Mobile cryogenic tank and provisioning method

A mobile cryogenic tank for transporting cryogenic fluids, comprising:

• a. an inner shell configured to contain the cryogenic fluid that has a lower end and an upper end, the inner shell having a cylindrical overall shape extending along a central longitudinal axis (A) when the tank is in a transport and usage configuration, the central longitudinal axis (A) being oriented horizontally and being disposed between the lower and upper ends;
• b. an outer shell positioned around the inner shell and delimiting a space between the inner and outer shells, said space containing a thermal insulant;
• c. a set of temperature sensors measuring the temperature of the cryogenic fluid in the inner shell each of which is situated on an outer face of the inner shell and measures a temperature of said shell, the set of temperature sensors comprising:
• i. a lower temperature sensor positioned at a lower end of the inner shell situated below the central longitudinal axis (A);
• and
• ii. a plurality of intermediate temperature sensors distributed over two lateral faces of the inner shell on either side of the central longitudinal axis (A), the plurality of intermediate sensors also being distributed vertically between the lower and upper ends;
• and
• d. an electronic data storage and processing member comprising a microprocessor and/or a computer, said electronic data storage and processing member being connected to the set of temperature sensors and being configured to receive temperature values measured by said sensors and determine at least one of the following:
• a level of cryogenic liquid in the tank and a volume of cryogenic liquid in the tank,
• wherein said electronic data storage and processing member is further configured to:
• deliver cryogenic fluid to a first station and then to a second station;
• prior to delivering cryogenic fluid to the first station, increasing a pressure in the mobile cryogenic tank by a determined addition of energy by withdrawing some of the cryogenic fluid from the mobile cryogenic tank and heating the withdrawn cryogenic fluid before re-injecting the heated withdrawn cryogenic fluid into the mobile cryogenic tank;
• calculate future pressure and temperature equilibrium conditions that would exist in the mobile cryogenic tank after the delivery of cryogenic fluid to the first station on the basis of the aforementioned quantity of added energy and on the basis of the temperature and pressure of the cryogenic fluid in the mobile cryogenic tank, and
• interrupt delivery of cryogenic fluid to the first station when the calculated future pressure and temperature equilibrium conditions in the mobile cryogenic tank are higher than the determined thermodynamic temperature and pressure conditions for the store of the second station.