Facility for producing and storing liquefied hydrogen

Abstract

The invention relates to a facility for producing a cryogenic fluid, comprising: - a gas circuit (2) to be cooled, having an upstream end (21) and a downstream end (22); - an assembly of heat exchangers (5, 6); - a pre-cooling system (8); - a cooling system (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 means (11) configured to vaporize the cryogenic fluid so as to obtain 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 the transfer of cycle gas from the cooling circuit (13) into the gas circuit (2) to be cooled.

Description

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 facility, for example a liquefier, produces a cryogenic fluid by cooling a gas from a gas source.

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

[0004] Such cryogenic fluid production facilities must be able to operate properly even when the gas flow rate 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 remedy these drawbacks by proposing an installation for the production and storage of a cryogenic fluid, in particular liquefied hydrogen, comprising: a circuit of 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 circuit of gas to be cooled; a pre-cooling device in heat exchange with at least a first part of the set of heat exchangers and configured to pre-cool the circuit of gas 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 cooling circuit with a refrigeration cycle of a cycle gas such as hydrogen, the cooling circuit; comprising a cycle gas compression device and a final cycle gas expansion device; the gas circuit 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 and second portions and a fifth portion downstream of the second portion; the gas circuit 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 and / or fourth section, the injection line comprising a heating element 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 being configured to allow the injection of the vaporized fluid and / or the reheated 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 section.

[0006] 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.

[0007] The invention thus makes it possible to maintain the operation of a cryogenic fluid production installation, even when the gas flow rate delivered by the gas source becomes less than or equal to 50% of a specified nominal flow rate of gas delivered by the gas source.

[0008] According to one embodiment, the heating element configured to vaporize the collected cryogenic fluid is separate from the set of heat exchangers.

[0009] According to one design, the injection line bypasses, notably along its entire length, the set of heat exchangers.

[0010] 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.

[0011] 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.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the heating element is configured to warm the cryogenic fluid to an ambient temperature, such as a temperature between -20 °C and 40 °C.

[0013] According to one realization, the third determined temperature is at an ambient temperature, such as a temperature between -20 °C and 40 °C.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the cycle gas compression device comprises, in the direction of cycle gas flow, an upstream cycle gas compression device and a downstream cycle gas compression device.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the injection line is configured to allow the injection of vaporized fluid and / or heated fluid into the cooling circuit, upstream of the downstream cycle gas compression unit and for example configured to allow the injection of vaporized fluid and / or heated fluid into the cooling circuit, downstream of the upstream cycle gas compression unit.

[0016] 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.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the transfer line is fluidly connected at one end to the cooling circuit, downstream of the downstream cycle gas compression unit and upstream of the final cycle gas expansion unit, the transfer line being connected fluidly by another of its ends to the gas circuit to be cooled, for example upstream of the first portion, for example at a connection point.

[0018] 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 above a determined threshold, the pressure being measured downstream of the downstream cycle gas compression device and upstream of the final cycle gas expansion device.

[0019] 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.

[0020] 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.

[0021] 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.

[0022] 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.

[0023] 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 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 delivered by the gas source is less than or equal to 50%, for example between 10% and 50%, of the setpoint.

[0024] 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.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the cryogenic purification device is placed in the circuit of gas to be cooled, between the first portion and the second portion.

[0026] According to one embodiment, the upstream cycle gas compression unit and the downstream cycle gas compression unit are mounted in series.

[0027] According to one design, cryogenic storage is configured to be able to be pressurized using a pressure build-up unit, or PBU (for "pressure build-up unit"), or PBUC (for "pressure build-up coil").

[0028] 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.

[0029] 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.

[0030] 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.

[0031] According to one embodiment, the expansion device of the gas circuit to be cooled includes a turbine or an expansion valve, in particular a Joule-Thomson expansion valve.

[0032] According to one embodiment, the pre-cooling fluid comprises at least one of: nitrogen, helium, argon, neon, a mixture of refrigerants also called "MR".

[0033] According to one embodiment, the cryogenic purification device includes at least one temperature-modulated adsorption unit, otherwise known as a TSA unit for "Temperature Swing Adsorption" in English.

[0034] According to one implementation, the installation includes 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.

[0035] 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.

[0036] 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.

[0037] According to one embodiment, the inlet of the injection line is connected to the fifth portion upstream of the expansion valve.

[0038] According to one embodiment, the injection line inlet is connected to the fourth portion downstream of the cryogenic purification device.

[0039] According to one embodiment, the downstream cycle gas compression unit 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.

[0040] Such a determined pressure, when strictly greater than the pressure of the gas delivered by the gas source, allows the transfer of the fluid through the transfer line.

[0041] 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.

[0042] The invention further relates to a method for managing a cryogenic fluid production and storage installation as described above, comprising the steps: a) taking a portion of the cryogenic fluid from the gas circuit to be cooled; b) vaporizing the cryogenic fluid from the gas circuit to be cooled into a vaporized fluid and / or heating the cryogenic fluid from the gas circuit to be cooled to a third determined temperature into a heated fluid; c) injecting the vaporized fluid and / or the heated fluid into the cooling circuit; d) transferring a portion of the cycle gas from the cooling circuit into the gas circuit to be cooled.

[0043] 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 flow of gas 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.

[0044] The invention may also relate to any alternative device or method comprising any combination of the above or below characteristics.

[0045] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description and examining the accompanying figure. This figure is given only to illustrate, but in no way limits, the invention.

[0046] [Fig. 1] Figure 1 is a schematic representation of an installation according to the invention.

[0047] With reference to Figure 1, we have represented a facility 1 for the production and storage of a cryogenic fluid, in particular liquefied hydrogen.

[0048] Installation 1 comprises: a circuit of 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 circuit of gas 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 circuit of gas 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 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 an expansion 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 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 to a third determined temperature the; cryogenic fluid taken, in 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.

[0049] 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 unit 27, 29.

[0050] 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.

[0051] The cycle gas compression element 27, 29 comprises, for example in the direction of cycle gas flow, an upstream cycle gas compression element 27 and a downstream cycle gas compression element 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 element 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 element 27.

[0052] 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.

[0053] The transfer line 12 is fluidly connected at one end to the cooling circuit 13, downstream of the downstream compression unit of the cycle gas 29 and upstream of the final expansion unit of the cycle gas 39, the transfer line 12 being fluidly connected at another end to the circuit of gas to be cooled 2, upstream of the first portion, for example at a connection point.

[0054] Installation 1 is configured to transfer cycle gas from the circuit of cooling 13 in 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 element of the cycle gas 29 and upstream of the final expansion element of the cycle gas 39.

[0055] The upstream cycle gas compression unit 27 includes 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 includes 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.

[0056] The pre-cooling device 8 includes a refrigerator with a pre-cooling fluid refrigeration cycle in a pre-cooling circuit, the pre-cooling circuit including a pre-cooling fluid compression element 28 and a final pre-cooling fluid expansion element 38.

[0057] Installation 1 includes a first cold box 3 in which is arranged at least the first part 5 of the heat exchanger assembly 5, 6.

[0058] Installation 1 includes a second cold box 4 in which is arranged at least the second part 6 of the heat exchanger assembly 5, 6.

[0059] A method for managing a cryogenic fluid production and storage facility 1, according to any one of the above embodiments, is described below.

[0060] The process for managing a cryogenic fluid production and storage installation 1 as described above includes the following steps: a) taking a portion of the cryogenic fluid from the gas circuit to be cooled 2; b) vaporizing the cryogenic fluid from the gas circuit to be cooled 2 into a vaporized fluid and / or heating the cryogenic fluid from the gas circuit to be cooled 2 to a third determined temperature into a heated fluid; c) injecting the vaporized fluid and / or the heated 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.

[0061] 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.

[0062] 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 deposit.

Claims

Demands [Claim 1] Installation (1) for the production and storage of a cryogenic fluid, being 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 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 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 an expansion 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 circuit of gas 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 of the fourth portion, the injection line (7) comprising a heating element (11) configured to vaporize the collected cryogenic fluid into a vaporized fluid and / or configured to heat the collected 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 third portion, the installation being configured to selectively, 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). [Claim 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). [Claim 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. [Claim 4] Installation (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, the cycle gas compression member (27, 29) comprising, 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 the vaporized fluid and / or the 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 the vaporized fluid and / or the heated fluid into the cooling circuit (13), downstream of the upstream cycle gas compression unit (27). [Claim 5] 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. [Claim 6] 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). [Claim 7] 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. [Claim 8] 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) transferring a portion of the cycle gas from the cooling circuit (13) into the gas circuit to be cooled (2), the process being implemented when the gas flow rate delivered by the gas source is less or equal to 50%, for example between 10% and 50%, of a setpoint, the setpoint representing a determined nominal flow rate of gas delivered by the gas source, the process being implemented for example as long as the flow rate of gas delivered by the gas source is less than or equal to 50% of the setpoint.

Images