Cryogenic pump flange

Abstract

A flange ( 50 ) for a pump ( 10 ) comprises a first face ( 65 ); a second faces ( 85 ); a passageway ( 110 ) for cryogenic fluid flow extending from the first face ( 65 ) to the second face ( 85 ), and the passageway ( 110 ) for a pipe ( 40 ) and comprising a first portion ( 120 ) of a first diameter and a second portion ( 130 ) of a second diameter greater than the first diameter, wherein when the pipe ( 40 ) has an outer diameter that is smaller than the second diameter, a gap ( 140 ) is formed between the pipe ( 40 ) and the passageway ( 110 ) where the pipe ( 40 ) passes through the second portion ( 130 ); and a first annular groove ( 155 ) in one of the first face ( 65 ) and the second face ( 85 ) and extending around the passageway ( 111 ), wherein the first annular groove ( 155 ) in cooperation with the passageway ( 111 ) forms a bellows. The gap ( 140 ) and bellows increase the thermal resistance between the passageway ( 111 ) and the flange ( 50 ), and the bellows allows for flexure during thermal contractions of the flange reducing thermal stress on welded fluid seals.

1 . A flange for a pump comprising:
 a first face;   a second face;   a passageway for cryogenic fluid flow extending from said first face to said second face, and at least one of:
 said passageway for a pipe and comprising a first portion of a first diameter and a second portion of a second diameter greater than said first diameter, wherein when said pipe has an outer diameter that is smaller than said second diameter a gap is formed between said pipe and said passageway where said pipe passes through said second portion; and 
 said passageway for a pipe and comprising a first portion of a first diameter and a second portion of a second diameter greater than said first diameter, a first annular groove in one of said first face and said second face and extending around said first and second portions of said passageway, wherein said first annular groove in cooperation with said passageway forms a bellows and 
   a first annular groove in one of said first face and said second face and extending around said passageway, a second annular groove extending from an opposite face as said first annular groove and around said first annular groove, wherein said first annular groove in cooperation with said passageway forms a bellows.   
     
     
         2 . The flange of  claim 1 , wherein said pipe is in contact with an inner wall of said first portion of said passageway. 
     
     
         3 . The flange of  claim 1 , wherein said pump is a cryogenic pump for pumping a cryogenic fluid from a storage vessel to which said flange is mounted. 
     
     
         4 . The flange of  claim 1 , wherein said gap is annular. 
     
     
         5 . The flange of  claim 1 , wherein said passageway is at an oblique angle to at least one of said first face and said second face. 
     
     
         6 . The flange of  claim 1 , wherein a first opening is formed by the intersection of said first portion of said passageway with said first face, and a second opening is formed by the intersection of said second portion of said passageway with said second face, said first opening being further away from a longitudinal axis of a mounting location for a drive unit, compared to said second opening. 
     
     
         7 . The flange of  claim 6 , wherein said second opening being located within an area surrounded by a sleeve within which said pump is inserted when installed. 
     
     
         8 . The flange of  claim 1 , wherein said first face is associated with said first portion of said passageway and said annular groove is in said first face. 
     
     
         9 . The flange of  claim 8 , wherein a second annular groove formed between the pipe and the second portion of the passageway is at least one of filled with a low thermal conductivity material and sealed at the second face to reduce accumulation of moisture in the second annular groove. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A flange assembly for a pump comprising:
 a process fluid pipe;   a flange comprising:
 a first face; 
 a second face; 
 a passageway for cryogenic fluid flow extending from said first face to said second face, and at least one of:
 said passageway for said process fluid pipe and comprising a first portion of a first diameter and a second portion of a second diameter wherein said second diameter is greater than said first diameter, wherein when said process fluid pipe extends through said passageway a gap exists between an inner wall of said second portion of said passageway and said process fluid pipe; and 
 a first annular groove in one of said first face and said second face and extending around said passageway, wherein said first annular groove in cooperation with said passageway forms a bellows. 
 
   
     
     
         12 . The flange assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said flange comprises a bore extending from said first face to said second face and comprising a diameter equal to said second diameter, said flange assembly further comprising an annulus comprising an inner diameter equal to said first diameter, said passageway formed by inserting said annulus into said bore. 
     
     
         13 . The flange assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said process fluid pipe is welded to said flange. 
     
     
         14 . The flange assembly of  claim 11 , configured in at least one of the following ways:
 wherein said flange is disc shaped; and   wherein said gap is annular.   
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The flange assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said passageway is at an oblique angle to at least one of said first face and said second face. 
     
     
         17 . The flange assembly of  claim 11 , wherein a first opening is formed by the intersection of said first portion of said passageway with said first face, and a second opening is formed by the intersection of said second portion of said passageway with said second face, said first opening further away from a longitudinal axis of said flange compared to said second opening. 
     
     
         18 . The flange of  claim 11 , wherein said first face is associated with said first portion of said passageway and said annular groove is in said first face. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A multi-functional flange for (a) attaching to a corresponding flange on storage vessel, (b) for supporting a pump assembly, and (c) for mounting a hydraulic drive unit, said multi-functional flange comprising:
 a first face;   a second face;   a passageway for cryogenic fluid flow extending from said first face to said second face, and at least one of:
 said passageway for a pipe and comprising a first portion of a first diameter and a second portion of a second diameter greater than said first diameter, wherein when said pipe has an outer diameter that is smaller than said second diameter a gap is formed between said pipe and said passageway where said pipe passes through said second portion; and 
 a first annular groove in one of said first face and said second face and extending around said passageway, wherein said first annular groove in cooperation with said passageway forms a bellows. 
   
     
     
         21 . The multi-functional flange of  claim 20 , comprising at least one hydraulic fluid passageway in fluid communication with said hydraulic drive unit. 
     
     
         22 . The flange of  claim 20 , wherein said first face is associated with said first portion of said passageway and said annular groove is in said first face. 
     
     
         23 . The flange of  claim 20 , further comprising a second annular groove extending from an opposite face as said first annular groove and around said first annular groove, wherein said first and said second annular grooves in cooperation with said passageway forms a bellows.