Apparatus and method for storing and dispensing fluids

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for storing and supplying a fluid, the device comprising a cryogenic tank (2), a first extraction pipe (3) with a first heat exchanger (4) located outside the tank (2), the extraction circuit comprising a set of one or more valves (5, 6, 7, 8) enabling a step of extracting the fluid to be performed when the fluid passes through the first heat exchanger (4), and an electronic member (9) for monitoring and controlling the opening and closing of at least one part of the set of valves (5, 6, 7, 8) when the set of valves (5, 6, 7, 8) is configured to prevent the step of extracting the fluid, the electronic monitoring member (9) being configured to switch the set of valves (5, 6, 7, 8) into a first state in which at least one part of the inner volume of the first reheat heat exchanger (4) is fluidically isolated from at least one part of the remaining part of the extraction circuit, or into a second state in which a part of the volume of the reheat heat exchanger (4) is in fluid communication with at least one part of the remaining part of the extraction circuit.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for storing and dispensing fluids.

[0002] More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus for storing and supplying fluids, in particular an on-board apparatus for storing hydrogen and supplying hydrogen to a consumer, the apparatus comprising a cryogenic tank for storing a liquid fluid, and a withdrawal circuit comprising a first withdrawal line having an upstream first end connected to the interior of the tank and a downstream second end intended to be connected to a consumer, the first withdrawal line comprising a first heating heat exchanger located outside the tank, the withdrawal circuit comprising one or more sets of valves configured to allow or not allow the withdrawal of a flow of fluid from the first end to the second end in the process of entering the first heat exchanger, the apparatus comprising an electronic control member for opening and closing at least some of the sets of valves. [Background technology]

[0003] Liquefied hydrogen storage devices intended for supply to consumers (fuel cells, combustion engines, turbines, or the like) typically include a double-walled, vacuum-insulated tank (with superinsulation and / or perlite in the space under vacuum so as to be sufficiently autonomous when there is no consumption), a fill line (which functions by being lower and / or flowing down), a withdrawal line from which gas or liquid (or both) can be withdrawn by an external heat exchanger to heat the hydrogen to ambient temperature, a safety line (e.g. with a valve and / or a rupture disc), possibly pressure tapping, and a system for pressurizing the tank.

[0004] The system for pressurizing the tank may have two functions: a first function of pre-pressurization before the fluid is used, for example when the tank is filled at 1-2 bar and the consumer normally needs a pressure source of 4-6 bar (or more) for the operation of the battery or engine, or a second function of maintaining the pressure while the hydrogen is being used. It should be noted that the power demand by the heater is higher when the withdrawal is performed in the gas phase than when the withdrawal is performed in the liquid phase.

[0005] The pressurization system (also called PBU or pressure build up unit) may be of several types.

[0006] For example, these systems may comprise an electric heater immersed in a cryogenic tank, an autonomous heating fluid loop (with a circulation pump) that exchanges heat with the tank, a thermosiphon type device with an external evaporator (for example in the case of a mobile delivery truck), a recirculation loop using a fluid drawn by the consumer that enters the external exchanger, returns to the tank via an internal recirculation loop to release heat, and re-enters the external exchanger before heading to the consumer circuit (see for example FR 2 706 822 A), and a device that vaporizes the liquid in the external exchanger and then returns it to the tank by overpressure.

[0007] Although the electric heating system is the simplest, it is intrusive and its long-term reliability may be limited. Furthermore, it requires wall penetrations with electrical components.

[0008] An autonomous recirculation system requires auxiliary equipment (a recirculation pump and a source of energy or pressure for the hot gas).

[0009] The thermosiphon solution requires cryogenic valves and wall penetrations under vacuum for the recirculation lines, which in use contain gaseous and liquid hydrogen close to their saturation point (-253°C at 1 bar). Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0010] The external exchanger and recirculation loop solution is simple, reliable and therefore very satisfactory in terms of ensuring that pressure is maintained, but has the drawback that it cannot perform the function of pre-pressurization before withdrawal.

[0011] One object of the present invention is to overcome all or part of the above-mentioned shortcomings of the prior art. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] To this end, the device according to the invention, further according to its general definition given in the preamble above, is essentially characterized in that, when the set of valves is configured not to allow withdrawal of fluid towards the downstream second end, the electronic control member is configured to switch the set of valves into at least two distinct states: a first state in which at least a part of the internal volume of the first heating heat exchanger is fluidically isolated from at least a part of the remainder of the withdrawal circuit in order to allow spontaneous pressure waves in the withdrawal circuit to pressurize the fluid in the tank, and a second state in which at least a part of the volume of the heating heat exchanger is fluidically connected to at least a part of the remainder of the withdrawal circuit in order to damp such pressure waves in the circuit.

[0013] Furthermore, embodiments of the invention may include one or more of the following features: The switching from the first state to the second state occurs by opening at least one valve of the set of valves. The switching from the second state to the first state occurs by closing at least one valve of the set of valves. Switching from the first state to the second state or from the second state to the second state respectively occurs by opening or closing two isolation valves of a valve set respectively located at the two ends of the first heat exchanger. - in a first state, at least one internal passage of the first exchanger located between an inlet and an outlet of the exchanger is fluidly connected to a set of pipes of the withdrawal circuit, and in a second state, said internal passage of the first exchanger is fluidly isolated from said set of pipes of the withdrawal circuit. - the first withdrawal line comprises a second heating heat exchanger located inside the tank, and the set of one or more valves is configured to ensure the passage of a flow of fluid circulating from the first end to the second end in the process of entering the first heat exchanger and then the second heat exchanger, or only entering the first heat exchanger and not the second heat exchanger. The second heat exchanger forms the remainder of the withdrawal circuit that is either fluidically isolated or not fluidically isolated from the first heating heat exchanger depending on whether the set of one or more valves is in a first state or a second state. In the first state, the withdrawal circuit comprises a section forming a fluid circulation loop, whereas in the second state, the withdrawal circuit does not comprise a section forming a fluid circulation loop. The outflow circuit comprises a main line extending between an upstream first end and a downstream second end, and a bypass branch that bypasses the main line to form connection points at two separate locations on the main line. - The upstream first end is connected to the top of the tank. The one or more valve sets comprise at least one of: one or more isolation valves, one or more three-way valves.

[0014] The invention also relates to a vehicle, in particular a boat or an aircraft, equipped with such a device.

[0015] The invention also relates to a method for storing a cryogenic fluid, for example liquid hydrogen, and to an apparatus for storing and supplying a fluid, comprising a tank for liquid cryogenic fluid and a withdrawal circuit comprising a first withdrawal line having an upstream first end connected to the interior of the tank and a downstream second end intended to be connected to a consumer, the first withdrawal line comprising a first heating heat exchanger located outside the tank, the withdrawal circuit comprising one or more sets of valves configured to perform or not perform a withdrawal of the flow of fluid from the first end to the second end in the process of entering the first heat exchanger. The method includes switching a set of valves such that when the withdrawal circuit is not drawing fluid toward the downstream second end, at least a portion of the internal volume of the first heating heat exchanger is fluidly isolated from at least a portion of the remainder of the withdrawal circuit to allow pressure waves in the circuit to generate heat that pressurizes the fluid in the tank to a predetermined pressure level, and / or switching a set of valves such that at least a portion of the internal volume of the first heating heat exchanger is fluidly connected to at least a portion of the remainder of the withdrawal circuit to damp any pressure waves in the circuit to limit the generation of heat and pressurization of the fluid in the tank.

[0016] Further particular features and advantages will become apparent on reading the following description provided in conjunction with the drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a partial schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the structure and operation of an apparatus according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] The illustrated device 1 for storing and supplying a fluid may in particular be an on-board device for storing and supplying hydrogen in a vehicle (eg a boat, an aircraft, a land vehicle such as a truck, etc.).

[0019] The device 1 comprises a cryogenic tank 2 for storing a liquid fluid and a withdrawal circuit.

[0020] The tank 2 is, for example, a double-walled tank that forms a vacuum-insulated and heat-insulating space.

[0021] The withdrawal circuit comprises a first withdrawal line 3 having an upstream first end 13 connected to the interior of the tank 2 and a downstream second end 23 intended to be connected to a consumer.

[0022] Although this is not limiting, the upstream first end 13 is for example connected to the top of the tank 2 for drawing gas therefrom.

[0023] The first withdrawal line 3 comprises a first heating heat exchanger 4 outside the tank 2 and a set of valves configured to allow or not allow withdrawal of fluid flow from the first end 13 to the second end 23 in the process of entering the first exchanger 4. The qualifier "outside the tank" means, for example, that the first heat exchanger 4 is not located within the cryogenic fluid storage volume. As shown, this first heat exchanger 4 may be located outside the tank (outside the second shell), although it could be at least partially located in the space between the walls.

[0024] The valve set comprises, for example, at least one isolation valve (in this example two isolation valves 6, 8) arranged downstream of the first heat exchanger 4 and upstream of the consumer receiving the withdrawn fluid.

[0025] As shown, in this example, but not by way of limitation, the first withdrawal line 3 comprises a second heating heat exchanger 10 located inside (within the storage volume of) the tank 2 .

[0026] The set of valves is configured to make it possible to ensure the passage of a flow of fluid circulating from the first end 13 to the second end 23 in the process of entering the first heat exchanger 4 and then the second heat exchanger 10, or in the process of only entering the first heat exchanger 4 and not the second heat exchanger 10.

[0027] To this end, the withdrawal circuit may comprise a main line extending between an upstream first end 13 and a downstream second end 23, and a bypass branch 11 which bypasses the main line and has two ends which join the main line at two separate locations, for example on either side of one of two isolation valves 6 arranged in series.

[0028] The first heat exchanger 4 preferably has two passages for the withdrawn cryogenic fluid to be heated, a first passage for the flow after leaving the tank 2 and a second passage for the flow leaving the second heat exchanger 10. That is to say, the first heat exchanger 4 may have two inlets and two outlets.

[0029] As shown, the main line of the withdrawal circuit may have a valve 5 upstream of a first inlet of a first heat exchanger 4, and two valves 6, 8 in series after a first outlet of this first heat exchanger 4. Another valve 7 is preferably placed upstream of a second inlet of the first heat exchanger 4.

[0030] As shown, the device 1 may have an independent filling line 12 having an upstream end provided with a valve 14 and intended to be connected to a fluid source, and a downstream end leading to the bottom of the tank 12 (and / or the top of the tank).

[0031] For example, it is possible to provide a branch connecting the filling line 12 to the upstream end 13 of the withdrawal line to fill the tank from the top in a "flow-down" mode or from the bottom "at the source", or to withdraw a fluid in liquid or gas form for consumption by a consumer.

[0032] All or some of the valves may be isolation valves controlled or governed by an electronic control member 9 for opening and closing the valves. This control member may be integral to the device 1 or may be at least partially remote from the device 1. The electronic control member 9 may comprise, for example, a controller, a microprocessor, or a programmable computer.

[0033] When there is no withdrawal (e.g. the valve 8 at the downstream end of the main line is closed), the electronic control member 9 may be configured to switch the set of valves into at least two separate states (or configurations).

[0034] For example, in a first state, also referred to as a "pressurized" state, at least a portion of the interior volume of the first heating heat exchanger 4 is fluidly isolated from at least a portion of the remainder of the withdrawal circuit, i.e., the withdrawal circuit is closed and divided or partitioned into separate zones that are not in fluid communication with each other.

[0035] This configuration allows for spontaneous pressure waves in the withdrawal circuit, which generate heat and thus pressurize the fluid in the tank 2. This spontaneous pressure wave is a thermodynamic phenomenon known by the acronym "TACONIS" or "TAO" ("Thermo-Acoustic Oscillations").

[0036] Thus, if the valve 6 located at the first outlet of the first heat exchanger 4 is closed, the TACONIS phenomenon can occur. A self-sustaining pressure wave is generated in the withdrawal circuit between the tank 2 and this closed valve 6. The circuit may be particularly dimensioned to cause this phenomenon to occur (for example by dimensioning the diameter of the pipes and the length of the hot and cold parts of the circuit). This wave typically has a frequency between 5 and 100 Hz, which can be calculated as a function of the operating conditions and the geometry of the circuit.

[0037] To suppress this phenomenon, the valve 6 may be opened so as to dampen the pressure wave by opening the exchanger and thus providing an enlarged (unbounded) volume for the wave.

[0038] The set of valves can thus put the circuit into a second state in which at least a portion of the volume of the heating heat exchanger 4 is in fluid communication with at least a portion of the remainder of the withdrawal circuit. This increases the volume, and in particular the length of the occluded portion of the circuit that generates the waves, damping and suppressing such pressure waves in the circuit. In this second state, the heat input is minimized.

[0039] That is, it is possible to generate or not generate passive heating output (without an energy consuming device) even if no fluid is drawn from Tank 2 (or no fluid is being drawn from Tank 2).

[0040] In a variant or combination, to dampen this wave, it may be possible to provide another circuit branch similar to the one in which said valve 6 is installed, and to put these two branches in communication by opening the valve 6. The two branches are preferably at the same level in the tank 2, so as not to have the undesirable effect of thermosiphon recirculation, which also becomes heat during the waiting phase.

[0041] As a result, the structure of the device 1 is configured to allow or not allow the Taconis phenomenon depending on the pressure needs within the tank 2.

[0042] In a variant, the first state is obtained by closing two valves 6, 7 located on either side of the first heating heat exchanger 4, for example the valve 6 located at the first outlet and the valve 7 located at the second inlet. In this configuration, the passage of the first heat exchanger 4 is isolated from the rest of the circuit at its two ends. The second state may be obtained by opening these two same valves 6, 7. In this configuration, the passage of the first heat exchanger 4 is in fluid communication with the rest of the circuit at its two ends. For example, the circuit forms, including this passage, an essentially closed circulation loop capable of damping vibration waves.

[0043] As shown, the second heat exchanger 10 may form the remainder of the withdrawal circuit that is either fluidically isolated or not fluidically isolated from the first heating heat exchanger 4 depending on whether the valve set is in a first state or a second state.

[0044] Thus, the device 1 comprises a simple, effective and inexpensive pressurization system.

[0045] This can typically produce tens to hundreds of watts of heating power within the tank 2 on demand.

[0046] This solution is particularly advantageous for relatively small tanks (eg, a few liters to a few hundred liters).

[0047] The device may also have a known pressurization system as described in the introduction. In particular, an additional system for maintaining pressurization of the tank may be provided, for example operative during the fluid withdrawal phase (in particular if the above-mentioned system is not sufficient for other needs). It should be noted that this additional heating system is not shown for simplicity.

[0048] Naturally, the invention is not limited to the above example, and thus, instead of or in addition to this first cooling heat exchanger 4, it is possible to use another external heating heat exchanger, for example all or part of the exchanger volume of a separate system for heating and pressurization by recirculation used during the withdrawal, to control this wave phenomenon.

[0049] The present invention therefore makes it possible to carry out controlled pressurization even when no fluid is being drawn from the tank.

[0050] The invention is applicable to any cryogenic fluid, in particular hydrogen or helium.

[0051] During withdrawal, the first valve 5 located upstream of the withdrawal line 3 is open, as is the valve 8 downstream of the line 3 (and one or two valves 6, 7 to allow or not allow flow to enter the second heat exchanger 10, depending on the pressurization needs of the tank 2).

[0052] When there is no withdrawal, the upstream valve 5 and the downstream valve 8 are closed and there is no flow in the withdrawal line. In this situation, one or two valves 6, 7 may be operated to generate or not generate the oscillation phenomenon for supplying or not supplying heat, and thus to increase or not increase the pressure in the tank 2 as described above. This is obtained without withdrawing fluid from the tank 2. This makes it possible to reliably and reproducibly control the appearance of this phenomenon without additional equipment.

[0053] For example, this configuration makes it possible to generate approximately 200 W of pre-pressurization power on demand to pressurize a 100 liter liquid hydrogen tank in a few tens of minutes.

Claims

1. An apparatus for storing and supplying fluids, in particular an on-board apparatus for storing hydrogen and supplying said hydrogen to a consumer, comprising: A cryogenic tank (2) for storing a liquid fluid; a withdrawal circuit comprising a first withdrawal line (3) having an upstream first end (13) connected to the interior of the tank (2) and a downstream second end (23) intended to be connected to a consumer, the first withdrawal line (3) comprising a first heating heat exchanger (4) located outside the tank (2), the withdrawal circuit comprising a set of one or more valves (5, 6, 7, 8) configured to allow or not allow the withdrawal of a fluid flow from the first end (13) to the second end (23) in the process of entering the first heat exchanger (4); an electronic control member (9) for opening and closing at least some of said sets of valves; An apparatus comprising: When the set of valves (5, 6, 7, 8) is configured not to allow withdrawal of fluid towards the downstream second end, the electronic control member (9) is configured to switch the set of valves (5, 6, 7, 8) into at least two distinct states: a first state in which at least a part of the internal volume of the first heating heat exchanger (4) is fluidically isolated from at least a part of the remainder of the withdrawal circuit to allow spontaneous pressure waves in the withdrawal circuit to pressurize the fluid in the tank (2), and a second state in which at least a part of the volume of the heating heat exchanger (4) is in fluid communication with at least a part of the remainder of the withdrawal circuit to damp such pressure waves in the circuit. Characterized in that Device.

2. 2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said switching from said first state to said second state occurs by opening at least one valve (6, 7) of said valve set.

3. 3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the switching from the second state to the first state occurs by closing at least one valve (6, 7) of the valve set.

4. 4. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the switching from the first state to the second state or from the second state to the second state, respectively, occurs by opening and closing two isolation valves (6, 7) of the valve set located respectively at the two ends of the first heat exchanger (4).

5. 5. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that in the first state, at least one internal passage of the first exchanger (4), located between an inlet and an outlet of the exchanger (4), is fluidly connected to a set of pipes of the withdrawal circuit, and in the second state, the internal passage of the first exchanger (4) is fluidly isolated from the set of pipes of the withdrawal circuit.

6. 6. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the first withdrawal line (3) comprises a second heating heat exchanger (10) located inside the tank (2), and the set of one or more valves is configured to ensure the passage of a flow of a fluid circulating from the first end (13) to the second end (23) in the process of entering the first heat exchanger (4) and then the second heat exchanger (10) or only in the first heat exchanger (4) and not in the second heat exchanger (10).

7. 7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that the second heat exchanger (10) forms the remaining part of the withdrawal circuit that is fluidically insulated or not fluidically isolated from the first heating heat exchanger (4) depending on whether the set of one or more valves is in the first state or in the second state.

8. 8. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that in the first state, the withdrawal circuit comprises a section forming a fluid circulation loop, whereas in the second state, the withdrawal circuit does not comprise a section forming a fluid circulation loop.

9. 9. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the outflow circuit (3) comprises a main line extending between the upstream first end (13) and the downstream second end (23) and a bypass branch (11) which bypasses the main line and forms connection points at two separate locations on the main line.

10. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upstream first end (13) is connected to the top of the tank (2).

11. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the set of one or more valves (5, 6, 7, 8) comprises at least one of the following: one or more isolation valves, one or more three-way valves.

12. A vehicle, in particular a boat or an aircraft, comprising a device according to any one of the preceding claims.

13. A method for storing a cryogenic fluid, for example liquid hydrogen, comprising a tank (2) for liquid cryogenic fluid, and a withdrawal circuit comprising a first withdrawal line (3) having an upstream first end (13) connected to the interior of said tank (2) and a downstream second end (23) intended to be connected to a consumer, said first withdrawal line (3) comprising a first heating heat exchanger (4) located outside said tank (2), said withdrawal circuit comprising a set of one or more valves (5, 6, 7, 8) configured to perform or not perform a withdrawal of a flow of fluid from said first end (13) to said second end (23) in the process of entering said first heat exchanger (4). switching said set of valves (5, 6, 7, 8) such that, when said withdrawal circuit does not withdraw fluid towards said downstream second end, at least a part of the internal volume of said first heating heat exchanger (4) is fluidically isolated from at least a part of the remainder of said withdrawal circuit to allow pressure waves in said circuit to generate heat that pressurizes said fluid in said tank to a predetermined pressure level, and / or switching said set of valves (5, 6, 7, 8) such that at least a part of the internal volume of said first heating heat exchanger (4) is in fluid communication with at least a part of the remainder of said withdrawal circuit to damp any pressure waves in said circuit to limit said generation of heat and said pressurization of said fluid in said tank. A method comprising:

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