Process for precooling hydrogen for liquefaction with supplement liquid nitrogen
AssigneeL'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
InventorsMichael A. TURNEY, Alain GUILLARD, Bobby Mon-Flan CHAN
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hydrogen feed stream is introduced into a primary refrigeration system of a precooling system and cooling the hydrogen stream to a first precooling temperature. From there, the precooled hydrogen stream is then introduced to a secondary refrigeration system of the precooling system and cooling the precooled hydrogen stream to a second temperature. Next, the cooled hydrogen stream is then liquefied in the liquefaction system to produce liquid hydrogen.
Claims17
A method for liquefaction of hydrogen in a hydrogen liquefaction unit, the method comprising the steps of:
- introducing a hydrogen stream into a precooling system under conditions effective for cooling the hydrogen stream to a temperature of between about 75K and about 100K, more preferably between about 80K and about 90K to produce a cooled hydrogen stream, wherein the precooling system comprises a primary refrigeration system and a secondary refrigeration system;
- introducing the cooled hydrogen stream to a liquefaction system under conditions effective for liquefying the cooled hydrogen stream to produce liquid hydrogen;
- and
- withdrawing the liquid hydrogen from the liquefaction system.
A method for liquefaction of hydrogen in a hydrogen liquefaction unit, the method comprising the steps of:
- introducing a hydrogen stream into a precooling system under conditions effective for cooling the hydrogen stream to a temperature of between 100K and 75K, to produce a cooled hydrogen stream, wherein the precooling system comprises a primary refrigeration system and a secondary refrigeration system;
- introducing the cooled hydrogen stream to a liquefaction system under conditions effective for liquefying the cooled hydrogen stream to produce liquid hydrogen;
- and
- withdrawing the liquid hydrogen from the liquefaction system. wherein the primary refrigeration system comprises compression and expansion of a primary refrigerant with expansion outlet pressure of P1 and a secondary refrigeration system comprises vaporization of liquid nitrogen at pressure P2. wherein the primary and secondary refrigerants are not in fluid communication.
The method as claimed in 14 wherein P1 is at least 0.5 bar greater than P2.
The method as claimed in 14, further comprising the step of providing an air separation unit and a hydrogen generation unit, wherein the air separation unit is configured to produce an oxygen stream and a liquid nitrogen stream, wherein the air separation unit is in fluid communication with the hydrogen generation unit and the secondary refrigeration system, such that the air separation unit is configured to send the oxygen stream to the hydrogen generation unit and the liquid nitrogen to the secondary refrigeration system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.