Device and method for filling a pressurized-gas tank

A device for filling pressurized-gas tanks, comprising:

• a plurality of distributors configured to supply a tank with pressurized gas from a source of fluid,
• the device comprising a refrigeration system for cooling the flow of gas in the plurality of distributors,
• the refrigeration system comprising a circuit of refrigerant fluid and a heat exchanger configured to provide an exchange of heat between a heat-transfer fluid and the flow of gas in the plurality of distributors,
• the circuit of heat-transfer fluid comprising, arranged in series in a loop,
• a reserve of heat-transfer fluid,
• a member for circulating the heat-transfer fluid in the circuit and
• at least one evaporator configured to provide a thermal exchange between the heat-transfer fluid and a source of cold,
• the plurality of distributors configured to supply separate tanks and each comprising a heat exchanger,
• the circuit of heat-transfer fluid being common to the plurality of distributors and comprising a set of parallel branches respectively passing through the various heat exchangers and
• a set of one or more distribution valves for controlling the flow of heat-transfer fluid to the one or more heat exchangers, and
• the device comprising a heat exchanger bypass portion (11) and a set of one or more heat exchanger bypass valves (12) for all or some of the heat exchangers,
• wherein the circuit comprises the heat exchanger bypass portion (11) and the set of one or more heat exchanger bypass valves (12) allowing all or some of the heat-transfer fluid to avoid passing through the heat exchanger of one or more distributor(s) of the plurality of distributors thereby configured to cool the heat-transfer fluid in the reserve and to accumulate cold energy therein independently of the need for cold energy in the distributor.