Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors

Mechanical Seals: A Guide to API Piping Plans

A.W. Chesterton
Chesterton API Piping Plan Guide For Mechanical Seals

Mechanical Seals: A Guide to API Piping Plans

This guide outlines and explains common environmental controls, such as piping plans, employed to improve the reliability of mechanical seals. No application is the same. Extended mechanical seal life in harsher applications is usually a function of being able to control the environment around the seal. Environmental controls have been established for this purpose.

References and Definitions

Environmental controls are support systems that are designed for use with mechanical seals. Each plan describes how the seal support systems are configured. The symbols used in the plans are described in the legend below.

Flow Control Orifices

An orifice is designed to limit the seal flush dilution and/or control the seal chamber pressure.

All orifices shall have a minimum bore of 3 mm (0.125″).

When multiple orifices are required, they shall be mounted in a series a minimum of 150 mm (6.000″) apart.

Seal flush systems using an external flush shall have provisions to monitor seal chamber pressure and flush pressure. A pressure gauge with a block valve on either side is recommended.

Heat Exchangers/Coolers

Heat exchangers shall provide enough flow to cool the seal per the manufacturer’s requirements.

The seal flush fluid shall be on the tube side and the cooling liquid shall be on the shell side.

Heat exchanger tubes shall be 19 mm (0.750″) in diameter by 2.4 mm (0.100″) in thickness, unless otherwise specified.

Heat exchangers shall have a removable head, using bolts or studs with nuts on each side. Tapped holes are not acceptable.

Chesterton API Piping Plan Guide For Mechanical SealsBarrier/Buffer Fluid Tanks

The reservoir is part of the pumping system and shall be designed, fabricated, and tested to ISO 15649 (ASME B31.3) standards unless otherwise specified by local code or local plant specifications. The standard reservoir shall be a cylindrical vessel with fixed, ellipsoidal heads. A separate reservoir shall be provided for each dual seal installation.

The barrier fluid lines shall be a minimum of 12 mm (0.500″) for shaft sizes 60 mm (2.375″) or less and 18 mm (0.750″) for shaft sizes greater than 60 mm (2.375″). The tubing material shall be 300 series austenitic stainless steel (EN 1.4401). Austenitic schedule 80 stainless pipe can be used under the same guidelines.

All lines (seal connections) shall have a continuous slope upwards from the seal gland plate to the reservoir at a minimum of 10 mm (0.375″) per 240 mm (10.000″) of length.

The volume of liquid in the reservoir shall be a minimum of 12 liters (3 gallons) for shaft diameters of 60 mm (2.375″) and less. For shaft diameters greater than 60 mm (2.375″), the liquid volume should be a minimum of 20 liters (5 gallons).

Unless otherwise specified, the barrier/buffer fluid tank shall be equipped with a cooler.

Single Seals

Chesterton API Piping Plan Guide For Mechanical Seals

API Plan 1
Internal recirculation of pumped fluid through the internal passage.

See full details

Chesterton API Piping Plan Guide For Mechanical Seals

API Plan 2
External jacketed seal chamber. Dead-ended seal with no internal recirculation of pumped fluid.

See full details

Chesterton API Piping Plan Guide For Mechanical Seals

API Plan 11
Discharge recirculation through an orifice to the seal flush port.

See full details

Chesterton API Piping Plan Guide For Mechanical Seals

API Plan 12

Discharge recirculation through a strainer and orifice to the seal.

See full details

Chesterton API Piping Plan Guide For Mechanical Seals

API Plan 13
Suction recirculation through an orifice to the flush port of the seal.

See full details

Chesterton API Piping Plan Guide For Mechanical Seals

API Plan 14

Recirculation from pump discharge through an orifice to the seal while also supplying a suction recirculation from the chamber through an orifice to pump suction.

See full details

Chesterton API Piping Plan Guide For Mechanical Seals

API Plan 21

Discharge recirculation through an orifice and a heat exchanger to the flush port of the seal.

See full details

 

Chesterton API Piping Plan Guide For Mechanical Seals

API Plan 23

Cooling provided to the seal chamber using an internal pumping device on a single seal.

See full details

Chesterton API Piping Plan Guide For Mechanical Seals

API Plan 32

Clean flush from an external source.

See full details

Chesterton API Piping Plan Guide For Mechanical Seals

Chesterton Plan 33H

Used without flush to provide a cleaner sealing environment.

See full details

Chesterton API Piping Plan Guide For Mechanical Seals

Chesterton Plan 33S

Clean flush from an external source in combination with a SpiralTrac environmental controller.

See full details

Chesterton API Piping Plan Guide For Mechanical Seals

API Plan 41

Clean flush supplied from pump discharge through a separator, then cooled through a cooler.

See full details

Chesterton API Piping Plan Guide For Mechanical Seals

API Plan 65

External drain piping that is alarmed to detect high seal leakage to atmosphere.

See full details

Double Seals

Chesterton API Piping Plan Guide For Mechanical Seals

API Plan 52

External reservoir provides clean buffer fluid to the seal at a pressure lower than the seal chamber pressure.

See full details

Chesterton API Piping Plan Guide For Mechanical Seals

API Plan 53A

A pressurized, external reservoir provides a clean fluid to the inboard and outboard seals.

See full details

Chesterton API Piping Plan Guide For Mechanical Seals

API Plan 53B

A pressurized, external clean fluid is delivered to the seal via an external bladder-type accumulator.

See full details

Chesterton API Piping Plan Guide For Mechanical Seals

API Plan 53C

A pressurized, external clean fluid is delivered to the seal via an external piston-type accumulator.

See full details

Chesterton API Piping Plan Guide For Mechanical Seals

API Plan 53P

A pressurized, external fluid source provides clean fluid to the seal via an external pressure reservoir.

See full details

Chesterton API Piping Plan Guide For Mechanical Seals

API Plan 54

A pressurized, external fluid source provides clean fluid to the seal via an external pressure header.

See full details

Chesterton API Piping Plan Guide For Mechanical Seals

API Plan 55

Dual flow meter measuring flow in and out of the seal.

See full details

Quench Seals

Chesterton API Piping Plan Guide For Mechanical Seals

API Plan 62

A steam or water quench.

See full details

Containment Seals

Chesterton API Piping Plan Guide For Mechanical Seals

API Plan 72

A low-pressure buffer gas is regulated between the primary seal and the containment seal; typically nitrogen, is used as the buffer gas.

See full details

Chesterton API Piping Plan Guide For Mechanical Seals

API Plan 75

A collection reservoir used with a dual containment seal to capture liquid that is collecting or condensing in the seal cavity.

See full details

Chesterton API Piping Plan Guide For Mechanical Seals

API Plan 76

Used with a dual containment seal where primary seal leakage is piped to a flare or a vapor recovery system.

See full details

Gas Seals

Chesterton API Piping Plan Guide For Mechanical Seals

API Plan 74

A barrier gas provided for a gas seal at a pressure higher than process

See full details

For assistance with using the best seal support system for your specific challenge, ask your local Chesterton office or contact A.W. Chesterton’s Ask the Expert service.

Related Articles

Related Whitepapers

Five Reasons To Choose A Bearingless Torque Sensor

Benefits that improve your torque measurements Best real-world accuracy Highest Overload Highest Overrange

Advanced Sealing and Condition Monitoring Strategies In Water and Wastewater Plants

Introduction As a plant/maintenance manager or reliability engineer for a water or wastewater facility, you want to know about the best technologies to help your…

Downthrust Measurement in Vertical Pumps Prevents Failure: The Benefits of Measuring Axial Force in Real-Time

“Himmelstein’s Thrustmeter has proven to be accurate and repeatable, which are two of the main things that define quality in an instrument. It’s been a…

Electricity, Power, and Emissions: Using Motor Power Data to Create a Climate-Informed Maintenance Plan

Take Action Today To Make Your Pumps More Efficient Pump motor power levels and energy consumption provide valuable input about the status of and changes…

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *