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) connected to a cryogenic storage (40); 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) for drawing cryogenic fluid from the storage (40), 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: - initial cryogenic storage; - a circuit for the gas to be cooled having an upstream end intended to be connected to a gas source and a downstream end connected to the first 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 one other 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 of hydrogen, the cooling circuit comprising an upstream compression unit for the cycle gas, a downstream compression unit for the cycle gas and a final expansion unit 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; - an injection line configured to allow the withdrawal of a portion of the cryogenic fluid from the first cryogenic storage, the injection line including a heating element configured to vaporize the cryogenic fluid withdrawn from the first cryogenic storage into a vaporized fluid, the injection line being configured to allow the injection of the vaporized 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.

[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 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 first cryogenic storage and / or vaporize the cryogenic fluid from the first cryogenic storage and / or inject the vaporized 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.

[0008] According to one embodiment, the upstream cycle gas compression element is disposed upstream of the downstream cycle gas compression element, in the direction of cycle gas flow.

[0009] According to one embodiment, the first cryogenic storage is configured to store the cryogenic fluid at a pressure between 1 and 3 bara, the injection line being configured to allow the injection of the vaporized fluid upstream of the upstream cycle gas compression unit and downstream of the final cycle gas expansion unit.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the first cryogenic storage is configured to store the cryogenic fluid at a pressure between 4 and 10 bara, the injection line being configured to allow the injection of the vaporized fluid upstream of the organ downstream of the cycle gas compression and, for example, configured to allow the injection of vaporized fluid downstream of the upstream cycle gas compression unit.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the first cryogenic storage is configured to store the cryogenic fluid at a pressure between 4 and 10 bara, the injection line being configured to allow the injection of the vaporized fluid downstream of the final expansion device of the cycle gas.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the installation includes a second cryogenic storage configured to store the cryogenic fluid at a pressure between 1 and 3 bara, the installation being configured to selectively isolate or fluidly connect the first cryogenic storage from the circuit of gas to be cooled and to selectively isolate or fluidly connect the second cryogenic storage from the circuit of gas to be cooled, the installation being configured to selectively, for example when the flow of gas delivered by the gas source is less than or equal to 50% of a determined nominal flow of gas delivered by the gas source: fluidly isolate the first cryogenic storage from the circuit of gas to be cooled and pressurize the first cryogenic storage, for example to a pressure between 4 and 10 bara.

[0013] 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, upstream of the first portion, for example at a connection point.

[0014] 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 device of the cycle gas and upstream of the final expansion device of the cycle gas.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the upstream cycle gas compression unit 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.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the installation is configured to draw a portion of the cryogenic fluid from the first cryogenic storage 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 flow rate of gas delivered by the gas source

[0017] According to one embodiment, the installation is configured to take a portion of the cryogenic fluid from the first cryogenic storage as long as 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.

[0018] 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.

[0019] 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.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the gas circuit to be cooled includes a gas circuit expansion device, mounted downstream of the second portion and configured to regulate the flow of the cryogenic fluid intended for the first cryogenic storage.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the installation includes a cryogenic purification device disposed in the circuit of gas to be cooled, between the first portion and the second portion, being configured to purify the cryogenic fluid.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the upstream cycle gas compression unit and the downstream cycle gas compression unit are mounted in series.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the first cryogenic storage is 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).

[0024] 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 pre-cooling fluid compression element and a final pre-cooling fluid expansion element.

[0025] 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.

[0026] 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.

[0027] 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.

[0028] According to one embodiment, the pre-cooling fluid comprises at least one of: nitrogen, helium, argon, neon, a mixture of refrigerants also called "MR".

[0029] 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.

[0030] 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 first cryogenic storage; - b) vaporize the cryogenic fluid from the first cryogenic storage; - c) inject the vaporized fluid into the cooling circuit; - d) transfer a portion of the cycle gas from the cooling circuit in the gas circuit to be cooled.

[0031] 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.

[0032] According to one embodiment, the process comprises the following steps: - e) fluidly isolate the first cryogenic storage from the gas circuit to be cooled; - f) pressurize the first cryogenic storage, for example to a pressure between 4 and 10 bara.

[0033] According to one embodiment, steps e) and f) of the process are implemented 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.

[0034] According to one embodiment, steps e) and f) of the process are implemented 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.

[0035] The invention may also relate to any alternative device or method comprising any combination of the above or below features.

[0036] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description and examining the accompanying figures. These figures are given only by way of illustration and in no way limit the invention.

[0037] [Fig-1] Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of an installation according to a method of embodiment of the invention; and

[0038] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a schematic representation of an installation according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0039] With reference to [Fig.1], an installation 1 for the production and storage of a cryogenic fluid, in particular liquefied hydrogen, has been shown.

[0040] Installation 1 comprises: - a first cryogenic storage 40; - 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 connected to the first 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 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 13 comprising an upstream cycle gas compression element 27, a downstream cycle gas compression element 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; - an injection line 7 configured to allow the withdrawal of a portion of the cryogenic fluid from the first cryogenic storage 40, the injection line 7 comprising a heating element 11 configured to vaporize the cryogenic fluid withdrawn from the first cryogenic storage 40 into a vaporized fluid, the injection line 7 being configured to allow the injection of vaporized 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.

[0041] The installation 1 includes a cryogenic purification device 10 disposed in the circuit of gas to be cooled 2, between the first portion and the second portion, being configured to purify the cryogenic fluid.

[0042] 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.

[0043] 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.

[0044] The 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.

[0045] The gas circuit to be cooled 2 includes a pressure-reducing device 23 of the gas circuit to be cooled, mounted downstream of the second portion and configured to regulate the flow of the cryogenic fluid intended for the first cryogenic storage 40.

[0046] 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 first cryogenic storage 40 and / or vaporize the cryogenic fluid from the first cryogenic storage 40 and / or inject the vaporized 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.

[0047] In the embodiment of [Fig. 1], the first cryogenic storage 40 is configured to store the cryogenic fluid at a pressure between 1 and 3 bara and the injection line 7 is configured to allow the injection of the vaporized fluid upstream of the upstream compression member of the cycle gas 27 and downstream of the final expansion member of the cycle gas 39.

[0048] 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.

[0049] 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.

[0050] 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 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.

[0051] With reference to [Fig.2], another embodiment of installation 1 of [Fig.1] is shown. The differences between the embodiment of [Fig.1] and the embodiment of [Fig.2] are indicated below.

[0052] In the embodiment of [Fig.2], the first cryogenic storage 40 is configured to store the cryogenic fluid at a pressure between 4 and 10 bara and the injection line 7 is configured to allow the injection of the vaporized fluid upstream of the downstream cycle gas compression member 29 and downstream of the upstream cycle gas compression member 29.

[0053] In the embodiment of [Fig.2], the installation 1 includes a second cryogenic storage 41 configured to store the cryogenic fluid at a pressure between 1 and 3 bara, the installation 1 being configured to selectively isolate or fluidly connect the first cryogenic storage 40 from the circuit of gas to be cooled 2 and to selectively isolate or fluidly connect the second cryogenic storage 41 from the circuit of gas to be cooled 2.

[0054] 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: fluidly isolate the first cryogenic storage 40 from the gas circuit to be cooled 2 and pressurize the first cryogenic storage 40, for example to a pressure between 4 and 10 bara.

[0055] A method for managing a cryogenic fluid production and storage facility 1, according to any one of the above embodiments, is described below.

[0056] 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 first cryogenic storage 40; - b) vaporize the cryogenic fluid from the first cryogenic storage 40; - c) inject the vaporized fluid into the cooling circuit 13; - d) transfer a portion of the cycle gas from the cooling circuit 13 in the gas circuit to be cooled 2.

[0057] 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.

[0058] 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.

[0059] The method for managing the installation 1 for the production and storage of a cryogenic fluid of [Fig.2] may further include the following steps: - e) fluidly isolate the first cryogenic storage from the gas circuit to be cooled; - f) pressurize the first cryogenic storage, for example to a pressure between 4 and 10 bara.

[0060] Steps e) and f) of the process are implemented when the gas flow delivered by the gas source is less than or equal to 50% of the setpoint.

[0061] Steps e) and f) of the process are implemented as long as the gas flow 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 first cryogenic storage (40); - 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) connected to the first 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 (13) comprising an upstream cycle gas compression element (27), a downstream cycle gas compression element (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); - an injection line (7) configured to allow the withdrawal of a portion of the cryogenic fluid from the first cryogenic storage (40), the injection line (7) comprising a heating element (11) configured to vaporize the cryogenic fluid withdrawn from the first cryogenic storage (40), 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) configured to allow the transfer of cycle gas from the cooling circuit (13) into the gas circuit to be cooled (2).

2. 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 first cryogenic storage (40) and / or vaporize the cryogenic fluid from the first cryogenic storage (40) and / or inject the vaporized 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).

3. Installation (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 2, the first cryogenic storage (40) being configured to store the cryogenic fluid at a pressure between 1 and 3 bara, the injection line (7) being configured to allow the injection of the vaporized fluid upstream of the upstream cycle gas compression member (27) and downstream of the final cycle gas expansion member (39).

4. Installation (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 2, the first cryogenic storage (40) being configured to store the cryogenic fluid at a pressure between 4 and 10 bara, the injection line (7) being configured to allow the injection of the vaporized fluid upstream of the downstream cycle gas compression unit (29) and being configured for example to allow the injection of the vaporized fluid downstream of the upstream cycle gas compression unit (29).

5. Installation (1) according to the preceding claim, comprising a second cryogenic storage (41) configured to store the cryogenic fluid at a pressure between 1 and 3 bara, the installation (1) being configured to selectively isolate or fluidly connect the first cryogenic storage (40) from the circuit of gas to be cooled (2) and to selectively isolate or fluidly connect the second cryogenic storage (41) from the circuit of gas to be cooled (2), the installation (1) being 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: fluidly isolate the first cryogenic storage (40) from the circuit of gas to be cooled (2) and pressurize the first cryogenic storage (40), for example to a pressure between 4 and 10 bara.

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), 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 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.

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) taking a portion of the cryogenic fluid from the first cryogenic storage (40); - b) vaporizing the cryogenic fluid from the first cryogenic storage (40); - c) injecting the vaporized fluid into the cooling circuit (13); - d) transferring a portion 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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