Method and equipment for rapidly filling a downstream tank with cryogenic liquid from an upstream store

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and equipment for filling at least one downstream tank with a cryogenic liquid, from an upstream store which contains, at a storage pressure above atmospheric pressure, the cryogenic fluid in the liquid phase at the bottom of the tank, and the cryogenic fluid in the gas phase at the top of the tank, said upstream store being suitable for feeding liquid withdrawn from the bottom of the store to the downstream tank, as well as to be supplied with fluid from the outside, characterized in that one generates and maintains a pressure difference between the upstream store and the downstream tank, by pressurizing the gas phase of the upstream store at a pressure that is greater than the equilibrium pressure of the store.

1 - 4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . A process for filling at least one downstream tank with a cryogenic liquid from an upstream storage tank, the upstream storage tank contains, under a storage pressure higher than atmospheric pressure, the cryogenic fluid in liquid phase at the bottom of the storage tank and in gas phase at the top of the storage tank, said upstream storage tank being designed to supply the downstream tank with liquid extracted from the bottom of the storage tank, and to be supplied from the exterior with fluid, the process comprising creating and maintaining a pressure difference between the upstream storage tank and the downstream tank, by establishing, in the gas phase in the upstream storage tank, a pressure that is higher than the equilibrium pressure in the storage tank. 
     
     
         6 . The filling process of  claim 5 , wherein the pressure of the gas phase in the upstream storage tank is maintained by acting on the supply pressure of the cryogenic liquid in the upstream storage tank at the foot of the tank and on the temperature of the stored cryogenic liquid. 
     
     
         7 . The filling process of  claim 6 , wherein a control device is provided, able to automatically manage the supply pressure of the cryogenic liquid in the upstream storage tank at the foot of the tank and the temperature of the stored cryogenic liquid, in response to a measurement of the pressure of the gas phase in the upstream storage tank and the position of this measurement relative to the equilibrium pressure in the storage tank. 
     
     
         8 . An installation for filling at least one downstream tank with a cryogenic liquid from an upstream storage tank, which upstream storage tank contains, under a storage pressure higher than atmospheric pressure, the cryogenic fluid in liquid phase at the bottom of the storage tank and in gas phase at the top of the storage tank, said upstream storage tank being designed to supply the downstream tank with liquid extracted from the bottom of the storage tank, and to be supplied from the exterior with fluid, comprising a control device able to automatically manage the supply pressure of the cryogenic liquid in the upstream storage tank at the foot of the tank and the temperature of the stored cryogenic liquid, in response to a measurement of the pressure of the gas phase in the upstream storage tank and the position of this measurement relative to the equilibrium pressure in the storage tank, so as to maintain, in the gas phase in the upstream storage tank, a pressure that is higher than the equilibrium pressure in the storage tank.