Installation and method for supplying a fuel cell with hydrogen

An installation for supplying a fuel cell with hydrogen, the installation comprising:

• the fuel cell;
• a liquefied hydrogen storage tank;
• and
• a supply circuit comprising at least one upstream end connected to the liquefied storage tank and one downstream end connected to a fuel inlet of the fuel cell, the supply circuit comprising:
• a set of control valves and a hydrogen heating system configured to heat hydrogen by heat exchange with a heat source, wherein the hydrogen heating system comprises a first heating heat exchanger, wherein the liquefied hydrogen storage tank is configured to keep the liquefied hydrogen in equilibrium with a gaseous phase at a determined nominal storage pressure of between 1.5 and 4.5 bar,
• wherein the supply circuit further comprises a liquid withdrawal pipe and a buffer tank for pressurized gaseous hydrogen that is configured to store the hydrogen withdrawn from the liquefied hydrogen storage tank and heated by the hydrogen heating system,
• wherein the set of control valves is configured to accumulate pressurized gas in the buffer tank at a determined storage pressure of between 4 and 100 bar,
• wherein the liquid withdrawal pipe connects a lower portion of the liquefied hydrogen storage tank to the fuel inlet of the fuel cell, the liquid withdrawal pipe comprising, arranged in series, the first heating heat exchanger and a first pressure- and/or flow rate-regulating valve, said first pressure- and/or flow rate-regulating valve being configured to feed the fuel inlet of the fuel cell at a determined operating pressure of between 1 and 3 bar, wherein the fuel cell is fed with hydrogen by the liquefied hydrogen storage tank.