Union Carbide Corporation

Praxair Technology, Inc.

Boris Pevzner

David R Thompson

Norman Henry White

Thomas D High

A cryogenic gas compression system including a storage container and a gas/liquid mixer coupled to the storage container which employs a controlled flow of cryogenic liquid from the storage container to provide gas cooling action, and compressor for compressing the output gas to a high pressure. A sensor provides an indication of the gas entering the compressor and feeds it to a controller which controls the quantity of liquid cryogen fed from the storage container to the mixer.

Cryogenic gas compression system

A cryogenic liquid vaporizer system 10 comprising an outer tube 22 for exposure to the atmosphere and enclosing an inner tube 16 to form an annulus 36. The fluid enters the inner tube 16 as liquid, flows in the inner tube 16 where it is at least partially vaporized, and discharges into the outer tube 22. In one embodiment the fluid discharges near the end 34 of the outer tube 22 and counterflow in the annulus 36 where it is usually completely vaporized and partially superheated. In another embodiment, the fluid discharges into the outer tube 22 and continues to flow in the longitudinal space 38 provided by the length of outer tube 22. The annulus 36 is occupied by quiescent fluid.

Cryogenic fluid vaporizer system and process

Method and apparatus for supplying from a vessel to a pump liquified gas with subcooling so as to avoid cavitation during pumping. A supply conduit supplies liquified gas from the vessel bottom to a pump sump which envelops the flowpath elements of a pump and the pump suction. A return conduit returns vapor and excess liquified gas from the sump to the bottom of the vessel. Heating means, preferably heat leak into the return conduit, reduces the density of the fluid in the return conduit thereby increasing the rate of liquified gas flow in the supply conduit and reducing its temperature rise enroute to the pump. Further subcooling is secured by locating the intake to the supply conduit remote from a wall of the vessel in a cooler strata of liquid, and the discharge of the return conduit proximate to a wall of the vessel in a warmer strata in the vessel. The low flow friction losses in the supply and return conduits enhance the circulation rate of liquified gas in the conduits, and the short supply conduit reduces the heat leak into the liquified gas flow in the supply conduit, so that sufficient subcooling is achieved with reduced elevation of the vessel above the pump sump and reduced pressurization of the vessel compared to prior art.

Pumping of liquified gas

A reciprocating-type pump with simplified construction and enhanced performance is achieved by the use of a unitary, rigid pump body support structure and modular pump component designs. This unitary structure includes forward and rearward pump body mounting plates to which the pump body is secured, with the overall support structure being securely attached to the power frame of the pump by means of a power frame mounting plate. Rigid connecting members secure said plates together to form the unitary structure that is particularly advantageous for use in the fabrication of cryogenic pumps suitable for high pressure operation. Valve means, packing means and a pump body cooling jacket can be conveniently secured to the unitary support structure.

Cryogenic liquid pump

The cryogenic pump is of the reciprocating type using a differential diameter piston assembly having a reciprocating piston and piston rod in which the piston is of a diameter larger than the piston rod so as to form a variable volume annulus within the pumping chamber about the piston rod. The pumping chamber is surrounded with a cooling jacket connected by a passageway to the variable volume annulus. Blow by fluid is collected in the variable volume annulus during each suction stroke of the reciprocating piston and passed into the cooling jacket during each discharge stroke so as to cause collected blow by liquid in the cooling jacket to flash during consecutive discharge strokes.

Cryogenic pump and method for pumping cryogenic liquids

The cryogenic reciprocating pump includes a pump body having a cylindrical pumping chamber extending from the forward end of the pump body to the pump body rearward end. A piston is reciprocated in the pumping chamber under the control of a piston rod extending from the pumping chamber. A packing assembly surrounds the piston rod and is coupled through an intermediate section to the rearward end of the pump body. The intermediate section comprises a tubular shell of low thermal conductivity material and a corrugated metal expansion member. The packing assembly is affixed to a support member connected to the pump body at the forward end thereof.

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Williamsville, NY, United States of America

Boris Pevzner