Method and station for filling gas tanks

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10247358-B2
Application number	US-201414903001-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 28, 2014
Priority date	Jul 5, 2013
Publication date	Apr 2, 2019
Grant date	Apr 2, 2019

Abstract

Method for filling a tank with pressurized hydrogen via a filling station comprising at least one buffer container and a fluid circuit connected to said at least one buffer container, the circuit of the filling station comprising a first end connected to at least one source of hydrogen gas, the circuit comprising a second end fitted with a transfer pipe intended to be connected removably to the tank that is to be filled, the method involving a step of cooling the hydrogen supplied to the tank by transferring negative calories between a cold source and the hydrogen, the method being characterized in that it comprises a step of purifying the hydrogen supplied by the source in a purification member before transferring it to the at least one buffer container, and in that it comprises a step of transferring negative calories from said cold source to the hydrogen before and/or during the purification step.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of filling a tank with pressurized hydrogen via a filling station comprising at least one buffer container and a fluid circuit connected to said at least one buffer container, the circuit of the filling station comprising a first end connected to at least one source of gaseous hydrogen for carrying out the filling of the at least one buffer container with gas originating from the source, the circuit comprising a second end equipped with a transfer pipe intended to be removably connected to the tank to be filled with hydrogen originating from the at least one buffer container, the method comprising the steps of:
cooling the hydrogen supplied to the tank by transfer of negative calories between a cold source and the hydrogen;
purifying the hydrogen supplied by the source in a purification component before it is transferred to the at least one buffer container;
transferring negative calories from said cold source to the hydrogen before and/or during the purification step, wherein the purification step uses at least one purification component selected from the group consisting of a pressure swing adsorption separation device and a temperature swing adsorption separation device; and
allowing pressurized hydrogen to flow from at least one of the at least one buffer container to the tank.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transfer of negative calories between the cold source and the hydrogen supplied to the tank is carried out via a first heat exchanger in thermal exchange with the hydrogen of the circuit and a loop for circulation of heat transfer fluid between the cold source and the first heat exchanger.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transfer of negative calories from said cold source to the hydrogen before and/or during the purification step is carried out via a second heat exchanger in thermal exchange and a loop for circulation of heat transfer fluid between the cold source and the second heat exchanger.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cold source is one or more cold sources selected from the group consisting of: a reserve of liquefied gas, aqueous ethylene glycol, ammonia solution, propane, and any other refrigerant.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the cold source is a reserve of liquid nitrogen.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the circuit of the filling station comprises at least one compression component for compressing pressurized gas in order to fill the at least one buffer container.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein it comprises a step of transferring calories between, on the one hand, the compressed gas at the outlet of the compression component and, on the other hand, the purification component.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the purification component operates according to a cycle comprising a gas purification phase and a regeneration phase and in that the step of transferring calories between the compressed gas at the outlet of the compression component and the purification component is carried out during the regeneration phase of the purification component.

9. A filling station for a pressurized gaseous hydrogen tank comprising:
at least one buffer container provided in order to contain pressurized gaseous hydrogen;
a fluid circuit comprising a plurality of valves, the circuit being connected to said at least one buffer container and comprising a first end intended to be connected to at least one source of gaseous hydrogen for enabling the filling of the at least one buffer container with gas supplied by the at least one source, the circuit comprising a second end comprising a filling pipe intended to be removably connected to a tank in order to fill said tank from the at least one buffer container;
a cold source of negative calories;
a circuit for selective transfer of negative calories from the cold source to the hydrogen at the second end of the circuit;
a component for purifying hydrogen selected from the group consisting of: a pressure swing adsorption separation device and a temperature swing adsorption separation device; and
a negative calorie transfer circuit for selective transfer of negative calories from the cold source to the hydrogen at the first end of the circuit, upstream of and/or level with the purification component.

10. The station of claim 9 , wherein the circuit for selective transfer of negative calories from the cold source to the gas at the second end of the circuit comprises a first heat exchanger in thermal exchange with the gas of the circuit and a loop for circulation of heat transfer fluid between the cold source and the first heat exchanger.

11. The station of claim 10 , wherein the circuit for selective transfer of negative calories from the cold source to the hydrogen at the first end of the circuit, upstream of and/or level with the purification component, comprises a second heat exchanger in thermal exchange and a loop for circulation of heat transfer fluid between the cold source and the second heat exchanger.

12. The station of claim 11 , wherein the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger are incorporated in a same housing.

13. The station of claim 9 , characterized in that the circuit of the filling station comprises at least one compressor for compressing hydrogen in order to fill the at least one buffer container and in that the purification component comprises one or more beds of adsorbent of pressure swing adsorption (PSA or TSA) type operating according to a cycle comprising a gas purification phase and a regeneration phase and in that the station comprises a circuit for selective transfer of calories from compressed gas at the outlet of the compressor to the purification component.

Assignees

• Air Liquide

Inventors

• Allidieres Laurent

Classifications

• F17C5/007

  for individual gas tanks or containers, e.g. in vehicles (filling with liquid fuel not under pressure, B60S5/02, B67D7/00) · CPC title

• F17C2227/0185

  comprising several pumps or compressors · CPC title

• F17C2265/065

  for refuelling vehicle fuel tanks · CPC title

• F17C2227/043

  by pressure cascade · CPC title

• F17C2270/0139

  Fuel stations · CPC title