Module and system for depressurising a cryogenic tank

Abstract

Some embodiments are directed to a module for depressurisation and storage of a portion of a gas layer coming from at least one cryogenic tank. Some other embodiments are directed to a system using such a module.

Claims

1. A system for depressurisation, collection and storage of a portion of a gas layer coming from at least one vehicle cryogenic tank including at least one valve, the gas layer being the gaseous phase of a gas energy source, and the cryogenic tank containing, apart from the gas layer, a liquid layer that is the liquid phase of the gas energy source, the system comprises: a compact module constituting a sealed assembly including: an inlet configured to be connected, by a removable inlet pipe, to at least one discharge orifice of the tank for a discharge, out of the cryogenic tank, of a portion of the gas layer, an outlet configured to be connected, by a removable outlet pipe, to an external system for using the portion of the gas layer once discharged, a heater connected to the inlet of the module, a damping buffer tank, connected to the heater, and also to a compressor, the compressor, connected to the buffer tank, and also to a storage tank, and the storage tank connected to the compressor and to the outlet of the module, the storage tank provided to store the portion of the gas layer discharged; and wherein the module is functionally self-supporting and transportable on a transportable platform of the utility vehicle type, wherein the sealed assembly is configured to contain all the elements in a volume defined by a width of no more than two meters, a length of no more than four meters and a height of no more than two meters, the damping buffer tank operating at a pressure equivalent to that of the gaseous phase of the cryogenic tank; a main removable inlet pipe for transporting the portion of the gas layer coming from the cryogenic tank, between the at least one discharge orifice of the tank and the inlet of the module, at least one connecting device for connecting the at least one discharge orifice of the tank with the removable inlet pipe, and a removable outlet pipe for transporting the portion of the gas layer stored in the storage, between the outlet of the module and the external system configured to store and/or use the portion of the gas layer stored, wherein either (a) the main removable inlet pipe is a pipe for the controlled depressurisation of one or more cryogenic tanks, the pipe including a maintaining device or maintainer for maintaining or reducing the internal pressure of the cryogenic tank at a value equal to or less than a predetermined value or (b) the main removable inlet pipe is connected to one or more cryogenic tanks, the at least one discharge orifice being provided with a flap valve.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the removable outlet pipe is configured to connect to one selected from the group consisting of (a) a gas transport and/or distribution network, (b) a mixed heat and electricity cogeneration system, (c) an electricity production system, and (d) a system for distributing vehicle natural gas (VNG).

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the inlet pipe and/or the outlet pipe are flexible hoses.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the main removable inlet pipe includes a manifold provided with a plurality of connection devices, configured to connect to a plurality of cryogenic tanks.

5. A method for maintaining or reducing the internal pressure of the cryogenic tank in an active mode of the system according to claim 1, when the main removable inlet pipe is a pipe for the controlled depressurisation of one or more cryogenic tanks, for at a value below a predetermined value.

6. A method for maintaining or reducing the internal pressure of the cryogenic tank in a passive mode of the system according to claim 1, when the at least one discharge orifice is provided with the flap valve, for recovering the portion of gaseous phase escaping from the flap valve.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the storage is able to store the portion of the gas layer discharged from the compressor at a pressure equal to or greater than 200 bar.

8. The system according to claim 1, further including an odouriser situated between the buffer tank and the compressor.

9. The system according to claim 1, further including an additional outlet connected to an outlet of the compressor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) Other advantages and particularities of some embodiments will emerge from the following description given by way of non-limitative example and made with reference to the accompanying figures:

(2) FIGS. 1 to 3 each show a general outline diagram of an example embodiment of the system according to some embodiments that can be used in active mode;

(3) FIGS. 4 to 6 each show a general outline diagram of an example embodiment of the system according to some embodiments that can be used in passive mode.

(4) The identical elements shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 are identified by identical numerical references.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

(5) FIGS. 1 to 3 each show a general outline diagram of an example embodiment of the system according to some embodiments that can only be used in active mode.

(6) More particularly, FIG. 1 shows a system for the depressurisation, collection and storage according to some embodiments including a depressurisation and storage module 400 according to some embodiments.

(7) The depressurisation and storage module 400 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes:

(8) an inlet E intended to be connected, by a removable inlet pipe 300, to an orifice 102 (not provided with a flap valve in these embodiments) of a plurality of cryogenic tanks 100, 111, 112, for the discharge, out of these tanks, of a portion of gas layer,

(9) an outlet S intended to be connected, by a removable outlet pipe 500, to an external system able to use the portion of gas layer once discharged;

(10) a heater 4010 connected to the inlet E of the module 400,

(11) a damping buffer tank 4004, connected to the heater 4010, and also to a compressor 4002, connected to the buffer tank 4004, and also to

(12) a storage means 4006 connected to the outlet S for storing the portion of gas layer discharged.

(13) The depressurisation, collection and storage system according to some embodiments further includes:

(14) a main removable inlet pipe 300 for transporting the portion of gas layer coming from three cryogenic tanks 100, 111, 112, the pipe 300 being connected to

(15) a manifold provided with a plurality of connection devices 200, 201, 202 (for example three in number),

(16) each of the connection devices 200, 201, 202 being connected to each of the discharge orifices 102 of the cryogenic tanks 100, 111, 112, these connection devices being sealed and cryogenic,

(17) a removable outlet pipe 500 for transporting the portion of gas layer stored in the storage means 4008, between the outlet S of the module 400 and an external system 600 able to store and/or use the portion of gas layer stored.

(18) FIG. 2 is differentiated from FIG. 1 through the presence of an additional outlet S′ at the outlet of the compressor 4002 in the module 400 according to some embodiments.

(19) FIG. 3 is differentiated from FIG. 2 through the presence of an odouriser 4008 between the buffer tank 4004 and the compressor 4002 in the module 400 according to some embodiments.

(20) FIGS. 4 to 6 each show a general outline diagram of an example embodiment of the system according to some embodiments that can be used in active mode, but also in passive mode: this is made possible by the fact that, for each of these embodiments, the discharge orifice (102) of each cryogenic tank 100, 111, 112 is systematically provided with a flap valve (150), so as to recover the portion of gaseous phase escaping from the valve placed at the orifice (102).

(21) Thus FIG. 4 shows an installation according to some embodiments differentiated from the one illustrated in FIG. 1 only through the presence of a flap valve 150 at the discharge orifice 102 of the cryogenic tanks 100, 111, 112.

(22) Likewise, FIG. 5 shows an installation according to some embodiments (with additional outlet S′) differentiated from the one illustrated in FIG. 2 only through the presence of a flap valve 150 at the discharge orifice 102 of the cryogenic tanks 100, 111, 112.

(23) Finally, FIG. 6 shows an installation according to some embodiments (with odouriser 4008) differentiated from the one illustrated in FIG. 3 only through the presence of a flap valve 150 at the discharge orifice 102 of the cryogenic tanks 100, 111, 112.