SEALING SENSE 83

Sealing in Extreme Cold

Best practices to seal rotating shafts for low temperature to cryogenic fluids.

By Mark Savage
FSA Member, John Crane HOW COLD IS COLD?

Typically, low temperature fluids

P
can be broadly classified into
umping fluids at extreme In these types of pumps, the shaft seal is two groups:
temperatures presents many in direct contact with the cold pumped
Low temperature hydrocarbons
challenges to the shaft sealing fluid, thus selection of the seal materials are typically pumped at
system. It must ensure the pumped fluid for low temperature operation becomes subcryogenic temperatures
is safely contained while providing long- more critical. between -20 degrees C and
term reliability. Many pump operators -140 C (-5 F to -220 F), although
are familiar with hot pumping services, Seal Selection for Low lower temperatures can be
but cold services offer some unique Temperature Hydrocarbons sometimes encountered. They
challenges to achieving reliable shaft Due to the volatility and flammability have high vapor pressures at
sealing solutions. of low temperature hydrocarbons, ambient temperatures and are
dual mechanical seals are used almost pumped at low temperatures to
reduce pressure. Typical fluids
Pumping Equipment for Low exclusively.
include ethylene, liquefied
Temperature Hydrocarbons For pump designs where the
natural gas (LNG), liquefied
The pumps used to pump these cold mechanical seal is immersed in the petroleum gas (LPG), methane,
fluids are often specialized designs. Low pumped fluid, vapor pressure margin in butane and propylene.
temperature hydrocarbons are commonly the seal chamber becomes critical. Where
Liquefied atmospheric gases
pumped with American Petroleum the vapor pressure margin is low, the
include oxygen, nitrogen, argon
Institute (API) 610 (VS6) vertical multi- heat energy from the mechanical seal and noble gases. They are
stage double casing pumps that feature a faces can vaporize the fluid around the typically pumped at cryogenic
warming chamber, known as a cofferdam, seal and in the seal interface, resulting temperatures ranging from
that thermally isolates the shaft seal in dry running of the seal. Seal chamber -175 C to -198 C (-285 F to -325
from the cold pumped fluid. This enables pressure can be increased through various F) and are often pumped with
a greater range of shaft sealing solutions flush piping plans to overcome this a low vapor pressure margin at
that can be used on these pumps using issue. However, when insufficient vapor the pump suction.
traditional sealing technology. pressure margin remains for the selected
A cofferdam is a chamber between the mechanical seal technology, a dual
pump discharge and the mechanical seal pressurized seal is recommended. A dual The availability of suitable barrier
that is connected to the pump suction or pressurized seal provides a stable barrier fluids becomes limited at low
the vessel the pump is drawing suction fluid to lubricate the seal faces, thereby temperatures as the viscosity of many
from. Ambient heat surrounding the negating the effect of vaporization of the fluids becomes too high at the seal
pump together with energy from the pumped liquid at the seal faces. chamber operating temperatures.
shaft and bearings causes the liquid API Plan 53B and 53C barrier Monoethylene and diethylene glycols
in this chamber to vaporize into a gas, systems are commonly selected for dual mixtures with water can be used down to
which forms an insulating barrier pressurized seals to provide a source of temperatures of -29 C (-20 F). Alcohols,
between the seal and process fluid. warm, clean and stable barrier fluid to such as propanol (propyl alcohol) are
Cofferdams can only be incorporated the mechanical seal. When an API Plan suitable for even colder temperatures
into vertical pump designs. 53C is selected, extra care should be reaching -70 C (-95 F). Synthetic oils
However, although vertical taken to ensure the pressure amplifying can also be used. However, careful
arrangements are common, various piston seals are insulated from exposure consideration to their pour point is
horizontal pumps can also be employed. to cold temperatures. required, and a heating system may

p u m p s a n d s y s t e m s . c o m | J une 2018
84 SEALING SENSE

Image 2. Typical vaporizing liquid

single noncartridge cryogenic seal

in these cavities. Additionally, clearances

between dissimilar materials, such as
Image 1. Typical vertical multistage (VS6) pump with a cofferdam (Images courtesy of bushings, need reviewing. Mechanical
the author)
seal manufacturers take these factors
into consideration during the design of
the mechanical seal.
be needed to warm the barrier fluid to especially true for elastomers. Elastomers Another effect of cold temperatures is
maintain a suitable viscosity. have a variety of minimum temperature that metals become increasingly brittle as
When sufficient vapor pressure margin limits, but none can survive dynamic the temperature is reduced. As a general
exists within the seal chamber, a dual operation at true cryogenic temperatures. rule of thumb, martensitic and ferritic
unpressurized seal can be selected. Engineered polymer seals are an stainless steels should be avoided in favor
These designs feature a dry sliding option at temperatures below the limits of austenitic stainless steels.
containment seal fitted with API Plan 76 of elastomers. Many of these designs
or a combination of Plan 72 and 76. These will not function with pressure reversals Pumping Equipment for
seal arrangements have the advantage of applied to the sealing ring that may be Liquefied Atmospheric Gases
removing the low temperature limitation required in the mechanical seal design Similar to pumping equipment for low
of barrier fluid selection. when support system failures occur. temperature hydrocarbons, a mixture
Pump designs using cofferdams require Elastomers can survive at significantly of vertical multistage and horizontal
a dual pressurized mechanical seal. lower temperatures below their single stage pumps are used. These
Icing caused by condensation of operational limits when the seals are machines generally do not follow API
atmospheric humidity can create a not in operation (i.e. static), but they pump design standards. However,
problem for cold hydrocarbon services. must be warmed up prior to operation. since the temperatures are much colder
Because condensing water expands Commissioning of shaft seals containing than those at which hydrocarbons are
as it freezes, it can interfere with the elastomers must be completed carefully pumped, cofferdams are not employed
operation of the mechanical seal if it to ensure that the equipment is at the on these machines. A mixture of vertical
gets to the seal’s operating mechanism. correct temperatures before startup. and horizontal pumps are commonly
Extra protection considerations should Blowdown, the rapid depressurization employed at air liquefaction plants, but
be applied to equipment exposed to of a vessel/pipeline, is one situation that mobile trailer-truck unloading pumps are
atmospheric elements. An API Plan 62 can create excessively low temperatures almost exclusively overhung single stage
using a dry nitrogen quench can protect for the mechanical seal’s elastomers. pumps, either with direct drive or speed
the mechanical seal from these effects. Thermal expansion (or in the case increasing gearboxes.
of cold services, contraction) is also
Material Considerations for Low a consideration. The cavities that Seal Selection for
Temperature Hydrocarbons elastomers or engineered polymer Liquefied Atmospheric Gases
Low temperatures have significant seals are installed in will change with Unlike hydrocarbons, emissions to
implications to the choice of materials decreasing temperatures as will the atmosphere of atmospheric gases pose
used in the seal construction. This is dimensions of sealing elements installed relatively minor hazards, thus shaft

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 85

seal reliability takes precedence when provides a controlled leakage by breaking they can become hazardous when their
selecting a shaft sealing system. There are down the sealed pressure over a series protective oxide film is stripped from
two commonly employed shaft sealing of tightly controlled bushing clearances. the material such as when abrasion
technologies used in these pumps: Leakage rates are higher than that of occurs. Lubricants used in the assembly
mechanical seals, however, these leakage and operation of the mechanical seal

1 Single Mechanical Seals

Single mechanical seals are the
most common solution to pumps used
rates are often considered acceptable in
this industry.
must be free of hydrocarbons and
compatible for use in oxygen. Packaging
of the seal should also be suitable to
in air liquefaction plant and mobile Material Considerations for preserve the cleanliness of the seal
transportation unloading pumps. The Liquefied Atmospheric Gases prior to installation into the pumping
major difference between the two is that Sealing liquefied atmospheric gases equipment that is performed in a suitably
the mobile unloading pumps tend to be presents some unique challenges to the clean environment.
smaller and often use noncartridge selection of materials as the pumping
seals. Cartridge seals are commonly equipment is often used interchangeably Next Month: Cryogenic applications
found in larger machinery at an air between the different atmospheric for static seals
liquefaction plant. gases. Liquefied oxygen presents some
These seals fall into two subcategories: special challenges since it is a very strong We invite your
contacting wet seals and vaporizing oxidizer and can cause certain materials suggestions for article
topics as well
liquid gas seals. to spontaneously combust. Additionally, as questions on sealing
Single mechanical seals use a metal any organic contaminates on the seal can issues so we can better
bellows to provide elastomer-free axial also lead to spontaneous combustion. respond to the needs of the industry. Please direct your
flexibility. Seal face materials typically Aluminum alloys should be avoided as suggestions and questions to sealingsensequestions@
include filled TFE running against fluidsealing.com.
a tungsten carbide or hard-coated
stainless-steel mating ring.
Similar to contacting wet seals,
vaporizing liquid gas seals feature
seal face topography that allows the
controlled vaporization of the pumped
atmospheric gas to produce a highly
reliable seal that exhibits controlled
low-level leakage rates.

2 Segmented Bushings
This sealing configuration is most
often found in vertical multistage pumps
at air liquefaction plants. The design

Mark Savage is a product group

manager at John Crane, responsible for
the design, development and application
of metal bellows seals for pumps,
compressors and rotating machinery. He
has worked in the sealing industry for 24
years with development
of best practices for
shaft seals and their
support system. For
more information, visit
johncrane.com.
Circle 162 on card.

p u m p s a n d s y s t e m s . c o m | J une 2018