HYDROGEN FILLING STATION WITH LIQUID HYDROGEN

Abstract

A supply device and a method for building and operating a supply device of a filling station for liquid hydrogen are disclosed. The supply device has at least one storage tank for liquid hydrogen, and at least one pump for liquid hydrogen, the storage tank and pump being directly interconnected.

Claims

1. A supply device of a filling station for liquid hydrogen, comprising at least one storage tank and at least one pump, characterized in that the storage tank and the pump are directly interconnected.

2. The supply device according to claim 1, characterized in that the pipeline length of the connection between the storage tank and the pump lies between 0.01 and 3 m.

3. The supply device according to claim 1, characterized in that valves required for filling, degassing and shutting off a low-pressure zone of the pump are integrated into the thermally insulated region of the storage tank.

4. The supply device according to claim 1, characterized in that valves and other instruments of the storage tank, which protrude from the environment of the storage tank into a fluid zone of the storage tank, are connected to an intermediate cooling arrangement within the thermally insulated region.

5. A method for configuring and operating a supply device of a filling station for liquid hydrogen, which comprises at least one storage tank for liquid hydrogen and at least one pump for liquid hydrogen, characterized in that the storage tank and the pump are directly interconnected.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that a gas formed due to evaporation losses is used for intermediately cooling valves and the thermally insulated region.

7. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the liquid hydrogen is stored and/or conveyed at a temperature between 21.5 K and 27.5 K.

8. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the pump increases the pressure of the liquid hydrogen to 50 to 1000 bar.

9. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that the liquid hydrogen is stored and/or conveyed at a temperature between 21.5 K and 24 K.

10. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that the pump increases the pressure of the liquid hydrogen to 350 to 900 bar.

11. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that the pump increases the pressure of the liquid hydrogen to 350 to 700 bar.

12. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that the pump increases the pressure of the liquid hydrogen to 350 to 500 bar.

Description

[0030] The invention is described in greater detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment that is schematically illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0031] FIG. 1 schematically shows an embodiment of the inventive device. The storage tank 1 and the pump 2 preferably form parts of a hydrogen filling station for refueling vehicles.

[0032] The storage tank 1 is composed of a thermally insulated region 3 and a fluid container 4. The fluid container is designed for storing liquefied hydrogen, wherein a gas atmosphere containing hydrogen is formed above the fluid level.

[0033] In this exemplary embodiment, the thermally insulated region 3 is insulated by means of a filling and an applied vacuum. All valves and safety and control devices of the storage tank 1 are accommodated in the thermally insulated region in such a way that the least amount of heat possible is introduced into the thermally insulated region via the externally accessible handles, levers or displays. This is particularly achieved in that cold boil-off gas is conveyed past the valves within the thermally insulated region 3 such that these valves are cooled. This is schematically indicated with the intermediate cooling arrangement 9 in three exemplary positions. The introduction of heat via valve handles, sensors or other lines extending into the thermally insulated region 3 from outside is therefore largely prevented. The boil-off gas is removed from the storage container via the discharge line 8. The boil-off gas can be used for cooling other system components, discarded or once again cooled.

[0034] The storage tank 1 comprises a supply line 5 for a fluid, in this example for liquid hydrogen. Among other things, the supply line 5 is secured by means of shut-off valves and pressure retention valves.

[0035] The storage tank 1 is connected to the pump 2 via the discharge line 6 for liquid hydrogen. The pump 2 is preferably realized in the form of a cryopump for handling liquid hydrogen.

[0036] The discharge line 6 is secured, among other things, by means of shut-off valves and pressure retention valves. In this exemplary embodiment, conditioned and cooled boil-off gas is returned into the storage tank 1 via the return line 7 and either directly used for cooling purposes again or conveyed into the gas zone in the top section of the fluid container 4. In this way, the gas zone in the top section of the fluid container 4 can be cooled and/or its pressure can be influenced.

[0037] In the exemplary embodiment shown, the discharge line 6 between the storage tank 1 and the pump 2 has a length of 0.63 m. This narrow spacing ensures that the least amount of heat possible is introduced.

[0038] The system is preassembled in order to reduce the on-site assembly effort caused by the small spacing.

List of Reference Symbols

[0039] 1 Storage tank [0040] 2 Pump [0041] 3 Thermally insulated region [0042] 4 Fluid container [0043] 5 Fluid supply line [0044] 6 Fluid discharge line [0045] 7 Gas return line [0046] 8 Boil-off gas discharge line [0047] 9 Intermediate cooling