WO2022185016A1

WO2022185016A1 - Gas liquefaction device and method for assembling such a device

Info

Publication number: WO2022185016A1
Application number: PCT/FR2022/050385
Authority: WO
Inventors: Davide DURI; Philippe NOMERANGE; Loïc PENIN; Géraldine PALISSAT; Louis-Vianney Mabille De La Paumeliere
Original assignee: Arianegroup Sas
Priority date: 2021-03-04
Filing date: 2022-03-03
Publication date: 2022-09-09
Also published as: FR3120430A1; EP4302030A1; FR3120430B1

Abstract

Gas liquefaction device (10) comprising an outer casing (12) and at least one removable module (M1, M2, M3) disposed inside the outer casing (12), the at least one removable module (M1, M2, M3) being configured to liquefy a gas, wherein the outer casing (12) comprises at least one removable cover (12A) used for reversibly closing the outer casing (12) and configured to insert/extract the at least one removable module (M1, M2, M3) into/from the interior of the outer casing (12), the outer casing (12) equipped with its at least one removable cover (12A) delimiting a closed chamber housing the at least one removable module (M1, M2, M3).

Description

Gas liquefaction device and method of assembling such a device

Technical area

This presentation relates to a gas liquefaction device and a method of manufacturing such a device. For example, the device can be configured to liquefy at least one gas comprising at least one of H2, He, O2, N2 and Ne.

Prior technique

Known gas liquefaction devices are generally manufactured individually, and have a very complex internal structure. The assembly time for such known devices is generally long, of the order of several months, and the maintenance operations (routine maintenance or repair) generally immobilize the device for equally long periods (one or more months). So there is a need for that.

Disclosure of Invention

[0003] One embodiment relates to a gas liquefaction device comprising an outer casing, at least one removable module disposed inside the outer casing, the at least one removable module being configured to liquefy a gas, the outer envelope comprising at least one removable cover reversibly closing the outer envelope and configured to introduce/extract the at least one removable module into/from inside the outer envelope, the outer envelope equipped with its at least one removable cover delimiting a closed enclosure housing the at least one removable module.

[0004] The liquefaction device may comprise one or more removable modules. It is understood that the single module is configured to liquefy a gas, or else all of the plurality of modules is configured to liquefy a gas. The outer casing may include one or more removable covers. Thereafter, and unless otherwise indicated, by “module” and “cover” is meant “at least one removable module” and “at least one removable cover”. Thereafter, and unless otherwise indicated, by "envelope" is meant "outer envelope".

The module can be configured to liquefy a gas at a temperature between 300° K and 4° K and a pressure between 1 bar and 80 bar.

[0006] For example, the module may include in particular, but not exclusively, one or more pipes and/or one or more valves and/or one or more heat exchangers and/or one or more regenerators and/or one or more compressors and/or one or more expansion turbines and/or one or more control devices and/or one or more safety devices, etc.

[0007] The cover being removable, it is understood that it can be placed/removed at will from the rest of the envelope. By "closing reversibly" is meant that the cover is configured to be removed to open the envelope, for example using tools, and without the need to destroy any part (i.e. without sacrificial part of the cover or the envelope, other than any seals). Thus, the cover can include any element allowing it to be assembled or disassembled at will from the rest of the casing, for example bolts, locks, seal, etc.

The module being removable, it is understood that it forms a unitary assembly which can be introduced into or extracted from the enclosure of the envelope at will. For example, the module can be structurally independent from the rest of the envelope (ie the entire envelope except the cover), and it can be placed within the envelope, or removed from within the envelope, by a simple transfer operation. For example, the module can cooperate according to the direction of transfer with an abutment of the envelope, but not necessarily, For example, the module can be reversibly coupled according to the direction of transfer with the envelope, for example to the using a pin or any other means known to those skilled in the art, but not necessarily, For example, the module is configured so as not to present any interface with the outside of the casing passing through the wall of the rest of the casing. In other words, any interfaces of the module can be arranged only on the cover. In the case where the device comprises several modules, the modules can be independent of each other (ie independent or connected in a reversible manner, for example by removable connections), or else permanently connected to each other, for example via a pipe welded connecting two adjacent modules.

[0009] Thanks to this structure, the module can be assembled outside the envelope, which is easier and allows it to be carried out by several operators, and then the module can be introduced into the envelope. to finalize the assembly of the liquefaction device. This allows a substantial saving of time compared to the known devices of the state of the art. Furthermore, thanks to this structure, the module can easily be removed from the casing, which facilitates maintenance interventions (routine maintenance or repair), and reduces the downtime of the liquefaction device compared to known devices of the state of the art.

[0010] In certain embodiments, the at least one removable module can be mounted on rail(s) within the outer casing, in order to guide the introduction/extraction of the at least one removable module into/from the inside the outer casing.

[0011] It is understood that the envelope may comprise one or more rails, and that the module is configured to slide on the rail or rails, within the envelope. The rail(s) can be common to all the modules (i.e. all the modules can be mounted on the same rail(s).

[0012] For example, the module may comprise a frame, for example a lattice structure. The chassis can be configured to limit thermal exchanges by conduction between the various elements of the module and the envelope. The chassis can be configured to mount on the enclosure rail(s). This makes it easier to install/remove the module within the envelope, and to reduce assembly and maintenance times. In the sense of present presentation, a module can be defined as all the elements carried by the same frame.

In some embodiments, at least one removable module may include at least one cold actuator cryogenic valve.

[0014] A cryogenic valve is said to have a cold actuator when it is completely integrated into the cold environment, the valve body and its actuator operating cold, between 300K and 4K depending on the gas to be liquefied and the position of the valve. within the device. For example, when the device is configured to liquefy H ₂ (dihydrogen), the cryogenic valves can be configured to operate at temperatures between 300K and 20K. In other words, all the elements of the valve, and in particular the actuator and the valve body, are configured to withstand a cold environment and can be placed entirely within the envelope, within a module. For example, such a valve can be a cold electrically actuated cryogenic valve or a cold pneumatically actuated cryogenic valve, for example using helium as the actuating gas.

In some embodiments, the at least one cold actuator cryogenic valve may be a cold electric actuator cryogenic valve.

[0016] For example, all the cryogenic valves of all the modules are cold actuator cryogenic valves. For example, all eventual cryogenic valves of all modules are cold electric actuator cryogenic valves.

[0017] Such valves make it possible to avoid complex control interfaces with the outside of the casing, and only require a simple interface with the outside, for example electrical. Conversely, in the state of the art for liquefaction devices, cryogenic valves are generally valves with a remote pneumatic or hydraulic actuator (ie whose actuator cannot withstand the cold and must be placed outside the envelope ) and that require a complex mechanical and fluidic interface, direct and as close as possible with the outside of the envelope due to the impossibility of operating these standard pneumatic or hydraulic actuators at the temperature ranges prevailing within the envelope (between 300K and 4K depending on the gas to be liquefied). This structurally and thermally couples the cryogenic valves of the prior art liquefaction devices with the shell. Such valves of the state of the art are not removable with respect to the casing, and impose strong positioning constraints, routing of the fluid circuits, and accessibility during assembly or maintenance.

[0018] In some embodiments, the at least one removable cover can include all the interfaces between the at least one removable module and the outside of the outer casing.

[0019] Such a structure makes it possible to ensure structural independence between the module and the rest of the envelope, and to reduce assembly and maintenance times. If the cover is unique, it includes all the interfaces between the module and the outside of the enclosure. If the envelope comprises several covers, the interfaces can be arranged on a single, several or all of the covers. For example, the envelope can comprise several covers, a single cover among all the covers can present all the interfaces between the at least one module and the exterior of the envelope, the other covers not comprising any interface between the at least one module and the outside of the enclosure. This makes it possible to further improve the structural independence of the module with respect to the envelope. [0020] In some embodiments, at least one removable cover can be attached to a removable module.

[0021] If the device only comprises a single cover, the single cover can be secured to one of the modules or to the single module. If the device comprises several covers, only one, several or all of the covers can each be secured to a module (single or separate). For example, there may be two covers and two (or more) modules, each of the two covers being attached to a separate module.

[0022] Such a structure facilitates the installation/removal of the assembly comprising the cover and the module to which it is attached. For example, the cover secured to a module can include all the interfaces between the single or all of the modules and the exterior of the envelope. This further facilitates the installation/removal of the assembly and makes it possible to reduce assembly and maintenance times.

[0023] In some embodiments, the outer casing may be a cylinder of circular section and extending along an axis, the outer casing comprising a single removable cover format an axial end of the outer casing or two covers removable each forming an opposite axial end of the outer casing.

In other words, at least one of the two axial ends of the cylinder formed by the casing are removable covers. This facilitates access within the envelope, and reduces maintenance times.

[0025] In certain embodiments, the liquefaction device may comprise (strictly) three separate modules, for example, depending on the gas to be liquefied, a first module for cooling the gas from room temperature to a temperature between 110° K and 77°K, a second module to compress the gas cooled by the first module to a pressure between 1 bar and 80 bar and a third module to cool the gas compressed by the second module to a temperature between 77°K and 4°K.

[0026] A structure with three removable modules allows a good balance between the ease and speed of handling the modules for their installation/removal within the envelope (the more modules there are, the more the assembly within the envelope is difficult and long), and the structural complexity of each module allowing easy manufacture and intervention on each module (at least the module includes functions at least it is structurally complex, but requires other modules for the others functions). [0027] In certain embodiments, the envelope can be configured to thermally insulate the closed enclosure from the exterior of the outer envelope, and to place and maintain the closed enclosure under vacuum. Placing the closed enclosure under vacuum reduces the effects of heat loss between the module and the outside of the enclosure by convection

[0028] For example, the envelope may include a vacuum pump. For example, the vacuum is a vacuum comprised between 10 ³ mbar and 1CT ⁵ mbar of absolute pressure in the envelope.

In some embodiments, the liquefaction device can be configured to liquefy H ₂ (dihydrogen), He (helium), 0 ₂ (dioxygen), N ₂ (dinitrogen), Ne (neon) , a mixture of He (helium) and Ne (neon) or a mixture of Ne (neon) and H ₂ (dihydrogen).

For example, the liquefaction device can be configured to liquefy H ₂ (dihydrogen) at a temperature of 20° K and a pressure of 1.0 bar, He (helium) at a temperature of 4° K and a pressure of 1.0 bar, N ₂ (dinitrogen) at a temperature of 77°K and a pressure of 1.0 bar, Ne (neon) at a temperature of 27°K and a pressure of 1.0 bar, a mixture of He and H ₂ at a temperature of 20°K and a pressure of 1.0 bar, a mixture of He and Ne at a temperature of 24°K and a pressure of 1.0 bar and/or a mixture of Ne and H ₂ at a temperature of 24°K and a pressure of 1.0 bar.

[0031] One embodiment relates to a method of assembling a liquefaction device according to any one of the embodiments described in the present presentation in which an outer casing is provided comprising at least one removable cover and configured to delimit a closed enclosure, at least one removable module is removably placed in the outer casing and the outer casing is reversibly closed using the at least one removable cover. Brief description of the drawings

The object of this presentation and its advantages will be better understood on reading the detailed description given below of various embodiments given by way of non-limiting examples. This description refers to the pages of appended figures, on which:

[0033] [Fig. 1] Figure 1 shows a gas liquefaction device according to a first embodiment,

[0034] [Fig. 2] Figure 2 shows a sectional view of the liquefaction device of Figure 1, along section plane II,

[0035] [Fig. 3] Figure 3 shows a method of assembling the assembly device of Figure 1,

[0036] [Fig. 4] FIG. 4 represents a first variant of the assembly device of FIG. 1, and of its assembly method, [0037] [Fig. 5] Figure 5 shows a second variant of the assembly device of Figure 1, and its assembly method.

Description of embodiments

[0038] Figure 1 shows a gas liquefaction device 10 comprising an outer casing 12 and at least one removable module, in this example three separate removable modules M1, M2 and M3, arranged inside the outer casing 12 The envelope 12 comprises at least one removable cover, in this example a single removable cover 12A, closing the envelope 12 reversibly. inside the casing 12. The casing 12 fitted with the cover 12A delimits a closed enclosure C housing all the modules M1, M2 and M3. This example strictly comprises three removable modules, but according to other variants, the liquefaction device could comprise a single, two, or more than three removable modules. The envelope 12 has a cylindrical shape of circular section, and extending along an axis X (or longitudinal axis X). In this example, the casing 12 comprises a single removable cover 12A forming an axial end of the casing. According to a variant shown in Figure 5, the casing 12 'comprises two removable covers 12A and 12B each forming an opposite axial end of the casing 12.

In this example, the envelope 12 is configured to thermally insulate the closed enclosure C from the outside E of the envelope 12, and to place and maintain the closed enclosure C under vacuum. For example, the envelope 12 may include a safety valve 16 to prevent any over/under pressure in the closed enclosure C. The envelope may include a vacuum pump 18.

The removable modules M1, M2, and M3 are configured together to liquefy H ₂ , He, 0 ₂ , N ₂ , Ne, a mixture of He and Ne or a mixture of Ne and _H2 . For example, in connection with the liquefaction of H _2; a first module M3 is configured to cool the gas from room temperature to a temperature of 80°K, a second module M2 is configured to compress the gas cooled by the first module M3 to a pressure of 1 bar, and a third module M1 is configured to cool the gas compressed by the second module M2 to a temperature of 20°K.

The modules M1, M2 and M3 are adjacent in pairs along the axial direction X and arranged in this order along the axial direction X, the module M3 being adjacent to the cover 12A.

In this example, each of the modules M1, M2 and M3 is mounted on a rail within the casing 12, in order to guide their introduction/extraction into/from inside the casing 12. For example, as this is visible in Figure 2, the casing 12 comprises two rails 13 which extend axially, and receive the three modules M1, M2 and M3. In this example, each module M1, M2 and M3 comprises a trellis frame 14, which cooperates with the rails 13. The rest of each module M1, M2 and M3 is mounted on its respective frame 14. The rest of each module can include in particular, but not exclusively, one or more pipes and/or one or more valves and/or one or more exchangers and/or one or more regenerators and/or one or more compressors and/or one or more expansion turbines and/or one or more control devices and/or one or more safety devices, etc.

In this example, all the cryogenic valves are cryogenic valves with a cold actuator, for example with an electric cold actuator. For example, modules M1 and M3 each include a cold actuator cryogenic valve 20 and 20' (see Figure 1, not shown in the other figures).

The modules M1, M2 and M3 are interconnected by electrical and/or fluidic connections L1. For example, only the adjacent modules are connected together, for example the module M1 is connected only to the module M2, the module M2 is connected to the modules M1 and M3 and the module M3 is connected only to the module M2. According to another example, electrical and/or fluidic connections can connect modules which are not necessarily adjacent, for example module M1 and module M3. In the present example, two electrical and/or fluidic connections L1 connect the modules M1 and M2 and two electrical and/or fluidic connections L1 connect the modules M2 and M3. There may be one or more L1 connections between each module. In other words, each module has at least one electrical (i.e. power and/or control) and/or fluidic connection with at least one other module (adjacent or not) to carry out together a complete liquefaction cycle of a gas.

The single removable cover 12A includes all the interfaces between the modules M1, M2 and M3 and the outside E of the casing 12. In this example, the module M2 does not include any interface with the outside, but only with the adjacent modules M1 and M3, while the modules M1 and M3 comprise interfaces with the exterior. These interfaces are symbolized by electrical and/or fluidic connections L21 and L22, the connection L21 connecting the module M1 to the cover 12A and the two connections L22 connecting the module M3 to the cover 12A. For example, one of the two lines L22 is a gas inlet at ambient temperature and pressure, and the other line L22 is an interface of electrical control, and line L21 is a liquefied gas outlet. According to a variant, the interfaces all extend between the module M3 adjacent to the cover and the cover 12A. According to another variant, there is more than one interface with the module M1. More generally, each module can have none, one or more interfaces with the exterior E. According to an example not shown, the interfaces can comprise a gas inlet to be liquefied, a liquefied gas outlet, a pre-cooling gas inlet , for the M3 module, and a pre-cooling gas outlet, an electrical connection, a connection for measurements and command controls.

In this example, the cover 12A is secured to the module M3, and the two connections L22 can be reversibly or irreversibly coupled with the cover 12A. The connection L21 can be reversibly coupled with the cover 12A, in which case the module M1 can be introduced/extracted from the casing 12, independently of the cover 12A and of the module M3. According to a variant, connection L21 can be irreversibly coupled with cover 12A, in which case module M1 must be introduced/extracted from envelope 12, at the same time as module M3 and cover 12A (and therefore in this example also with the module M2 arranged between the module M1 and the module M3).

A method of assembling the device 12 is described with reference to Figure 3. An envelope 12 is provided comprising a removable cover 12A and configured to delimit a closed enclosure C. The modules M1, M2 are then removably placed and M3 in the casing 12, for example by sliding them on the rails 13 axially according to the arrow A. The casing 12 is then reversibly closed using the cover 12A. In this example, the module M3 being integral with the cover 12A, the envelope 12 is closed at the same time as the module M3 is placed in the envelope 12.

According to one example, the connections L1, L21 and L22 are pre-connected between the three modules M1, M2 and M3 and the cover 12A outside the casing 12, and they are all then introduced together into the envelope 12.

According to another example, the connections L1 and L21 are made after the modules M1, M2 and M3 have been introduced into the casing 12, for example via manholes not shown or prior to the closing of the cover 12. According to yet another example, the connections L1 are connected between the modules M1 and M2 before introducing the module M3. The connections L22 between the module M3 and the cover 12A can be connected before the introduction of the module M3 and the simultaneous closing of the envelope 12 by the cover 12A, the cover 12A and the module M3 being, in this example, integral. Finally, the connections L1 are connected between the modules M2 and M3 via manholes, not shown.

[0051] According to a first variant of the method shown in Figure 4, the cover 12A is not attached to the module M3. The envelope 12 is then closed after having introduced the module M3. All the examples of connections considered above apply to the present variant, including for the L22 connections.

According to a second variant shown in Figure 5, the envelope 12 'comprises two removable covers 12A and 12B configured for the introduction / extraction of modules. In this example, only the cover 12A includes the interfaces between the modules M1, M2 and M3 and the outside E. For example, only the cover 12B can include the interfaces between the modules M1, M2 and M3 and the outside E, or else the interfaces between the modules M1, M2 and M3 and the outside E can be distributed between the two covers 12A and 12B. For example, the L21 interface can extend between the M1 module and the 12B cover while the L22 interfaces can extend between the M3 module and the 12A cover. In this example the cover 12B is not attached to the module M1. According to a variant, the cover 12B is integral with the module M1. In this example the cover 12A is integral with the module M3. According to a variant, the cover 12A is not attached to the module M3.

In this example, it is for example possible to introduce the modules sequentially, in all possible orders and combinations, according to arrow A or according to arrow B. All the examples of connections considered above apply to this variant. , for all connections L1, L21 and L22.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, it is obvious that modifications and changes can be made to these examples without departing from the general scope of the invention as defined by the claims. In particular, individual features of the different illustrated/mentioned embodiments can be combined in additional embodiments. Accordingly, the description and the drawings should be considered in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense.

It is also obvious that all the characteristics described with reference to a method can be transposed, alone or in combination, to a device, and conversely, all the characteristics described with reference to a device can be transposed, alone or in combination, to a method.

Claims

[Claim 1] Gas liquefaction device (10, 10') comprising an outer casing (12, 120, at least one removable module (M1, M2, M3) arranged inside the outer casing (12, 120 , the at least one removable module (M1, M2, M3) being configured to liquefy a gas, the outer casing (12, 12') comprising at least one removable cover (12A, 12A', 12B) reversibly closing the 'outer casing (12, 12') and configured to introduce/extract the at least one removable module (M1, M2, M3) into/from inside the outer casing (12, 120, the outer casing (12 , 12') equipped with its at least one removable cover (12A, 12A', 12B) delimiting a closed enclosure (C) housing the at least one removable module (M1, M2, M3), and in which the at least one module module (M1, M2, M3) is mounted on rail(s) within the outer casing (12, 12'), in order to guide the introduction/extraction of at least one removable module (M1, M2, M3) in/from inside the outer casing (12, 12') .

[Claim 2] A gas liquefaction device (10, 100 according to claim 1, wherein at least one removable module (M1, M2, M3) comprises at least one cold actuator cryogenic valve (20, 200-

[Claim 3] A gas liquefaction device (10, 100) according to claim 2, wherein the at least one cold actuator cryogenic valve is a cold electric actuator cryogenic valve (20, 20').

[Claim 4] Gas liquefaction device (10, 100 according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the at least one removable cover (12A, 12A', 12B) comprises all the interfaces between the at least one module removable (M1, M2, M3) and the exterior of the outer casing (12, 120

[Claim 5] Gas liquefaction device (10, 100 according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, in which at least one removable cover (12A) is integral with a removable module (M1).

[Claim 6] Gas liquefaction device (10, 10 ⁷ ) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, in which the outer casing (12, 12 ) is a cylinder of circular section and extending along an axis (X), the outer casing (12, 12') comprising a single removable cover (12A, 12A forming an axial end of the outer casing (12) or two removable covers (12A, 12B) each forming an axial end opposite the outer casing (12').

[Claim 7] Gas liquefaction device (10, 100 according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, comprising three distinct modules (M1, M2, M3), for example a first module (M3) for cooling the gas from the temperature ambient at a temperature between 110°K and 77°K, a second module (M2) for compressing the gas cooled by the first module (M3) to a pressure between 1 bar and 80 bar and a third module (M1) for cooling the gas compressed by the second module (M2) to a temperature between 77°K and 4°K.

[Claim 8] Gas liquefaction device (10, 10 ⁷ ) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the outer casing (12, 12 ⁷ ) is configured to thermally insulate the closed enclosure (C) from the outside (E) of the outer casing (12, 12'), and to place and maintain the closed enclosure (C) under vacuum.

[Claim 9] Gas liquefaction device (10, 10 ⁷ ) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, configured to liquefy H ₂ , He, 0 ₂ , N ₂ , Ne, a mixture of He and Ne or a mixture of Ne and H ₂ .

[Claim 10] Gas liquefaction device (10, 10 ⁷ ) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising a plurality of separate modules (Ml, M2, M3) consecutive, electrically and / or fluidly connected to each other by electrical and/or fluid connections (L1).

[Claim 11] Gas liquefaction device (10, 10 ⁷ ) according to claim 10, in which the plurality of consecutive distinct modules (M1, M2, M3) comprises at least one module (M2) electrically and/or fluidically connected to the removable cover (12A) only through at least another module (M1, M3) of said plurality of separate modules (M1, M2, M3).

[Claim 12] A gas liquefaction device (10, 100 according to claim 11), in which the electrical line (L22) is irreversibly connected to the removable cover (12A), and the two modules (M1, M3) and the cover removable (12A) are configured to be inserted/extracted from the outer casing (12) at the same time.

[Claim 13] A method of assembling a gas liquefaction device (10, 10') according to any one of claims 1 to 12, in which an outer casing (12, 120) comprising at least one removable cover is provided. (12A, 12A', 12B) and configured to delimit a closed enclosure (C), at least one removable module (M1, M2, M3) is removably placed in the outer casing (12, 12 and it is closed so reversible the outer casing (12, 120 using the at least one removable cover (12A, 12 A', 12B).