Calgary Pump Symposium 8-9th November 2007

Mechanical Seal & System Reliability

Through Specification

Andrew Mathias
Mike Huebner

1
 Agenda

Common Areas of Misspecification

Dual Seal Arrangements FTB, BTB, FTF
What Plan / Arrangement Suits What
Product.
Seal Selection Process
Questions?

2
 Common Areas of Misspecification

Seal Types (A, B, C)

Single or Dual (Safety, Reliability)
Piping Plan vs Product
Site Philosophy
Elastomer Selection

3
 API 682 Type A Seal

Rotating flexible element, multiple springs, O-ring secondaries

Silicon Carbide versus premium grade blister resistant Carbon
Fluoroelastomer O-rings (FKM)
Alloy C276 springs (316 for single spring option)
Type 316 SS sleeve, gland, and other metal parts
Throttle bushing in gland
-40C 176C Operating Range

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API 682 Type A Seal

5
 API 682 Type B Seal

Rotating bellows, O-ring secondaries

Silicon Carbide versus premium grade blister resistant Carbon
Fluoroelastomer O-rings (FKM)
Alloy C-276 bellows
Type 316 SS sleeve, gland, and other metal parts
Throttle bushing in gland
-40C 176C Operating Range

6
API 682 Type B Seal

7
 API 682 Type C Seal

Stationary bellows, flexible graphite secondaries

Silicon Carbide versus premium grade blister resistant Carbon
Alloy 718 bellows
Type 316 SS sleeve, gland, and other metal parts
Premium carbon floating bushing in gland
Bronze anti-coke device
-40C 400C

8
API 682 Type C Seal

9
 Dual Seal Arrangements

Face to Back (FTB)

Back to Back (BTB)
Face to Face (FTF)

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Dual Un-Pressurised Seal FTB

2CW-CW Type A 11
Dual Un-Pressurised Seal FTB

2CW-CW Type B 12
Plan 52

13
Plan 52 Reservoir

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 API Plan 52 Considerations

Primary Seal Runs on Product

Piping to Safe Disposal Point
More Suitable for Products Leaking as a
Vapour Such as a light Hydro-Carbon
Selection of Buffer Fluid
Liquid Leakage SG vs Buffer SG
Contamination of Buffer Fluid (H2S)
Thermal Degradation of Buffer Fluid
Piping Practices Vessel Placement

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Dual Pressurized Seal FTB

3CW-FB Type A 16
Dual Pressurized Seal FTB

3CW-FB Type C 17
Plan 53 A

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Plan 53A Reservoir

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 API Plan 53A Considerations

Primary Seal Runs on Barrier Fluid

Reliable N2 Supply of Sufficient Pressure
Pressurised System Refill
Solubility of N2 in Barrier Fluid
Selection of Barrier Fluid
More Suitable for Products that Would Leak as a
Liquid
Operates on Liquid Level
Thermal Degradation of Barrier Fluid
Piping Practices Vessel Placement

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Dual Pressurized Seal BTB

3CW-BB Type A 21
Dual Pressurized Seal BTB

3CW-BB Type C 22
Plan 53B

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Plan 53B System

Natural Convection 24
Plan 53B System

Water Cooled 25
Plan 53B System

Forced Draft 26
 API Plan 53B Considerations

Primary Seal Runs on Barrier Fluid

Pressurised System Refill
Selection of Barrier Fluid
More Suitable for Products that Would
Leak as a Liquid
Accumulator Bladder Material
Operates on Pressure
Thermal Degradation of Barrier Fluid
Piping Practices Cooler Placement

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Dual Pressurized Seal FTF

3CW-FF Type A 28
Dual Pressurized Seal FTF

3CW-FF Type C 29
API 682 Plan 53C

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Plan 53C Pressure Transmitter

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 API Plan 53C Considerations

Primary Seal Runs on Barrier Fluid

Pressurised System Refill
Selection of Barrier Fluid
Impulse Line Clogging / Contamination
Compatibility of System with Process Fluid
Piston Hang Up
Thermal Degradation of Barrier Fluid
Piping Practices System Placement
Small Working Volume
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 Seal Selection Process

What we need to know and

Why we need to know it.

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 Process Conditions

Process Fluid
Fluid Temperature (normal / max)
Suction Pressure (normal / max)
Discharge Pressure
Seal Chamber Pressure
Vapor Pressure
Percent Solids (and nature of the solids)
Viscosity
Specific Gravity
Hazardous / Flammable / Anything Else?

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 Other Considerations

End-User recommends seal type currently in

use at plant or per the customers own Seal
Selection Guideline.
Verify new plant requirements for safety and
emissions.
Piping Plan Preference
Cooling Water Available?
N2 Available?
Flare / Safe Disposal Facility
Where is it Going?

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Any Questions ?

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