API Sealing Plans

52 and 53 A\B
API Seal Plans
 Objective of Seal Plans:
To enhance safety by preventing emission of toxic
and inflammable process fluids.
 To achieve the above, seal environment is
improved and controlled by:
 Dissipating the heat generated at seal faces.
 Lubricating the seal faces.
 Cleaning and Flushing away dirt particles.
 To enhance the reliability and availability of
seals.
API Seal Plans
 Cooling and Lubrication:
 Primary Seal Plans 11, 13, 21, 23 are used to cool and
lubricate the seal faces.
 Cleaning:
 Primary Seal Plan 32, in addition to cooling and
lubrication, flushes away dirty particles.
 Safety:
 Quench Plan 62 is used in addition to seal plans for
making seal environment inert or to dilute product
leakage.
 Gas Plans 75, 76 are used to route leakage from inner
seals to a collection point/vapor recovery system and are
used in systems with medium safety concerns.
 Dual Seal Plans 52, 53, 54 are used in system with critical
safety concerns and where leakage to atmosphere cannot
be tolerated.
Plan 52
Plan 52
 Description:
 External buffer liquid is provided to the outboard
seal in the dual seal system.
 Buffer liquid is at a pressure less than the stuffing
box pressure.
 The buffer liquid is contained in a seal pot vented
to a flare system.
 Circulation is established through a pumping ring
installed on rotating assembly of outboard seal.
 Application:
 High vapour pressure process fluids or flashing
hydrocarbons. Product liquid leakage into buffer
system flashes in seal pot and escapes to vent
system.
Components of Seal flushing system

 Seal lines
 Seal cooler
 Buffer fluid reservoir
 Buffer fluid
 Flow Orifice
 Instruments
Seal Lines
 Seal line should be made of Stainless steel.
 Inlet and outlet connection to seal should be
threaded.
 Apart from above two connections, all lines should
be made of welded joints.
 Connecting flanges size rating should be equal or
more than the pump discharge flange rating.
 Size of seal lines
For Pump shaft dia more than 60 mm: 3\4”
shaft dia less than 60 mm: 1\2”
 Slope of the line connecting from seal reservoir to
seal are should be 40mm/mtr.
 Seal line should be clean by steam/air/oil before
commissioning first time.
Guideline on Seal Cooler:

 Flushing fluid should be in tube side &

water to be in shell side.
 Material for tube shoud be Austenitic
Stainless steel & Carbon Steel for shell.
 Flow rate of flushing fluid should not be
less than 8 lpm.
 For freezing climates, heat tracing is
required in cooling water lines.
 Both process and cooling water sides
must have provision for complete venting
and draining.
API Guideline on Seal Oil Reservoir:
 A separate reservoir shall be furnished for each
mechanical seal.
 It should not be affected by pump vibration.
 The height of the normal liquid level (NLL) in the
barrier/buffer-fluid reservoir above the gland plate shall
not be less than 900 mm.
 The length of the lines and the use of fittings between
the reservoir and seal gland plate shall be minimized to
reduce the pressure drop within the system.
 Hot lines should be insulated as necessary for safety.
 For shaft diameters over 60 mm, volume of liquid shall
be 20 ltr minimum.
 For smaller shaft diameters than 60 mm, volume of
liquid shall be 12 ltr minimum.
Buffer/Barrier Fluid
 It should not form gels or sludge if mixes with
process fluid.
 Compatibility of the fluid with metallurgy,
elastomers and other materials of seal/flush
system.
 Compatibility of fluid assuming it reaches the
process temperature.
 The viscosity should be less than 500cSt at the
minimum temperature to which it is exposed.
 The fluid should not freeze at the minimum
ambient temperature at the site.
 Leakage of fluid to atmosphere or disposal
should not impose an environment problem.
Buffer/Barrier Fluid
 Fluid should have an initial boiling point at least
10°C above the temp. to which it will be exposed.
 It should have a flash point higher than the service
temperature if oxygen is present.
 It should be able to meet the minimum 3-year
continuous seal operation criteria without
deterioration.
 It should not form sludge, polymerize or coke after
extended use.
All hydrocarbon services with vapour
pressure less than 5 kg/cm²
< 200 °C Therminol-66
(abs),

LPG/BUTANE/PROPANE and other

hydrocarbon services with All temperature
Molykote L-1605FG
vapour pressure greater than 5 range
kg/cm² (abs),
All high temperature hydrocarbon
services, > 200 °C Molykote L-1605FG

Sour Water Service Process Water

All Temperature
/Cold Clean
Range
Condensate
Rich/Lean Amine service All Temperature
Lean Amine
Range
Flow Orifice
 Orifice is used to build back pressure in
case of flashing fluid leak intern it will
generate PSH alarm.
 In case of sudden failure of seal it will
restrict the flow of process fluid by
entering into the header and will raise
the level in reservoir which will
indicate LH alarm.
 Orifice Should be made of austenitic
Stainless steel.
 Orifice dia. Should be 3.2 mm
minimum.
Plan 52
 Protection:
 High Pressure Alarm in Seal Reservoir.
 High Level Alarm in Seal Reservoir.
 Low Level Alarm in Seal Reservoir.
 Operational Checks:
 Ensure normal level of buffer fluid in the seal
reservoir.
 The valve in the flare connection port on seal
reservoir should be open.
 Check for atmosphere pressure in the pressure
gauge.
 Check for leaks around the valves and flange
connections.
 Seal outlet line must be warm/hot compared to
inlet line
Plan 53 A
Plan 53 A
 Description:
 External barrier fluid provided to the outboard seal
in the dual seal system.
 Barrier fluid supply is at a pressure ~1.5kg/cm2g
greater than seal chamber pressure.
 Barrier fluid pressure maintained through external
pressurizing source.
 Circulation established through pumping ring
installed in the rotating assembly of the outboard
seal.

 Application:
 Used for dirty, abrasive or polymerizing products for
which plan 52 can not be used.
 Used in services where leakage to the atmosphere
cannot be tolerated.
Plan 53B
Plan 53 B
 Description:
 External barrier fluid provided to the outboard seal in the
dual seal system.
 Barrier fluid supply is at a pressure ~1.5kg/cm2 greater
than seal chamber pressure.
 Barrier fluid pressure maintained through bladder type
accumulator.
 Circulation established through pumping ring installed in
the rotating assembly of the outboard seal.

 Application:
 Used for dirty, abrasive or polymerizing products for which
plan 52 can not be used.
 Barrier fluid compatible with process fluid.
 Used in services where leakage to the atmosphere cannot
be tolerated.
Plan 53 A & B
 Protection:
 Low Pressure Alarm in Seal Reservoir.
 Low Level Alarm in Seal Reservoir (Plan 53 A).

 Operational Checks:
 Ensure proper level of barrier fluid in the seal
reservoir (Plan 53 A).
 Check for proper pressure in the pressure
gauge.
 Check for leaks around the valves and flange
connections.