Process and plant for the production of liquid hydrogen
AssigneeL'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
InventorsLaurent Allidieres, Gregoire Rigout, Pierre Barjhoux, Pierre-Germain Marlier
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Abstract
Process and plant for the production of liquid hydrogen with a liquefier that has a variable cooling power dependent on the electrical power consumed. The liquefier is supplied with electricity by a first source of electricity at least one additional source of electricity that provides an intermittent or variable amount of electricity over time. Liquid hydrogen is produced at first thermodynamic conditions when the liquefier is supplied with a predetermined nominal electrical energy level and produced at subcooled conditions, with respect to the first thermodynamic conditions, when electricity supplied to the liquefier exceeds the nominal level.
Claims15
A process for production of liquid hydrogen though use of a liquefier fed by a source of gaseous hydrogen, the liquefier having a variable cooling power dependent on an amount of electrical power consumed, the liquefier being supplied with electricity by a first source of electricity and at least one additional source of electricity that provides an amount of electricity which is intermittent or variable over time, wherein the liquid hydrogen is produced by the liquefier at first thermodynamic conditions when the liquefier is supplied with the electricity at a predetermined nominal electrical energy level and, when the liquefier is supplied with the electricity at an energy level exceeding the said nominal level, the hydrogen produced by the liquefier is subcooled with respect to the first thermodynamic conditions.
A plant for production of liquid hydrogen, comprising a liquefier, a source of gaseous hydrogen connected to the liquefier, a first source of electricity connected to the liquefier in order to supply the liquefier with the electricity, at least one additional source of electricity which provides an amount of electricity which is intermittent or variable over time and which is connected to the liquefier in order to supply the liquefier with electricity, and an electronic controller, wherein:
- the liquefier has a variable cooling power which depends on an amount of electrical power consumed;
- the electronic controller is adapted and configured to manage a refrigerating power of the liquefier in order to produce the liquid hydrogen at first thermodynamic conditions when the liquefier is supplied with the electricity at a predetermined nominal electrical energy level, and produce the liquid hydrogen, which is subcooled with respect to the first thermodynamic conditions when the liquefier is supplied with the electricity at an energy level exceeding the said nominal level.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.