Submersible Pump Assembly for Liquefied Gas Dispensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing liquefied gas dispensing sets require separate handling and maintenance of pumps and conditioning systems, which complicates repair and installation, and can lead to heat leakage and vaporization of the gas.

Innovation Solution

Integrating the conditioning system and pump within the vessel, allowing them to be moved as a single block with the supporting structure, reducing the number of dismounting steps and minimizing heat leakage paths.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If the conditioning system is located outside the vessel, then heat leakage paths are reduced, but vaporization of gas flow occurs before transfer to user device

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat leakageVSAvoidvaporization of gas flow

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the conditioning system and pump into a single integrated assembly that is submerged within the liquefied gas vessel. This merging eliminates external heat leakage paths while preventing vaporization by keeping the entire conditioning process inside the cryogenic environment, where no phase change occurs during temperature adjustment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of repair

If the pump is extracted from the vessel for maintenance, then the pump can be repaired, but the sealing assembly must be separated from the conditioning system first which complicates the process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepump maintenanceVSAvoiddismounting sequence

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of repairVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a separable interface between the sealing assembly and the pump-conditioning assembly. The sealing assembly can be independently removed from the vessel aperture, allowing the pump and conditioning system to be extracted together as a single unit without requiring complex separation procedures. This segmentation simplifies the maintenance workflow while maintaining system integrity during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If the pump and conditioning system are handled separately, then each component can be maintained independently, but the number of handling steps increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent independenceVSAvoidhandling time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The pump and conditioning system are mechanically coupled through a common supporting structure and housing, forming an integrated assembly that moves as a single unit. This merging allows both components to be installed, removed, and maintained together, significantly reducing handling time while preserving the functional independence of each component within the assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Ease of operation

If the conditioning system is integrated within the vessel, then installation and removal are simplified, but space inside the vessel is occupied

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation and removalVSAvoidvessel internal space

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The conditioning system and pump are nested within a compact housing that is supported by a vertical structure extending from the vessel bottom to the aperture. This nested arrangement minimizes the space occupied by integrating the conditioning system into the vessel's existing structure, while maintaining ease of installation and removal through the vessel aperture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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

Facilitates easier installation, rapid removal, and maintenance of the dispensing set, while reducing vaporization and simplifying the handling of components, allowing for on-the-fly temperature adjustment and bulk cooling/warming of the liquefied gas.

Implementation Method 1

a pump maintained by the supporting structure so as to be submerged in the liquefied gas when the set is in operation condition for dispensing the liquefied gas flow, and which is adapted for driving the flow of liquefied gas from the suction end toward the discharge end

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPump: Pump

Implementation Method 2

a conditioning system adapted for cooling or warming up the liquefied gas

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCooling: Cooling

Implementation Method 3

a conditioning system adapted for cooling or warming up the liquefied gas

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 4

a removable sealing assembly which is located at the discharge end of the supporting structure, and which is adapted for sealing an aperture through a wall of the vessel when the set is in operation condition

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSealing: Physical Containment

Data Source

PatentEP3199859B1Submersible pump assembly for dispensing liquefied gas

Publication Date: 2021.05.26 CRYOSTAR

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AI summary

A set (10) for dispensing liquefied gas from a vessel (100) comprises a supporting structure (1), a pump (2) and a conditioning system (4). The supporting structure is designed for maintaining both the pump and the conditioning system inside the vessel when the set is in operation condition for dispensing a flow of liquefied gas. The set allows easy handling, simple fitting to the vessel and easy removal from the vessel because a main part of said set can be handled as a one-block element.