Purge apparatus and purge method

A purge apparatus for exposing a submersible pump to purge gas, the submersible pump being used to deliver liquefied gas, the purge apparatus comprising:

• a purge container configured to accommodate the submersible pump therein;
• a pump cover configured to close an opening of the submersible pump;
• a pump evacuation line coupled to the pump cover;
• a vacuum line coupled to a vacuum source;
• a purge-gas supply line coupled to a purge-gas supply source;
• and
• a switching device configured to selectively couple the pump evacuation line to one of the vacuum line and the purge-gas supply line.

A purge method for exposing a submersible pump to a purge gas, the submersible pump being used to deliver liquefied gas, the purge method comprising:

• accommodating the submersible pump in an interior space of a hermetic purge container;
• vacuuming the interior space in which the submersible pump is accommodated;
• supplying purge gas into the vacuumed interior space;
• and
• moving the submersible pump from the hermetic purge container into a pump column.

A purge method for exposing a submersible pump to a purge gas, the submersible pump being used to deliver liquefied gas, the purge method comprising:

• pulling up the submersible pump out of the pump column;
• accommodating the submersible pump in an interior space of a hermetic purge container;
• vacuuming the interior space in which the submersible pump is accommodated;
• and
• supplying the purge gas into the vacuumed interior space.

A purge method for exposing a submersible pump to a purge gas, the submersible pump being used to deliver liquefied gas, the purge method comprising:

• closing an opening of the submersible pump with a pump cover;
• vacuuming an interior space of the submersible pump;
• and
• supplying the purge gas into the vacuumed interior space of the submersible pump.