[0001] The present application relates to an arrangement forreducing the condensation of humidity around a flange for a cryogenic pump assembly, and the accumulation of frost and ice, and the freezing of a pump drive unit, that might otherwise be caused by flowing a cryogenic fluid through the flange.

Background of the Invention

[0002] Gases can be stored at much higher densities when stored in liquefied form. Compared to a compressed gas stored in gaseous form, a gas can be stored at relatively low pressures if stored in liquefied form below or at its boiling point, such as below about -161.5°C for a typical blend of natural gas. In this disclosure, "cryogenic" is used to describe fluids at such low temperatures and apparatus, such as a "cryogenic pump" that is designed to handle cryogenic fluids at cryogenic temperatures.

[0003] Cryogenic pumps are known for delivering a cryogenic fluid from a thermally insulated storage vessel. Such cryogenic pumps have what is referred to herein as a "cold end" which is immersed in the cryogenic fluid. Typically, cryogenic fluid is fed by gravity into a sump from which it is pumped, or the cold end can comprise a pump assembly that is disposed within the cryogen space defined by storage vessel itself. The drive unit for such a cryogenic pump is referred to herein as the "warm end" and it is usually located outside of the storage vessel to avoid introducing heat from the drive unit into the cold cryogen space defined by the storage vessel. The warm end is also typically located separated spaced apart and/or thermally insulated from the cold end and the delivery pipe exiting from the storage vessel to preventing freezing in the drive unit, especially when the drive unit is a hydraulic drive that uses hydraulic fluid pressure to actuate the cryogenic pump.

[0004] In vehicle applications there are often space constraints because of the limited space for mounting the fuel system, and accordingly, a more compact arrangement is preferred. Therefore, it is advantageous to mount the drive unit on, or close to, the flange that seals the opening through which the pump assembly is installed. In addition, it is desirable to reduce the number of heat transfer paths between the cryogen space and the surrounding environment, so it is preferred to have the delivery pipe, in addition to fill pipes and drain pipes, pass through the same flange. However, this can result in freezing of the hydraulic fluid in a hydraulic drive.

[0005] The delivery, fill and drain pipes are preferably welded to the flange to fluidly seal the interior of the storage vessel from the external environment. As the temperature of the flange decreases, due to cryogenic fluid, such as liquefied natural gas(LNG), passing through one or more of these pipes, the flange contracts putting stress on these weld joints, which can fatigue and compromise the fluid seal.

[0006] The applicant has designed and commercialized a different type of cryogenic pump which comprises a vaporizer integrated with the pump assembly, as disclosed by United States Patent No. 7,607,898. With this arrangement, at the warm end there is no problem with mounting the drive unit on the same flange which the delivery pipe passes through because the vaporized fluid is warmer than the cryogenic fluid.

[0007] However, for systems that do not use a cryogenic pump integrated with a vaporizer, there is a need for a compact arrangement that allows for a warm end with a drive unit mounted on or close to the same flange that the delivery pipe passes through.

Summary of the Invention

[0008] An improved flange for a pump comprises first and second faces and a passageway for cryogenic fluid flow extending from the first face to the second face, and at least one of (1) the passageway is for a pipe and comprises a first portion of a first diameter and a second portion of a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter, wherein when the pipe has an outer diameter that is smaller than the second diameter, a gap is formed between the pipe and the passageway where the pipe passes through the second portion; and (2) a first annular groove in one of the first face and the second face and extending around the passageway, wherein the first annular groove in cooperation with the passageway forms a bellows.

[0009] The pipe, which can be a fill pipe, a delivery pipe or a drain pipe, can be in contact with an inner wall of the first portion of the passageway. The pump can be a cryogenic pump for pumping a cryogenic fluid from a storage vessel to which the flange is mounted.

[0010] In preferred embodiments, the gap is annular. The passageway can be at an oblique angle to at least one of the first face and the second face. A first opening is formed by the intersection of the first portion of the passageway with the first face, and a second opening is formed by the intersection of the second portion of the passageway with the second face. It is preferable that the first opening is further away from a longitudinal axis of a mounting location for a drive unit, compared to the second opening. The second opening can be located within an area surrounded by a sleeve within which the pump is inserted when installed.

[0011] An improved flange assembly for a pump comprises a process fluid pipe and a flange. The flange comprises a first face, a second face and a passageway for cryogenic fluid flow extending from the first face to the second face, and at least one of (1) the passageway is for the process fluid pipe and comprises a first portion of a first diameter and a second portion of a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter, wherein when the process fluid pipe has an outer diameter that is smaller than the second diameter, a gap is formed between the process fluid pipe and the passageway where the process fluid pipe passes through the second portion; and (2) a first annular groove in one of the first face and the second face and extending around the passageway, wherein the first annular groove in cooperation with the passageway forms a bellows.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the flange comprises a bore extending from the first face to the second face and having a diameter equal to the second diameter. The flange assembly further comprises an annulus having an inner diameter equal to the first diameter. The passageway is formed by inserting the annulus into the bore. [0013] The process fluid pipe can be welded to the flange. In a preferred embodiment the flange is disc shaped, but other shapes are possible in other embodiments. The passageway can be at an oblique angle to at least one of the first face and the second face. A first opening is formed by the intersection of the first portion of the passageway with the first face, and a second opening is formed by the intersection of the second portion of the passageway with the second face. In a preferred embodiment the first opening is further away from a longitudinal axis of the flange compared to the second opening.

[0014] An improved multi-functional flange for (a) attaching to a corresponding flange on storage vessel, (b) for supporting a pump assembly, and (c) for mounting a hydraulic drive unit, comprises a first face, a second face and a passageway for cryogenic fluid flow extending from the first face to the second face, and at least one of (1) the passageway is for a pipe and comprises a first portion of a first diameter and a second portion of a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter, wherein when the pipe has an outer diameter that is smaller than the second diameter, a gap is formed between the pipe and the passageway where the pipe passes through the second portion; and (2) a first annular groove in one of the first face and the second face and extending around the passageway, wherein the first annular groove in cooperation with the passageway forms a bellows.

[0015] The pipe can be in contact with an inner wall of the first portion of the passageway. In a preferred embodiment, the multi-functional flange comprises at least one hydraulic fluid passageway in fluid communication with the hydraulic drive unit. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of acryogenic pump.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional partial view of a double-walled cryogenic vessel with the pump of FIG. 1 inserted into a sleeve.

[0018] FIG. 3 is a simplified cross-sectional view of a warm end assembly of the pump of FIG. 1 comprising a flange assembly and a flange according to a first embodiment.

[0019] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the flange of FIG. 3.

[0020] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a flange of the pump of FIG. 1 according to a second embodiment.

[0021] FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the flange of FIG. 4.

[0022] FIGS. 7 and 8 are schematic views of an annulus of the flange of FIG. 4.

[0023] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the annulus of FIG. 8 taken along line 8-8' .

[0024] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a flangeassembly of the pump of FIG. 1 comprising a flange according to a third embodiment.

[0025] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the flange of FIG. 10.

[0026] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a flangeof the pump of FIG. 1 according to a fourth embodiment. [0027] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a flangeassembly of the pump of FIG. 1 comprising a flange according to a fifth embodiment.

[0028] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the flange of FIG. 13.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiment(s)

[0029] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown cryogenic pump 10 comprising warm end assembly 20 and cold end assembly 30. Process fluid pipe 40, also known as a delivery pipe, delivers cryogenic fluid pumped from cold end assembly 30 through flange 50 in warm end assembly 20. Pipe 40 connects with external piping (not shown) that delivers the cryogenic fluid to another cryogenic vessel (when the system is transferring cryogenic fluid, for example when filling a vehicle fuel tank) or to an external vaporizer (when the cryogenic fluid is to be used by an end user in gaseous form, for example when the cryogenic fluid is natural gas that is used to fuel an internal combustion engine for powering a vehicle). With reference to both FIGS. 1 and 3, a compact arrangement is shown for a hydraulic drive unit that is mounted adjacent to flange 50 with hydraulic fluid passageways 60 and 70 for delivering hydraulic fluid into and out of cylinder 75 in a manner that is well known for causing piston 80 to produce reciprocating motion. Fittings 90 and 100 connect passageways 60 and 70 to external hydraulic conduits (not shown).

[0030] Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, passageway 110 is provided in flange 50, extending from opening 125 in face 65 to opening 135 in face 85. Passageway 110 comprises first portion 120 and second portion 130 which in this embodiment are cylindrical bores. The diameter of first portion 120 is less than the diameter of second portion 130. When process fluid pipe 40 is assembled into passageway 110 it is in contact with inner wall 145 of first portion 120, but gap 140exists between the pipe and inner wall 150 of second portion 130. In other embodiments there can be a finite space between pipe 40 and first portion 120 of passageway 110 at least around a portion of the external surface of the pipe. Gap 140 is an annular gap in the present example. Process fluid pipe 40 is secured to flange 50 by weld 160. Depending upon application requirements, it is possible in other embodiments that a mechanical arrangement or an adhesive can secure pipe 40 to flange 50, or other known techniques can be employed.

[0031] The thermal resistance between process fluid pipe 40 and flange 50 is increased by gap 140 since the contact area between the pipe and the flange is reduced. Normally both pipe 40 and flange 50 are made from metal, which is a better conductor of heat than air occupying gap 140. The gap decreases cooling effect on flange 50 caused by the flow of cryogenic fluid through pipe 40, thereby reducing the likelihood of the hydraulic fluid freezing and reducing condensation of humidity and frost/ice buildup around warm end assembly 20.

[0032] Passageway 110 is at an oblique angle to both faces 65 and 85, such that opening 125 is further from longitudinal axis 15 than opening 135. Referring now to FIG. 2, when cryogenic pump 10 is installed in storage vessel 25 the majority of its length is preferably housed in sleeve 35 as shown in FIG. 2, so that opening 135 is located within the sleeve, where it is not exposed directly to the cryogen space. Storage vessel 25 is a double-walled vessel comprising outer wall 26 and inner wall 27. In preferred embodiments vacuum space 45 provides additional thermal insulation between sleeve 35 and cryogen space 55. The oblique angle of passageway 110 has the advantage of locating the contact area between pipe 40 and inner wall 145 of passageway 110 further from hydraulic fluid in passageways 60 and 70 and in cylinder 75. This has the effect of increasing the thermal resistance of the heat path between hydraulic fluid and cryogenic fluid in pipe 40. In other embodiments opening 125 can be located the same distance from axis 15 or closer compared to opening 135. In a preferred embodiment, process fluid pipe 40 is secured to flange 50 by weld 160 such that gaseous fuel vapor between sleeve 35 and pump 10 does not escape to the external environment. It is preferred that pipe 40 is welded to flange 50 at opening 125, compared to opening 135 which would tend to increase heat transfer between pipe 40 and cylinder 75 and passageway 70.

[0033] Referring now to FIGS.5-9, there is shown a second embodiment wherein like parts to the previous embodiment and all other embodiments have like reference numerals and may not be discussed in detail, if at all. Flange 52 comprises a bore 200 that extends from face 65 to face 85. An annulus 210 generally in the form of a hollow cylindrical tube is inserted into bore 200 thereby forming passageway 110 and first and second portions 120 and 130. Annulus 210 can be secured to flange 52 in a variety of ways. As non-limiting examples, annulus 210 can be press or interference fit into bore 200, slip fit into the bore and secured by an adhesive or by welding,by a combination of these techniques, or by other known techniques to mechanically secure parts together. [0034] Referring now to FIGS. 10 and 11, there is shown a third embodiment of flange 53. Pipe 41is welded to face 85, and is employed to communicate a cryogenic fluid through flange 53, which depending on the type of pipe (fill pipe, delivery pipe or drain pipe) can flow in either direction. Passageway 111 is similar to passageway 110 in FIG. 4, except that portion 120 of passageway 111 extends from face 85 and portion 130 extends from face 65. Annular groove 155 extends around passageway 111, which in cooperation with the passageway forms a bellows to redirect thermal contractions of flange 53 in a direction that is not constrained, thereby reducing stress on weld 160. Annular portion 56 allows for axially contraction (in the direction of the axis of passageway 111) and flexion when flange 50 thermally contracts. Pipe 41 is normally not anchored within storage vessel 25, and is free to move, such that when a thermal gradient exists between the pipe and flange 53 along portion 56, the portion can contract along the axial direction of passageway 111. The thermal resistance between pipe 41 and flange 53 is also increased by annular groove 155, compared to when annular groove 155 is not employed, due to the narrowing of the metal conduction path from the pipe to the flange. Water vapour can condense and freeze (and/or desublimate) in annular space 165, formed by bore 150 and pipe 41, due to the cold temperatures of the cryogenic fluid in the pipe. Annular space 165 can be filled with a low thermal conductivity material that can contract at a predetermined rate comparable to the rate of temperature change, to displace moisture. Non-limiting examples of such materials comprise glass fiber reinforced plastic, a composite material, and a PTFE foam. Alternatively, the opening into annular space 165 can be sealed at surface 65 to prevent the accumulation of moisture in the space. In general, portion 120 of the passageway can extend from either face 65 or 85, as long as the relative spatial relationship between portion 120 and annular groove 155 is maintained, that is the annular groove extends from the opposite face as portion 120.

[0035] Referring now to FIG. 12 a fourth embodiment of flange 54 is shown where passageway 111 and annular groove 155 are formed by placing insert 58 in bore 175, which extends from face 85 to face 65 of the flange. Insert 58 is connected to bore 175 by annular groove weld 161, or alternatively the insert can be epoxied to, threaded into or press-fit into the bore. By using insert 58 the length of annular portion 56 can be increased, which allows for an increasedrange of axial contraction and flexion when flange 54 thermally contracts, thereby reducing the stress on weld joints between the pipe and the flange. The increased length of annular portion 56 also increases the thermal resistance between the pipe and the flange. In alternative embodiments, flange 55 can be formed as illustrated in FIG. 12 as an integrated component, for example machined from a unitary metal block.

[0036] Referring now to FIGS. 13 and 14, a fifth embodiment of flange 55 is shown. Pipes 42 and 44 are welded to face 65 and 85by welds 162 and 164 respectively, and are employed to communicate a cryogenic fluid to and from flange 55, which depending on the type of pipe (fill pipe, delivery pipe or drain pipe) can flow in either directionthrough a passageway defined by bore 300. In other embodiments pipes 42 and 44 can be one pipe that extends through bore 300 in flange 55. Annular groove 155 around bore 300 extends into flange 55 from face 65, in the illustrated embodiment. Annular groove 310 extends from face 85 into the flange and around both annular groove 155 and bore 300. Annular grooves 155 and 300 in cooperation with bore 300 form a bellowsto redirect thermal contractions of flange 50 in a direction that is not constrained, thereby reducing stress on welds 162 and 164. Annular portions 56 and 57 allow for axially contraction (in the direction of the axis of passageway 111) and flexion when flange 50 thermally contracts. In other embodiments, additional annular grooves can be employed, around bore 300, alternating between face 65 and 85, to increase the size of the bellows formed by these grooves, thereby increasing the flexion of the flange during thermal contractions. Annular groove 155, and any other annular grooves that are externally facing with respect to storage vessel 25 (seen in FIG. 2), can be filled with a low thermal conductivity material (such as epoxy), or sealed at the opening, to displace moisture therein thereby reducing the likelihood of frost and/or ice forming in the groove(s).

[0037] While particular elements, embodiments and applications of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be understood, that the invention is not limited thereto since modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings.