Patent US3572047A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3572047A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Anticavitation and refrigeration system and method
Assignee: Northern Natural Gas Co
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Filing: 1969-03-06
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Granted: 1971-03-23
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Expires: 1989-03-06
Abstract
Abstract In a cryogen-pumping system, the formation of vapor due to heat leak, especially, causes cavitation in the pump. A separator is provided to separate the cryogen vapor from the liquid. Then the vapor is expanded in a heat exchanger to subcool the cryogen liquid upstream of the pump.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul E Hatfield
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 23:24
CPC Classifications
F; F04; F04D; F04D9/00; F04D9/001; F17; F17C; F17C7/00; F17C7/02; F17C2201/00; F17C2201/01; F17C2201/0104; F17C2201/0109; F17C2201/0119; F17C2205/00; F17C2205/03; F17C2205/0302; F17C2205/0323; F17C2223/00; F17C2223/01; F17C2223/0146; F17C2223/0153; F17C2227/00; F17C2227/01; F17C2227/0128; F17C2227/0135; F17C2250/00; F17C2250/06; F17C2250/0605; F17C2250/0636; F17C2265/00; F17C2265/01; F17C2265/015
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
The method of minimizing cavitation associated with pumping devices employed in pumping liquefied normally gaseous materials, said method including the steps of: reducing the velocity of the material being pumped prior to entry of said materials into said pumping device; separating the vapor portion of said material from said liquid portion thereof; expanding said vapor portion to permit it to enter a heat exchange means to cool said liquid portion; passing said liquid portion through the said heat exchange means whereby said liquid portion is cooled in an indirect heat exchange with said vapor portion; exiting at least a fraction of said vapor portion from said heat exchange means as a vapor following heat exchange with said liquid portion; and passing said cooled liquid portion to said pumping device.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
129 words
The method of minimizing cavitation associated with pumping devices employed in pumping liquefied normally gaseous materials, said method including the steps of: reducing the velocity of the material being pumped prior to entry of said materials into said pumping device; separating the vapor portion of said material from said liquid portion thereof; expanding said vapor portion to permit it to enter a heat exchange means to cool said liquid portion; passing said liquid portion through the said heat exchange means whereby said liquid portion is cooled in an indirect heat exchange with said vapor portion; exiting at least a fraction of said vapor portion from said heat exchange means as a vapor following heat exchange with said liquid portion; and passing said cooled liquid portion to said pumping device.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
139 words
The method of minimizing cavitation associated with pumping devices employed in pumping liquefied normally gaseous materials, said method including the steps of: reducing the velocity of the material being pumped prior to entry of said material into said pumping device; separating the vapor portion of said material from said liquid portion thereof; expanding said vapor portion to permit it to enter the shell side of a shell and tube heat exchange means to cool said liquid portion; passing said liquid portion through the tube side of said heat exchange means whereby said liquid portion is cooled in an indirect heat exchange with said vapor portion; exiting at least a fraction of said vapor portion from said heat exchange means as a vapor following heat exchange with said liquid portion; and passing said cooled liquid portion to said pumping device.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
139 words
The method of minimizing cavitation associated with pumping devices employed in pumping liquefied normally gaseous materials, said method including the steps of: reducing the velocity of the material being pumped prior to entry of said material into said pumping device; separating the vapor portion of said material from said liquid portion thereof; expanding said vapor portion to permit it to enter the shell side of a shell and tube heat exchange means to cool said liquid portion; passing said liquid portion through the tube side of said heat exchange means whereby said liquid portion is cooled in an indirect heat exchange with said vapor portion; exiting at least a fraction of said vapor portion from said heat exchange means as a vapor following heat exchange with said liquid portion; and passing said cooled liquid portion to said pumping device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 2 further including the steps of delivering said vapor portion of said material which exits from said shell side of said heat exchange means as a source of fuel for a means for driving said pump device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 3 further including the step of regulating the supply of vapor to said pump driving means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 3 further including the step of regulating the vapor portion admitted to said heat exchange means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 3 further including the step of deflecting vapor bubbles in said material upwardly to assist in the separating of said material into a liquid portion and vapor portion.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
101 words
A system for minimizing cavitation associated with pumping devices employed in pumping liquefied materials, said system comprising: Means for reducing the velocity of the material being pumped whereby said material separates into a vapor portion and a liquid portion; conduit means for delivering said liquid portion to a heat exchanger; means for expansion of said vapor portion into said heat exchanger to permit an indirect heat exchange to occur between said liquid portion and vapor portions in said exchanger; and conduit means for delivering said liquid portion to said pumping device following the exit of said liquid portion from said exchanger.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
101 words
A system for minimizing cavitation associated with pumping devices employed in pumping liquefied materials, said system comprising: Means for reducing the velocity of the material being pumped whereby said material separates into a vapor portion and a liquid portion; conduit means for delivering said liquid portion to a heat exchanger; means for expansion of said vapor portion into said heat exchanger to permit an indirect heat exchange to occur between said liquid portion and vapor portions in said exchanger; and conduit means for delivering said liquid portion to said pumping device following the exit of said liquid portion from said exchanger.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
113 words
A system for minimizing cavitation associated with pumping devices employed in pumping liquefied normally gaseous materials, said system comprising: means for reducing the velocity of the material being pumped whereby said material separates into a vapor portion and a liquid portion; conduit means for delivering said liquid portion to the tube side of a heat exchanger; means for expansion of said vapor portion into the shell side of said heat exchanger to permit an indirect heat exchange to occur between said liquid portion and vapor portions which are in said exchanger; and conduit means for delivering said liquid portion to said pumping device following the exit of said liquid portion from said exchanger.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
113 words
A system for minimizing cavitation associated with pumping devices employed in pumping liquefied normally gaseous materials, said system comprising: means for reducing the velocity of the material being pumped whereby said material separates into a vapor portion and a liquid portion; conduit means for delivering said liquid portion to the tube side of a heat exchanger; means for expansion of said vapor portion into the shell side of said heat exchanger to permit an indirect heat exchange to occur between said liquid portion and vapor portions which are in said exchanger; and conduit means for delivering said liquid portion to said pumping device following the exit of said liquid portion from said exchanger.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system in accordance with claim 8 further including a driving means for said pump device and conduit means for delivering said vapor portion as it exits from said shell side of said heat exchanger to said drive means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
A system in accordance with claim 9 further including means for bypassing part of said liquid portion to the shell side of said heat exchanger and expansion means for expanding said liquid portion prior to its entering into said shell side of said heat exchanger.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system in accordance with claim 10 further including means for regulating the vapor portion to be delivered to said pump driving means.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
201 words
A system for minimizing cavitation associated with pumping devices employed in pumping liquefied normally gaseous materials, said system comprising: means for reducing the velocity of the fluid being pumped including a storage facility, whereby said material is separated into a vapor portion and a liquid portion; conduit means for delivering said liquid portion to the tube side of a shell and tube heat exchanger; means for expansion of said vapor portion into the shell side of said heat exchanger to permit an indirect heat exchange to occur between said liquid portion and vapor portion which are in said exchanger; conduit means for delivering said liquid portion to said pumping device following the exit of said liquid portion from said exchanger; a drive means for said pump device and conduit means for delivering said vapor portion as it exits from said shell side of said heat exchanger to said drive means; means for bypassing part of said liquid portion to the shell side of said heat exchanger and expansion means for expanding said liquid portion prior to its entry into said shell side of said heat exchanger; and means for regulating the vapor portion to be delivered to said pump driving means.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
201 words
A system for minimizing cavitation associated with pumping devices employed in pumping liquefied normally gaseous materials, said system comprising: means for reducing the velocity of the fluid being pumped including a storage facility, whereby said material is separated into a vapor portion and a liquid portion; conduit means for delivering said liquid portion to the tube side of a shell and tube heat exchanger; means for expansion of said vapor portion into the shell side of said heat exchanger to permit an indirect heat exchange to occur between said liquid portion and vapor portion which are in said exchanger; conduit means for delivering said liquid portion to said pumping device following the exit of said liquid portion from said exchanger; a drive means for said pump device and conduit means for delivering said vapor portion as it exits from said shell side of said heat exchanger to said drive means; means for bypassing part of said liquid portion to the shell side of said heat exchanger and expansion means for expanding said liquid portion prior to its entry into said shell side of said heat exchanger; and means for regulating the vapor portion to be delivered to said pump driving means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
A system in accordance with claim 12 further including a baffle means for deflecting said material as it enters into said storage facility; said baffle means arranged to permit vapor bubble in said fluid to be directed in an upwardly direction.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
277 words
A system for minimizing cavitation associated with pumping devices employed in pumping liquefied materials in a pipeline said system comprising: a plurality of pumping stations including a master station and at least one station downstream of said master station; a vessel for receiving and reducing the velocity of the material being pumped into said master station whereby said material separates into a vapor portion and a liquid portion; conduit means for delivering said liquid portion to a heat exchanger; means for expansion of said vapor portion into said heat exchanger to permit aN indirect heat exchange to occur between said liquid portion and vapor portions in said exchanger; conduit means for delivering said liquid portion to said pumping device following the exit of said liquid portion from said exchanger; means for regulating the liquid portion level in said vessel; and conduit means for receiving said liquid portion following the exit of said liquid portion from said pumping device and delivering at least a portion of said liquid portion to said downstream station, said downstream station including: a vessel for receiving and reducing the velocity of the material being pumped into said downstream station whereby said material separates into a vapor portion and a liquid portion; conduit means for delivering said liquid portion to a heat exchanger; means for expansion of said vapor portion into said heat exchanger to permit an indirect heat exchange to occur between said liquid portion and vapor portions in said exchanger; conduit means for delivering said liquid portion to said pumping device following the exit of said liquid portion from said exchanger; and means for regulating the liquid portion level in said vessel.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
277 words
A system for minimizing cavitation associated with pumping devices employed in pumping liquefied materials in a pipeline said system comprising: a plurality of pumping stations including a master station and at least one station downstream of said master station; a vessel for receiving and reducing the velocity of the material being pumped into said master station whereby said material separates into a vapor portion and a liquid portion; conduit means for delivering said liquid portion to a heat exchanger; means for expansion of said vapor portion into said heat exchanger to permit aN indirect heat exchange to occur between said liquid portion and vapor portions in said exchanger; conduit means for delivering said liquid portion to said pumping device following the exit of said liquid portion from said exchanger; means for regulating the liquid portion level in said vessel; and conduit means for receiving said liquid portion following the exit of said liquid portion from said pumping device and delivering at least a portion of said liquid portion to said downstream station, said downstream station including: a vessel for receiving and reducing the velocity of the material being pumped into said downstream station whereby said material separates into a vapor portion and a liquid portion; conduit means for delivering said liquid portion to a heat exchanger; means for expansion of said vapor portion into said heat exchanger to permit an indirect heat exchange to occur between said liquid portion and vapor portions in said exchanger; conduit means for delivering said liquid portion to said pumping device following the exit of said liquid portion from said exchanger; and means for regulating the liquid portion level in said vessel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-03-22 | 1974-09-21 | 1975-03-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-03-22 | 1978-09-21 | 1979-03-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-03-22 | 1982-09-21 | 1983-03-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |