Method and device for filling a storage vessel with liquefied gas

Abstract

Method for filling a storage vessel with liquefied gas by means of a tank of liquefied gas, the method comprising a step of transferring liquefied gas from the tank into the storage vessel by means of a pressure differential, wherein the storage vessel prior to the transfer step has an internal pressure higher than the internal pressure of the tank, the method comprising, prior to the transfer step, a step of placing the tank and the storage vessel in fluidic communication in order to ensure a drop in the pressure in the storage vessel to the benefit of the tank and a step of increasing the pressure in the tank using a pressurizing device.

Claims

1. A method for filling a storage vessel with liquefied hydrogen from a tank of liquefied hydrogen, the storage vessel initially being at a higher pressure than the tank, said method comprising the steps of: providing a storage vessel; providing: a semitrailer carrying the tank of liquefied hydrogen; a first fluid transfer pipe that has first and second ends, the first end of the first fluid transfer pipe being connected to an upper part of an interior of the tank of liquefied hydrogen, the first fluid transfer pipe including at least one transfer valve controllable or operable to allow or prevent fluid communication between the upper part of the interior of the tank of liquefied hydrogen and the second end of the first fluid transfer pipe; a second fluid transfer pipe that has first and second ends, the first end of the second fluid transfer pipe being connected to a lower part of the interior of the tank of liquefied hydrogen, the second fluid transfer pipe including at least one transfer valve controllable or operable to allow or prevent fluid communication between the lower part of the interior of the tank of liquefied hydrogen and the second end of the second fluid transfer pipe; a pressurizing device for increasing a pressure in the tank of liquefied hydrogen to a level higher than a pressure in storage vessel, thereby allowing a transfer of the liquefied hydrogen from the tank of liquefied hydrogen to the storage vessel through pressure differential, the pressurizing device being a tank-pressurizing circuit that comprises, between a fluid-aspiration first end connected to the tank of liquefied hydrogen and a fluid-return second end connected to the tank of liquefied hydrogen, a fluid heating member and a set of one or more heating valves for controlling the circulation of the hydrogen in the pressurizing circuit; and an electronic control and data processing and storage member for controlling at least part of the set of one or more heating valves; connecting the second end of the first fluid transfer pipe to a circuitry of the storage vessel that includes a plurality of valves allowing or preventing fluid communication between the second end of the first fluid transfer pipe with an upper part of an interior of the storage vessel or a lower part of the interior of the storage vessel; connecting the second end of the second fluid transfer pipe to the circuitry, the plurality of valves of the circuitry allowing or preventing fluid communication between the second end of the second fluid transfer pipe with the upper or lower part of the interior of the storage vessel; placing the upper part of the interior of the tank of liquefied hydrogen and the interior of the storage vessel in fluidic communication, via the at least one valve of the first fluid transfer pipe and the plurality of valves of the circuitry, to equalize pressure between them, resulting in a drop in the pressure in the storage vessel and an increase in pressure in the tank of liquefied hydrogen such that the pressure in the storage vessel, in comparison to the pressure in the tank of liquefied hydrogen, is lowered down to a predetermined level at which the pressure in the storage vessel is equal to the pressure in the tank of liquefied hydrogen or exceeds the pressure in the tank by a predetermined value of between 0.5 and 5 bar; placing the lower part of the interior of the tank of liquefied hydrogen and the interior of the storage vessel in fluid communication, via the at least one valve of the second fluid transfer pipe and the plurality of valves of the circuitry; and using the pressurizing device to increase the pressure in the tank of liquefied hydrogen to a level higher than the pressure in the storage vessel, thereby causing a transfer of liquefied hydrogen from the tank of liquefied hydrogen to the storage vessel through pressure differential, wherein: after or during the transfer of pressure between the storage vessel and the tank of liquefied hydrogen, the electronic control and data processing and storage member controls an opening of the set of one or more heating valves in order to increase the pressure in the tank of liquefied hydrogen, and the electronic control and data processing and storage member controls a closing of the set of one or more heating valves and an opening of the at least one valve of the first fluid transfer pipe and the at least one valve of the second fluid transfer pipe in order to ensure a transfer of liquefied hydrogen from the tank of liquefied hydrogen to the storage vessel using a pressure differential.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein when a pressure in the tank of liquefied hydrogen reaches a sufficient value above a pressure in the storage vessel, said step of using a pressurizing device is interrupted and a transfer of liquid hydrogen from the tank of liquefied hydrogen to the storage vessel is carried out by way a pressure differential between the tank and the storage vessel.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of using the pressurizing device increases the pressure in the tank up to a predetermined level at which the pressure in the tank exceeds the pressure in the storage vessel by a predetermined value of between 0.5 and 5 bar.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) Other distinctive features and advantages will become apparent on reading the description below, given with reference to:

(2) FIG. 1 which is a schematic and partial view illustrating one example of the structure and operation of a device according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(3) The installation 1 depicted in FIG. 1 comprises a device for filling a liquefied-gas storage vessel 2. The storage vessel 2 is, for example, a fixed, insulated double-wall vacuum storage vessel containing liquefied hydrogen.

(4) The installation 1 comprises a tank 10 of liquefied gas (liquefied hydrogen for example), for example carried by a semitrailer and intended to transfer liquefied gas to the storage vessel 2 by means of a pressure differential.

(5) The tank 10 comprises a pressurizing heater, namely a circuit 3 for pressurizing the tank 10, as mentioned hereinabove. This pressurizing circuit 3 comprises, between a fluid-aspiration first end 4 connected to the tank 10 (notably the bottom part) and a fluid-return second end 5 connected to the tank 10 (notably in the top part), a fluid heating member 6 (atmospheric heat exchanger or the like positioned in the bottom part) and a set of one or more heating valves 7, 19. For example, the pressurizing circuit 3 comprises a heating valve 7, preferably controlled and automatic, for controlling the circulation of the fluid in said pressurizing circuit 3 (by means of a thermosiphon effect) and a shut-off valve 19 (preferably manually controlled).

(6) The device 1 further comprises at least one fluid-transfer pipe (and, in this example, two pipes 8, 9) each comprising a first end connected to the tank 10 and at least one second end intended to be connected to the storage vessel 2. The transfer pipe or pipes 8, 9 may be connected in parallel to the lower end and/or to the upper end of the storage vessel 2 by suitable circuitry.

(7) The installation and notably each transfer pipe 8, 9 comprises a set of transfer valves 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 for controlling the circulation of the fluid in the transfer pipe or pipes 8, 9. For example, a first transfer pipe 8 connected to the lower end of the tank 10 comprises two valves 11 in series which may respectively consist of an automatic safety shut-off valve and a manually operated shut-off valve.

(8) Likewise, the second transfer pipe 9 (connected to the top part of the tank 10) may comprise two valves 15 in series which may respectively consist for example of an automatic safety shut-off valve and a manually operated shut-off valve.

(9) Each transfer pipe 8, 9 may have a flexible end that comes to be connected to the circuitry of the storage vessel 2 allowing it to communicate with the upper end and/or with the lower end of the storage vessel. The circuitry of the storage vessel advantageously comprises a set of valves 12, 13, 14 which may be controlled or manually operated valves. The tank 10 and the storage vessel 2 may comprise conventional venting/protection valve devices.

(10) Thus, a delivery operator may connect the transfer pipe or pipes 8, 9 of the mobile tank 10 to the circuitry of the storage vessel 2. If the pressure in the storage vessel 2 is higher than the pressure in the tank 10, preventing a transfer by pressure difference, the operator may open the valves 14 and 15 (placing the upper parts of the tank 10 and of the storage vessel 2 in communication) and/or the valves 13 and 11 (placing the lower parts of the tank 10 and of the storage vessel 2 in communication) in order to equalize the pressures in the tank 10 and in the storage vessel 2. According to another nonlimiting option, the operator may open the valve 14 (connecting the upper part of the storage vessel 2) and use the line 9 connected to the upper part of the tank (by opening the valve 15) and/or the line 8 connected to the lower part of the tank 10 (by opening the valves 11 and 13).

(11) When the pressure within the tank 10 reaches or comes sufficiently close to the pressure of the storage vessel (for example a pressure difference of 5 bar or less (and notably a difference of between 0.5 and 1 bar for example). The transfer valves 11, 15 can be closed.

(12) The operator can then open the heating valves 7, 19 in order to increase the pressure in the tank 10 by activating the heating loop.

(13) When the pressure in the tank 10 sufficiently exceeds the pressure in the storage vessel 2 (for example by 0.5 to 5 bar, notably by one to two bar), the heating valves 7, 19 can be closed. All or some of the transfer valves 11, 15, 12, 13, 14 can then be opened in order to allow the storage vessel to be filled by means of a pressure differential. This filling may consist in supplying the storage vessel 2 from the bottom (corresponding valve 13 open) in order to increase the pressure in the storage vessel and/or from the top (corresponding valve 14 open) in order to decrease the pressure in the storage vessel 2.

(14) It should be noted that, advantageously, the increase in pressure in the tank 10 (activating the heating loop) may begin even during the operation of equalizing the pressures in the tank 10 and in the storage vessel 2 (valves 11, 15 and 14 and/or 13 open). This makes it possible to speed up the pressurizing of the tank 10 even more.

(15) The tank 10 and/or the storage vessel 2 may comprise a set of one or more pressure-measurement sensors 16, 17.

(16) The installation (for example the mobile tank 10 or an external control unit) may comprise an electronic control and data processing and storage member 18 configured to control all or some of the valves. This electronic control member 18 may comprise a microprocessor, a computer, or any other suitable device.

(17) This control member 18 may control all or some of the valves or other components of the device and may notably receive the aforementioned pressure measurements as well as instructions to fill or to stop.

(18) This control member 18 may automate or control all or some of the manual operations described above.

(19) Thus, when a filling tank 10 comes to be connected to a storage vessel 2 in order to fill same, and the pressure in the storage vessel 2 is higher than the pressure in the tank 10, the control member 18 may be configured to perform, prior to a transfer of fluid from the tank 10 to the storage vessel 2, an opening of the set of one or more transfer valves 11, 15 and 14 in order to ensure a transfer of pressure between the storage vessel 2 and the tank 10.

(20) As before, the purpose of this is to lower the pressure in the storage vessel to the benefit of the tank 10.

(21) When a determined equalizing of pressure has been achieved, these valves are closed again in order to isolate the storage vessel 2 and the tank 10. In this configuration (or even before the end of this pressure transfer), the pressurizing of the tank 10 can be activated (opening the set of heating valves 7, 19 in order to increase the pressure in the tank 10 as described above).

(22) When the pressure in the tank 10 reaches a sufficient value above the pressure in the storage vessel 2, the pressurizing can be interrupted and a transfer of liquid from the tank to the storage vessel by means of a pressure differential can be performed.

(23) The method and device thus make it possible to use the pressure in the storage vessel 2 to pressurize the delivery tank 10 more quickly. The estimated time saving may in certain cases reach as much as 30 minutes to 2 hours per delivery, notably in the case of several successive deliveries.

(24) The tank 10 is thus pressurized with gas that is relatively cold. The additions of energy to the tank 10 are therefore limited.

(25) While the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims. The present invention may suitably comprise, consist or consist essentially of the elements disclosed and may be practiced in the absence of an element not disclosed. Furthermore, if there is language referring to order, such as first and second, it should be understood in an exemplary sense and not in a limiting sense. For example, it can be recognized by those skilled in the art that certain steps can be combined into a single step.

(26) The singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include plural referents, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

(27) “Comprising” in a claim is an open transitional term which means the subsequently identified claim elements are a nonexclusive listing i.e. anything else may be additionally included and remain within the scope of “comprising.” “Comprising” is defined herein as necessarily encompassing the more limited transitional terms “consisting essentially of” and “consisting of”; “comprising” may therefore be replaced by “consisting essentially of” or “consisting of” and remain within the expressly defined scope of “comprising”.

(28) “Providing” in a claim is defined to mean furnishing, supplying, making available, or preparing something. The step may be performed by any actor in the absence of express language in the claim to the contrary.

(29) Optional or optionally means that the subsequently described event or circumstances may or may not occur. The description includes instances where the event or circumstance occurs and instances where it does not occur.

(30) Ranges may be expressed herein as from about one particular value, and/or to about another particular value. When such a range is expressed, it is to be understood that another embodiment is from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value, along with all combinations within said range.

(31) All references identified herein are each hereby incorporated by reference into this application in their entireties, as well as for the specific information for which each is cited.