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EP-4735784-A1 - DEVICE FOR THE ROTARY CONNECTION OF CRYOGENIC FLUID CONDUITS

EP4735784A1EP 4735784 A1EP4735784 A1EP 4735784A1EP-4735784-A1

Abstract

Disclosed is a device for the rotary connection of cryogenic fluid conduits, comprising a first conduit part (A) and a second conduit part (B) which form a female part and a male part, respectively, are connected to delimit a conduit (C) for circulating the fluid, and form a fluid heating chamber, the conduit parts (A, B) having a first outer annular flange (11) and a second outer annular flange (12) between which a rolling contact bearing comprising radially outer and inner rings (9, 10) is clamped, characterized in that the cryogenic fluid heating chamber is U-shaped, meandering between the first and second conduit parts (A, B) and defining a thermally insulated annular intermediate space in order to minimize heat penetrating into the cryogenic fluid circulating in the conduit.

Inventors

  • DUVAL, Valéry
  • PAQUET, Stéphane
  • DUVAL, Stéphane
  • COLEIRO, Gaëtan

Assignees

  • T.EN Loading Systems
  • L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240618

Claims (11)

  1. [Claim 1] A device for rotating connection of cryogenic fluid conduits, comprising a first conduit piece (A) forming a female joint part and a second conduit piece (B) forming a male joint part, connected so as to delimit a conduit (C) for circulation of the cryogenic fluid and to form a chamber for heating the cryogenic fluid between the first (A) and second (B) conduit pieces, said first conduit piece (A) having a first external annular flange (11) and said second conduit piece (B) having a second external annular flange (12), between which is clamped a bearing comprising a radially external ring (9) connected to one of the two external annular flanges (11, 12) and a radially internal ring (10) connected to the other of the two external annular flanges (11, 12), so as to guide in rotation the assembly formed by said first conduit piece (A) and said second conduit piece (B), characterized in that said fluid heating chamber cryogenic has a U-shape winding between the first pipe part (A) and the second pipe part (B) and defining a thermally insulated annular intermediate space (E).
  2. [Claim 2] A rotating conduit connection device according to claim 1, characterized in that said first conduit part (A) comprises: a first internal tubular wall (112) radially spaced from said external annular flange (11) by a first upstream space (116); a first external tubular wall (110) formed in continuity with said first external annular flange (11), and a first intermediate tubular wall (111) formed radially between said first external tubular wall (110) and said first internal tubular wall (112), and spaced from said first external tubular wall by a first downstream space (115) smaller in diameter than said first upstream space (116), said first intermediate tubular wall (111) and said first internal tubular wall (112) being arranged in a staggered manner and being connected by a first annular junction partition (113), and in that said second cylindrical pipe part (B) comprises: a second internal tubular wall (122); a second external tubular wall (120) formed in continuity with said second external annular flange (12), and a second intermediate tubular wall (121) formed radially between said second external tubular wall (120) and said second internal tubular wall (122), said second intermediate tubular wall (121) being spaced from said second internal tubular wall (122) by a second internal space (126) and being spaced from said second external tubular wall (120) by a second external space (125), said second intermediate tubular wall (121) and said second internal tubular wall (122) being arranged in a staggered manner and being connected by a second annular junction partition (123), said first external tubular wall (110) and first intermediate tubular wall (111), at least partially being inserted into said second external space (125), said second intermediate tubular wall (121) and second internal tubular wall (122) being inserted into said second pipe part (B) so as to abut against said annular junction partition (113) so that said first internal tubular wall (112) and said second internal tubular wall (122) are juxtaposed and form said conduit (C) for circulation of a cryogenic fluid.
  3. [Claim 3] A rotating conduit connection device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said cryogenic fluid heating chamber comprises: a first portion (70) formed between the first intermediate tubular wall (111) and the second intermediate tubular wall (121), a second portion (72) extending the first portion (70) and formed between the first external tubular wall (110) and the second external tubular wall (120), said first portion (70) and second portion (72) being connected by a connecting portion (71) formed between one end of said first conduit piece (A) and a junction partition connecting said second external tubular wall (120) to said second intermediate tubular wall (121), the first portion (70) and second portion (72) defining said intermediate space.
  4. [Claim 4] A rotating conduit connection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said thermally insulated annular intermediate space (E) is a space insulated by vacuum in which thermal insulation means are housed.
  5. [Claim 5] A rotating conduit connection device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said thermal insulation means comprise a plurality of combined reflector/insulator layers.
  6. [Claim 6] A rotating conduit connection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said bearing comprises at least two toroidal rolling tracks (91) which are arranged between said radially internal ring (10) and said radially external ring (9), and in which balls (90) circulate.
  7. [Claim 7] A rotating conduit connection device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said first external annular flange (11) and said second external annular flange (12) have a plurality of through holes (80) arranged opposite blind holes (81) formed in at least one of said radially internal ring (10) and said radially external ring (9), and in that said device further comprises a plurality of screws (8), each of said screws passing through one of said through holes (80) and being screwed into one of said blind holes (81).
  8. [Claim 8] A rotating conduit connection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cryogenic fluid is liquid hydrogen.
  9. [Claim 9] A rotating conduit connection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the radially outer ring (9) is detachably connected to one of the two outer annular flanges (11, 12) and the radially inner ring (10) is detachably connected to the other of the two outer annular flanges (11, 12).
  10. [Claim 10] Use of a rotating conduit connection device according to one of claims 1 to 9 for the transfer of liquid hydrogen.
  11. [Claim 11] Loading arm comprising a rotating conduit connection device according to one of claims 1 to 9.

Description

TITLE: ROTARY CONNECTION DEVICE FOR CRYOGENIC FLUID PIPES Disclosure area This disclosure relates to the field of cryogenic fluid transfer installations. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a rotating connection device for cryogenic fluid conduits, capable of circulating at temperatures between -180 degrees and -253 degrees. Such a device may, for example, be used in the context of long-distance transport between a fixed unit and a mobile unit, such as at sea or in desert areas, of cryogenic fluid presenting risks of explosion or pollution in the event of contact with outside air. State of the prior art In recent years, due to the growing awareness of the problem of global warming, efforts have been made to further utilize renewable natural energy sources, such as solar energy, wind energy, hydropower, and geothermal energy as energy sources to replace fossil fuels such as oil and natural gas. For several years, the possibility of using natural energy sources to efficiently produce and utilize hydrogen has been considered, as hydrogen can be stored in large quantities and transported over long distances, especially in liquid form. Cryogenic fluid transfer installations, such as loading arms, are for example detailed in documents WO9815772 or EP 3321229. Such installations also comprise, in a conventional manner, a rotating connection device for cryogenic fluid conduits comprising a bearing as well as a sealing arrangement comprising in particular a sealing joint impermeable to the cryogenic fluid or an impermeable sealing joint making it possible to protect the installation from possible climatic conditions. However, a disadvantage of current installations is that their size is relatively large and that consequently the leverage effect is all the greater, thus making any maneuvering of the installation more difficult, for example during handling. In addition, the fact that the bearing and a potential sealing arrangement are far from a joint plane between two pipe parts is not optimal with regard to the relative movements to be accommodated by the sealing arrangement and the functional clearances to be ensured. There is therefore a need to improve cryogenic fluid transfer installations to enable a compact installation, while ensuring its resistance over time. Disclosure Statement One aspect of the disclosure is to at least partially overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks of prior art techniques. To this end, the disclosure relates to a device for rotating connection of cryogenic fluid conduits, comprising a first conduit part forming a female joint part and a second conduit part forming a male joint part, connected so as to delimit a conduit for circulation of the cryogenic fluid and to form a chamber for heating the cryogenic fluid between the first and second conduit parts, said first conduit part having a first external annular flange and said second conduit part having a second external annular flange, between which is clamped a bearing comprising a radially external ring connected to one of the two external annular flanges and a radially internal ring connected to the other of the two external annular flanges, so as to guide in rotation the assembly formed by said first conduit part and said second conduit part, characterized in that said chamber for heating the cryogenic fluid has a U-shape winding between the first conduit part and the second conduit part and defining a thermally insulated annular intermediate space. Thus, the disclosure provides a novel and inventive approach to at least partially overcoming the drawbacks of the prior art. In particular, by implementing a heating chamber that has a U shape, the compactness of the connection device is improved because the heating chamber is subdivided into several overlapping portions. In addition, this makes it possible to implement a bearing that is relatively close to the connection plane by fitting the male joint part into the female joint part, and therefore minimize the lever arms between the bearing and the connection plane to minimize the relative movements between the first and second driving parts under the effect of the swiveling movements of the bearing. Finally, implementing a thermally insulated annular intermediate space makes it possible to minimize heat inputs into said cryogenic fluid circulating in said circulation conduit. Furthermore, the implementation of a thermally insulated annular intermediate space makes it possible to authorize heat transfer only through said heating chamber of said cryogenic fluid. According to a particular aspect of at least one embodiment of the disclosure, said first pipe part and said second pipe part are connected by fitting the male joint part into the female joint part. According to a particular aspect of at least one embodiment of the disclosure, said radially outer ring is detachably connected to one of the two outer annular flanges and said radially inner ring detachably connected to t