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US 2026/0043520 A1Published application
System and method for high flow rate liquid hydrogen tank filling
OwnerArya Ayaskanta, Kedar Nawathe +4inventors
InventorsArya Ayaskanta, Kedar Nawathe, Uzoma Mmeje, Sean M. Kelly, Anton Wellenhofer, Petya Toneva
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Abstract
A system and method for high rate liquid hydrogen tank filling with minimal vapor losses is provided. The flexible, pump-based filling system can achieve high fill rate of liquid hydrogen in excess of 100 kg per minute and accommodate maximum delivery pressures. The present system and method further includes recovery and re-liquefaction of displaced and flash generated tank vapors.
Claims25
A liquid cryogen filling system, comprising:
- a holding tank configured to store liquid cryogen;
- two or more cryogenic pumps disposed in series arrangement downstream of the holding tank, the two or more cryogenic pumps configured to pressurize a stream of liquid cryogen from the holding tank to form a pressurized liquid cryogen stream;
- a heat exchanger configured to warm the stream of liquid cryogen via indirect heat exchange against a recycled gaseous cryogen stream to yield a liquid cryogen recycle stream;
- a target tank disposed downstream of the heat exchanger and configured to receive the warmed, pressurized liquid cryogen stream;
- a recycle circuit comprising a first conduit configured to direct a saturated vapor cryogen stream from a headspace or overhead of the target tank to the heat exchanger as the recycled gaseous cryogen stream and a second conduit configured to receive the liquid cryogen recycle stream from the heat exchanger;
- one or more valves disposed in the recycle circuit downstream of the heat exchanger;
- and
- a recovery tank disposed downstream of the one or more valves and configured to receive the liquid cryogen recycle stream;
- wherein a liquid cryogen stream from the recovery tank is recycled.
6 more elements
A method of filling a tank with liquid cryogen comprising the steps of:
- pressurizing a liquid cryogen from a holding tank to form a pressurized liquid cryogen stream;
- warming the pressurized liquid cryogen stream via indirect heat exchange against a recycled gaseous cryogen stream to yield a liquid cryogen recycle stream and a warmed, pressurized liquid cryogen stream;
- filling a target tank with the warmed, pressurized liquid cryogen stream;
- taking a saturated vapor cryogen stream from a headspace or overhead of the target tank as the recycled gaseous cryogen stream;
- expanding the liquid cryogen recycle stream to form a dual phase cryogen recycle stream within a recovery tank or directed to the recovery tank;
- and
- recycling the cryogen liquid from the recovery tank to either the holding tank or to the pressurized liquid cryogen stream.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.