Buffer gate, pump carrying-in method, and pump pulling-up method

A method of carrying a submersible pump into a pump column, the submersible pump being for delivering liquefied gas, said method comprising:

• moving the submersible pump into a purge container with an upper lid of the purge container opened, the purge container being disposed on a buffer gate;
• filling an interior space of the purge container accommodating the submersible pump with purge gas with an upper opening of the pump column closed by a first gate valve, an upper opening of the purge container closed by the upper lid, and a lower opening of the purge container closed by a second gate valve;
• and
• moving the submersible pump from the purge container into the pump column via the buffer gate with the upper lid closed, and the first gate valve and the second gate valve opened.

A method of pulling up a submersible pump from a pump column, the submersible pump being for delivering liquefied gas, said method comprising:

• moving the submersible pump from the pump column into a purge container via a buffer gate with an upper opening of the purge container closed by an upper lid, the purge container being disposed on the buffer gate;
• filling an interior of the purge container accommodating the submersible pump with purge gas with an upper opening of the pump column closed by a first gate valve, the upper opening of the purge container closed by the upper lid, and a lower opening of the purge container closed by a second gate valve;
• and
• pulling up the submersible pump from the purge container with the upper lid opened, and the first gate valve and the second gate valve closed.