A cryogenic liquid pump is a mechanical device designed to transport cryogenic fluids and increase their pressure. Based on their operating principles, cryogenic pumps can be broadly classified into two major categories: rotodynamic (blade-type) and reciprocating. The rotodynamic category includes centrifugal, mixed-flow, and axial-flow pumps, while the reciprocating category comprises plunger and piston pumps.
Centrifugal pumps are the most widely utilized type within the rotodynamic category; they are further subdivided into single-stage and multi-stage configurations. Plunger pumps are the most common type among reciprocating pumps, available in both single-row and multi-row arrangements.
Centrifugal cryogenic pumps are predominantly employed for low-to-medium pressure fluid transfer applications, whereas plunger cryogenic pumps are utilized in systems characterized by high pressure and low flow rates.