Pumping system and method for pumping fluids

An apparatus for transferring a fluid from a vessel, comprising:

• a pump having an inlet and an outlet;
• a first conduit having a first end and a second end, the first end being in fluid communication with the vessel and the second end being in fluid communication with the inlet of the pump;
• p1 a phase separator in fluid communication with the first conduit at a first location between the first end and the second end, the phase separator adapted to transfer a vapor stream from the first conduit to the vessel;
• a first layer of insulation peripherally surrounding the first conduit;
• a second layer of insulation spaced apart from and peripherally surrounding the first layer of insulation, thereby forming a first space between the first and second layers of insulation;
• a source of purge gas;
• a second conduit having a first end in fluid communication with the source of purge gas and a second end in fluid communication with the first space;
• and
• a control means for controlling a flow of the purge gas from the source to the first space.

A method for transferring a fluid from a vessel, comprising the steps of:

• providing a pump having an inlet and an outlet;
• providing a first conduit having a first end and a second end, the first end being in fluid communication with the vessel and the second end being in fluid communication with the inlet of the pump;
• providing a first control means in fluid communication with the pump and having an open position and a closed position, the first control means adapted to alternate between the open position and the closed position, whereby a stream of the fluid flows into the inlet of the pump from the first conduit when the first control means first alternates to the open position, the first control means alternates to the closed position and at least part of said stream of the fluid vaporizes in the pump thereby forming a vaporized portion of the fluid, and a stream of the vaporized portion of the fluid flows out of the pump outlet when the first control means alternates again to the open position;
• alternating the first control means between the open position and the closed position;
• transmitting a first stream of the fluid from the first conduit to the inlet of the pump when the first control means is first in the open position;
• and
• transmitting a first stream of the vaporized portion of the fluid out of the pump outlet when the first control means is again in the open position.

A method for transferring a fluid from a vessel, comprising the steps

• providing a pump having an inlet and an outlet;
• providing a first conduit having a first end and a second end, the first end being in fluid communication with the vessel and the second end being in fluid communication with the inlet of the pump;
• providing a phase separator in fluid communication with the first conduit at a first location between the first end and the second end, the phase separator adapted to transfer a vapor stream from the first conduit to the vessel;
• providing a first layer of insulation peripherally surrounding the first conduit;
• providing a second layer of insulation spaced apart from and peripherally surrounding the first layer of insulation, thereby forming a first space between the first and second layers of insulation;
• providing a source of a purge gas;
• providing a second conduit having a first end in fluid communication with the source of purge gas and a second end in fluid communication with the first space;
• providing a control means for controlling a flow of the purge gas from the source to the first space;
• transmitting a first stream of the fluid from the vessel to the first conduit;
• separating a stream of a vapor from at least a portion of the first stream of the fluid;
• and
• transmitting a controlled flow of the purge gas from the source of the purge gas to the first space.

A method for controlling cooldown of a pump having an outlet and an inlet in communication with a source of a fluid, comprising the steps of:

• providing a control means in fluid communication with the pump and having an open position and a closed position, the control means adapted to alternate between the open position and the closed position, whereby a stream of the fluid flows into the inlet of the pump from the source when the control means first alternates to the open position, the first control means alternates to the closed position and at least part of said stream of the fluid vaporizes in the pump thereby forming a vaporized portion of the fluid, and a stream of the vaporized portion of the fluid flows out of the pump outlet when the control means alternates again to the open position;
• alternating the control means between the open position and the closed position;
• transmitting a stream of the fluid from the source to the inlet of the pump when the control means first is in the open position;
• and
• transmitting a stream of the vaporized portion of the fluid out of the pump outlet when the control means is again in the open position.