API PLAN 52

ANSI PLAN 7352 DESCRIPTION: NON-PRESSURIZED external reservoir providing BUFFER fluid for the outer seal of an un-pressurized dual seal arrangement with forced circulation.

PRIMARY PURPOSE:

To provide a protective buffer media between the product and atmosphere to prevent environmental and human contact in the event of a primary seal failure.

This plan is used with multiple seal arrangements to isolate the process media from the atmosphere and to extend service life by providing a better environment for the seal. Its common application is in toxic, carcinogenic and flashing service as well as fluids that change state when exposed to atmosphere. The reservoir contains 2 to 5 gallons of a specified buffer fluid to be circulated between the inner and outer seal of this two seal arrangement. The product lubricates the inner seal. The differential pressure between the seal chamber and the buffer fluid should be at least 25 psi to insure the inner seal receives adequate lubrication from the product. The buffer fluid lubricates the outer seal. In order to provide a driving force for the buffer fluid to go across the outer seal, it can be helpful to maintain a minimum of 5 to 10 psig on the buffer fluid. It is sometimes recommended to increase the buffer fluid pressure when flashing occurs at the inner seal. Even when the product is being used to lubricate the inner seal faces, the increased buffer fluid pressure will keep the product at a higher pressure as it migrates across the seal faces into the buffer fluid. This higher pressure will keep the liquid film between the faces from flashing; using cooling coils in the seal reservoir can also help reduce flashing of the product or buffer fluid. Emissions of the product that come between the inner seal face will migrate into the buffer fluid. If the product is immiscible with and has a higher vapor pressure than the buffer fluid, these emissions can be safely vented to the flare or any other vapor recovery system. Therefore, by using a standard inner seal, zero emissions can be achieved. If the product is miscible with the buffer fluid or has a lower vapor pressure, the buffer fluid must be changed on a regular basis to prevent contamination and emissions of product to the atmosphere. We recommend some form of forced circulation be used with this plan. A circulating ring or pump will out perform thermal siphon or convection by a huge measure. Thermal convection is not a reliable source of heat removal. The piping and installation of this system are critical to performance. The following guidelines should be followed when installing a PLAN 52 system with a circulating ring. 1) 2) 3) The distance from the bottom of the reservoir to the centerline of the shaft should be approximately 12 to 18 inches. Keep the seal pot as close to the pump as possible. Preferably under 4 feet. Volume of the seal pot is generally one gallon per inch of shaft size with a minimum of 2 gallons. Avoid sharp elbows or bends in the tubing to reduce friction loss. A smoother sweeping approach performs more efficiently. The fluid level in the reservoir should be maintained at least one inch above the return line connection. This will insure a fluid packed system and prevent head pressures from slowing circulation or stopping it all together.

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The supply line from the reservoir to the seal should be at least .500" to .750" tubing. From the seal returning to the pot, .500" tubing is adequate. The tubing should always have an upward slope to the horizontal runs in the return line to prevent air traps in low spots (1-5 degree slope). Use free flow type valves mounted to the seal pot in and out connections to isolate the reservoir if tubing should ever need replacing. The valves are also useful in bleeding air out of the lines which is critical before pumps start up to prevent a vapor locked system. Pumping rings situated inside the gland are preferred because clearances can be more tightly controlled. Tangential in and out connections should be used if possible for efficiency.

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The buffer fluid must be compatible with the product being pumped and have good lubrication properties. Because the stuffing box pressure is higher than the buffer fluid pressure, the outer seal can be instrumented to detect an inner seal failure. A pressure alarm can be arranged to trigger a solenoid valve and block the orifice vent to flare or drain. This isolates the buffer fluid system, which is contaminated due to the inner seal failure. The pump can then conveniently be shut down to replace the seal and a major release of chemical has been avoided.