Installation and method for the liquefaction of hydrogen

An installation for the liquefaction of hydrogen, the installation comprising:

• a supply circuit (3) for supplying hydrogen to be cooled, having an upstream end designed to be connected to a source (2) of gaseous hydrogen under pressure at a first initial temperature and a downstream end (23) designed to be connected to at least one liquefied hydrogen collection member (30);
• a plurality of heat exchangers (4, 5, 6, 7, 17) arranged in series in heat exchange with the supply circuit (3);
• a first pre-cooling device (8) in heat exchange with a first set (4, 5) of the heat exchanger(s), the first pre-cooling device (8) being configured to reduce the temperature of the hydrogen from the first initial temperature to a second temperature, which is below the first initial temperature, and is between 120 K and 163 K;
• a second pre-cooling device (9) in heat exchange with a second set (4, 5, 6) of the heat exchangers, the second pre-cooling device being configured to reduce the temperature of the hydrogen from the second temperature to a third temperature, which is below the second temperature, and is between 103 K and 80 K,
• a cooling system (10) in heat exchange with a third set (4, 5, 6, 7, 17) of the heat exchangers, the cooling system being configured to reduce the temperature of the hydrogen from the third temperature to a fourth temperature below the critical temperature of the hydrogen,
• wherein the second pre-cooling device (9) comprises a second refrigeration cycle for a second cycle gas consisting of nitrogen,
• wherein the first pre-cooling device (8) comprises a closed refrigeration cycle for a first cycle gas comprising at least three components including at least one first component that is more volatile than at least one second component, the at least one second component being more volatile than at least one third component,
• wherein the second refrigeration cycle of the first pre-cooling device (8) comprises:
• a first centrifugal compressor (18) for the first cycle gas;
• a cooling member (180) for the compressed first cycle gas configured to produce a two-phase fluid;
• a first phase separator (28) configured to separate the two-phase fluid;
• a pair of second compression members (38, 58) configured to compress a gas and liquid from the first phase separator (28);
• a second phase separator (48) configured to separate the two-phase fluid produced by the pair of second compression members (38, 58);
• a first duct (68) in heat exchange with the first set (4, 5) of the heat exchangers and configured to cool and partially condense gas produced by the second phase separator (48) and to transfer this partially condensed gas to a third phase separator (88);
• a first expansion member (78) configured to expand a liquid produced by the second phase separator (48);
• a fourth phase separator (108) configured to recover the liquid produced by the second phase separator (48) and expanded by the first expansion member (78) and to be additionally supplied with a liquid produced by the third phase separator (88);
• and
• a return passage configured to transfer fluid from the fourth phase separator through the first set of heat exchangers and into an inlet of the first centrifugal compressor (18).