Fluid cooling plant and its refrigerant module

Abstract

A fluid cooling plant for cooling and liquefying a fluid such as hydrogen is disclosed. The fluid cooling plant comprises a first cooling stage and a second cooling stage connected to the first cooling source. The first cooling stage has a cooling source and a heat exchanger for cooling hydrogen gas at ambient temperature. The cooling source is, but is not limited to, liquid natural gas, which is gasified by hydrogen at ambient temperature, thereby cooling the hydrogen. The second cooling stage is made up of one or more refrigerant modules, and its operation is based on magnetocaloric materials. A method for operating the refrigerant modules is also disclosed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a fluid cooling plant capable of recovering energy to cool a fluid such as hydrogen or any other gas or fluid in general.

Background Art

[0002] In modern industries, certain gases such as hydrogen or helium that liquefy at very low temperatures are required for some specific applications. However, a large amount of energy is required to turn hydrogen or helium into a liquid state. Liquid hydrogen is also necessary for developing the global energy transition. Therefore, considering the energy demand, reducing the price of liquid industrial gas (LH2LN2, He) production is an important factor for realizing the above energy transition.

[0003] Hydrogen liquefies at a temperature of approximately 20 K (-253 °C), and helium liquefies at 4 K (-269 °C). Both are used for cooling nuclear power plants or enabling the transition of some specific materials to the superconducting stage.

[0004] Also, energy recovery is currently the most important. In fact, energy is expensive and demand is increasing, so preventing any waste has become a trend in industry and plant design.

[0005] In this regard, there is a need to recover thermal energy. For example, FIG. 1 shows how to obtain the reuse of thermal energy. For example, the utilization of thermal energy generated from liquid natural gas (LNG) can be used, to name a few, in air conditioning, desalination of seawater, in the cold chain for storage, regasification of industrial plants, recovery of natural gas liquids, capture of CO2, freeze desalination, separation of fluids, or generation of cryogenic power.

[0006] To lower the temperature of hydrogen or similar fluids, the Claude cycle or Brayton cycle, which typically consume energy, are usually used.

[0007] Currently, other techniques are used to cool hydrogen or other fluids, such as those disclosed in European Patent No. 1156287 or U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20220115680. However, while such solutions allow for energy recovery, they do not achieve the remarkable efficiency required for liquefying hydrogen.

[0008] Therefore, in order to conserve energy, improved cooling systems for liquefying fluids or gases such as hydrogen and helium are welcome in this technology.

[0009] Furthermore, it is desirable to provide an improved plant that can be modular, has a smaller installation area compared to prior art, and is capable of liquefying fluids such as hydrogen or helium.

[0010] Relevant prior art includes U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2022 / 115680(A1) and European Patent Application Publication No. 4006189(A1). [Overview of the Initiative]

[0011] Cold sources are important for further reducing energy demand and are linked to the lower energy demands of magnetocaloric liquefaction compared to the Claude and Brayton cycles (LNG is one example of a cold source).

[0012] In one embodiment, the subject matter disclosed herein relates to a fluid cooling plant having a first cooling stage, provided that a cold source, a heat exchanger connected to the cold source, and a fluid transport pipe through which a fluid to be cooled, such as hydrogen, is delivered. The fluid transport pipe is connected to the heat exchanger, and the fluid to be cooled is brought into thermal contact with the cold source by the heat exchanger, thereby cooling the temperature of the fluid. Since the cold source is a regasification plant for gasifying liquid gas, the liquid gas acts as the cold source, cooling the fluid and simultaneously regasifying it when it comes into thermal contact with it.

[0013] In another embodiment, the subject disclosed herein relates to a second cooling source connected to a first cooling source, which cools a fluid cooled by the first cooling stage to a target temperature.

[0014] In another embodiment, a fluid cooling plant is disclosed herein, comprising a pipeline connected to a heat exchanger, wherein the gasified fluid is discharged from a first cooling stage for use.

[0015] In one embodiment, the subject matter disclosed herein relates to a second cooling stage comprising a cascaded array of refrigerant modules. Each refrigerant module comprises a magnetic field source and a magnetocaloric material, such as holmium, positioned to be exposed to the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field source. The refrigerant module also comprises an inlet pipe for transporting a fluid to be thermally contacted with the magnetocaloric material and an outlet pipe for transporting the fluid after thermal contact with the magnetocaloric material. The magnetic field source includes a permanent magnet or an electromagnet, which is driven by an electronic circuit to switch the magnetic field on and off and adjust the generated magnetic field.

[0016] In another embodiment, the subject matter disclosed herein relates to a method for operating the fluid cooling plant disclosed above. The method includes the steps of receiving and storing liquid natural gas, and bringing a fluid to be cooled into thermal contact with the liquid natural gas using a heat exchanger, thereby cooling the temperature of the fluid. The fluid to be cooled is hydrogen.

[0017] The method includes the steps of using a cooling source, such as from an air separation unit with a cryogenic fluid, and bringing the fluid to be cooled into thermal contact with the cryogenic fluid in the air separation plant using a heat exchanger, thereby cooling the temperature of the fluid. The fluid to be cooled is hydrogen or helium. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0018] Many of the disclosed embodiments of the present invention and their associated advantages will be better understood by referring to the following embodiments for carrying out the invention, and a more complete understanding will be easily obtained, if considered in relation to the accompanying drawings. [Figure 1] A schematic diagram illustrating the utilization of thermal energy using prior art will be provided as an example. [Figure 2] A schematic diagram of the recovery plant according to the first embodiment will be illustrated. [Figure 3] This example illustrates the operational cycle of a magnetocaloric material. [Figure 4] This document provides an example flowchart illustrating the operation of a refrigerant module based on magnetocaloric materials. [Figure 5] A refrigerant module based on a magnetocaloric material according to the first embodiment is illustrated in the magnetization operation step. [Figure 6] Figure 5 illustrates the refrigerant module in the magnetic caloric material cooling operation step. [Figure 7] The refrigerant module in Figure 5 during the demagnetization step will be illustrated as an example. [Figure 8] The refrigerant module in Figure 5 during the fluid refrigerant operation step is illustrated as an example. [Figure 9] This paper illustrates the temperature dependence of magnetization in polycrystalline holmium under different applied magnetic fields. [Figure 10] This paper illustrates the isothermal entropy change of polycrystalline holmium induced by magnetic field fluctuations. [Figure 11] This example illustrates a comparative graph of isothermal entropy changes resulting from magnetic field fluctuations. [Figure 12]Illustrate the reversible adiabatic temperature change of polycrystalline holmium measured as a function of temperature using magnetic field fluctuations.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] The liquefaction of a particular fluid is important for several high-tech applications, either in scientific research or industrial use. According to one aspect, the present subject matter is directed to a cooling plant capable of liquefying hydrogen or a similar gas by recovering energy from a cold heat source such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) transported at very low temperatures (or ethylene purification processes, cryogenic treatment using LN2, air separation plants, etc.) as is known. Thus, ambient temperature hydrogen is used to gasify liquefied natural gas, achieving low-temperature hydrogen with cold heat energy that might otherwise be wasted using prior art gasification procedures.

[0020] According to another aspect, the present subject matter is also directed to a cooling module for reducing the temperature of hydrogen by utilizing the physical properties of such materials when exposed to a magnetic field, based on the technology and phenomena of magnetic calorimetric materials. Hydrogen or any other material fluid can be cooled by applying a magnetic field to such magnetic calorimetric materials, thereby changing their temperature. By applying an appropriate cycle, hydrogen can be gradually cooled to achieve the desired temperature in an efficient, easily controlled, and compact manner.

[0021] In the various figures, like parts are designated by like reference numerals.

[0022] Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a fluid cooling plant, generally designated by reference numeral 1, according to a first embodiment. The fluid cooling plant 1 is intended to liquefy hydrogen (H2). In other embodiments, the fluid to be cooled can be different from hydrogen. For example, the fluid cooling plant 1 can be used to cool or liquefy helium or nitrogen.

[0023] The fluid cooling plant 1 essentially comprises a first cooling stage 2 and a second cooling stage 3 arranged in series downstream of the first cooling stage 2. The first cooling stage 2 and the second cooling stage 3 lower the temperature of the mass of hydrogen (H2). The second cooling stage 3 cools the hydrogen that has been pre-cooled by the first cooling stage 2.

[0024] The fluid cooling plant 1 may consist only of the first cooling stage 2, without an additional second cooling stage 3 for further cooling the hydrogen from the first cooling stage 2. The addition of the second cooling stage 3 depends on the fluid being cooled or liquefied. For example, the second cooling stage 3 is not required to cool or liquefy propane. Therefore, the fluid cooling plant 1 is modular and can be implemented according to the cooling requirements.

[0025] The first cooling stage 2 includes a cold source 21 for cooling the fluid to be cooled. In this embodiment, the cold source is the LNG gasification stage 21, but in other embodiments, a different cold source may be used. In the LNG regasification stage, liquid natural gas (LNG) is received at a temperature of 111K (approximately -162°C), which is the temperature at which the LNG can be kept in liquid form and thus transported.

[0026] The LNG gasification stage 2 comprises a container 211 in which LNG is piled up and stored. Inside the container 211, the LNG is at a temperature of -162°C. Under such conditions, the LNG acts as a cold source. The LNG must be warmed up in order to be regasified.

[0027] The LNG gasification stage 2 also includes a heat exchanger 22, where the LNG is heated by contact with hydrogen (H2). Hydrogen is supplied to the heat exchanger 22 through a fluid transport pipe 23. One or more pumps (not shown) can be assumed to supply the hydrogen to be cooled to the heat exchanger 22 through the fluid transport pipe 23. Because hydrogen molecules are very small, the transport pipe 23 is appropriately sealed.

[0028] Hydrogen is at ambient temperature and is then brought into thermal contact with liquid natural gas by the heat exchanger 22, as described above. The LNG is then regasified after heat exchange with hydrogen. The LNG changes its state from liquid to gaseous and is then introduced into pipeline 24, where it is burned, for example, by a gas turbine and / or used for energy production.

[0029] The temperature of the hydrogen (H2) then decreases to approximately -160°C from the ambient temperature, which is close to the temperature of the LNG that is exchanging heat in the heat exchanger 22.

[0030] Regarding the energy recovered, natural gas (LNG) generally has a temperature of -161.5°C when liquefied. The liquid-gas phase transition requires 800 kJ / kg, while H2 liquefaction requires approximately 4900 kJ / kg. 16% of the energy demand for producing LH2 comes from LNG regasification. In prior art plants, such energy is wasted, while additional energy is required to bring the hydrogen to a temperature of approximately -160°C from the ambient temperature. In other words, the first cooling stage 2, which uses gaseous hydrogen to be liquefied, recovers the wasted cold energy of the LNG, saving energy and increasing the overall efficiency of the hydrogen liquefaction process.

[0031] The hydrogen, cooled to approximately -160°C, is then further cooled by one or more refrigerant modules 31 of the second cooling stage 3, which lowers the temperature of the hydrogen H2 to a target temperature, which in the shown embodiment is its liquefaction temperature, i.e., approximately -253°C. Thus, the second cooling stage 3 lowers the temperature of the hydrogen from -160°C to -253°C.

[0032] The second cooling stage 3 comprises several magnetic refrigerant modules 31a to 31d arranged in series or cascade to further cool the hydrogen H2 cooled by the previous modules. Specifically, the first refrigerant module 31a lowers the temperature of the hydrogen H2 from approximately -160°C (T1) to T2, the second refrigerant module 31b lowers the temperature of the hydrogen H2 from T2 to T3, the third refrigerant module 31c lowers the temperature of the hydrogen H2 from T3 to T4, and the fourth refrigerant module 31d lowers the temperature of the hydrogen H2 from T4 to T4. f (T f The temperature is lowered from (T final) to the target temperature, which is approximately -253°C, the temperature at which hydrogen transitions from gas to liquid.

[0033] The number of refrigerant modules 31 can vary depending on the fluid being cooled and the target temperature to be reached. In some embodiments, the second cooling stage 3 may even consist of only one refrigerant module 31.

[0034] Each refrigerant module 31 operates by utilizing the properties of the magnetocaloric material.

[0035] Specifically, each refrigerant module 31 operates by using holmium as the magnetocaloric material, and more specifically by using polycrystalline holmium. Holmium, and especially polycrystalline holmium, exhibits the magnetocaloric effect, similar to other magnetocaloric materials. The magnetocaloric effect (MCE) is a physical property in which a material heats up or cools down when exposed to or when the magnetic field changes. This phenomenon is based on the coupling between magnetic moments and the external magnetic field. In some cases, the MCE is accompanied by a structural transition caused by a magnetic transition.

[0036] In other embodiments, other magnetocaloric materials other than holmium or polycrystalline holmium can be used.

[0037] Each magnetic coolant module 31 comprises a magnetic field source 311, which can be a permanent magnet or an electromagnetic magnet driven by an electronic circuit (not shown) for switching the magnetic field on and off and adjusting the generated magnetic field, and a magnetocaloric material MCM, which in this embodiment is polycrystalline holmium. In other embodiments, the magnetocaloric material MCM can be made of other magnetocaloric materials. The magnetocaloric material MCM is positioned to be exposed to the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field source 311.

[0038] The magnetic refrigerant module 31 also includes an inlet pipe 312 for transporting a fluid to be thermally contacted with the magnetocalorific material MCM, and an outlet pipe 313 for transporting the fluid after it has been thermally contacted with the magnetocalorific material MCM. The function of the inlet pipe 312 and the outlet pipe 313 is to allow the refrigerant fluid or the fluid to be cooled to be thermally contacted with the magnetocalorific material MCM, as will be better described below.

[0039] The operation of each magnetic refrigerant module 31 is schematically illustrated in Figure 3, with reference also to Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8.

[0040] Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the magnetocaloric material MCM is shown at an initial temperature T0 and is unmagnetized. Such a physical state is schematically represented by a set of randomly aligned arrows D, each arrow representing a magnetic dipole of the magnetocaloric material MCM.

[0041] In the magnetization step 41 of the operation method 4, the magnetocaloric material MCM is subjected to adiabatic (i.e., isolated) magnetization by a permanent magnet or electromagnet (not shown).

[0042] Due to the magnetocaloric properties of the magnetocaloric material MCM, while the magnetocaloric material MCM is heated and magnetized, it reaches a first temperature T1 that is higher than the initial temperature T0 (thus T1 > T0). The magnetization effect is then represented by the alignment of magnetic moments, as shown by the arrow D, which is aligned with an externally applied magnetic field. Since the magnetization in step 41 is adiabatic, the overall entropy of the magnetocaloric material MCM remains constant (Figure 5).

[0043] Physically, magnetic entropy decreases, while thermal entropy increases correspondingly because molecules increase their kinetic energy. This causes the material to heat up.

[0044] In the magnetocaloric material cooling step 42, magnetization is interrupted, in particular by removing the permanent magnet or turning off the electromagnet. The magnetocaloric material MCM begins to release heat (i.e., cools), causing its temperature to decrease. As the system remains isolated, magnetic entropy increases and thermal entropy decreases, thus causing the magnetocaloric material MCM to cool down to near its initial temperature T0.

[0045] The refrigerant fluid, typically helium, enters the inlet pipe 312, cools the magnetocaloric material MCM, and exits (at a high temperature) from the refrigerant module 31 through the outlet pipe 313. The helium or refrigerant fluid is generally at a temperature lower than the first temperature T1 of the magnetocaloric material MCM (Figure 6).

[0046] The magnetocaloric material MCM remains magnetized, as shown in the figure, and the arrows are aligned. In the figure, this phenomenon is represented by the fact that the magnetic dipoles remain aligned.

[0047] In the demagnetization step 43, the magnetocaloric material MCM then undergoes adiabatic (i.e., isolated) demagnetization and thus reaches a second temperature T2 lower than the initial temperature T0 (i.e., T2 < T0). Finally, in step 44, the gas to be cooled, i.e., hydrogen, is further cooled. The hydrogen gas load H2 is actually at a temperature T H2 higher than T2, so the magnetocaloric material MCM absorbs heat from the hydrogen H2 and thus causes a temperature drop. Referring to FIG. 7, hydrogen enters the inlet pipe 312, comes into thermal contact with the magnetocaloric material MCM, then flows out through the outlet pipe 313 and, if there is a next refrigerant module 31, is introduced into its inlet pipe 312, or, if it is the last refrigerant module 31 in the chain, i.e., refrigerant module 31d in the illustrated embodiment, the hydrogen flowing out of the outlet pipe 313 is taken for the required use.

[0048] By the cycle based on the magnetocaloric material MCM, hydrogen is cooled to a target temperature of approximately -253°C, i.e., the liquefaction temperature, if considered. However, in other embodiments, the target temperature can be different.

[0049] Each refrigerant module 31 executes the above-described refrigerant cycle in a cascade manner and thus gradually reduces the temperature of hydrogen.

[0050] Note that the change in the process from a Claude cycle to a magnetocaloric multistage cycle further reduces the energy demand. For example, the LH2 plant in Ingolstadt consumes 4.86 kWh / kgH2, while the MCE-based liquefaction according to the plant in FIG. 2 requires 2.07 kWh / kgH2.

[0051] The fluid cooling plant 1 is capable of, from one side, recovering low-temperature waste energy using the hydrogen being cooled in the first cooling stage 2 in a highly efficient manner, cooling the hydrogen to its liquefaction temperature and vaporizing LNG (or N2 in the case of an air separation unit), and from the other side, in addition, the hydrogen is further cooled in the second cooling stage 3 by a set of refrigerant modules 31 whose number can be changed according to some need, utilizing the physical properties of magnetocaloric materials such as polycrystalline holmium.

[0052] Referring to Figures 9, 10, 11, and 12, graphs are shown illustrating the magnetic and magnetocaloric measurements of holmium (Ho) polycrystalline materials when exposed to magnetic fields of different intensities.

[0053] Specifically, Figure 9 shows a graph where the x-axis represents temperature measured in Kelvin and the y-axis represents magnetic field flux density. The graph shows, in particular, the temperature dependence of the magnetization of polycrystalline Ho under different applied magnetic fields (0.01 to 5 T), measured by temperature sweeps for heating (curves with circles) and cooling (curves with squares).

[0054] Figure 10 illustrates the isothermal entropy change of polycrystalline Ho induced by magnetic field fluctuations of 1T, 2T, and 5T. The entropy change is calculated from magnetization-temperature data measured by temperature sweeps for heating (curves with circles) and cooling (curves with triangles).

[0055] Figure 11 shows a graph comparing the isothermal entropy changes (curves with triangles) resulting from magnetic field variations of 1T, 2T, and 5T in polycrystalline Ho with the corresponding changes (curves with circles) observed in single-crystal Ho samples when the magnetic field is applied along the (10-10) crystallographic direction. Up to 2T, the two crystalline forms can be considered equivalent. At 5T, there is a slight difference in the entropy changes. Since polycrystalline Ho is preferable in terms of manufacturability and equipment engineering, these results confirm its adoption in MCE cooling and liquefaction equipment.

[0056] Finally, Figure 12 shows the reversible adiabatic temperature change of polycrystalline Ho, measured as a function of temperature using magnetic field variations of 1T and 2T. The temperature change is more sensitive to changes in the morphology of polycrystalline or single crystals.

[0057] The use of polycrystalline holmium allows for more efficient management (energy consumption) and manufacturability of magnets compared to monocrystalline holmium.

[0058] In another embodiment, the temperature of hydrogen is reduced in a first cooling stage by contact with liquid nitrogen (at a temperature of 77K, which is the temperature of liquid nitrogen), where the low-temperature nitrogen comes from an air separation plant or unit.

[0059] In a more specific embodiment, the fluid cooling plant 1 includes an air separation unit (not shown) for recovering cold energy in its air separation process. In fact, the air separation unit produces nitrogen N2 and oxygen O2, as well as small amounts of other gases, through a cryogenic process. The air separation unit includes a distiller, in which the generated oxygen passes through a liquid phase. The oxygen must then be regasified by a heat exchanger 22 or by another additional heat exchanger to obtain energy and cool the hydrogen.

[0060] advantage The advantage of the disclosed solution is that the fluid cooling plant can liquefy hydrogen with high efficiency.

[0061] Another advantage of this solution is that the second cooling stage can be modularized, and therefore can be easily adapted to any industrial need and easily automated.

[0062] An additional advantage of this solution is that it reduces the energy demand in the hydrogen (H2) liquefaction process, enabling the use and transport of liquid hydrogen (LH2) in multi-purpose processes. Magnetocaloritic liquefaction can significantly reduce energy demand compared to the most commonly applied methods (Claude cycle or Brayton cycle), and this has also proven to enable the achievement of high levels of energy efficiency when combined with energy recovery obtained by using cryogenic processes, such as the "cold energy" that would otherwise be wasted in regasification plants.

[0063] An additional advantage lies in the use of polycrystalline holmium instead of single-crystal holmium, due to the strong magnetic interaction between single-crystal holmium and the moving magnetic field.

[0064] An additional advantage lies in the use of less expensive polycrystalline holmium.

[0065] An additional advantage lies in the possibility of producing polycrystalline holmium as opposed to single crystals (forming MCE material for cooling purposes).

[0066] While aspects of the present invention have been described in relation to various specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications, changes, and omissions are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims. In addition, unless otherwise specified herein, the order or arrangement of any process or method step may be changed or rearranged according to alternative embodiments.

[0067] Detailed references are made to embodiments of this disclosure, and one or more of these examples are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided for illustrative purposes only and is not limiting to the disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to this disclosure without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure. Throughout this specification, references to “one embodiment,” “a certain embodiment,” or “some embodiments” mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in relation to a particular embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the subject matter disclosed. Thus, where the phrases “in one embodiment,” “a certain embodiment,” or “some embodiments” appear in various places throughout this specification, they do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, certain features, structures, or characteristics can be combined in any preferred manner in one or more embodiments.

[0068] When presenting elements of various embodiments, the articles "a," "an," "the," and "said" are intended to indicate that there is one or more of the elements. The terms "comprising," "including," and "having" are intended to be non-exclusive, meaning that additional elements other than those listed may exist.

Claims

1. A fluid cooling plant (1) for cooling a fluid, The first cooling stage (2) is, cold source (21), A heat exchanger (22) connected to the aforementioned cooling source (21), A first cooling stage (2) having a fluid transport pipe (23) through which the fluid to be cooled is delivered, The system includes a second cooling stage (3) connected to a first cooling source, which cools the fluid cooled by the first cooling stage (2) to a target temperature. The fluid transport pipe (23) is connected to the heat exchanger (22), The fluid to be cooled is brought into thermal contact with the cooling source (21) by the heat exchanger (22), and as a result, the temperature of the fluid is cooled. The aforementioned cooling source is a regasification plant (21) for gasifying a liquid gas, and as a result, the liquid gas acts as the cooling source, cooling the fluid and simultaneously regasifying it when it comes into thermal contact with the fluid, in a fluid cooling plant (1).

2. The fluid cooling plant (1) according to claim 1, wherein the cooling source is a regasification plant (21) for gasifying liquid natural gas, and as a result, the liquid natural gas acts as the cooling source, cooling the fluid and simultaneously gasifying it when it comes into thermal contact with the fluid.

3. The fluid cooling plant (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the liquid natural gas (LNG) has a temperature of approximately -160°C.

4. The fluid cooling plant (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the fluid is the ambient temperature, and the ambient temperature depends on several parameters such as storage, source, and geographical location before contact with the cooling source (21).

5. A fluid cooling plant (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising a pipeline (24) connected to the heat exchanger (22), wherein the gasified fluid is discharged from the first cooling stage (2) for use.

6. The fluid cooling plant (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the second cooling stage (3) comprises one or more refrigerant modules (31) arranged in a cascade.

7. Each refrigerant module (31) Magnetic field source (311), A magnetocaloric material (MCM) is arranged to be exposed to the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field source (311), An inlet pipe (312) for transporting a fluid that comes into thermal contact with the magnetocaloric material (MCM), The fluid cooling plant (1) according to claim 6, comprising an outlet pipe (313) for transporting a fluid after thermal contact with the magnetocaloric material (MCM).

8. The fluid cooling plant (1) according to claim 7, wherein the magnetocaloric material (MCM) is holmium.

9. The fluid cooling plant (1) according to claim 8, wherein the holmium is polycrystalline holmium.

10. The magnetic field source (311) Permanent magnet, or A fluid cooling plant (1) according to claim 7 or 8, comprising an electromagnetic magnet, wherein the electromagnetic magnet is driven by an electronic circuit to turn the magnetic field on and off and to adjust the generated magnetic field.

11. The fluid cooling plant (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the target temperature is below the temperature at which the fluid liquefies.

12. The fluid being cooled contains hydrogen (H ２ A fluid cooling plant (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. It comprises an air separation unit, and the air separation unit transmits nitrogen (N) through a cryogenic process. ２ ) and oxygen (O ２ A fluid cooling plant (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, comprising a distiller for generating ) and the resulting oxygen cools the hydrogen passing through the heat exchanger (22) of the first cooling stage (2) or an additional heat exchanger via a liquid phase in the distiller.

14. A method for operating a fluid cooling plant (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 13, The steps include receiving and storing the aforementioned liquid natural gas (LNG), A method comprising the step of bringing the fluid to be cooled by the heat exchanger (22) into thermal contact with the liquid natural gas (LNG), thereby lowering the temperature of the fluid.

15. The fluid being cooled contains hydrogen (H ２ The method according to claim 14.

16. The fluid to be cooled is cooled by the heat exchanger (22) through the nitrogen (N) generated by the air separation gas. ２ The method according to claim 14 or 15, further comprising the step of bringing the fluid into thermal contact with the fluid, thereby cooling the temperature of the fluid.

17. A refrigerant module (31) for cooling a fluid, Magnetic field source (311), A magnetocaloric material (MCM) is arranged to be exposed to the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field source (311), An inlet pipe (312) for transporting a fluid that comes into thermal contact with the magnetocaloric material (MCM), A refrigerant module (31) comprising an outlet pipe (313) for transporting fluid after thermal contact with the magnetocaloric material (MCM).

18. The refrigerant module (31) according to claim 17, wherein the magnetocaloric material (MCM) is holmium.

19. The refrigerant module (31) according to claim 18, wherein the holmium is polycrystalline holmium.

20. The magnetic field source (311) Permanent magnet, or A refrigerant module (31) according to claim 17 or 19, comprising an electromagnetic magnet, wherein the electromagnetic magnet is driven by an electronic circuit to turn the magnetic field on and off and to adjust the generated magnetic field.

21. The fluid being cooled contains hydrogen (H ２ A refrigerant module (31) according to any one of claims 17 to 20.

22. A method (4) for operating a refrigerant module (31) according to any one of claims 17 to 21, A magnetization step (41) in which the magnetocaloric material (MCM) is exposed to a magnetic field by the magnetic field source (311), and as a result, the magnetocaloric material (MCM) changes from an initial temperature (T ０ ) to a first temperature (T ０ ) higher than the initial temperature (T １ ), the magnetization step (41); The magnetocaloric material cooling step (42) is performed, wherein the magnetization of the magnetocaloric material (MCM) is removed, and the magnetocaloric material (MCM) is cooled by the refrigerant fluid that enters the inlet pipe (312) and exits the outlet pipe (313) to the initial temperature (T ０ The refrigerant fluid is cooled to approximately the first temperature (T) of the magnetocaloric material (MCM). １ A magnetocaloric material cooling step (42) is performed at a temperature lower than ), The initial temperature (T ０ A second temperature (T) lower than ) ２ A demagnetization step (43) of the magnetocalorite material (MCM) to reach ) A fluid refrigeration step (44), wherein the magnetocaloric material (MCM) reaches the initial temperature (T ０ While the fluid being cooled is reported to be at the second temperature (T), it enters the inlet pipe (312) and comes into thermal contact with the magnetocaloric material (MCM), then flows out through the outlet pipe (313), and the fluid being cooled before entering the inlet pipe (312) reaches the second temperature (T). ２ ) higher fluid temperature [Math 1] A method (4) comprising a fluid refrigeration step (44) having a fluid refrigeration step (44).

23. The method according to claim 22 (4), wherein the magnetization step (41) is performed adiabatically.

24. The method according to claim 22 or 23 (4), wherein the demagnetization step (43) is performed in an adiabatic manner.

25. The method according to any one of claims 22 to 24 (4), wherein the gas to be cooled is hydrogen.

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