Abstract: An apparatus and process for cooling down a liquid hydrogen or other cryogenic fluid pump can be configured to allow for a quick startup that also helps minimize hydrogen losses. Some embodiments can utilize a blow-by circuit configured and arranged to support the cryogenic cooldown operation for the pump that can minimize hydrogen loss while allowing substantially improved pump startup times. Some embodiments can utilize at least one temperature sensor to monitor temperature and an adjustable control valve that can facilitate the flow of the fluid utilized to perform the cooldown of the pump.

Abstract: A method and system for forming a compressed gas and dispensing it to a compressed gas receiver. The compressed gas is formed from a process fluid provided at a cryogenic temperature. The forming includes pressurizing the process fluid, feeding the pressurized process fluid at still a cryogenic temperature to a heat exchanger and heating it in indirect heat exchange with a thermal fluid which is provided in a reservoir at a thermal fluid temperature above the cryogenic temperature of the pressurized process fluid. Once heated to a suitable temperature the compressed gas may be dispensed to the compressed gas receiver or stored in one or more compressed gas storage vessels for later use.

Abstract: The invention relates to an integrated hydrogen fueling station for fueling of vehicle tanks with hydrogen characterized in that it comprises an electrochemical compressing unit in which secondary hydrogen originating from leakage, boiling-off or venting of hydrogen-containing gas in one or more of the fueling station's operative units is compressed wherein the secondary hydrogen contains hydrogen and further gaseous components, and to a method for operating such a hydrogen fueling station.

Abstract: A method and system for forming a compressed gas and dispensing it to a compressed gas receiver. The compressed gas is formed from a process fluid provided at a cryogenic temperature. The forming includes pressurizing the process fluid, feeding the pressurized process fluid at still a cryogenic temperature to a heat exchanger and heating it in indirect heat exchange with a thermal fluid which is provided in a reservoir at a thermal fluid temperature above the cryogenic temperature of the pressurized process fluid. Once heated to a suitable temperature the compressed gas may be dispensed to the compressed gas receiver or stored in one or more compressed gas storage vessels for later use.

Abstract: A seal assembly for a reciprocating rod of a reciprocating compressor, a reciprocating compressor with the seal assembly, and a method of operating the reciprocating compressor with the seal assembly to prevent leakage of gas once the compressor has been shut down. The pressure difference between opposite sides of a static seal is kept low during normal operation to reduce wear of the static seal. When the compressor is shut down, a high pressure difference between opposite sides of the static seal assists with sealing.

Abstract: An annular seal assembly for use in a fluid mover, such as a compressor, having a tangentially-cut ring assembly and a radially-cut ring assembly, each ring assembly having arcuate segments, where each arcuate segment of the tangentially-cut ring assembly has a plurality of passages extending from the outer peripheral face to within at least 1.0 mm of the inner peripheral face, wherein after wearing in of the seal, the passages extend through the tangentially-cut ring assembly for pressure balancing.

Abstract: An annular seal assembly for use in a fluid mover, such as a compressor, having a tangentially-cut ring assembly and a radially-cut ring assembly, each ring assembly having arcuate segments, where each arcuate segment of the tangentially-cut ring assembly has a plurality of passages extending from the outer peripheral face to within at least 1.0 mm of the inner peripheral face, wherein after wearing in of the seal, the passages extend through the tangentially-cut ring assembly for pressure balancing.

Abstract: A seal assembly for a reciprocating rod of a reciprocating compressor, a reciprocating compressor with the seal assembly, and a method of operating the reciprocating compressor with the seal assembly to prevent leakage of gas once the compressor has been shut down. The pressure difference between opposite sides of a static seal is kept low during normal operation to reduce wear of the static seal. When the compressor is shut down, a high pressure difference between opposite sides of the static seal assists with sealing.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for compressing a cryogenic fluid using a multi-stage compressor. Coolant in a first coolant loop cools cooling jackets of the compression stages and/or inter-stage heat exchangers and warms a pre-compression heat exchanger. The temperature of the coolant in the first heat exchanger is moderated by ambient-air heat exchange. The process fluid is electively cooled by one of the interstage heat exchangers after each of the compression stage if the temperature of the process fluid is above a temperature criterion. This enables the system to operate through a transient period (cool down period) without venting process fluid. The interstage heat exchangers are preferably bypassed when the system reaches steady-state operating temperature.

Abstract: A seal assembly for a reciprocating piston system is provided that compensates for uneven wear rates between the ring components of the seal assembly by initially sizing a portion of the width of the sealing ring larger than the width of the annular recess in the cover ring, this portion at least partially overlapping the gap in the cover ring but not the gap in the sealing ring.

Abstract: A seal assembly for a reciprocating piston system is provided that compensates for uneven wear rates between the ring components of the seal assembly by initially sizing a portion of the width of the sealing ring larger than the width of the annular recess in the cover ring, this portion at least partially overlapping the gap in the cover ring but not the gap in the sealing ring.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for compressing a cryogenic fluid using a multi-stage compressor. Coolant in a first coolant loop cools cooling jackets of the compression stages and/or inter-stage heat exchangers and warms a pre-compression heat exchanger. The temperature of the coolant in the first heat exchanger is moderated by ambient-air heat exchange. The process fluid is electively cooled by one of the inter-stage heat exchangers after each of the compression stage if the temperature of the process fluid is above a temperature criterion. This enables the system to operate through a transient period (cool down period) without venting process fluid. The inter-stage heat exchangers are preferably bypassed when the system reaches steady-state operating temperature.

Abstract: Gas compression system comprising a compression cylinder having a gas inlet, a compressed gas outlet, and one or more liquid transfer ports; a pump having a suction and a discharge; and a compressor liquid. The system also includes any of the following: a pressure intensifier having an inlet in flow communication with the pump and an outlet in flow communication with the compression cylinder; a feed eductor in flow communication with the discharge of the pump, with a reservoir containing a portion of the compressor liquid, and with the compression cylinder; a drain eductor in flow communication with the discharge of the pump, with the compression cylinder, and with a reservoir containing a portion of the compressor liquid; and a variable-volume compressor liquid accumulator in flow communication with the discharge of the pump.

Abstract: A pumping/compressing apparatus for use in a fluid handling system transferring a fluid from one location, e.g., a tank, to another location or to an end use is provided. The apparatus basically includes a motor and a multistage, e.g., two stage, device including at least one reciprocating piston, an inlet stage chamber, an outlet stage chamber, an inlet, and an outlet. The piston is arranged to be reciprocated at multiple, e.g., respective first and second, speeds. The second speed is higher than the first speed, whereupon when the piston is reciprocated at the first speed the device effectively pumps liquid or mostly liquid to the outlet. When the piston is reciprocated at the second speed the device effectively compresses gas or mostly gas fluid and provides it to the outlet. A blowby port may be provided to provide blowby fluid back to the tank or the device.

Abstract: A pumping/compressing apparatus for use in a fluid handling system transferring a fluid from one location, e.g., a tank, to another location or to an end use is provided. The apparatus basically includes a motor and a multistage, e.g., two stage, device including at least one reciprocating piston, an inlet stage chamber, an outlet stage chamber, an inlet, and an outlet. The piston is arranged to be reciprocated at multiple, e.g., respective first and second, speeds. The second speed is higher than the first speed, whereupon when the piston is reciprocated at the first speed the device effectively pumps liquid or mostly liquid to the outlet. When the piston is reciprocated at the second speed the device effectively compresses gas or mostly gas fluid and provides it to the outlet. A blowby port may be provided to provide blowby fluid back to the tank or the device.

Abstract: A check valve for use in a pump. The valve is arranged to be subjected to severe service conditions and high impact loads, yet be resistant to damage to its components. The check includes a body, a valve seat, a poppet and an impact cushion. The poppet is movably coupled to the valve seat and is biased by a spring into engagement with the valve seat. Upon the opening of the valve the poppet moves off of the valve seat and into engagement with the impact cushion against the spring bias. The impact cushion is movably coupled to the valve body and is biased by another spring. When the poppet engages the impact cushion they stay together and move, with the movement of the impact cushion absorbing energy from the poppet.

Abstract: A reciprocating pump includes a housing, a piston slideably mounted within the housing for a reciprocating movement, a shaft connected to the piston and adapted for reciprocating movement concurrently with the piston, an inlet valve, a discharge valve, and an interstage valve means. A first chamber on one side of the piston is in fluid communication with an inlet and a second chamber on the opposite side of the piston is in fluid communication with a discharge, and the first and second chambers are in fluid communication. At least part of the shaft is in the second chamber. The interstage valve means, which controls the fluid flowing from the first chamber to the second chamber, is closed during a suction stroke and is open during a compression stroke.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring fluid from a vessel includes a pump, a first conduit, and a control means in fluid communication with the pump and having open and closed positions. The first end of the conduit is in fluid communication with the vessel and a second end of the conduit is in fluid communication with an inlet of the pump. The control means alternates between the open and the closed positions, whereby a stream of fluid flows into the pump inlet from the conduit when the control means first alternates to the open position, the control means alternates to the closed position and 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 a pump outlet when the control means alternates again to the open position.

Abstract: A seal assembly includes a top ring, a bottom ring, a first spring for axial loading, and a second spring for radial loading. The seal assembly is particularly useful with a double-acting, two-stage pump for pumping cryogenic fluids. The seal assembly may be used as a piston ring to seal a reciprocating piston with the inner wall of the housing of a pump and/or as a shaft ring to seal a reciprocating shaft operating within a bore.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring fluid from a vessel includes a pump, a first conduit, and a control means in fluid communication with the pump and having open and closed positions. The first end of the conduit is in fluid communication with the vessel and a second end of the conduit is in fluid communication with an inlet of the pump. The control means alternates between the open and the closed positions, whereby a stream of fluid flows into the pump inlet from the conduit when the control means first alternates to the open position, the control means alternates to the closed position and 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 a pump outlet when the control means alternates again to the open position.