Method and device for filling a hydrogen tank

• US 10,451,219 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2016
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude (L'Air Liquide SA)
• Original Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude (L'Air Liquide SA)
• Inventors: Ravinel, Baptiste
• Primary Examiner(s): Vazquez, Ana M
• Application Number:
  US15/548,989
• Publication Number:
  US 20180023763A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,363 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 13/02 Special adaptations of indicating, measuring, or monitoring equipment measuring in general G01
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0326 electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/012 Hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/0123 gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/036 Very high pressure (>80 bar)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2225/0123 gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2225/036 Very high pressure, i.e. above 80 bars
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/0157 Compressors
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/0309 using another fluid
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/0341 using another fluid
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/0372 in the gas
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/0388 separate
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/032 using computers
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/043 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0434 Pressure difference
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0491 Parameters measured at or inside the vessel
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0626 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0631 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0636 Flow or movement of content
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/072 Action when predefined value is reached
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/025 : Reducing transfer time
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2265/065 : for refueling vehicle fuel tanks
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0139 : Fuel stations
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 5/007 : for individual gas tanks or containers, e.g. in vehicles filling with liquid fuel not under pressure, B60S5/02, B67D7/00
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 5/04 : requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. filling with helium or hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 5/06 : for filling with compressed gases
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 7/00 : Methods or apparatus for discharging liquefied, solidified, or compressed gases from pressure vessels, not covered by another subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/2033 : details of the sensing element
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/32 : Hydrogen storage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/45 : Hydrogen technologies in production processes

Abstract

A method for filling a tank with pressurized gaseous hydrogen from at least one source storage containing pressurized gaseous hydrogen at a first defined temperature and at a defined pressure higher than the pressure in the tank to be filled, in which hydrogen is transferred from the source storage to the tank by pressure balancing via a filling circuit having an upstream end linked to the source storage and a downstream end linked to the tank, and in which the at least one source storage exchanges heat with a member for heating the gas stored in the source storage, during at least a part of the transfer of hydrogen from the source storage to the tank, the gas contained in the source storage being heated to a second defined temperature that is higher than the first temperature.

Claims

1. A method for filling a pressurized gaseous hydrogen tank from at least one source store containing a pressurized gaseous hydrogen at a determined first temperature and at a determined pressure higher than a pressure in the tank that is to be filled, comprising the steps of:

transferring hydrogen from the source store to the tank by an equalizing of pressure via a filling circuit having an upstream end connected to the source store and a downstream end connected to the tank, the at least one source store being in a heat exchange relationship with a heater that is adapted and configured to heat up the gas stored in the source store; and

during at least part of the transfer of hydrogen from the source store to the tank, the hydrogen contained in the source store is heated up to a determined second temperature which is higher than the first temperature, wherein when a pressure differential between the gas in the source store and the gas in the tank, is below a determined first differential, the gas contained in the source store is heated up via the heater.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the heating of the gas contained in the source store increases the temperature of the gas being heated up by a determined amount between 10°

C. to 60°

C.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the gas contained in the source store is heated up only when the pressure differential is below said determined first differential.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determined first differential is between 50 and 250 bar.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein when the pressure differential is above a determined second differential, the gas contained in or withdrawn from the source store is cooled.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the cooling of the gas contained in the source store reduces its temperature by 10°

C. to 60°

C.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the cooling of the gas contained in the source store reduces its temperature by 20°

C. to 40°

C.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the gas in the source store has an initial pressure prior to filling and prior to heating between 150 and 950 bar.

9. The filling device of claim 8, wherein the heater comprises a heat exchanger and/or a coolant circuit in a heat exchange relationship with the source tank.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the heating of the gas contained in the source store increases the temperature of the gas being heated up by a determined amount between 20°

C. to 40°

C.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the determined first differential is between 100 and 200 bar.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the gas in the source store has an initial pressure prior to filling and prior to heating between 250 and 850 bar.

13. A device for filling a pressurized gaseous hydrogen tank, comprising:

at least one source store containing pressurized gaseous hydrogen at a determined first temperature and at a determined pressure;

a heater adapted and configured to heat up the gas stored in the source store;

a filling circuit having an upstream end connected to the source store and a downstream end adapted and configured to be coupled removably with the tank that is to be filled;

a regulator adapted and configure to regulate a pressure and/or flow rate of gas in the filling circuit;

a pressure sensor adapted and configured to sense a pressure in the tank;

an electronic data acquisition, storage and processing member that is connected to the regulator, connected to the heater, and connected to the sensor, wherein the electronic data acquisition, storage and processing member is adapted and configured to;

control the flow rate and/or pressure of the gas in the filling circuit via the regulator, and

command the heating-up of the gas contained in the source store, via the heater, to a determined second temperature which is higher than the first temperature during at least part of the transfer of hydrogen from the source store to the tank when a pressure differential between the gas in the source store and the gas in the tank is below a determined first differential.