the gas circuit to be cooled, upstream of the first part and downstream of the connection point, is greater than 50% of the setpoint, while the gas flow rate delivered by the gas source is less than or equal to 50%, for example between 10% and 50%, of the setpoint.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the expansion device of the gas circuit to be cooled is mounted downstream of the second portion and is configured to regulate the flow of the cryogenic fluid intended for cryogenic storage.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the cryogenic purification device is disposed in the circuit of gas to be cooled, between the first portion and the second portion.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the upstream cycle gas compression unit and the downstream cycle gas compression unit are mounted in series.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the cryogenic storage is configured to be able to be pressurized using a pressure build-up unit, or PBU (for "pressure build-up unit" in English), or PBUC (for "pressure build-up coil" in English).

[0026] According to one embodiment, the pre-cooling device comprises a refrigerator with a pre-cooling fluid refrigeration cycle in a pre-cooling circuit, the pre-cooling circuit comprising a component of compression of the pre-cooling fluid and a final expansion device for the pre-cooling fluid.

[0027] According to one embodiment, the installation includes a first cold box in which at least the first part of the heat exchanger assembly is arranged.

[0028] According to one embodiment, the installation includes a second cold box in which at least the second part of the heat exchanger assembly is arranged.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the expansion device of the gas circuit to be cooled comprises a turbine or an expansion valve, in particular a Joule-Thomson expansion valve.

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

[0031] According to one embodiment, the cryogenic purification device includes at least one temperature-modulated adsorption unit, otherwise called a TSA unit for "Temperature Swing Adsorption" in English.

[0032] According to one embodiment, the installation includes a cryogenic storage, the cryogenic storage being configured to store the cryogenic fluid at a pressure between 1 and 3 bara or between 4 and 10 bara.

[0033] According to one embodiment, the outlet of the injection line is fluidly connected to the cooling circuit, upstream of the downstream component for compressing the cycle gas.

[0034] According to one embodiment, the outlet of the injection line is fluidly connected to the cooling circuit, downstream of the upstream component for compressing the cycle gas.

[0035] According to one embodiment, the inlet of the injection line is connected to the fifth portion upstream of the expansion member.

[0036] According to one embodiment, the inlet of the injection line is connected to the fourth portion downstream of the cryogenic purification device.

[0037] According to one embodiment, the downstream cycle gas compression device is configured to deliver a cycle gas having a determined pressure, the determined pressure being for example strictly greater than the pressure of the gas delivered by the gas source.

[0038] Such a determined pressure, when it is strictly greater than the pressure of the gas delivered by the gas source, allows the transfer of the fluid through the transfer line.

[0039] According to one embodiment, the heating element is configured to heat the cryogenic fluid so that its temperature is greater than or equal to the first temperature determined at the outlet of the injection line.

[0040] The invention further relates to a method for managing a cryogenic fluid production and storage facility as described above, comprising the following steps: - a) take a portion of the cryogenic fluid from the gas circuit to be cooled; - b) vaporize the cryogenic fluid from the gas circuit to be cooled into a vaporized fluid and / or heat the cryogenic fluid from the gas circuit to be cooled into a heated fluid to a third determined temperature; - c) inject the vaporized fluid and / or the heated fluid into the cooling circuit; - d) transfer part of the cycle gas from the cooling circuit into the gas circuit to be cooled.

[0041] According to one embodiment, the process is implemented when the gas flow delivered by the gas source is less than or equal to 50%, for example between 10% and 50%, of a setpoint, the setpoint representing for example a determined nominal gas flow delivered by the gas source, the process being implemented for example as long as the gas flow delivered by the gas source is less than or equal to 50%, for example between 10% and 50%, of the setpoint.

[0042] The invention may also relate to any alternative device or method comprising any combination of the above or below features.

[0043] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description and examining the accompanying figure. This figure is given only by way of illustration and in no way limits the invention.

[0044] [Fig-1] Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of an installation according to the invention.

[0045] With reference to [Fig.1], an installation 1 for the production and storage of a cryogenic fluid, in particular liquefied hydrogen, has been shown.

[0046] Installation 1 comprises: - a gas circuit to be cooled 2 having an upstream end 21 intended to be connected to a gas source and a downstream end 22 intended to be connected to at least one cryogenic storage 40 to allow the storage of the cryogenic fluid; - a set of heat exchangers 5, 6 configured to be in heat exchange with the gas circuit to be cooled 2; - 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 gas circuit to be cooled 2 to a first determined temperature, for example a temperature close to 80 K; - 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 gas circuit to be cooled 2 to a second determined temperature lower than the first temperature, for example a temperature close to 20 K, the cryogenic cooling device 9 comprising a cooling circuit 13 with a refrigeration cycle of a cycle gas such as hydrogen, the cooling circuit comprising a cycle gas compression element 27, 29 and a final expansion element of the cycle gas 39;the gas circuit to be cooled 2 having a first portion intended to be in heat exchange with the first part 5 of the heat exchanger assembly 5,6, a second portion intended to be in heat exchange with the second part 6 of the heat exchanger assembly 5,6, a third portion upstream of the first portion, a fourth portion between the first portion and the second portion and a fifth portion downstream of the second portion; the gas circuit to be cooled 2 comprising an expansion device 23 mounted at the level of the fifth portion and configured to regulate the flow of the cryogenic fluid intended for cryogenic storage 40; - a cryogenic purification device 10 disposed in the gas circuit to be cooled 2, at the level of the fourth portion, being configured to purify the cryogenic fluid; - an injection line 7 configured to allow the withdrawal of a portion of the cryogenic fluid from the gas circuit to be cooled 2, at the level of the fifth portion and / or the fourth portion, the injection line 7 comprising a heating element 11 configured to vaporize the withdrawn cryogenic fluid, into a vaporized fluid and / or configured to heat the withdrawn cryogenic fluid to a third determined temperature, into a heated fluid, the injection line 7 being configured to allow the injection of the vaporized fluid and / or the heated fluid, into the cooling circuit 13; - a transfer line 12 configured to allow the transfer of cycle gas from the cooling circuit 13 into the gas circuit to be cooled 2, for example at the level of the third portion.

[0047] The injection line 7 has an inlet fluidly connected to the fifth portion and / or the fourth portion and an outlet fluidly connected to the cooling circuit 13, upstream of the cycle gas compression element 27, 29.

[0048] The heating element 11 is configured to heat the cryogenic fluid to an ambient temperature, such as a temperature between -20 °C and 40 °C.

[0049] The cycle gas compression member 27, 29 comprises, for example in the direction of cycle gas flow, an upstream cycle gas compression member 27 and a downstream cycle gas compression member 29, the injection line 7 being configured to allow the injection of vaporized fluid and / or heated fluid into the cooling circuit 13, upstream of the downstream cycle gas compression member 29 and for example configured to allow the injection of vaporized fluid and / or heated fluid into the cooling circuit 13, downstream of the upstream cycle gas compression member 27.

[0050] The installation 1 is configured to selectively, for example when the gas flow delivered by the gas source is less than or equal to 50% of a determined nominal gas flow delivered by the gas source: take a portion of the cryogenic fluid from the gas circuit to be cooled 2 and / or vaporize the cryogenic fluid from the gas circuit to be cooled 2 into a vaporized fluid and / or heat the cryogenic fluid from the gas circuit to be cooled 2 to a third determined temperature into a heated fluid and / or inject the vaporized fluid and / or the heated fluid into the cooling circuit 13 and / or transfer a portion of the cycle gas from the cooling circuit 13 into the gas circuit to be cooled 2.

[0051] The transfer line 12 is fluidly connected by one of its ends to the cooling circuit 13, downstream of the downstream compression element of the cycle gas 29 and upstream of the final expansion element of the cycle gas 39, the transfer line 12 being fluidly connected by another of its ends to the circuit of gas to be cooled 2, upstream of the first portion, for example at a connection point.

[0052] The installation 1 is configured to transfer cycle gas from the cooling circuit 13 into the gas circuit to be cooled 2, when the pressure in the cooling circuit 13 is greater than a determined threshold, the pressure being measured downstream of the downstream compression member of the cycle gas 29 and upstream of the final expansion member of the cycle gas 39.

[0053] The upstream cycle gas compression unit 27 comprises a low pressure compressor, for example configured to compress the cycle gas from an inlet pressure of between 1 and 3 bara to an outlet pressure of between 4 and 10 bara, the downstream cycle gas compression unit comprising a high pressure compressor, for example configured to compress the cycle gas from an inlet pressure of between 4 and 10 bara to an outlet pressure of between 40 and 60 bara.

[0054] The pre-cooling device 8 comprises a refrigerator with a pre-cooling fluid refrigeration cycle in a pre-cooling circuit, the pre-cooling circuit comprising a pre-cooling fluid compression element 28 and a final pre-cooling fluid expansion element 38.

[0055] The installation 1 includes a first cold box 3 in which is disposed at least the first part 5 of the heat exchanger assembly 5, 6.

[0056] Installation 1 includes a second cold box 4 in which is disposed at least the second part 6 of the heat exchanger assembly 5, 6.

[0057] A method for managing a cryogenic fluid production and storage facility 1, according to any one of the above embodiments, is described below.

[0058] The method for managing a cryogenic fluid production and storage facility 1 as described above comprises the following steps: - a) take a portion of the cryogenic fluid from the gas circuit to be cooled 2; - b) vaporize the cryogenic fluid from the gas circuit to be cooled 2 into a vaporized fluid and / or heat the cryogenic fluid from the gas circuit to be cooled 2 into a heated fluid to a third determined temperature; - c) inject the vaporized fluid and / or the heated fluid into the cooling circuit 13 - d) transfer part of the cycle gas from the cooling circuit 13 into the gas circuit to be cooled 2.

[0059] The process is implemented when the gas flow delivered by the gas source is less than or equal to 50%, for example between 10% and 50%, of a setpoint, the setpoint representing for example a determined nominal gas flow delivered by the gas source.

[0060] The process is implemented as long as the gas flow rate delivered by the gas source is less than or equal to 50% of the setpoint.

Claims

1. Demands Installation (1) for the production and storage of a cryogenic fluid, in particular liquefied hydrogen, comprising: - a circuit for the gas to be cooled (2) having an upstream end (21) intended to be connected to a gas source and a downstream end (22) intended to be connected to at least one cryogenic storage (40) to allow the storage of the cryogenic fluid; - a set of heat exchangers (5, 6) configured to be in heat exchange with the gas circuit to be cooled (2); - a pre-cooling device (8) in heat exchange with at least a first part (5) of the set of heat exchangers (5, 6) and configured to pre-cool the gas circuit to be cooled (2) to a first temperature determined for example a temperature close to 80 K; - 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 gas circuit to be cooled (2) to a second determined temperature lower than the first temperature, for example a temperature close to 20 K, the cryogenic cooling device (9) comprising a cooling circuit (13) with a refrigeration cycle of a cycle gas such as hydrogen, the cooling circuit comprising a cycle gas compression element (27, 29) and a final cycle gas expansion element (39);the gas circuit to be cooled (2) having a first portion intended to be in heat exchange with the first part (5) of the heat exchanger assembly (5,6), a second portion intended to be in heat exchange with the second part (6) of the heat exchanger assembly (5,6), a third portion upstream of the first portion, a fourth portion between the first portion and the second portion and a fifth portion downstream of the second portion; the gas circuit to be cooled (2) comprising a pressure-reducing device (23) mounted at the level of the fifth portion being configured to regulate the flow of the cryogenic fluid intended for cryogenic storage (40); - a cryogenic purification device (10) disposed in the gas circuit to be cooled (2), at the level of the fourth portion, being configured to purify the cryogenic fluid;- an injection line (7) configured to allow the withdrawal of a portion of the cryogenic fluid from the gas circuit to be cooled (2), at the level of the fifth and / or fourth section, the injection line (7) comprising a heating element (11) configured to vaporize the withdrawn cryogenic fluid into a vaporized fluid and / or configured to reheat the withdrawn cryogenic fluid to a third determined temperature into a reheated fluid, the injection line (7) being configured to allow the injection of the vaporized fluid and / or the reheated fluid into the cooling circuit (13); - a transfer line (12) configured to allow the transfer of cycle gas from the cooling circuit (13) into the gas circuit to be cooled (2), for example at the level of the third section.

2. Installation (1) according to the preceding claim, the injection line (7) having an inlet fluidically connected to the fifth portion and / or the fourth portion and an outlet fluidly connected to the cooling circuit (13), upstream of the cycle gas compression element (27, 29).

3. Installation (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, the heating element (11) being configured to heat the cryogenic fluid to an ambient temperature, such as a temperature between -20 °C and 40 °C.

4. Installation (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, the cycle gas compression device (27, 29) comprising, in the direction of cycle gas flow, an upstream cycle gas compression device (27) and a downstream cycle gas compression device (29), the injection line (7) being configured to allow the injection of the vaporized fluid and / or the heated fluid into the cooling circuit (13), upstream of the downstream cycle gas compression unit (29) and for example configured to allow the injection of the vaporized fluid and / or the heated fluid into the cooling circuit (13), downstream of the upstream cycle gas compression unit (27).

5. Installation (1) according to the preceding claim, configured to selectively, for example when the gas flow delivered by the gas source is less than or equal to 50% of a determined nominal gas flow delivered by the gas source: take a portion of the cryogenic fluid from the gas circuit to be cooled (2) and / or vaporize the cryogenic fluid from the gas circuit to be cooled (2) into a vaporized fluid and / or heat the cryogenic fluid from the gas circuit to be cooled (2) to a third determined temperature into a heated fluid and / or inject the vaporized fluid and / or the heated fluid into the cooling circuit (13) and / or transfer a portion of the cycle gas from the cooling circuit (13) into the gas circuit to be cooled (2).

6. Installation (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, the transfer line (12) being fluidly connected by one of its ends to the cooling circuit (13), downstream of the downstream cycle gas compression unit (29) and upstream of the final cycle gas expansion unit (39), the transfer line (12) being fluidly connected by another of its ends to the gas circuit to be cooled (2), for example upstream of the first portion, for example at a connection point.

7. Installation (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, installation (1) being configured to transfer cycle gas from the cooling circuit (13) into the gas circuit to be cooled (2), when the pressure in the cooling circuit (13) is greater than a determined threshold, the pressure being measured downstream of the downstream cycle gas compression device (29) and upstream of the final cycle gas expansion device (39).

8. Installation (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, the upstream cycle gas compression unit (27) comprising a low-pressure compressor, for example configured to compress the cycle gas from an inlet pressure of between 1 and 3 bara at an outlet pressure between 4 and 10 bara, the downstream cycle gas compression unit comprising a high-pressure compressor, for example configured to compress the cycle gas from an inlet pressure between 4 and 10 bara to an outlet pressure between 40 and 60 bara.

9. A method for managing a cryogenic fluid production and storage facility (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising the steps: - a) take a portion of the cryogenic fluid from the gas circuit to be cooled (2); - b) vaporize the cryogenic fluid from the gas circuit to be cooled (2) into a vaporized fluid and / or heat the cryogenic fluid from the gas circuit to be cooled (2) to a heated fluid at a third determined temperature; - c) inject the vaporized fluid and / or the heated fluid into the cooling circuit (13); - d) transfer part of the cycle gas from the cooling circuit (13) into the gas circuit to be cooled (2).

10. A method according to the preceding claim, the method being implemented when the gas flow rate delivered by the gas source is less than or equal to 50%, for example between 10% and 50%, of a setpoint, the setpoint representing for example a determined nominal gas flow rate delivered by the gas source, the method being implemented for example as long as the gas flow rate delivered by the gas source is less than or equal to 50% of the setpoint.

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