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Installation & Troubleshooting Guidelines for API Seal Flush Plans-Introduction End face shaft seals consist of
A set of faces, one flexibly mounted and one rigidly mounted springs or metal bellows to provide flexibility secondary sealing members one of which must provide flexibility adaptive hardware to hold the parts in an assembly
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Adaptive Hardware
Installation & Troubleshooting Guidelines for API Seal Flush Plans-Introduction The faces provide for the dynamic sealing of the fluid in the pump The flexibly mounted face moves during pump operation to maintain a narrow sealing gap to the rigidly mounted face
Sealing Gap
Installation & Troubleshooting Guidelines for API Seal Flush Plans-Introduction The seal faces and the seal assembly generate heat in the seal chamber due to
liquid turbulence in the seal chamber liquid shear in the sealed fluid between the seal faces mechanical motion in the seal assembly occasionally bumping or touching of the seal faces
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It is essential that the correct seal flush arrangement be installed and operated properly
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Installation & Troubleshooting Guidelines for API Seal Flush Plans-Introduction The various seal flush arrangements have been categorized by API The plans are numbered and identified as API Piping Plan XX A brief overview of the various piping plans commonly encountered follows We will discuss each in more detail with a few exceptions as indicated
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1 0
Gauge Valve
1 3
The seal flush line should be checked regularly with a temperature indicator. It should be the same temperature at both ends of the line. The typical mode of failure is a clogged orifice or a closed valve.
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Orifice
Gauge Valve
The seal flush line should be checked regularly with a temperature indicator. It should be the same temperature at both ends of the line. The typical mode of failure is a clogged orifice or a closed valve.
2 2
Orifice
Rotameter
Block Valves
Gauge Valve
Pressure Gauge
Pressure Gauge
Rotameter
2 9
The seal flush lines should be checked regularly with a temperature indicator. They should be the same temperature at both ends of the line. The typical mode of failure is a clogged orifice or a closed valve.
3 0
Orifice
Orifice
3 1
Orifice Orifice
3 2
Orifice
Orifice
3 3
Orifice Orifice
Heat Exchanger
Heat Exchanger
4 0
The body of the heat exchanger should be warm while the pump is in operation The heat exchanger case drain should be opened periodically to purge the heat exchanger of accumulated solids and debris 4 1
Heat Exchanger
Heat Exchanger
18-24
4 5
4 6
18-24
18-24
Gauge Valve
The seal flush line should be checked regularly with a temperature indicator. It should be the same temperature as the pump case throughout its entire length. The typical mode of failure is a clogged orifice, a closed valve, a clogged cyclone separator, or a clogged line from the cyclone separator back to suction.
5 7
5 9
6 1
6 4
Flow Indicator
Pressure Indicator
6 7
The seal flush line should be checked regularly with a temperature indicator. It should be the same temperature at both ends of the line. The typical mode of failure is a clogged orifice, a defective flow or pressure controller, loss of pressure in the line, or a closed valve.
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To Suitable Vapor Recovery System Fill Connection Low Level Switch Temperature Indicator Drain Valve 18-24
7 3
7 4
When a level increase is observed, also check the pressure reading. A level decrease in the reservoir is a symptom of a leaking secondary seal. Check all the seal circulation piping and connections. Make sure the drain valve is closed.
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Pressure Regulator
Block and Bleed Valve Long Radius Tubing Bends Required
Drain Valve
18-24
Note: Depending on the system pressure the next two steps may need to be implemented after the pump valves are opened
Check to make sure that any valves from the pressure source to the seal reservoir are open. 8 5
9 1
A fugitive emission failure usually occurs when the pumpage has accumulated in the reservoir for some reason. Usually there will have been a loss of pressure for some time period for this to occur. When this happens, the fluid in the reservoir should be drained, the reservoir flushed out, and then refilled with fresh buffer fluid.
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9 3
Barrier Inlet
Coalescing Filter
Check Valve
Ball Valve
1 0 0
1 0 2
1 0 3
1 0 5
1 0 6
1 0 7
1 0 8
Barrier Inlet
1 0 9
Barrier Inlet
1 1 0
Barrier Inlet
1 1 1
Barrier Inlet
1 1 2
Barrier Inlet
1 1 3
P.I.
.250 min
Sump w/liquid level indicator or switch
Normally closed
1 1 5
Pressure Regulator
Quench Connection Drain Connection To Drain or Suitable Recovery System
Trap
Block Valve
1 2 0
Block Valves
Quench Connection
Drain Connection
Route Quench Line Through seal chamber Water Jacket
1 2 2
If a blow down line is included in the steam quench system open it until all condensate has been evacuated. Open the line to the steam trap
1 2 3
The steam quench should be checked regularly. If a pressure gauge is used, it should be checked to make sure the set point has been maintained. Steam condensate should be visible on a cold object held near the drain port. The typical mode of failure is a clogged orifice, a defective pressure controller, loss of pressure in 1 the line, or a closed valve.
2 6
1 3 0
The water quench should be checked regularly. If a pressure gauge is used, it should be checked to make sure the set point has been maintained. Water drippage should be visible at the drain port or line. The typical mode of failure is a clogged orifice, a defective pressure controller, loss of pressure in the line, or a closed valve.
1 3 1
The steam or water quench should be put in service before the pump is put in service. It is not a good practice to put a quench system in operation while the pump is running or when it has been prepared for service. It is possible to shock a mechanical seal under these conditions and cause a catastrophic seal failure. The operator may be put at risk when this event occurs
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