Cryogenic Pump Cooldown via Blow-By Circuit and Heat Exchanger
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cryogenic pumps face challenges in minimizing hydrogen loss and reducing startup time, as they typically require submersion in liquid hydrogen or continuous flow of cryogenic LNG to maintain low temperatures, leading to inefficiencies and extended startup times.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for cryogenic pump cooldown that uses a blow-by circuit and control valve to vent hydrogen gas to atmosphere, allowing for quick cooling and startup without submersion, utilizing temperature sensors and a controller to manage the cooldown process, and incorporating a parallel cooling pathway to maintain the pump at operational temperature with reduced hydrogen loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the pump is submerged in liquid hydrogen to maintain low temperature, then the pump remains at operational temperature, but hydrogen loss increases and startup time extends
Solution Approach 1:
The pump cooling system is segmented into multiple independent cooling channels (first cooling channel and second cooling channel) that can operate separately or together. This allows selective cooling of different pump components without requiring full submersion in liquid hydrogen, thereby reducing hydrogen loss while maintaining operational temperature.
Solution Approach 2:
A heat exchanger is introduced as an intermediary component to transfer heat from the pump to a cooling medium. The cooling medium flows through cooling channels in the heat exchanger, which are thermally coupled to the pump components, providing indirect cooling that avoids direct contact with liquid hydrogen and reduces hydrogen loss.
2Temperature
If the pump is submerged in liquid hydrogen to maintain low temperature, then the pump remains at operational temperature, but startup time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pump components are pre-cooled through the cooling channels before startup is required. The control system activates the cooling medium flow in advance to bring the pump to operational temperature, enabling faster startup without the need for prolonged submersion in liquid hydrogen.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system is designed to be dynamically controllable, with the cooling medium flow rate and temperature adjustable based on real-time pump temperature feedback. This dynamic control allows the system to quickly respond to startup requirements and maintain optimal cooling efficiency.
3Temperature
If continuous flow of cryogenic LNG is used to cool the pump, then the pump maintains low temperature, but hydrogen loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling medium flows continuously through the cooling channels to maintain constant cooling of the pump components. This continuous action ensures the pump remains at operational temperature without requiring intermittent submersion or large volumes of liquid hydrogen, thereby reducing hydrogen loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a portion of its own output (cryogenic fluid from the pump) as the cooling medium, creating a self-service cooling loop. The control system regulates the flow to match actual cooling needs, minimizing hydrogen loss while maintaining pump temperature.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach significantly reduces hydrogen loss by over 50% and enables pump startup in under two minutes, eliminating the need for submersion and minimizing the requirement for higher pressure storage, while maintaining efficient cooling and reducing operational delays.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger having a first heat transfer surface in thermal communication with a portion of the pump and a second heat transfer surface in fluid communication with a cooling medium
Implementation Method 2
Cooling medium can be flowed through the cooling channels
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and process for cooling down a liquid hydrogen or other cryogenic fluid pump can be configured to allow for a quick startup that also helps minimize hydrogen losses. Some embodiments can utilize a blow-by circuit configured and arranged to support the cryogenic cooldown operation for the pump that can minimize hydrogen loss while allowing substantially improved pump startup times. Some embodiments can utilize at least one temperature sensor to monitor temperature and an adjustable control valve that can facilitate the flow of the fluid utilized to perform the cooldown of the pump.