Cryogenic pump flange

A flange assembly, comprising:

• a process fluid pipe;
• a flange comprising:
• a first face;
• a second face;
• a cryogenic fluid flow passageway extending from said first face to said second face, and one of:
• (a) said process fluid pipe passes through said cryogenic fluid flow passageway, a first annular groove in said second face, said cryogenic fluid flow passageway including a first portion with a first diameter extending from said second face and a second portion with a second diameter extending from said first face, said second diameter being greater than said first diameter, an annular space formed around said process fluid pipe, a first annular portion between said first annular groove and said annular space, and said first annular groove extends around said first portion and said second portion of the cryogenic fluid flow passageway;
• or
• (b) a first annular groove in one of said first face and said second face and extending around said cryogenic fluid flow passageway, a first annular portion between said first annular groove and said cryogenic fluid flow passageway, a second annular groove extending from the other of the first or second face as said first annular groove and around said first annular groove, a second annular portion between said second annular groove and said first annular groove.

A cryogenic pump system, comprising:

• a storage vessel;
• a pipe to transport cryogenic fluid;
• and
• a flange coupled to said storage vessel and said pipe, said flange comprising:
• a first face;
• a second face;
• a cryogenic fluid flow passageway extending from said first face to said second face, and one of:
• (a) said pipe passing through said passageway, a first annular groove in said second face, said cryogenic fluid flow passageway including a first portion with a first diameter extending from said second face and a second portion with a second diameter extending from said first face, said second diameter being greater than said first diameter, an annular space formed around said pipe, and a first annular portion between said first annular groove and said annular space, and said first annular groove extends around the first portion and the second portion of the cryogenic fluid flow passageway, wherein said flange is configured with said pipe connected with said first annular portion at said second face such that when said first annular portion contracts due to a thermal gradient between said first pipe and said flange along said first annular portion said first pipe moves with said first annular portion;
• or
• (b) a first annular groove in one of said first face and said second face and extending around said cryogenic fluid flow passageway, a first annular portion between said first annular groove and said cryogenic fluid flow passageway, a second annular groove extending from the other of the first or second face as said first annular groove and around said first annular groove, a second annular portion between said second annular groove and said first annular groove, wherein said flange is configured with said pipe connected with said first annular portion such that when said first annular portion contracts due to a thermal gradient between said pipe and said flange along said first annular portion said pipe moves with said first annular portion.