Plant and process for producing liquefied hydrogen
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydrogen liquefaction systems face challenges in efficiently managing fluctuations in intermittent energy sources due to the limited ability of liquefiers to adjust their operating point, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
The system incorporates a buffer storage with a member for determining its filling rate, allowing the liquefier to modify its cold power and liquefaction capacity based on the buffer storage's filling rate, using sensors and predictive algorithms to optimize operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If buffer storage is provided to manage fluctuations in intermittent energy sources, then the system can handle production variations, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by filling the buffer storage during periods of high renewable energy production before the liquefier is needed at full capacity. This allows the liquefier to operate at optimal levels while the buffer absorbs production variations, simplifying the control system by decoupling the electrolyser and liquefier operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer storage acts as an intermediary between the electrolyser and the liquefier, absorbing the complexity of coordinating intermittent energy production with steady-state liquefaction requirements. This mediator component simplifies the overall control system by providing a decoupling buffer that handles production variations independently.
2Productivity
If the liquefier operates at fixed capacity, then the device is simpler to control, but the productivity decreases when energy production fluctuates
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces dynamic operation by allowing the liquefier to modify its cold power and liquefaction capacity based on buffer storage filling rate. The liquefier can operate at different capacity levels (e.g., high, medium, low) corresponding to different buffer filling rates, enabling productivity optimization without requiring continuous complex control adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operating parameters by adjusting the liquefier's cold power and liquefaction capacity based on the buffer storage filling rate. When the buffer is highly filled, the liquefier operates at high capacity; when the buffer filling rate decreases, the liquefier reduces capacity, optimizing productivity while maintaining relatively simple control logic based on filling rate thresholds.
3Productivity
If the liquefier capacity is increased to meet peak demand, then the productivity improves, but the loss of energy increases during low production periods
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback control by continuously monitoring the buffer storage filling rate and using this information to adjust the liquefier's cold power and capacity. This feedback mechanism ensures the liquefier operates at appropriate capacity levels, increasing productivity when the buffer is full and reducing capacity (minimizing energy waste) when the buffer filling rate decreases, thus optimizing energy utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic action by operating the liquefier at different capacity levels in response to periodic variations in renewable energy production and buffer filling rate. The liquefier alternates between high, medium, and low capacity operations based on the buffer state, improving overall productivity while minimizing energy waste during low production periods compared to continuous high-capacity operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances the system's adaptability to intermittent energy sources, reducing costs and improving production efficiency by minimizing downtime and optimizing hydrogen production.
Implementation Method 1
a liquefier (7) comprising a cycle circuit refrigerator (8) configured to provide cold power and cool the gaseous hydrogen from the supply line with a view to its liquefaction
Implementation Method 2
the cycle circuit refrigerator (8) in which a cycle gas flow rate is subjected to a determined thermodynamic cycle comprising compression and expansion
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention relates to an installation and a method for producing liquefied hydrogen comprising a gaseous hydrogen generator (2), a liquefier (7), a supply line (6) connecting an outlet of the gaseous hydrogen generator (2) to an inlet of the liquefier (7), the liquefier (7) comprising a refrigerator (8) with a cycle circuit (18) for cooling the gaseous hydrogen in the supply line (6), the installation (1) comprising a buffer storage (9) configured to store the compressed gaseous hydrogen between the gaseous hydrogen generator (2) and the liquefier (7), the liquefier (7) being configured to provide a cold power and/or the liquefaction capacity that can be modified between at least two levels (N1, N2), the installation (1) comprising a member (3) for determining the filling rate of the buffer storage (9),the installation (1) being configured to modify the cold power and/or liquefaction capacity of the liquefier (7) as a function of the filling rate of the buffer storage (9) determined by the determination member (3).,