Method for large hydrogen liquefaction system

Abstract

A method for the liquefaction of hydrogen is provided. The can include the steps of: precooling a hydrogen feed stream in a precooling cold box having a heat exchanger disposed therein to form a cooled hydrogen stream, wherein the heat exchanger is configured to cool down the feed stream within the precooling cold box by indirect heat exchange between the hydrogen feed stream and a precooling refrigerant; and withdrawing the cooled hydrogen stream from the precooling cold box; introducing the cooled hydrogen stream to a plurality of liquefaction cold boxes, wherein the cooled hydrogen stream liquefies within the plurality of liquefaction cold boxes by indirect heat exchange against a liquefaction refrigerant to form a product hydrogen stream in each of the plurality of liquefaction cold boxes, wherein the product hydrogen stream is in liquid form or pseudo-liquid form wherein there are M total precooling cold boxes and N total liquefaction cold boxes, wherein M is less than N.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for the liquefaction of hydrogen, the method comprising the steps of:
 precooling a hydrogen feed stream in a precooling cold box having a heat exchanger disposed therein to form a cooled hydrogen stream, wherein the heat exchanger is configured to cool down the feed stream within the precooling cold box by indirect heat exchange between the hydrogen feed stream and a precooling refrigerant;   withdrawing the cooled hydrogen stream from the precooling cold box; and   introducing the cooled hydrogen stream to a plurality of liquefaction cold boxes, wherein the cooled hydrogen stream liquefies within the plurality of liquefaction cold boxes by indirect heat exchange against a liquefaction refrigerant to form a product hydrogen stream in each of the plurality of liquefaction cold boxes, wherein the product hydrogen stream is in liquid form or pseudo-liquid form,   wherein there are M total precooling cold boxes and N total liquefaction cold boxes, wherein M is less than N.   
     
     
         2 . The method for the liquefaction of hydrogen as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the liquefaction refrigeration system comprises a recycle compression system and an expansion system, wherein the recycle compression system is configured to compress the liquefaction refrigerant and the expansion system is configured to expand the liquefaction refrigerant. 
     
     
         3 . The method for the liquefaction of hydrogen as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein there are M total recycle compression systems and N total liquefaction expansion systems. 
     
     
         4 . The method for the liquefaction of hydrogen as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the recycle compression system comprises one or more recycle compressors. 
     
     
         5 . The method for the liquefaction of hydrogen as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the one or more recycle compressors are arranged in parallel or series. 
     
     
         6 . The method for the liquefaction of hydrogen as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein liquefaction expansion system comprises one or more liquefaction expanders, wherein the one or more liquefaction expanders are arranged in parallel or series. 
     
     
         7 . The method for the liquefaction of hydrogen as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the liquefaction refrigerant is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, neon, helium, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The method for the liquefaction of hydrogen as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the liquefaction refrigerant comprises one or more of hydrogen, neon, and helium. 
     
     
         9 . The method for the liquefaction of hydrogen as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the precooling system comprises a precooling refrigeration cycle. 
     
     
         10 . The method for the liquefaction of hydrogen as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the precooling refrigerant is selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, argon, ammonia, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, water, hydrocarbon, mixed hydrocarbons, fluorocarbon and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method for the liquefaction of hydrogen as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the precooling refrigerant comprises one or more of nitrogen, argon, ammonia, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, water, hydrocarbon, mixed hydrocarbons, and fluorocarbons. 
     
     
         12 . The method for the liquefaction of hydrogen as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cold end refrigeration cycle comprises a single, common recycle compression system. 
     
     
         13 . The method for the liquefaction of hydrogen as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising an intermediate cold box in fluid communication with the precooling cold box and the plurality of liquefaction cold boxes, wherein the intermediate cold box is disposed between the precooling cold box and the plurality of liquefaction cold boxes. 
     
     
         14 . The method for the liquefaction of hydrogen as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the temperature at a cold end of the precooling cold box is in the range of 30K to 250K. 
     
     
         15 . The method for the liquefaction of hydrogen as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the temperature at a warm end of the liquefaction zone is in the range of 30K to 150K. 
     
     
         16 . The method for the liquefaction of hydrogen as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of N total liquefaction cold boxes to M total precooling cold boxes is between 1.25 and 3.0 (1.25≤N/M≤3.0). 
     
     
         17 . A liquefaction method comprising the steps of:
 introducing a feed stream into a pre-cooling cold box at an initial temperature T 0 and cooling the feed stream therein to form a cooled feed stream at a cooled temperature T 1 ;   withdrawing the cooled feed stream from the pre-cooling box using a first precooling withdrawal line;   splitting the cooled feed stream into a first cooled feed stream and a second cooled feed stream;   providing a plurality of subcooling boxes, wherein the plurality of subcooling cold boxes comprise a first subcooling cold box and a second subcooling cold box introducing the first cooled feed stream into the first subcooling cold box under conditions effective for subcooling the first cooled feed stream to form a first product stream at a product temperature T L , wherein the first product stream is in liquid form or a pseudo-liquid form;   introducing the second cooled feed stream into a second subcooling cold box under conditions effective for subcooling the second cooled feed stream to form a second product stream, wherein the second product stream is in liquid form or pseudo-liquid form;   withdrawing the first and second product streams from the first and second subcooling cold boxes; and   combining the first and second product streams into a final product stream.   
     
     
         18 . The liquefaction method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein each secondary cold box comprises its own heat exchanger, wherein each heat exchanger within the plurality of secondary cold boxes is configured to liquefy the feed stream by indirect heat exchanger with a liquefaction refrigerant. 
     
     
         19 . The liquefaction method as claimed in  claim 18 , further comprising a liquefaction refrigeration system, the liquefaction refrigeration system comprising a recycle compression system and an expansion system, wherein the recycle compression system is configured to compress a liquefaction refrigerant and the expansion system is configured to expand the liquefaction refrigerant. 
     
     
         20 . The liquefaction method as claimed in  claim 18 , further comprising a means for combining the liquefaction refrigerant, wherein the means for combining the liquefaction refrigerant is configured to receive the liquefaction refrigerant from a warm end of each of the plurality of secondary cold boxes via a plurality of pipes and then send the liquefaction refrigerant, after being combined, to the first cooling cold box via a first return line. 
     
     
         21 . The liquefaction method as claimed in  claim 18 , further comprising a second precooling withdrawal line configured to remove the liquefaction refrigeration stream from the first cooling cold box. 
     
     
         22 . The liquefaction method as claimed in  claim 21 , further comprising a means for splitting the liquefaction refrigeration stream, wherein the means for splitting the liquefaction refrigeration stream are in fluid communication with the second precooling withdrawal line. 
     
     
         23 . The liquefaction method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the feed stream consists essentially of hydrogen.