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This plan also guarantees virtually zero emissions to atmosphere. The pressurized barrier fluid enters the
seal and exits in a once in, once out fashion. A gauge is placed on the outlet side between the seal and
a needle valve or flow meter. The gauge measures the backpressure created by the needle valve or
flow meter. This pressure must be 20 - 30 PSI above seal chamber pressure to enable the barrier
fluid to lubricate both inboard and outboard seals. The flow meter serves also to meter the flow to a
desired rate for cooling and minimizing barrier fluid usage (usually water or a product compatible fluid).
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS:
1) This arrangement is only as reliable as its source of supply. Lose the supply, lose the
seal.
4) If it is part of a larger closed loop system supplying a number of pump seals and one
fails catastrophically, it could starve the other seals for liquid and possibly cause
additional failures.
5) A small reduction in system pressure could create a reverse pressure situation for an
inboard unbalanced or non-double balanced seal. This could open the inboard faces and
contaminate the barrier system with product causing numerous problems.