Installation and method for liquefying hydrogen

An installation for liquefying hydrogen, the installation comprising:

• a circuit configured to cool hydrogen having an upstream end configured to be connected to a source of gaseous hydrogen and a downstream end configured to be connected to at least one member for collecting the liquefied hydrogen;
• a set of heat exchanger(s) in heat exchange with the circuit;
• and
• a cooling system in heat exchange with at least part of the set of heat exchanger(s) and configured to lower the temperature of the hydrogen to a determined temperature,
• wherein the cooling system comprises a refrigerator with a cycle of refrigeration of a first cycle gas comprising helium and/or hydrogen,
• wherein the circuit comprises at least one catalysis section configured to ensure conversion of the ortho-hydrogen into para-hydrogen,
• wherein the circuit further comprises a first bypass portion bypassing at least one catalysis section configured to control the relative proportions of ortho-hydrogen and para-hydrogen that are obtained at the downstream end,
• wherein the downstream end of the circuit for hydrogen to be cooled comprises two parallel branches that are not combined and are supplied respectively with the hydrogen that has passed through the first bypass portion and hydrogen that has passed through the catalysis section, the two parallel branches closing two separate ends so as to provide two distinct hydrogen streams that have different relative proportions of ortho-hydrogen and para-hydrogen to one or more collection members,
• wherein the downstream ends of the two parallel branches are connected to a single fluidic connector or manifold, wherein the single fluidic connector or manifold is configured to deliver the two distinct hydrogen streams separately such that the two distinct hydrogen streams do not mix within the single fluidic connector or manifold.