Apparatus and method for filling a tank with a pressurized gas

文档序号:1335536 发布日期:2020-07-17 浏览:13次 中文

阅读说明:本技术 用于为罐充注加压气体的设备和方法 (Apparatus and method for filling a tank with a pressurized gas ) 是由 T·弗朗索瓦 于 2020-01-08 设计创作,主要内容包括:本发明涉及用于为罐充注加压气体的设备和方法,设备包括至少一个气体源和输送线路,输送线路包括连接至源的至少一个上游端部和旨在以可移除方式连接至罐的至少一个下游端部,输送线路在其上游端部和下游端部之间包括一组缓冲储器,缓冲储器经由连接阀并联连接至输送线路,输送线路包括形成环路的管线,多个缓冲储器并联连接至环路,输送线路包括多个独立的下游端部,每个下游端部旨在以可移除方式连接至待充注罐,下游端部并联连接至环路并且包括一组链接阀,对连接阀和链接阀的控制能够使至少一个第一缓冲储器经由环路与第一下游端部流体连通,同时使至少一个第二缓冲储器经由环路与第二下游端部流体连通,和/或使两个独立的缓冲储器流体连通。(The invention relates to a device and a method for filling a tank with a pressurized gas, the device comprising at least one gas source and a delivery line, the delivery line comprising at least one upstream end connected to the source and at least one downstream end intended to be removably connected to the tank, the delivery line comprising, between its upstream and downstream ends, a set of buffer reservoirs connected in parallel to the delivery line via a connecting valve, the delivery line comprising a line forming a loop, a plurality of buffer reservoirs connected in parallel to the loop, the delivery line comprising a plurality of independent downstream ends, each downstream end intended to be removably connected to the tank to be filled, the downstream ends being connected in parallel to the loop and comprising a set of linking valves, control of the connecting valves and linking valves enabling at least one first buffer reservoir to be in fluid communication with the first downstream end via the loop while at least one second buffer reservoir is in fluid communication with the second downstream end via the loop, and/or to place two separate buffer reservoirs in fluid communication.)

1. An apparatus for filling a tank with pressurized gas, in particular a hydrogen tank of a motor vehicle, comprising at least one gas source (2), and a delivery line (3) comprising at least one upstream end connected to the source (2) and at least one downstream end (4) intended to be removably connected to a tank (5) to be filled, the delivery line (3) further comprising, between its upstream and downstream ends, a set of buffer reservoirs (6-11) connected in parallel to the delivery line (3) via a set of respective connection valves (16-21), the delivery line (3) comprising a portion of line forming a loop (12), a plurality of buffer reservoirs (6-11) being connected in parallel to the loop (12), characterized in that the delivery line (3) comprises a plurality of independent downstream ends (4), each downstream end portion is intended to be removably connected to a respective tank (5) to be filled, the plurality of downstream end portions (4) being connected in parallel to the loop (12) and comprising a set of respective linking valves (40,140,240,340), the control of which enables at least one first buffer reservoir to be in fluid communication with the first downstream end portion via the loop (12) and at the same time at least one second buffer reservoir to be in fluid communication with the second downstream end portion via the loop (12), and/or two separate buffer reservoirs.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the loop (12) of the transfer line (3) comprises a set of isolation valves (13) configured to prevent or allow the circulation of the fluid in the loop (12) to or from a buffer reservoir by controlling the circulation direction in the loop (12) according to their closed/open state.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the set of isolation valves (13) comprises, for each buffer reservoir, two valves respectively located on both sides of the connection of the buffer reservoir with the loop (12).

4. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that the loop (12) comprises at least one valve (13,23) between a downstream end (4) and two adjacent connections of the loop (12).

5. The plant according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the transfer line (3) comprises at least one compressor (15,22) comprising an inlet for the gas to be compressed and a compressed gas outlet, the inlet being connected to at least one of the following: the source (2), at least one buffer reservoir, the compressed gas outlet being connected to at least one of: at least one buffer reservoir, at least one of the downstream ends (4) of the transfer line (3).

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises at least one compressor (15,22) positioned in the transfer line in series between the source (2) and the loop (12), in other words the inlet of the compressor (15,22) is connected to the source (2) and the outlet of the compressor (15,22) is connected to the loop (12), so that all or some buffer reservoirs and/or all or some downstream ends (4) of the transfer line can be supplied with compressed gas via the loop (12).

7. An apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises at least one compressor (15,22) in the transfer line (3), the inlet of the compressor (15,22) being connected to one part of the loop (12) and the outlet of the compressor (15,22) being connected to another part of the loop (12), so that the inlet of the compressor (15,22) can be supplied via the loop (12) with fluid originating from the source (2) and/or from at least one buffer reservoir, and so that all or some of the other buffer reservoirs and/or all or some of the downstream end (4) of the transfer line can be supplied via the loop (12) with gas compressed by the compressor (15, 22).

8. The plant according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that it comprises two compressors (15,22) positioned in parallel or in series in the transfer line (3).

9. Method for filling a tank, in particular a hydrogen tank of a motor vehicle, with pressurized gas using an apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a phase of delivering pressurized gas to a first tank (5) connected to a first downstream end (4) of the delivery line (3) via a first part of the loop (12).

10. A method according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises, simultaneously with the phase of delivering pressurised gas to said first tank (5), a phase of delivering pressurised gas to a second tank (5) connected to the second downstream end (4) of said delivery line (3) via a second portion of said loop (12).

11. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that during the phase of delivering pressurized gas to the second tank (5), pressurized gas is provided by at least one buffer reservoir, in particular a plurality of buffer reservoirs used in succession in a cascade, and/or by a compressor (15, 22).

12. Method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that it comprises, simultaneously with the phase of delivering pressurised gas to said first tank (5), a phase of delivering pressurised gas to at least one buffer reservoir via another part of said loop (12).

13. Method according to claim 12, characterized in that during the phase of delivering pressurized gas to the at least one buffer reservoir, pressurized gas is provided by the at least one buffer reservoir, in particular a plurality of buffer reservoirs used in succession in a cascade, and/or by a compressor (15, 22).

14. Method according to any one of claims 9-13, characterized in that during the phase of delivering pressurized gas to the first tank (5), pressurized gas is provided by at least one buffer reservoir, in particular a plurality of buffer reservoirs used successively in a cascade, and/or by a compressor (15, 22).

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for filling a tank with a pressurized gas.

More particularly, the invention relates to a device for filling a tank with a pressurized gas, in particular a hydrogen tank of a motor vehicle, comprising at least one gas source, a delivery line comprising at least one upstream end connected to said source and at least one downstream end for removable connection to the tank to be filled, the delivery line further comprising, between its upstream and downstream ends, a set of buffer reservoirs connected in parallel to the delivery line via a set of respective connection valves, the delivery line comprising a line portion forming a loop to which a plurality of buffer reservoirs are connected in parallel.

Background

It is known to fill tanks with pressurized gas by means of a balancing action or cascade (with one or more buffer reservoirs) and/or by direct or indirect compression (cf. e.g. JP20031742497 or FR 2891347 a).

In most known devices, the filling of the buffer reservoir for filling is only possible after the tank has been filled.

Furthermore, the known device enables the simultaneous filling of a plurality of tanks, but for a plurality of tanks having the same initial pressure conditions. Simultaneous filling of multiple tanks with different initial pressure conditions is only feasible at the cost of large and expensive equipment (dedicated pressure source for each fill line).

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the present invention to overcome all or some of the above disadvantages of the prior art.

To this end, the apparatus according to the invention and according to the generic definition given in the preamble above is essentially characterized in that the transfer line comprises a plurality of independent downstream ends, each intended to be removably connected to a respective tank to be filled, said downstream ends being connected in parallel to said loop and comprising a set of respective linking valves, so that the control of the connecting valves and linking valves enables the at least one first buffer reservoir to be brought into fluid communication with the first downstream end via the loop and at the same time the at least one second buffer reservoir to be brought into fluid communication with the second downstream end via the loop and/or the two independent buffer reservoirs to be brought into fluid communication.

Furthermore, embodiments of the invention may include one or more of the following features:

the loop of the transfer line comprises a set of isolation valves configured to prevent or allow fluid in the loop to circulate to or from the buffer reservoir by controlling the direction of circulation in the loop according to their closed/open state,

the set of isolation valves comprises two valves for each buffer reservoir, one on each side of the connection of the buffer reservoir to the loop,

the loop comprises at least one valve between the downstream end and two adjacent connections of the loop,

-the transfer line comprises at least one compressor comprising an inlet for the gas to be compressed, and a compressed gas outlet, the inlet being connected to at least one of: the source, at least one buffer reservoir, the compressed gas outlet connected to at least one of: at least one buffer reservoir, at least one of the downstream ends of the transfer line,

the plant comprises at least one compressor positioned in the transfer line in series between the source and the loop, in other words with an inlet of the compressor connected to the source and an outlet of the compressor connected to the loop, so as to enable supply of compressed gas via the loop to all or some of the buffer reservoirs and/or to all or some of the downstream end of the transfer line,

the apparatus comprises at least one compressor in the transfer line, the inlet of the compressor being connected to one part of the circuit and the outlet of the compressor being connected to another part of the circuit, so that the inlet of the compressor can be supplied via the circuit with fluid originating from the source and/or from at least one buffer reservoir, and so that all or some of the downstream ends of all or some of the other buffer reservoirs and/or of the transfer line can be supplied via the circuit with gas compressed by the compressor,

the plant comprises two compressors positioned in parallel or in series in the transfer line.

The invention also relates to a method for filling a tank, in particular a hydrogen tank of a motor vehicle, with a pressurized gas using an apparatus according to any one of the above or below mentioned features, comprising the stage/step of delivering the pressurized gas to a first tank connected to a first downstream end of a delivery line via a first part of a loop.

According to other possible different features:

the method comprises, simultaneously with the phase of delivering the pressurised gas to the first tank, a phase of delivering the pressurised gas to a second tank connected to a second downstream end of the delivery line via a second portion of the loop,

during the phase of delivering pressurized gas to the second tank, the pressurized gas is provided by at least one buffer reservoir, in particular a plurality of buffer reservoirs used in succession in a cascade and/or by a compressor,

the method comprises, simultaneously with the phase of delivering pressurised gas to the first tank, a phase of delivering pressurised gas to at least one buffer reservoir via another part of the loop,

during the phase of delivering pressurized gas to the at least one buffer reservoir, the pressurized gas is provided by the at least one buffer reservoir, in particular a plurality of buffer reservoirs used in succession in a cascade, and/or by a compressor,

during the phase of delivering pressurized gas to the first tank, the pressurized gas is provided by at least one buffer reservoir, in particular a plurality of buffer reservoirs used in succession in a cascade, and/or by a compressor.

The invention may also relate to any alternative device or method comprising any combination of the above or below mentioned features within the scope of the claims.

Drawings

Various other features and advantages will appear upon reading the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic partial diagram illustrating the structure and operation of a first embodiment of an apparatus according to the present invention;

fig. 2 is a schematic partial view showing the structure and operation of a second embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention.

Detailed Description

In fig. 1 is shown an apparatus 1 for filling tanks with pressurized gas (for example a petrol station), comprising a source of gas 2 and a delivery line 3 comprising at least one upstream end connected to the source 2 and a plurality of downstream ends 4 intended to be removably connected to respective tanks 5 to be filled.

The source 2 may comprise one or more pressurized gas tanks and/or one or more liquefied gas reservoirs (associated or not with a vaporization system), one or more electrolysis devices, and/or any other suitable source of pressurized gas.

The transfer line 3 comprises, between its upstream end and its downstream end, a portion of line forming a loop 12, that is to say this loop 12 is constituted by one or more sections of line enabling the pressurised gas to circulate in one direction (or in the opposite direction) between two elements connected to separate points of the loop 12. For example, in theory, gas may pass through the loop and return to the starting point by circulating in one direction or circulating in the opposite direction.

The transfer line 3 comprises a set of buffer reservoirs 6-11, which are connected in parallel to the transfer line 3 via a corresponding set of connecting valves 16-21. More specifically, these buffer reservoirs 6-11 are connected in parallel to said loop 12, that is to say that each of these buffer reservoirs (six in the present example) can be fluidly connected to other buffer reservoirs (in which the gas flows in one direction or in the other in the loop 12) via the loop 12.

Likewise, the downstream end portions 4 (three in this example) of the conveying line 3 are connected in parallel to the loop 12. Preferably, each of said downstream ends comprises a respective linking valve 40,140, 240.

Thus, controlling the connecting valves 16-21 and controlling the link valves 40,140,240 enables each buffer reservoir to be in fluid communication (or not) with each first downstream end 4 via the loop 12. Also, this same control of the valves enables at least one first buffer reservoir to be in fluid communication with the first downstream end via the loop 12, and at the same time at least one second buffer reservoir to be in fluid communication with the second downstream end via the loop 12 and/or two separate buffer reservoirs, in other words, this architecture enables filling of a plurality of tanks 5 simultaneously from different respective buffer reservoirs. Again, this enables simultaneous filling of one or more buffer reservoirs when appropriate.

Thus, the loop 12 of the transfer line 3 preferably comprises a set of isolation valves 13 configured to prevent or allow the fluid in the loop 12 to circulate to or from the buffer reservoir by controlling the circulation direction in the loop 12 according to their closed/open state.

For example, the set of isolation valves 13 comprises, for each buffer reservoir, two valves 13 respectively located on either side of the connection of the buffer reservoir to the loop 12. Thus, the access to the buffer reservoir is closed by closing both valves 13. With one of the two valves open, fluid can circulate between the loop 12 and the buffer reservoir on one side of the open valve without affecting the adjacent buffer reservoir downstream/after the other valve that is closed.

Also, as shown in fig. 1, the loop 12 preferably comprises a valve 23 between the downstream end 4 and two adjacent junctions of the loop 12. In the closed position, the valve 23 enables the downstream end 4 located on one side of the valve to be fed (via the portion of the loop in which the gas circulates in the first circulation direction) and, at the same time, the downstream end 4 located on the other side of the valve 23 to be fed (via the other portion of the loop 12 in which the gas circulates in the opposite direction to the first circulation direction).

The transfer line 3 may advantageously comprise at least one compressor 15 positioned in series between the source 2 and the loop 12. As shown in fig. 1, the transfer line may in particular comprise a compressor group consisting of two compressors 15,22 (or more compressors) mounted in parallel between the source 2 and the loop 12.

The compressor 15 therefore comprises an inlet for the gas to be compressed connected to the source 2 and a compressed gas outlet connected to the loop 12 (and therefore to the buffer reservoir and to the downstream end 4 of the line).

Thus, by controlling the opening of the appropriate valves, it is possible to use the compressor 15 to fill one or more buffer reservoirs and/or feed one or more downstream ends 4, while at the same time e.g. other buffer reservoirs are used to fill other tank(s) 5.

The embodiment of fig. 2 differs from the embodiment of fig. 1 mainly in that the compressors 15,22 are located "in the middle" of the loop 12, in other words the inlets of the compressors 15,22 are connected to one part of the loop 12 and the outlets of the compressors 15,22 are connected to another part of the loop 12. This configuration makes it possible to supply the inlet of the compressor 15,22 with fluid originating from the source 2 and/or from any buffer reservoir on the one hand, and to supply all or part of the other buffer reservoirs and/or the downstream end 4 of the delivery line with compressed gas via the compressor 15,22 on the other hand.

The device according to the invention thus makes it possible to fill one or more tanks 5 with pressurized gas using any buffer reservoir (for example using the buffer reservoir with the highest pressure) and at the same time to (re) fill the buffer reservoir (for example via the compressor 15).

Thus, one, two or three buffer reservoirs 6, 7, 8 may be used for filling the first tank 5, while during this time one, two or all other buffer reservoirs 9, 10, 11 are filled with the compressor 15. Also, at the same time, two or more tanks 5 may each be filled by two respective sets of buffer reservoirs, while a third set of buffer reservoirs is filled by the compressor 15 at the same time.

Thus, the device, although simple and inexpensive in construction, enables a plurality of simultaneous cascades/charges of a plurality of tanks 5.

This enables the filling and repressurization times of the device to be optimized.

The present solution also makes it possible to reduce the number of buffer reservoirs required per flexible filling hose (downstream end 4).

This is because, instead of using, for example, three buffer reservoirs (400 litres and 900 bar) for each downstream end portion 4 (dispenser), six of these may be sufficient to supply three downstream end portions 4 (in other words three flexible filling hoses for the tank 5).

This flexible modular sharing enables a cost reduction of about 50%.

This solution also makes it possible to optimize the electrical consumption of the compressor 15, since the compressor can use a high pressure source (buffer reservoir in the case of fig. 2), which reduces its electrical consumption and increases its output.

Thus, the device can be applied more frequently to filling operations, as the time required to fill the buffer tank between uses is reduced.

All or part of the elements (valves, compressors, etc.) can be controlled and guided by an electronic control unit for storing and processing data, which comprises, for example, a microprocessor and, in particular, a computer. Generally, the flow and/or pressure of the gas delivered to the tank 5 may be specifically controlled so as to follow a (pre-) determined boost in pressure/temperature/density or other parameters.

As shown, the loop may not contain a compressor.

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