Patent Publication Number: US-2021180751-A1

Title: Portable, cryogenic fluid pump apparatus with associated instrumentation, conduit legs and accessories

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a portable, cryogenic fluid pump apparatus with associated instrumentation, conduit legs and accessories, optimally configured on a modular supporting platform for plug and play installation at a filling station and accessibility to perform on-site inspection and maintenance of the apparatus, associated instrumentation, conduit legs and/or accessories at the filling station. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Gas and liquid products, referred to herein and throughout collectively as cryogenic fluid, are used in various commercial and medical applications and are often received, stored, and dispensed through containers of various sizes. There are numerous types of cylinders with each having unique requirements or specifications for holding fluid products such as oxygen, nitrogen, argon, helium, methane, hydrogen, acetylene, natural gas, and mixtures thereof at various pressures and under various conditions. 
     Containers of such gases and liquids, referred to herein and throughout collectively as cylinders, are typically filled at permanent cylinder filling sites and transported to industrial sites for usage. Once used and emptied, the cylinders are collected and replaced with new cylinders through various transportation/delivery operations. The used or emptied cylinders are returned to a central and permanent filling station for refilling. The filling stations are generally installed, operated, and maintained by industrial gas suppliers who transport filled containers to the point of use. The cryogenic pump, such as a reciprocating sump pump, is utilized as part of the filling station. Generally speaking, at the filling station, cryogenic liquid is fed from a source tank into the cryogenic pump and then pressurized and directed to a vaporizer. Cryogenic vaporized product emerges from the outlet of the vaporizer. The vaporized product subsequently flows into a fill manifold from which the vaporized product is fed into multiple cylinders. 
     Currently, however, there are significant delays in installation of a cryogenic fluid pump at the filling station. The installation is typically a time-intensive process in which on-site installation of the necessary piping, instrumentation, valving and automation is required to operationally connect the cryogenic fluid pump to an upstream source tank and a downstream vaporizer. The on-site assembly of such components must be procured from different vendors or suppliers, which increases costs, and further increases delays of installation. 
     As a result, an improved solution for rapid and cost effective installation of a cryogenic pump as part of a filling station is required. Other advantages and applications of the present invention will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention may include any of the aspects in various combinations and embodiments to be disclosed herein. 
     In a first aspect, a portable, cryogenic fluid pump apparatus with associated instrumentation, conduit legs and accessories in an optimal configuration on a modular supporting platform for plug and play installation at a filling station and on-site inspection and maintenance at the filling station, comprising: the modular supporting platform comprising a first supporting structure, a second supporting structure and a third supporting structure to define a footprint of no greater than 16 ft2, said second and third supporting structures substantially perpendicular to the first supporting structure, and further wherein said second and said third supporting structures are situated substantially adjacent to each other; the cryogenic fluid pump apparatus with associated instrumentation, conduit legs and accessories pre-assembled onto the modular supporting platform before deployment to the filling station, wherein the pre-assembled cryogenic fluid pump apparatus with associated instrumentation, conduit legs and accessories are positioned to create the optimal configuration onto the modular supporting platform; said optimal configuration defined, at least in part, by (i) an unobstructed region to access the cryogenic fluid pump apparatus and associated instrumentation, conduit legs and accessories, said unobstructed region comprising a periphery extending along the modular supporting platform to facilitate the plug and play installation at the filling station and the on-site inspection and the maintenance at the filling station, and (ii) substantial horizontal alignment of one or more of the conduit legs with a corresponding downstream and/or upstream components of the filling station; the cryogenic fluid pump apparatus connected to the first supporting structure and the second supporting structure; said conduit legs comprising a suction conduit, a return conduit and a discharge conduit each of which is connected to the cryogenic fluid pump apparatus; said suction conduit extending from a suction port of the pump apparatus and adapted to receive the cryogenic fluid from a source tank into the pump apparatus, said return conduit extending from a return port of the pump apparatus and adapted to return the cryogenic fluid from the pump apparatus to the source tank to enable recirculation of the cryogenic fluid from the source tank into the suction conduit, the return conduit followed by re-entry into the source tank, said recirculation occurring until a temperature of the return conduit is sufficiently reduced to prevent vaporization of the cryogenic liquid, said suction conduit and said return conduit extending outwards from the modular supporting platform into the unobstructed region and further wherein said suction conduit is configured to be in substantial horizontal alignment with a suction supply valve of the source tank; said discharge conduit extending from a discharge port of the cryogenic fluid pump apparatus along the unobstructed region and thereafter bent downwards so that a portion of the discharge conduit is situated at a lower elevation than each of the suction conduit and the return conduit, and further wherein said discharge conduit terminates as a branched conduit along the first supporting structure; said associated instrumentation and accessories comprising (i) supply instrumentation and accessories connected to the suction conduit, (ii) return instrumentation and accessories connected to the return conduit and (iii) discharge instrumentation and accessories connected to the discharge conduit; and a controller in electrical communication with one or more components in (i), (ii) or (iii) and the pump apparatus to regulate a flow of the cryogenic fluid along the suction conduit, the return conduit and the discharge conduit, said controller located within a control panel connected to the third supporting structure. 
     In a second aspect, a portable, cryogenic fluid pump apparatus with associated instrumentation, conduit legs and accessories, optimally configured for plug and play installation at a filling station and on-site inspection and maintenance at the filling station, comprising: a modular supporting platform comprising a supporting structure; the cryogenic fluid pump apparatus with associated instrumentation, conduit legs and accessories pre-assembled in close proximity onto the modular supporting platform before deployment at the filling station, wherein the pre-assembled cryogenic fluid pump apparatus with associated instrumentation, conduit legs and accessories are positioned to create an optimal configuration on the modular platform; said optimal configuration defined, at least in part, as an unobstructed region to access the cryogenic fluid pump apparatus and each of the associated instrumentation, conduit legs and accessories, to facilitate the plug and play installation at the filling station and the on-site inspection and the maintenance at the filling station. 
     In a third aspect, a modular support platform having a first unobstructed region that contains all of the cryogenic fluid pump apparatus components and a second unobstructed region that contains all of the instrumentation and accessories, wherein each of the cryogenic fluid pump components and each of the instrumentation and accessories is pre-assembled before deployment to a filling station into a specific configuration onto the modular support platform to preserve the first unobstructed region and the second unobstructed region to thereby facilitate plug and play installation at a filling station and onsite inspection and maintenance at the filling station, wherein said plug and play installation consists of (i) a first suction conduit connection to a supply valve of a corresponding source tank; (ii) a second return conduit connection to a return valve of the corresponding source tank; (iii) a third discharge conduit connection to an inlet of a vaporizer; and (iv) a fourth cold fill bypass valve connection to an outlet of the vaporizer. 
     In a fourth aspect, a portable, cryogenic fluid pump apparatus with associated instrumentation, conduit legs and accessories in an optimal configuration on a modular supporting platform for plug and play installation at a filling station and on-site inspection and maintenance at the filling station, comprising: the modular supporting platform comprising a first supporting structure, a second supporting structure and a third supporting structure, said second and third supporting structures substantially perpendicular to the first supporting structure, and further wherein said second and said third supporting structures are situated substantially adjacent to each other; the cryogenic fluid pump apparatus with associated instrumentation, conduit legs and accessories pre-assembled onto the modular supporting platform before deployment to the filling station, wherein the pre-assembled cryogenic fluid pump apparatus with associated instrumentation, conduit legs and accessories are positioned to create the optimal configuration onto the modular supporting platform; said optimal configuration defined by a first unobstructed region to access the cryogenic fluid pump apparatus and a second unobstructed region to access associated instrumentation, conduit legs and accessories, said first unobstructed region non-overlapping with the second unobstructed region; the cryogenic fluid pump apparatus comprising multiple components that are connected to the first supporting structure and the second supporting structure within the first unobstructed region; said conduit legs comprising a suction conduit, a return conduit and a discharge conduit each of which is connected to the cryogenic fluid pump apparatus along the second unobstructed region; said suction conduit and said return conduit extending outwards from the modular supporting platform into the second unobstructed region and further wherein said suction conduit is configured to be in substantial horizontal alignment with a suction supply valve of the source tank; said discharge conduit extending from a discharge port of the cryogenic fluid pump apparatus along the second unobstructed region and extending along a periphery of the second unobstructed region until terminating as a branched conduit along the first supporting structure; said associated instrumentation and accessories comprising (i) supply instrumentation and accessories connected to the suction conduit, (ii) return instrumentation and accessories connected to the return conduit and (iii) discharge instrumentation and accessories connected to the discharge conduit; and a controller in electrical communication with one or more components in (i), (ii) and/or (iii) and the pump apparatus to regulate a flow of the cryogenic fluid along the suction conduit, the return conduit and the discharge conduit, said controller located within a control panel connected to the third supporting structure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The objectives and advantages of the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof in connection with the accompanying figures wherein like numbers denote same features throughout and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the portable, cryogenic fluid pump apparatus with associated instrumentation, conduit legs, and accessories ready for plug and play installation at a filling station; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the portable, cryogenic fluid pump apparatus with associated instrumentation, conduit legs, and accessories connected to a source cryogenic fluid tank at a fill station; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the portable, cryogenic fluid pump apparatus with associated instrumentation, conduit legs, and accessories; 
         FIG. 4  is a simplified process schematic of the cryogenic fluid pump apparatus with associated instrumentation, conduit legs, and accessories connected downstream to a cryogenic source tank and downstream to an ambient vaporizer as a part of filling station for filling cryogenic fluid into multiple cylinders; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing in greater detail the conduit legs connected to the cryogenic fluid pump apparatus along with the corresponding valves; 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of the portable, cryogenic fluid pump apparatus with associated instrumentation, conduit legs, and accessories; and 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the portable, cryogenic fluid pump apparatus with associated instrumentation, conduit legs, and accessories showing in greater detail the vertical platform, cryogenic fluid pump apparatus, discharge conduit and components therealong that terminates as a branched conduit at an edge of the bottom platform; 
         FIG. 8  is another perspective view showing in greater detail components of the portable, cryogenic fluid pump apparatus with associated instrumentation, conduit legs, and accessories along the discharge conduit along a rear view of the modular supporting platform; 
         FIG. 9  shows another perspective view of the portable, cryogenic fluid pump apparatus with associated instrumentation, conduit legs, and accessories in which the vertically oriented panel cover has been removed showing the crankshaft belt drive and the motor belt drive; 
         FIG. 10  shows the crankshaft with a thermocouple that is used to detect a seal leak; and 
         FIG. 11  shows a nitrogen purge connection along cryogenic pump apparatus. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The objectives and advantages of the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of the embodiments thereof in connection. The disclosure is set out herein in various embodiments and with reference to various aspects and features of the invention. 
     The relationship and functioning of the various elements of this invention are better understood by the following detailed description. The detailed description contemplates the features, aspects and embodiments in various permutations and combinations, as being within the scope of the disclosure. The portable, cryogenic fluid pump apparatus and associated instrumentation, conduits and accessories disclosed herein may comprise, consist, or consist essentially of any of such permutations and combinations of the specific parts, components, and structures illustratively described herein. The disclosure further contemplates as restrictively defined a cryogenic fluid pump apparatus and associated instrumentation, conduits and accessories, e.g., wherein one or more of the specifically described parts, components, and structures of the cryogenic fluid pump apparatus and associated instrumentation, conduits and accessories may be specifically omitted, in defining operative embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     “Cryogenic or cyrogen fluid” and “fluid” as used herein and throughout refers to any phase including, a liquid phase, gaseous phase, vapor phase, supercritical phase, or any combination thereof. 
     “Conduit” or “conduit flow network”, any of which may be used interchangeably herein and throughout, means tube, pipe, hose, manifold and any other suitable structure that is sufficient to create one or more flow paths and/or allow the passage of a cryogen fluid or fluid; 
     “Components” as used herein and throughout refers to the associated instrumentation, conduit legs and accessories of the cryogenic pump apparatus connected directly or indirectly to the modular support platform and may be used interchangeably with the phrase “associated instrumentation, conduit legs and accessories of the cryogenic pump apparatus”. 
     “Connected” or “operably connected” or “preassembled” or “assembled” or “attachment”, any of which may be used interchangeably herein and throughout, means a direct or indirect engagement between two or more components, so as to enable mechanical, chemical, magnetic, electrical or any other known attachment means between the two or more components. Any suitable connection is contemplated, including friction or press fit, adhesion, welding, mechanical fasteners and any other mechanical as well as chemical, magnetic, electrical or other known attachment means for securing two or more components, in which the attachment is permanent or temporary. 
     “Fill station” or “filling station” or “filling facility” or “fill plant” as used herein and throughout means a central and permanent filling facility that is not mobile for refilling. 
     In the following description, terms such as horizontal, upright, vertical, above, below, front, behind, beneath and the like, are to be used solely for the purpose of illustrating the present invention and should not be taken as words of limitation. 
     Prior to emergence of the present invention, installation of a cryogenic pump at a filling station has been a time-intensive process. For example, the required piping to connect the cryogenic pump to the fill station and to connect the associated instrumentation and accessories is typically required to be specially constructed on-site based on the layout of the filling station, which typically contains several confined or obstructed regions. Consequently, the required piping for the cryogenic pump and associated instrumentation and accessories is not necessarily the shortest length, but rather has resulted in a tortuous flow path to circumvent the many confined and obstructed regions in the filling station. 
     The cryogenic fluid pump itself typically is procured from a particular pump manufacturer while the individual instrumentation and accessories (e.g., valves, pressure gauges, flow meters, controller automation system) for the pump are typically procured from other vendors. The complications involved in such procurement from various vendors typically extends the delay for installation of the cryogenic fluid pump and associated instrumentation, conduit legs and accessories at the fill station. 
     Even with possession of all components at the filling station, navigating around the premises in a safe manner has been challenging as a result of limited space that can exist between the cryogenic fluid pump, the downstream vaporizer and the upstream source tank. 
     For all of these reasons, the assembly and installation of the customized piping and corresponding accessories and instrumentation, including valving and control automation systems, to operationally connect the cryogenic fluid pump to an upstream source tank and a downstream vaporizer has been typically a time-intensive and inefficient process. Additionally, access after installation to the assembled pump or associated instrumentations and piping to perform periodic on-site inspection and maintenance has been difficult and potentially creates safety hazards as a result of the confined and obstructed regions surrounding the installed cryogenic pump and associated instrumentation, accessories and piping. Furthermore, oftentimes, one or more components obstructs access to another component, which may be required to perform inspection and maintenance, thereby necessitating removal of multiple components to access the intended component. 
     To overcome the above-mentioned challenges, the present invention offers a solution which is a notable departure from conventional cryogenic pumps that are installed at a filling station. The inventors have developed a portable, cryogenic fluid pump apparatus with all of the required associated instrumentation, conduit legs and accessories contained on a portable and modular supporting platform that is ready for plug and play installation at a filling station. The apparatus can be transported with all components preassembled onto the platform. Upon arrival at the filling station, the apparatus can be deployed as a single unit that is rapidly connected with minimal connections in a safe manner to the necessary filling station equipment. Installation time is significantly reduced in comparison to conventional cryogenic pump systems at filling stations; and access to the apparatus and its respective components is possible as a result of specially designed unobstructed regions extending along a periphery of the modular supporting platform. The portable, cryogenic fluid pump apparatus and components are configured on the modular platform in such a manner that a user can gain entry to certain portions of the portable, cryogenic fluid pump apparatus with components to (i) facilitate plug and play installation at a filling station, and (ii) perform follow-up onsite inspection and maintenance at the filling station. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the portable, cryogenic fluid pump apparatus with associated instrumentation, conduit legs, and accessories  1  ready for plug and play installation at a filling station. A modular supporting platform  2  is provided which includes a bottom plate  3 , a frame  5  that is vertically oriented and a panel  4  that is vertically oriented. The cryogenic fluid pump apparatus with associated instrumentation, conduit legs and accessories  1  are pre-assembled onto the modular supporting platform  2  before the on-site plug and play installation at the filling station. The bottom plate  3  preferably has a footprint of no greater than 16 ft2. The bottom plate  3  is bounded by a first side  3   a , a second side  3   b , a third side  3   c  and a fourth side  3   d . The panel  4  and frame  5  are situated substantially adjacent to each other. The panel  4  and frame  5  are preferably oriented perpendicular to the bottom plate  3 . 
     As can be more clearly seen in  FIG. 7 , the first side  3   a  of bottom plate  3  is adjacent to the second side  3   b  to at least partially define an unobstructed region  17  that is sufficiently sized to contain the suction conduit  10   a  with supply instrumentation and accessories  10   b ; the return conduit  11   a  with return instrumentation and accessories  11   b ; and the discharge conduit  12   a  with discharge instrumentation and accessories  12   b . The unobstructed region  17  is a peripheral region along a portion of the side and along the entire rear portion of the modular supporting platform  2  that is accessible to facilitate plug and play installation at a filling station and onsite inspection and maintenance at the filling station. Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 5 , supply instrumentation and accessories  10   b  includes a suction conduit valve  28  and a first pressure relief valve  7 . Return instrumentation and accessories  11   b  includes thermocouple  30 , a second pressure relief valve  8  and a return conduit valve  29 . Discharge instrumentation and accessories  11   c  includes a pulsation dampener  14 , cold fill bypass valve  31 , unload valve  32 , check flow valve  33  and a branched conduit  13 . 
     The bottom plate  3  further has a third side  3   c  and a fourth side  3   d  that define at least in part an unobstructed region  16  of modular support platform  2 , as can be more clearly seen in  FIGS. 1, 3 and 6 . Unobstructed region  16  is considered the front portion of the modular supporting platform  2  and allows access to control panel  18  and all pump components of cryogenic fluid pump apparatus  9 , which includes sump pump  15 , crankshaft  20  and motor  21  (e.g., variable frequency drive). 
     Unobstructed region  16  is oriented towards the cryogenic fluid pump apparatus  9 , which includes sump pump  15 , crankshaft  20  and pump motor  21 . Unobstructed region  16  is characterized as the front of modular platform apparatus  2  as can be seen in  FIG. 1 . The panel  4  is oriented vertically and has a removable panel cover  24  to access an interior region ( FIG. 9 ) that is sized to contain a crankshaft belt drive  22  and motor belt drive  23  of a cryogenic fluid pump apparatus  9 . The crankshaft belt drive  22  is contained within a top portion of the interior region of the panel  4 . An upper rotation ring  25  connects to the crankshaft  20 . The motor belt drive  22  is contained within a bottom portion of the interior region of panel  4  that is situated below the crankshaft belt drive  22 . A lower rotation ring  26  connects to the motor  21 . The corresponding crankshaft  20  is connected to the covering  24  of panel  4 , and the motor  21  is connected to bottom plate  3 . To enable a compact modular supporting platform  2  of cryogenic pump apparatus  9  with all corresponding components positioned thereon, the inventors have determined that unobstructed region  16  of panel  4  contains all of the pump components (cryogenic fluid pump apparatus  9  which includes the crankshaft casing  20 , sump pump  15  and motor  21 ) while unobstructed region  17  of the panel  4  contain all of the supply, return and discharge instrumentation and accessories  10   b ,  11   b ,  12   b , corresponding to the suction conduit  10   a , return conduit  11   a  and discharge conduit  12   a.    
     Sump pump  15  (i.e., the cold end) is solely connected to an end of the crankshaft  20  within unobstructed region  16  along the front of modular supporting platform  2 . Sump pump  15  is not directly connected to any portion of modular supporting platform  2 . In other words, the sump pump  15  is not directly attached to the bottom plate  3 , panel  4  or frame  5 . The sump pump  15  is tilted downwards and extends towards an edge of the bottom plate  3 . The degree by which the sump pump  15  is tilted downwards can be expressed as an angle that is measured from a vertical that is normal to the bottom plate  3 . In one example, the sump pump  15  is tilted to an angle that is less than 60 degrees from the vertical, and more preferably 45 degrees or less from the vertical. The sump pump  15  is designed to remain suspended from the end of the crankshaft  20 . The crankshaft  20  is also titled downwards and, preferably, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the crankshaft  20  is angled downwards to the same degree as the sump pump  15 . By having both the sump pump  15  and the crankshaft  20  tilted downwards by a predetermined angle, a net positive suction head can be maintained on sump pump  15 , thereby preventing cavitation. 
     Unobstructed region  17  may be characterized as that portion of the modular platform apparatus  2  located behind panel  4  (i.e., the rear section of the modular supporting platform  2  with cryogenic pump apparatus  9  and associated instrumentation and accessories and conduit). Unobstructed region  17  is defined by at least a portion of first side  3   a  of bottom plate  3  and second side  3   b  of bottom plate  3 . The unobstructed region  17  that is located behind the panel  4  contains sufficient space for supply, return and discharge instrumentation and accessories  10   b ,  11   b ,  12   b , corresponding to each of the suction conduit  10   a , return conduit  11   a  and discharge conduit  12   a , as can be more clearly seen in  FIGS. 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8 . Configuring suction conduit  10   a  and return conduit  11   a  within the unobstructed region  17  allows for the shortest conduit path to the source tank  19 . Unobstructed region  17  is also accessible by a user and contains sufficient space for the suction conduit  10   a , return conduit  11   a  and discharge conduit  12   a  to extend therealong, as can be more clearly seen in  FIG. 5 . 
     The frame  5  is connected to the bottom plate  3  and has a geometry that can support a control panel  18  with controller inside control panel (whereby controller inside control panel is collectively referred to herein and throughout by “35” in the Figures). The frame  5  connects to the periphery of bottom plate  3 . The frame  5  is perpendicular to the panel  4  and the third side  3   c  of the bottom plate  3  ( FIG. 1 ). Control panel  18  is shown mounted onto frame  5 , thereby eliminating a need for a bottom plate or platform therebelow. In this manner, the footprint of modular platform  2  is able to remain compact. The frame  5  is oriented to have a controller in a control panel  35  mounted thereon, as shown in  FIGS. 1, 8 and 9 . In particular, the controller in the control panel  35  is attached to an external region of the frame  5  to preserve access to unobstructed region  16 . In this manner, the controller inside control panel  35  is attached to an exterior of frame  5  so as to not increase the footprint of the modular support platform  2  but yet not create interference with any of the components located in unobstructed region  17  and unobstructed region  16 , thereby preserving the ability for a user to access any component as needed during installation and thereafter. It will be appreciated that all components of the pump apparatus  9  can be accessed during plug and play connection in a safe and quick manner by a user for installation as well as during routine inspection and maintenance of the pump apparatus  9 . The controller in the control panel  35  is in electrical communication with supply instrumentation and accessories  10   b  connected to suction conduit  10   a ; return instrumentation and accessories  11   b  connected to return conduit  11   a ; and discharge instrumentation and accessories  12   b  connected to discharge conduit  12   a . The control panel  35  is vertically oriented and substantially aligned with the frame  5 . The control panel  35  has a door that can be opened outwards and away from the modular supporting platform  2 , thereby eliminating any interference with unobstructed region  16  or unobstructed region  17 . 
     The ability to utilize a compact modular supporting platform  2  is partially attributed to minimizing the number of components that are directly connected to the platform  2 . In this regard, and in accordance with the principles of the present invention, only the controller in control panel  35 , motor  21 , crankshaft belt drive  22  and motor belt drive  23  are directly connected to the various support structures (e.g., bottom plate  3 , side panel  4  and frame  5 ) of modular support platform  2 . It will be appreciated that the present invention is also designed to minimize the number of pump components directly attached to the platform  2 , thereby reducing the need for bulker support structures that may require a larger footprint. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 6 , a high pressure switch  36  serves as a safety feature that is connected to the controller in control panel  35 . The high pressure switch  36  is wired into the control panel  35 . Tubing from the discharge of the sump pump  15  extends to the high pressure switch  36  inside of control panel  35 . The tubing is configured so as to not interfere with other components along unobstructed regions  16  and  17 . If the pressure that is measured in the discharge conduit  12   a  is determined to be higher than the maximum allowable working pressure of the cylinders  401  ( FIG. 4 ) to be filled with the cryogenic fluid, then the controller inside control panel  35  receives a corresponding signal from the pressure switch  36  and in response thereto will deactivate the pump apparatus  9 . 
     As another safety feature built into the cryogenic fluid pump apparatus with components  1  on modular supporting platform  2 , a pressure safety valve  37  is connected to the top of pulsation dampener  14 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . The pressure safety valve  37  prevents the sump pump  15  from exceeding its maximum working pressure. The pressure safety valve  37  is designed to activate by releasing cryogenic fluid  65  into the atmosphere at a certain elevated pressure, thereby protecting the pump apparatus  9  from the high pressure condition. Before the pressure safety valve  37  is activated, the controller inside control panel  35  stops the cryogenic fluid pump apparatus  9  to prevent the cylinders  401  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) from inadvertently exceeding its allowable working pressure. 
     Other features of the portable, cryogenic fluid pump apparatus with components  1  further enhance compactness. For example, the suction conduit  10   a  is adapted to be in substantial horizontal alignment with a corresponding supply valve  19   a  of the source tank  19  ( FIG. 2 ). The horizontal alignment minimizes pressure losses, thereby desirably eliminating a need for a higher horsepower pump. The horizontal alignment also allows rapid connect and disconnect of suction conduit  10   a  to the corresponding supply valve  19   a  of source tank  19  ( FIG. 2 ). Generally speaking, the suction conduit  10   a , return conduit  11   a  and discharge conduit  12   a  are configured along the modular support platform  2  within unobstructed region  17  in the shortest possible manner, thereby minimizing pressure losses and allowing for rapid connect and disconnect for plug and play installation. 
     The portable, cryogenic fluid pump apparatus with components  1  is optimally positioned so that a relatively large amount of associated instrumentation, conduit legs and accessories can be contained on the modular platform  2  without one component obstructing another component, thereby preserving the unobstructed region  16  and unobstructed region  17 . For example, referring to  FIGS. 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7 , discharge conduit  12   a  extends outwards from discharge port of sump pump  15  in a downward direction towards the unobstructed region  17  of the second side  3   b  of bottom plate  3 , and extends therealong until terminating as a branched conduit  13 , which a user can readily access without having to remove other components. 
     Additionally, it should be noted that the cryogenic fluid pump apparatus with components  1  contains all necessary features that typically have required extensive piping to be created onsite at a fill plant. For example, the cold bypass feature prior to this present invention can typically require extensive piping to be created onsite. Conventional fill plant operation which has utilized a cold fill bypass filling procedure can require extensive piping for connection to a downstream vaporizer  27  ( FIG. 4 ). The extensive piping has typically been constructed onsite. As a result, the cold bypass piping connection to the outlet of the vaporizer can require lengthy duration for installation. However, as will now be described with regards to the present invention, the discharge conduit  12   a  terminates as a branched conduit  13  that is optimally configured and pre-assembled onto the modular support platform  2  to allow plug and play installation to a downstream vaporizer  27 . Referring to  FIG. 7 , the branched conduit  13  includes a top portion  13   a  that is connected to a cold fill bypass valve  31  which directs a certain proportion of the pressurized discharge cryogenic liquid to an outlet of vaporizer  27 ; and a bottom portion  13   c  that directs a certain proportion of the pressurized discharged cryogenic fluid to an inlet of the vaporizer  27 . By having a certain proportion of pressurized cryogenic fluid distributed between a top portion of branched conduit  13   a  and a bottom portion of branched conduit  13   c , the temperature of the cryogenic gas filled into cylinders  401  ( FIG. 4 ) can be controlled by vaporizing only a proportion of the pressurized cryogenic liquid along discharge conduit  13 . In this manner, pressure excursions which may occur when heat of gas compression during filling exceeds heat dissipation rate from cylinder walls is controlled, thereby allowing the vaporized cryogenic fluid to be rapidly filled into cylinders  401  without delays associated with pressure excursions from elevated heat of compression. The process is more fully described in 13277-US (Ser. No. 13/746,020), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. Unlike conventional practice, the present invention incorporates the cold fill bypass valve  31  and associated conduit, accessories and instrumentation as part of a filling station operation onto a portable cryogenic fluid pump apparatus with components  1 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , the branched conduit  13  consists of a top portion  13   a , middle portion  13   b  and a bottom portion  13   c . The branched conduit  13  is intentionally positioned along an edge of the second side  3   b  of bottom plate  3  to enable a user to readily access the mobile supporting platform  2  along the unobstructed region  17  in a safe and rapid manner to make the connections as needed during installation and disconnections during periodic inspection and maintenance. 
     The discharge conduit  3  is intentionally designed to extend as low as possible to the bottom plate  3  along the rear portion of unobstructed region  17  of the modular platform  2  to allow a user to gain entry onto the rear of the modular platform  2  and access various components, including removal of panel cover  24  to inspect belt drive  22  and the motor belt drive  23  (belt drives  22  and  23  shown in  FIG. 9 ). Additionally,  FIG. 7  shows that the return conduit  11   a  and suction conduit  10   a  are configured as close as possible to the first side  3   a  of bottom plate  3  ( FIG. 7 ), thereby allowing a user to access and remove covering  24  from panel  4  without the suction conduit  10   a  and return conduit  10   a  creating undesirable interference and obstruction. 
     As part of the discharge conduit  12   a , various discharge instrumentation and accessories  12   b  are connected to and preferably in alignment with discharge conduit  12   a . Each of the components is optimally configured to minimize the footprint of the modular support platform  2  and preserve access to components along unobstructed region  17  as well as pump apparatus  9  along unobstructed region  16  and controller inside control panel  35  mounted onto frame  5 . For example, a pulsation dampener  14  ( FIG. 2 ) and unload valve  32  ( FIG. 7 ) are connected along the discharge conduit  12   a . The dampener  14  is preferably a pipe that is located upright and in contact with the panel  4 . The dampener  14  acts as a buffer to assist in reduction of vibration during operation of the cryogenic fluid pump apparatus  9 . The unload valve  32  is strategically located in-line with the bent portion of the discharge conduit  12   a  ( FIG. 7 ) and is designed to be activated into the open position to remove any load on the pump apparatus  9  prior to activating the pump apparatus  9 , thereby preventing a surge in current when the pump apparatus  9  is ready to be activated. The unload valve  32  is connected to the bottom portion of pulsation dampener  14  along discharge conduit  12   a  in a manner that does not interfere with unobstructed region  17 . Without the unload valve  32 , the motor  21  may incur unacceptably high current load as a result of a pressure surge or rise in the discharge conduit  12   a  at startup of the motor  21 . Accordingly, a relatively small tubing ( FIG. 7 ) is connected to the bottom of the pulsation dampener  14  so that setting the unload valve  32  into the open position prior to activating the pump motor  21  and apparatus  9  can allow cryogenic fluid  65  (which can be in gas or liquid phase) to vent, so as to relieve the pressure surge in the discharge conduit  12   a , and thereby reduce the current load to acceptable levels that does not damage the pump motor  21  and apparatus  9 . 
     Still further, additional discharge instrumentation and accessories  12   b  include an isolation valve  38  as can be seen in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . The isolation valve  38  may be a manually operated valve that is designed to isolate the pump apparatus  9  if inspection and maintenance work must be performed on any components of the pump apparatus  9 . The isolation valve  38  is connected to and preferably in alignment with discharge conduit  12   a .  FIGS. 6 and 7  show that the isolation valve  38  is situated along the portion of the discharge conduit  12   a  that has been bent downwards towards bottom plate  3  along second side  3   b  of bottom plate  3 . The isolation valve  38  as configured does not interfere with any components situated along unobstructed region  17  such that access to any portion thereof remains possible during plug and play installation, inspection or periodic onsite inspection and maintenance or service. 
     Check valve  33  is another component of discharge instrumentation and accessories  12   b . Check valve  33  is located downstream of the isolation valve  38  and upstream of branched conduit  13 . Similar to the other discharge instrumentation and accessories  12   b , check valve  33  is connected to and in alignment with discharge conduit  12   a . Check valve  33  prevents backflow of cryogenic fluid  65  from the discharge conduit  12   a  as a result of any pressure difference which may occur during the filling operation. 
     A nitrogen purge connection  39  in  FIG. 11  is also included as part of the present invention in one aspect. The nitrogen purge connection  39  is separate and distinct from the supply instrumentation and accessories  10   b  (connected to suction conduit  10   a ); return instrumentation and accessories  11   b  (connected to return conduit  11   a ); and discharge instrumentation and accessories  12   b  (connected to discharge conduit  12   a ). The nitrogen purge connection  39  is connected to the crankcase of crankshaft  20  along unobstructed region  16 . During a filling operation at a filling station in which the cryogenic fluid pump apparatus  9  is pressurizing cryogenic fluid  65  from the source tank  19 , the nitrogen purge is continuously running whereby nitrogen gas is flowing pass the seal area of the piston region (i.e., the inner region between the crankshaft  20  and sump pump  15 ) to prevent potential moisture buildup and subsequent ice formation in the event that cryogenic fluid  65  were to leak from the piston region into the surrounding environment of the piston and pump apparatus  9 . The cryogenic fluid pump apparatus with components  1  is designed to only operate when nitrogen flow is detected to be flowing across the seal of piston of the cryogenic pump apparatus  9 . The piston is connected to crankshaft  20  and extends to the sump pump  15 . The flow of nitrogen is monitored with a flow switch located inside the controller of control panel  35 . If the nitrogen purge across the seal region of piston is not occurring, the controller inside control panel  35  will transmit an output signal to deactivate the pump apparatus  9  (even if there is no leak) as another safety precaution that is incorporated when operating the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , a thermocouple connection  40  is shown between the sump pump  15  (cold end) and the crankshaft  20  (warm end) of pump apparatus  9 . Thermocouple  41  ( FIG. 10 ) inside thermocouple connection  40  measures the temperature of the region between the sump pump  15  (cold end) and the crankshaft  20  (warm end) to determine if there is a leak as a result of a measured temperature that could indicate a leak is imminent or has occurred. As mentioned hereinabove, the nitrogen purge is always running and is intended to act as a backup safety remedy if the temperature detection of seal is not working or has failed to detect a temperature that could indicate a leak is imminent or has occurred. 
     The suction conduit  10   a  and return conduit  11   a  are positioned at a higher elevation than the discharge conduit  12   a  to avoid interference of the various conduits and other components. However, the suction conduit  10   a  is not positioned so high as to eliminate the substantially horizontal alignment with the corresponding supply valve  19   a  of upstream source tank  19  ( FIG. 2 ). As such, the placement of the suction conduit  10   a  is a critical design consideration and beneficially reduces pressure losses and facilities plug and play installation. On the contrary, conventional onsite practice has typically required elbows and fittings as the way to establish connection between the source tank  19  and cryogenic fluid pump apparatus  9 , which undesirably leads to substantial pressure losses. 
       FIG. 2  shows that the return conduit  11   a  is at a relatively higher elevation than the discharge conduit  12   a , but may not be horizontally aligned to the degree of the suction conduit  10 , as can be more clearly seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . Although, the return conduit  12   a  is shown slightly angled upwards from the return port of the sump pump  15  of the cryogenic fluid pump apparatus  9  to connect to a corresponding return valve  19   b  of the source tank  19 , the degree of elevation is minimal and the length of return conduit  12   a  as well as the suction conduit  10   a  remains substantially short in length to enable rapid connect and disconnect at a filling station or plant so that challenges in navigating around confined and obstructed regions in the filling station can be avoided. 
     The return conduit  11   a  is used in conjunction with the suction conduit  10   a  in a recirculation process that occurs prior to pumping cryogenic fluid through pump apparatus  9 . In particular, referring to  FIG. 2 , prior to activating cryogenic fluid pump apparatus  9 , cryogenic fluid  65  in a liquid phase is introduced from source tank  19 , through supply valve  19   a  set in an open position, to enter suction conduit  10   a , where the fluid flows through suction conduit valve  28  in an open position and then is fed back along return conduit  11   a , through return conduit valve  29  in the open position and then reintroduced into the source tank  19 . At start-up, atmospheric heat from the surrounding environment  34  has a tendency to vaporize the cryogenic liquid  65  along suction conduit  10   a  and/or return conduit  11   a . As a result, the recirculation loop from source tank  19 , suction conduit  10   a , return conduit  12   a  followed by reintroduction into source tank  19  continues until a temperature measurement by a thermocouple  30  situated along the return conduit  11   a  determines that the temperature of the cryogenic fluid  65  is sufficiently reduced to prevent vaporization of cryogenic fluid  65 , at which point the cryogenic fluid  65  in a liquid phase can be introduced into the sump pump  15  without cavitation. 
     When the temperature of the cryogenic fluid  65  as measured in the return conduit  11   a  has reached a sufficiently low temperature, the return conduit valve  29  is set from the open position to a closed position. The cryogenic fluid  65  is withdrawn from source tank  19 , and then flows along suction conduit  10   a , suction conduit valve  28 , which remains in the open position, and then the fluid  65  enters the piston assembly cold section of cryogenic apparatus  9  (i.e., sump pump  15 ). The fluid  65  is pressurized and flows into the warm section of cryogenic apparatus  9  (i.e., crankshaft  20 ), and then the fluid  65  in a pressurized state exits into discharge conduit  12   a , which is located along unobstructed region  17 . The pressurized cryogenic fluid  65  flows therealong until reaching a branched conduit  13 , located along edge of second side  3   b  of bottom plate  3  (as can be more clearly seen in  FIG. 7 ). A first portion of the pressurized fluid  65  flows into top portion of branched conduit  13   a , through cold bypass valve  31 , which is set into the open position, thereby allowing the first portion of the pressurized fluid  65  to bypass the inlet of vaporizer  27  and substantially remain in the liquid phase. The remainder or second portion of the pressurized fluid  65  flows into the bottom portion of branched conduit  13   c  which is connected to an inlet of vaporizer  27 . The second portion of fluid  65  emerges from the vaporizer  27  in a vapor phase to produce elevated pressure gas. The elevated pressure gas mixes with the first portion of the unvaporized cryogenic fluid  65 . Heat from the elevated pressure gas vaporizes the first portion of the pressurized cryogenic fluid  65  in the liquid phase by direct heat exchange, thus producing a controlled temperature of elevated pressure gas which is provided at the optimal and desired temperature for rapidly filling the cylinders  401  through fill manifold ( FIG. 4 ). The temperature of the controlled temperature elevated pressure gas is maintained within the desired range using temperature control system (e.g., controller inside control panel  35 ) by manipulating bypass valve  31  to be in a more open or more closed position during the filling, thus varying the first portion of pressurized cryogenic liquid  65  that is required to mix with the elevated pressure gas  65 . The controlled temperature elevated pressure gas is then filled into the cylinders  401  through fill manifold ( FIG. 4 ). A combination of the liquid bypass valve  31 , cryogenic liquid pump apparatus  9  (i.e., sump pump  15 , crankshaft  20  and a motor  21 , which is preferably a variable frequency drive (VFD)), gas temperature sensing means (not shown), all of which are coordinated under a dedicated control scheme preferably using controller inside control panel  35 , is used to create temperature control during filling. The VFD and valves can be controlled by an automated control system such as controller inside control panel  35  based on a predetermined algorithm such as a fuzzy logic algorithm. 
     The structural attributes of the present invention offer rapid plug and play connection for installation, inspection and maintenance not possible in the prior art. It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that conventional practice has been for the associated supply, return and discharge instrumentation, conduit legs and accessories  10   b ,  11   b  and  12   b , respectively, to be disseminated across large areas of the filling facility, whereby rapid connect and disconnect for installation, inspection and periodic on-site inspection and maintenance can take, on average, several days to complete. In contrast, the present invention offers plug and play of the cryogenic fluid pump apparatus with associated instrumentation, conduit legs, and accessories  1  to required equipment in the filling station within a few hours. The connections or disconnections may be made safely, quickly and, easily in advance. The optimal configuration of each of the components ensures performance and safety is maintained along with ease of inspection and maintenance. 
       FIG. 4  provides a comparison of the installation procedure between conventional onsite practice and that of the inventive cryogenic fluid pump apparatus with associated instrumentation, conduit legs, and accessories  1 .  FIG. 4  shows that conventional procedure requires piping work, electrical work, automation, configuration of a control panel, instrumentation and valves, all of which will require substantial time to construct and assemble based on the filling station layout. In contrast, the present invention eliminates the piping work, electrical work, automation, configuration of a control panel, instrumentation and valves. The present invention merely requires 4 connections during installation, namely connection between the corresponding supply valve  19   a  of source tank  19  and suction conduit  10   a ; connection between the inlet of downstream vaporizer  27  and the bottom portion  13   c  of the branched conduit  13  of discharge conduit  12   a ; connection between cold fill bypass valve  31  and the outlet of downstream vaporizer  27 ; and connection between the return conduit  11   a  and the corresponding return valve  19   b  on the source tank  19 . Each of the suction conduit  10   a  and return conduit  11   a  is preferably a flexible hose that allows flexing to occur as a result of the vibration of the cryogenic fluid pump apparatus  9  during operation. The present invention avoids the difficulties of making connections based on certain components typically widespread across different regions of the filling station by virtue of all required components locally concentrated on the modular support platform  2  and optimally configured thereon. 
     Because the plug and play connection system allows for the rapid disconnection of the suction conduit  10   a  with source tank supply valve  19   a ; return conduit  11   a  with source tank return valve  19   b ; bottom portion of branched conduit  13   c  with inlet of vaporizer  27 ; and top portion of branched conduit  13   a  containing the cold fill bypass valve  31  to an outlet of vaporizer  27 , any component of the cryogenic fluid pump apparatus with associated instrumentation, conduit legs, and accessories  1 , including the cryogenic fluid pump apparatus  9 , may be serviced, installed, pulled, or replaced more easily. Once the necessary work has been performed, the plug and play connection system allows for the rapid connection to the filling station equipment faster and more efficiently than a conventional cryogenic pump apparatus with associated instrumentation, conduit legs and accessories that are not pre-configured on the modular supporting platform, but, instead are scattered in a widespread manner along various confined and obstructed regions of the fill plant. 
     Onsite inspection and maintenance of pump apparatus  9  requires removing vertically oriented covering  24  from panel  4  which requires access by a user, and which also requires the ability to have enough clearance to remove the covering  24  from panel  4  without removing other components in close proximity. Referring to  FIG. 7 , covering  24  can be removed without colliding or damaging with the other components shown on modular support platform  2  as a result of the optimal configuration of each of the components on modular supporting platform  2 .  FIG. 9  shows the interior of panel  4  after panel  24  is removed for inspection of the crankshaft belt drive  22  and motor belt drive  23 . 
     Other variations to the embodiments illustrated and described hereinabove are contemplated that are intended to fall within the scope of the present invention. For example, the supporting structures for modular support platform  2  may be modified to a different geometry based on the configuration of the pump apparatus  9 . In one example, the modular support platform  2  may be designed to define a footprint of greater or less than 16 ft2 without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     In another example, the crankshaft  20  and the motor  21  can be configured in a substantially straight line along the bottom plate  3 , thereby allowing the side panel  4  to be potentially smaller without an interior region designed to receive corresponding crankshaft belt drive  22  and corresponding motor belt drive  23  and hub rings for each of the crankshaft belt drive  22  and motor belt drive  23 . Instead, at least a portion of the bottom plate  3  can be designed to accommodate the hub rings, belt drives  22  and  23 , motor  21  and crankshaft  20 . Still further, it should be understood that the bottom plate  3  may be replaced with a panel-like structure. Alternatively, or in addition thereto, the frame  5  may be replaced with any other suitable structure capable of supporting controller inside of control panel  35 . 
     Although a reciprocating sump pump  15  is preferably utilized, other pressurizing systems may be employed. The specific type of system may be dependent on several factors, including, by way of example, the layout of the particular fill plant and the amount of pressure losses incurred when cryogenic fluid  65  is directed from the source tank  19  to the vaporizer  27 . 
     While it has been shown and described what is considered to be certain embodiments of the invention, it will, of course, be understood that various modifications and changes in form or detail can readily be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is, therefore, intended that this invention is not limited to the exact form and detail herein shown and described, nor to anything less than the whole of the invention herein disclosed and hereinafter claimed.