Device and process for cooling a flow of a target fluid predominantly comprising dihydrogen, and associated use thereof

Abstract

The device (100) for cooling a flow (101) of a target fluid predominantly comprising dihydrogen, comprises:a first heat exchanger (105) configured to cool an intermediate refrigerant fluid (110) by heat exchange with an expanded dioxygen flow (115),an intermediate closed circuit (120) for transporting the intermediate refrigerant fluid from the first heat exchanger to a second heat exchanger (125),a means (130) for compressing the intermediate refrigerant fluid along the intermediate closed circuit,the intermediate refrigerant fluid, configured to remain in the liquid or supercritical state at least upon passing through the compression means andthe second heat exchanger configured to cool the target fluid flow by heat exchange with the intermediate refrigerant fluid cooled in the first heat exchanger.

1 . A device for cooling a flow of a target fluid predominantly comprising:
 a first heat exchanger configured to cool an intermediate refrigerant fluid by heat exchange with an expanded dioxygen flow,   an intermediate closed circuit for transporting the intermediate refrigerant fluid from the first heat exchanger to a second heat exchanger,   a means for compressing the intermediate refrigerant fluid along the intermediate closed circuit,   the intermediate refrigerant fluid, configured to remain in the liquid or supercritical state at least upon passing through the compression means and   the second heat exchanger configured to cool the target fluid flow by heat exchange with the intermediate refrigerant fluid cooled in the first heat exchanger.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate refrigerant fluid is predominantly:
 an n-pentane,   a i-butane,   an n-hexane,   an n-heptane,   an n-octane,   a 2-methylpentane,   a 2,2-dimethylbutane,   acetone,   ether,   methanol,   an n-butane or   ammonia.   
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the second heat exchanger is configured to cool the target fluid flow with, in addition to the intermediate refrigerant fluid, a refrigerant fluid flow, the device comprising a refrigerant fluid closed circuit, this circuit comprising:
 a means for compressing the low pressure refrigerant fluid at the outlet of the second exchanger to form a high pressure refrigerant fluid,   a means for inserting the high-pressure refrigerant fluid into the second heat exchanger,   a means for expanding the high pressure refrigerant fluid to form a low pressure refrigerant fluid,   a third heat exchanger configured to cool the target fluid flow by heat exchange with the low pressure refrigerant fluid and   a means for inserting the low pressure refrigerant fluid into the second heat exchanger.   
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 3 , which comprises a fourth heat exchanger configured to cool the target fluid flow by heat exchange with the low-pressure refrigerant fluid from the means for expanding the high-pressure refrigerant fluid, the means for inserting the low-pressure refrigerant fluid into the second exchanger temperature being configured to insert the flow of the low pressure refrigerant fluid from the fourth heat exchanger. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 3 , comprising the refrigerant fluid, wherein the refrigerant fluid is predominantly:
 nitrogen,   argon,   a mixture of nitrogen and argon or   a mixture of hydrocarbons and nitrogen.   
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 1 , which comprises a means for expanding dioxygen upstream of the first heat exchanger. 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 6 , which comprises a water electrolysis means, configured to produce dioxygen and dihydrogen, the dioxygen produced being provided by means for expanding dioxygen. 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 7 , which comprises a means for injecting dihydrogen from the water electrolysis means into the second heat exchanger. 
     
     
         9 . A method for cooling a flow of a target fluid predominantly comprising dihydrogen, comprising:
 a first step of heat exchange to cool an intermediate refrigerant fluid by heat exchange with an expanded dioxygen flow,   an intermediate step of circulating in a closed circuit the intermediate refrigerant fluid from the first heat exchange step to a second heat exchange step,   a step of compressing the intermediate refrigerant fluid during the intermediate closed circuit circulation step and   the second step of heat exchange to cool the target fluid flow by heat exchange with the intermediate refrigerant fluid cooled in the first heat exchange step,   
       the intermediate refrigerant fluid being configured to remain in the liquid or supercritical state at least upon performing the compression step. 
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 4 , comprising the refrigerant fluid, wherein the refrigerant fluid is predominantly:
 nitrogen,   argon,   a mixture of nitrogen and argon or   a mixture of hydrocarbons and nitrogen.