Device and process for refueling containers with pressurized gas

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10920933-B2
Application number	US-201916529153-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 1, 2019
Priority date	Aug 1, 2018
Publication date	Feb 16, 2021
Grant date	Feb 16, 2021

Abstract

A device and process for refuelling containers with pressurized gas comprising a pressurized gas source, a transfer circuit intended to be removably connected to a container, the device comprising a refrigeration system for cooling the gas flowing from the gas source prior to its entering into the container and comprising a refrigerant cooling loop circuit comprising, arranged in series, a compressor, a condenser section, an expansion valve and an evaporator section, the refrigeration system comprising a cold source in heat exchange with the condenser section and a heat exchanger located in the transfer circuit and comprising a heat exchange section between the gas flowing in the transfer circuit and the evaporator section, the device comprising an electronic controller configured to switch the refrigeration system in first standby mode when the device is not refuelling a container wherein the compressor is switched off when the temperature of the heat exchanger is equal or below a predefined first standby temperature threshold and for started and operated for producing cooling power and cooling the heat exchanger when the sensed temperature of the heat exchanger is above a second standby threshold temperature.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device for refuelling containers with pressurized gas, comprising a pressurized gas source, a transfer circuit comprising one upstream end connected to the gas source and at least one downstream end intended to be removably connected to a container, the device comprising a refrigeration system for cooling the gas flowing from the gas source prior to its entering into the container, the refrigeration system comprising a refrigerant cooling loop circuit comprising, arranged in series, a compressor, a condenser section, an expansion valve and an evaporator section, the refrigeration system comprising a cold source in heat exchange with the condenser section and a heat exchanger located in the transfer circuit and comprising a heat exchange section between the gas flowing in the transfer circuit and the evaporator section, the device comprising an electronic controller for controlling the refrigeration system, the device further including a temperature sensor for sensing the heat exchanger temperature, the electronic controller being configured to switch the refrigeration system in first standby mode when the device is not refuelling a container, characterized in that in the first standby mode the electronic controller is configured for switching off the compressor when the temperature of the heat exchanger is equal or below a predefined first standby temperature threshold and for starting and operating the compressor for producing cooling power and cooling the heat exchanger when the sensed temperature of the heat exchanger is above a second standby threshold temperature, and in that the electronic controller is configured in the first standby mode for starting or activating the cold source when the sensed pressure in the refrigerant cooling loop circuit is above a preset standby pressure threshold so that cold is transferred by the cold source to the refrigerant cooling loop circuit and thus the pressure in the refrigerant cooling loop circuit is lowered.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein first standby temperature threshold is between −40° C. and −20° C.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the second standby temperature threshold is above the first standby temperature.

4. The device of claim 3 , wherein second standby temperature threshold is one to thirty degrees above the first standby temperature threshold.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the compressor is a variable speed compressor, the electronic controller being configured for operating the compressor at its lowest speed above zero during the first standby mode when producing cooling power for cooling the heat exchanger.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic controller is configured for operating the compressor during a minimum preset operating time when started during the first standby mode for producing cooling power for cooling the heat exchanger.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein it comprises a temperature sensor for measuring or calculating the heat exchanger temperature.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein in the first standby mode the electronic controller is configured for controlling the refrigeration system to maintain the refrigerant temperature at the heat exchanger inlet at predefined temperature.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein it comprises and expansion vessel comprising an inlet connected to the refrigerant cooling loop circuit, downstream the compressor outlet, and an outlet connected to the refrigerant cooling loop circuit, upstream the compressor inlet, the device comprising a set of valve(s) configured for controlling the flow of refrigerant to the expansion vessel and from the expansion vessel, for regulating the pressure in the refrigerant cooling loop circuit and/or in the expansion vessel.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic controller is configured for switching the refrigeration system in a second refuelling mode upon receiving a signal indicative of a refuelling start or demand for a container.

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein in the second refuelling mode the electronic controller is configured for controlling the refrigerant temperature difference between inlet and outlet of heat exchanger and notably for increasing the opening of the expansion valve when said temperature difference increases and for decreasing the opening of the expansion valve when said temperature difference decreases.

12. The device of claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant cooling loop circuit comprises a bypass conduit comprising an upstream end connected to the outlet of the compressor and a downstream end connected to the refrigerant cooling loop circuit upstream the compressor inlet and bypassing the condenser section and expansion valve, the device comprising a bypass regulating valve for controlling the flow of refrigerant flowing into the by-pass conduit.

13. The device of claim 12 , wherein it comprises a pressure sensor for sensing the refrigerant pressure in the cooling loop circuit between the compressor inlet and the heat exchanger outlet at the inlet of the compressor, the electronic controller being configured in the first standby mode for starting cold source and/or operating the compressor when the measured pressure in the refrigerant cooling loop circuit is above a preset standby pressure threshold and thus lowering the pressure in the refrigerant cooling loop circuit.

14. The device of claim 1 , wherein the containers are gaseous hydrogen tanks and the pressurized gas source contains pressurized gaseous hydrogen.

15. A process for refuelling containers with pressurized gas, with a device comprising gas source, a transfer circuit for transferring compressed gas from the gas source to a container, the process comprising a step of cooling a heat exchanger located in the transfer circuit, the heat exchanger being in heat exchange with the gas flowing from the source to the container(s), the step of cooling comprising the production of a cooling power in a evaporator section of a refrigerant cooling loop circuit, the refrigerant cooling loop circuit comprising, arranged in series, a compressor, a condenser section, an expansion valve and the evaporator section, the condenser section being in heat exchange with a cold source, the process comprising the step of switching the refrigeration system in a first standby mode when the device is not refuelling a container, characterized in that, in said first standby mode the compressor is switched off when the temperature of the heat exchanger is equal or below a predefined first standby temperature threshold and is started and operated for producing cooling power and cooling the heat exchanger when the temperature of the heat exchanger is above a second standby threshold temperature and in that the electronic controller is configured in the first standby mode for starting or activating the cold source when the sensed pressure in the refrigerant cooling loop circuit is above a preset standby pressure threshold so that cold is transferred by the cold source to the refrigerant cooling loop circuit and thus the pressure in the refrigerant cooling loop circuit is lowered.

16. The process of claim 15 , wherein it comprises a step of directing some refrigerant of the refrigerant cooling loop circuit to an expansion vessel for lowering the pressure in the refrigerant cooling loop circuit below a predetermined value.

17. The process of claim 16 , wherein, when the pressure in the expansion vessel is above a predetermined value, the process comprises a step providing cold to the refrigerant cooling loop circuit via the cold source and withdrawing gas

Assignees

• Air Liquide

Inventors

• Werlen Etienne
• Buck Marcus

Classifications

• F25B41/24

  Arrangement of shut-off valves for disconnecting a part of the refrigerant cycle, e.g. an outdoor part · CPC title

• F25B41/20

  Disposition of valves, e.g. of on-off valves or flow control valves (expansion valves F25B41/31) · CPC title

• Y02E60/32

  Hydrogen storage · CPC title

• F25B2700/21151

  at the suction side of the compressor · CPC title

• F25B2700/21174

  of the refrigerant at the inlet of the evaporator · CPC title