Patent classifications
F17C2250/0626
Systems and methods for passively controlling pressure within a cryogenic storage tank
An all mechanically controlled, non-venting pressure control system for liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen cryogenic tanks that requires no electrical control while managing disparate, non-stoichiometric reactant boil-off rates is provided. The pressure control system allows for the passive and repeatable stoichiometric consumption of hydrogen and oxygen boil-off from cryogenic tanks to form liquid water, while preventing the liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen cryogenic tanks from overpressurizing and venting to the external environment. More particularly, in response to an overpressure condition in a first reactant reservoir, a backpressure regulator is opened, providing the overpressure first reactant to a fuel cell or other consumer, and providing a pilot signal to open a supply line from a second reactant reservoir to the consumer. Whether the second reactant is supplied from the second reactant reservoir as gas or a liquid is determined based on the pressure within the second reactant reservoir.
SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH BOIL-OFF MANAGEMENT FOR LIQUEFIED GAS STORAGE
A system and a method with boil-off management for liquefied fuel storage are provided. The system includes a cryotank for storing a liquefied fuel, a pump for providing and compressing a first stream of the liquefied fuel, a heat exchanger for provide cooling duty to the first stream of the liquefied fuel, and an expansion valve for expanding the first stream of the liquefied fuel after the heat exchanger into a multiphase stream comprising a liquid phase and a gas phase. The multiphase stream has a temperature lower than an initial temperature of the first stream from the cryotank. The system further comprises a liquid-vapor splitter for separating the liquid phase and gas phase in the multiphase stream. The liquid phase is returned into the cryotank.
Control Unit and Method for Setting the Pressure in the Removal Line of a Pressure Container
A control unit for a pressure container system comprising at least one pressure container with a pressure container valve designed to conduct fuel from the pressure container into a removal line for supplying an energy converter. The control unit is designed to determine that a fueling procedure of the pressure container is occurring or has occurred. In response thereto, the control unit is additionally designed to cause the pressure container valve to open in a pulsed manner temporally prior to a removal request for fuel for operating the energy converter so that the pressure in the removal line approximates the pressure in the pressure container.
Device and method for filling tanks with pressurized gas
Device for filling tanks with pressurized gas, in particular hydrogen gas tanks of motor vehicles, the device comprising at least one gas source, a transfer circuit comprising at least one upstream end connected to the source and at least one downstream end intended to be connected in removable fashion to a tank to be filled, the transfer circuit additionally comprising, between its upstream and downstream ends, a set of buffer storage container(s) which is (are) connected in parallel to the transfer circuit via a set of respective connecting valve(s), the transfer circuit comprising a portion of pipe(s) forming a loop, a plurality of the buffer storage container(s) being connected in parallel to the said loop, characterized in that the transfer circuit comprises a plurality of separate downstream ends each intended to be connected in removable fashion to a respective tank to be filled, the said downstream ends being connected in parallel to the said loop and comprising a set of respective linking valves, so that control of the connecting valves and of the linking valves makes it possible to bring at least one first buffer storage container into fluidic communication, via the loop, with a first downstream end and, simultaneously, to bring at least one second buffer storage container into fluidic communication, via the loop, with a second downstream end and/or to bring two separate buffer storage containers into fluidic communication.
Station and method for filling one or more tank(s)
Station for filling one or more tank(s) with pressurized gas, in particular pressurized hydrogen, comprising at least two pressurized gas source stores, a transfer pipe having an upstream end connected parallel to the source stores and a downstream end intended to be connected to a tank to be filled, the station comprising a valve assembly for controlling the transfer of gas between the sources and the tank to be filled and an electronic controller connected to the valve assembly and configured to control the valve assembly, the electronic controller being configured to implement successive transfers of gas between the source stores and the tank to be filled via successive pressure balancing sequences, the electronic controller being configured to determine the temperature attained by the gas in the source stores or by the source stores during transfers of gas and, when said attained temperature is below a determined threshold, to prevent or to interrupt this transfer of gas or to reduce the flow of gas transferred during said transfer.
Device and method for determining the thermal insulation quality of twin-walled, vacuum-insulated containers
A dual-wall, vacuum-insulated container (30, 40) has an external wall (1), an internal wall (3) and there in-between a vacuum chamber (5), in which there is arranged a heat insulation device (2, 20). At least three temperature sensors (13, 13a, 13b, 14, 15) that are spaced apart from another recurringly register instantaneous temperatures (T.sub.1, T.sub.2, T.sub.2A, T.sub.2B, T.sub.3) of the container (30, 40). At least in some points there is calculated a temperature course using a heat insulation model on the basis of the construction and material characteristics of the container and the heat radiation resulting therefrom, which temperature course contains at least two of the temperatures (T.sub.1, T.sub.2, T.sub.2A, T.sub.2B, T.sub.3) registered. From the temperature course there is calculated a desired temperature value for the position of at least one further of the temperature sensors and compared with the actual temperature value actually registered by this temperature sensor. From the deviation between the desired temperature value and the actual temperature value there is detected a change of the heat insulation quality of the container.
Method for transferring a cryogenic fluid and transfer system for implementing such a method
A method for transferring cryogenic fluid from a storage tank (2; 12; 16) to a receiver (6; 8; 10; 14; 16; 18) like a receiving tank or to an application device, according to the invention comprises the steps of: a—pumping cryogenic liquid from the storage tank (2; 12; 16), b—vaporising at least partially the pumped cryogenic liquid, c—pressurising the storage tank (2; 12; 16) with the vaporised cryogenic liquid, and d—transferring cryogenic fluid to the receiver (6; 8; 10; 14; 16; 18) with cryogenic fluid from the storage tank (2; 12; 16) through a feed line (4) between the storage tank (2; 12; 16) and the receiver (6; 8; 10; 14; 16; 18).
MOBILE CRYOGENIC TANK AND PROVISIONING METHOD
Mobile cryogenic tank for transporting cryogenic fluid, notably liquefied hydrogen or helium, comprising an internal shell intended to contain the cryogenic fluid, an external shell arranged around the internal shell and delimiting a space between the two shells, said space containing a thermal insulator, the first shell having a cylindrical overall shape extending along a central longitudinal axis (A), when the tank is in the configuration for transport and use, the central longitudinal axis (A) being oriented horizontally, the tank comprising a set of temperature sensors measuring the temperature of the fluid in the internal shell, characterized in that the set of temperature sensors is situated on the external face of the internal shell and measure the temperature of said shell, the set of temperature sensors comprising a lower sensor positioned at the lower end of the internal shell situated below the central longitudinal axis (A), the set of temperature sensors further comprising a plurality of intermediate sensors distributed over two lateral faces of the internal shell on each side of the central longitudinal axis (A), the plurality of intermediate sensors being distributed vertically between the lower end of the internal shell situated below the central longitudinal axis (A) and the upper end of the internal shell situated above the central longitudinal axis (A).
A hydrogen refueling station and method for refueling a hydrogen vehicle
A hydrogen refueling station including a first and a second dispensing module having first and second dispensing pressure detection means, where supply lines are fluidly connecting a storage module to an inlet compressor line and a compressor outlet line is fluidly connecting an outlet of the compressor to a dispensing line and thereby to the first and/or second dispensing module via output compressor valves, cascade lines are fluidly connecting the hydrogen storage module and the dispenser modules thereby configured for bypassing the compressor, where a controller is configured for controlling valves and thereby a fluid path from the hydrogen storage module to the dispensing modules, the controller is configured for controlling a bypass valve based on feedback from pressure detection means, from a first dispensing pressure detection means or from a second dispensing pressure detection means to establish a required pressure in the compressor outlet line.
Differential pressure filling system and method for a dosing vessel
A dosing vessel includes a reservoir having an inlet and an outlet and is configured to contain a supply of a cryogenic liquid with a headspace above. The outlet is configured to be connected to a dosing arm having a dosing head. A low pressure sensor is configured to detect a vapor pressure in the headspace. A high pressure sensor is configured to detect a pressure in a bottom portion of the reservoir. An inlet valve is in fluid communication with the inlet of the reservoir and is placed in communication with a source of cryogenic liquid. A controller is in communication with the high and low pressure sensors and the inlet valve and is configured to store a preset liquid level or a preset differential pressure corresponding to the preset liquid level, to determine a measured differential pressure based on data from the high and low pressure sensors and to control the inlet valve based on the measured differential pressure and the preset liquid level or the preset differential pressure so that a liquid level of a cryogenic liquid stored in the reservoir is generally maintained at the preset liquid level.