Cryogenic tandem pump with asynchronous drives, zero tank return
OwnerAlexis LEFEVRE, Patrick BOYLEinventors
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Abstract
There is disclosed a cryogenic tandem pump system comprising a cryogenic reservoir for storing cryogenic liquid, a first pump engaged with a first actuator and configured with a sump. The system further including a second pump engaged with a second actuator and is also configured with a sump. The reservoir, sumps and pumps are fluidly connected via piping and are configured with a pump controller. The pump controller is configured to dynamically control displacement, velocity and acceleration of the first and second pumps. The pump controller regulates the flow and pressure of cryogenic liquid between the first and second pumps to produce zero return to the reservoir.
Claims20
A cryogenic tandem pump system comprising:
- a cryogenic reservoir for storing cryogenic liquid;
- a first pump engaged with a first actuator and connected to a first sump, the first actuator connected to a first microcontroller;
- a second pump engaged with a second actuator and connected to a second sump, the first actuator connected to a first microcontroller, the second pump being asynchronous with the first pump;
- a pump controller configured to dynamically control displacement, velocity and acceleration of the first and second pumps;
- and
- at least one gauge for monitoring the flow and pressure of the cryogenic liquid within the system;
- wherein the cryogenic reservoir, the first pump and the second pump are fluidly connected via piping, the first pump in series with the second pump, the first pump located upstream from the second pump to serve as a booster to the second pump, the second pump configured at a higher pressure than the first pump, and the pump controller to regulate the flow of cryogenic liquid between the first and second pumps to produce zero return.
A cryogenic tandem pump system comprising:
- a reservoir housing cryogenic liquid;
- two fluidly connected asynchronous pumps in series driven by separate actuators each configured with a microcontroller, each of the two asynchronous pumps connected to separate sumps;
- a pump controller configured to dynamically control at least one of the displacement, velocity and/or acceleration of the two asynchronous pumps;
- and
- at least one gauge for monitoring the flow and pressure of the cryogenic liquid within the system;
- wherein the reservoir is fluidly connected with the two asynchronous pumps, the first pump of the two asynchronous pumps serves as a booster to the second asynchronous pump, the second asynchronous pump operates at higher pressure than the first asynchronous pump, and the pump controller is configured to regulate the flow of cryogenic liquids between the two asynchronous pumps to produce zero return.
A method for delivering cryogenic liquid using an asynchronous tandem pump system producing zero return, the method comprising:
- receiving from a tank reservoir cryogenic liquid at a first pump engaging with a first actuator and connected to a first sump, the first actuator connected to a first microcontroller;
- feeding the cryogenic liquid at a first flow rate from the first pump to a second pump, the second pump engaging with a second actuator and connected to a second sump, the second actuator connected to a second microcontroller;
- outputting the cryogenic liquid from the second pump at a second flow rate;
- monitoring the NPSHr and NPSHa of the first and second pumps;
- dynamically controlling at least one of the displacement, velocity and/or acceleration of the first and second pumps to control the first flow rate and second flow rate of the cryogenic liquid at a desired NPSHr.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.