Abstract: A method of transferring a cryogenic fluid comprises passing a cryogenic fluid through a flexible conduit having a wall formed of a first layer of a porous polymeric (12) material and a second layer formed of an impermeable material (14).

Abstract: The present invention is an improved tube for the effective transfer of cryogenic fluids and the like. The transfer tube (22) comprises at least two tubes, an inner tube (30) coaxially housed within an outer tube (44) with a defined gap therebetween. The inner tube is sufficiently permeable to gaseous cryogenic fluid that it allows release of limited amounts of gaseous fluid into the defined gap. The outer tube is essentially impermeable so as to contain the gaseous fluid within the gap. Preferably both tubes are constructed from flexible and cold temperature resistant polymer materials, such as fluoropolymer materials and especially expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and/or fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP). The transfer tube of the present invention is highly effective at cryogenic fluid transfer while being lighter, more flexible, and more efficient than currently available transfer tubes.

Abstract: A regenerative pump comprises a housing (1) with a pump inlet (13) and outlet (14), an impeller (5) with a plurality of blades (8) forming a series of cells (9) around the axis of rotation of the impeller, and a flow channel within the housing extending between the pump inlet and outlet and including a guide channel (15) in the housing into which the cells (9) open laterally of the impeller so as to induce a flow of fluid through the flow channel as the impeller is rotated. Each blade (8) extends radially over a first radial portion (20) thereof adjacent to the pump inlet (13) and over a second radial portion thereof adjacent to the guide channel (15) and has a trailing surface (19) with a profile that varies radially. The trailing surface of the blade over the first radial portion (20) is inclined forwardly in the direction of rotation (R) towards its outer edge (17) as compared with the trailing surface (19) of the blade over the second radial portion.