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Seal Flush and Lubrication Guidelines For Centrifugal Pumps
Seal Flush and Lubrication Guidelines For Centrifugal Pumps
REEP001
Seal Flush and Lubrication Guidelines for
Centrifugal Pumps
PURPOSE AND USE OF PROCESS INDUSTRY PRACTICES
In an effort to minimize the cost of process industry facilities, this Practice has
been prepared from the technical requirements in the existing standards of major
industrial users, contractors, or standards organizations. By harmonizing these technical
requirements into a single set of Practices, administrative, application, and engineering
costs to both the purchaser and the manufacturer should be reduced. While this Practice
is expected to incorporate the majority of requirements of most users, individual
applications may involve requirements that will be appended to and take precedence over
this Practice. Determinations concerning fitness for purpose and particular matters or
application of the Practice to particular project or engineering situations should not be
made solely on information contained in these materials. The use of trade names from
time to time should not be viewed as an expression of preference but rather recognized
as normal usage in the trade. Other brands having the same specifications are equally
correct and may be substituted for those named. All practices or guidelines are intended
to be consistent with applicable laws and regulations including OSHA requirements. To
the extent these practices or guidelines should conflict with OSHA or other applicable
laws or regulations, such laws or regulations must be followed. Consult an appropriate
professional before applying or acting on any material contained in or suggested by the
Practice.
REEP001
Seal Flush and Lubrication Guidelines for
Centrifugal Pumps
Table of Contents
1. Introduction ..................................2 3.14.4 Seal Pot Pressure Switch....... 8
1.1 Purpose .............................................2 3.14.5 Seal Pot Level Switches......... 9
1.2 Scope ................................................2 3.14.6 Buffer Fluid ............................ 9
3.15API Plan 53 ....................................... 9
2. References....................................2 3.15.1 General.................................. 9
2.1 Industry Codes and Standards ...........2 3.15.2 Seal Pot Low Level Switch... 10
3.15.3 Seal Pot Low Pressure
3. Seal Flush Plans...........................2 Switch.................................. 10
3.1 General..............................................2 3.16 API Plan 54 .................................... 10
3.2 API Plan 1 .........................................3 3.17 API Plan 61 .................................... 10
3.3 API Plan 2 .........................................3 3.18 API Plan 62 .................................... 11
3.4 API Plan 11........................................3
3.5 API Plan 12........................................4 4. Lubrication Methods for
3.6 API Plan 13........................................4 Bearings...................................... 11
3.7 API Plan 21........................................5 4.1 General ........................................... 11
3.8 API Plan 22........................................5 4.2 Product Lubricated Bearings............ 11
3.9 API Plan 23........................................5 4.3 Lubrication of Antifriction Bearings .. 11
3.10 API Plan 31.......................................5 4.3.1 General .................................. 11
3.11 API Plan 32.......................................6 4.3.2 Grease Method ....................... 11
3.12 API Plan 41.......................................6 4.3.3 Wet Sump Method.................. 12
3.13 API Plan 51.......................................7 4.3.4 Dry Sump Method................... 14
3.14 API Plan 52.......................................7 4.4 Pressure Fed Lubrication................. 14
3.14.1 General ..................................7 4.5 Lubricant Contamination
3.14.2 Seal Pot .................................7 Considerations................................. 15
3.14.3 Auxiliary Piping/Tubing...........8
1. Introduction
1.1 Purpose
The purpose of this Practice is to provide designers with seal flush and lubrication
guidelines for centrifugal pumps for chemical plant and refinery applications.
1.2 Scope
This Practice covers guidelines for application of seal flush plans and lubrication
considerations for centrifugal pumps.
2. References
The following references contain additional information that may be useful to the designer:
3.1 General
Shaft sealing systems are discussed in API Std. 682 in general terms. Additional
information on shaft sealing systems is available in Appendix D of API Std. 610.
Seal life can be extended by designing systems that provide cool and clean fluids to the
seal cavity and by using bearings and a shaft stiffness that minimize motion of the
seals.
Seal flush guidelines in Sections 3.2 through 3.18 of this Practice are provided to
assist in the selection of standardized seal flush plans as defined in Appendix D of API
Std. 610 and in Figure A2 of ASME B73.1M and ASME B73.2M.
Selection of an appropriate seal flush plan must take into consideration normal and
transient operating conditions, including standby condition in which pumps with
recirculating flush system have no flow through the seal chamber. Seal materials must
be suitable for expected temperatures and pressures during standby and warm-up (or
cool-down). A continuous flush from an external source may be required if seal
components cannot tolerate anticipated conditions in the seal chamber when the pump
is idle.
point above the seal cavity elevation may be an acceptable alternative. This alternative
may allow time for the vapor to condense.
If the process stream is very dirty or is a slurry, API Plan 31 typically is inadequate
and is not recommended. (See Section 3.11 of this Practice.) Also, some solids with a
density less than twice that of the process fluid do not centrifuge out of suspension
effectively, thus making the inertial separator ineffective.
Some pump manufacturers offer an optional internal inertial separator with internal
passageways that eliminates costly external piping/tubing, and can be used in lieu of
API Plan 11 (ASME 7311). An external separator may be the best choice if
contaminants are excessive or extremely abrasive, resulting in the need for periodic
cleaning or replacement of the separator. Below is typical internal inertial separator
particle removal performance:
PARTICLE SIZE PERCENT REMOVED
2.5 micron 87
5.0 micron 94
8.5 micron 96-99
• Requirement for a clean flush to the seal if the process fluid is extremely dirty or is
a slurry that prohibits the use of API Plan 31.
• Requirement for a cooled flush to the seal if the process fluid is too hot or if cooling
water is not available for an API Plan 21.
• Requirement for a non-corrosive seal flush to provide a buffer zone in the seal
cavity to prevent corrosive process fluid from damaging the seal. An example is an
isobutane flush into a hydrofluoric acid pump.
• Requirement for reduction of flashing or air intrusion (in vacuum service) across
seal faces by providing a flush that has a lower vapor pressure or that raises the
seal chamber pressure to an acceptable level.
Caution: The seal flush pressure must be greater than the seal cavity pressure. The
pump manufacturer should be consulted for recommendations. Also, the fluid flush
must be compatible with the process fluid because it will leak into the process fluid.
• Prevent formation of ice on the outboard side of the mechanical seal that can cause
problems with the seal faces. This is required for cryogenic and many light
hydrocarbon services at start-up below 0ºC (32ºF). Methanol is frequently used as
a buffer fluid. Special attention is needed when using methanol or ethanol because
they evaporate through any vent to the atmosphere or to a low pressure area.
• Prevent formation of crystals on atmospheric or outboard side of the mechanical
seal. With certain fluids, such as caustic, crystals form on the atmospheric side of a
seal when normal seal leakage comes into contact with air. By providing a blanket
of buffer fluid such as glycol, air is prevented from reaching the outside of the seal,
thus preventing crystal formation.
Note: API Plan 51 has been deleted in API Standard 610, 8th edition.
3.14 API Plan 52
3.14.1 General
API Plan 52 (ASME Plan 7352) is typically used with a tandem seal
arrangement and allows a buffer fluid to provide lubrication and cooling to
the secondary (outboard) seal.
Pressurized seal pots (greater than 15 psig) with an inside diameter greater
than 15 cm (6 inches) shall be designed and constructed in accordance with
ASME Code Section VIII using the material properties from ASME Code
Section II, Part D.
All seal pots require ASME Code Stamping unless exempted by a local
jurisdiction or governing agency.
The buffer fluid level in the seal pot must be maintained above the return
line entry position in the seal pot to achieve and maintain the thermosiphon
effect. If the fluid falls below this level, and if circulation is dependent only
on the thermosiphon effect, flow will stop, and cause seal damage. A means
of monitoring this low critical level must be provided in the seal pot and may
be a local sight glass or a remote low level alarm system.
If the primary (inboard) seal leaks, the process fluid leaks into the buffer
fluid. A pressure switch or a high level switch in the seal pot can be used to
detect this leakage.
3.15.1 General
API Plan 53 (ASME Plan 7353) is typically used with double seals and is
similar to an API Plan 52 except that it is a pressurized system with a
minimum blanket pressure 140 kPa (20 psi) higher than the zone between the
primary (inboard) seal and the back side of the impeller.
Occasionally, if process pressures vary significantly, the blanket pressure is
set at the relief valve setting. If process pressure exceeds 3,500 kPa (500
psig), setting the blanket pressure at the relief valve setting results in
unnecessary secondary seal stress and reduced reliability. A more effective
way to minimize stress on the secondary (outboard) seal is by the application
of a controlled differential blanket pressure at a level 140 kPa (20 psig)
higher than the zone between the primary (inboard) seal and the back side of
the impeller.
API Plan 53 provides lubrication and cooling for both the primary (inboard)
and secondary (outboard) seals. Supply and return piping/tubing should be
arranged to allow the buffer fluid to thermosiphon. The double seal design
should provide pumping action to cause forced circulation of the buffer fluid
in order to remove heat generated by the seals. Certain applications may
require an exchanger in the supply line or cooling coils in the seal pot to cool
the buffer fluid and enhance thermosiphoning. A sight flow indicator in the
4.1 General
Lubrication method used for centrifugal pump bearings depends on the type of
bearing, the size of the pump, and cost considerations.
4.3.1 General
Lubrication methods for antifriction bearings include grease, wet sump, and
dry sump.
The reliability of antifriction bearings is heavily influenced by the bearing
fit, alignment, and the temperature and cleanliness of the lubricant.
Consequently, the lubricant should be maintained uncontaminated and at a
temperature low enough to preclude its deterioration.
The grease lubrication method is used more often in vertical pumps than in
horizontal pumps.
Grease may be packed in the bearing and sealed at the factory or it may be
in the bearing housing surrounding the bearing. If the grease is in the bearing
housing, whether on the pump or driver, the bearing vent plug should be
removed and the vent left open until the pump has operated at a stable
temperature. This procedure minimizes the common tendency to over grease
the bearing.
4.3.3.1 General
The wet sump lubrication method is the most common in
centrifugal pumps. This method is also referred to as oil flooded.
Variations of the wet sump method are the simple-wet-sump
method, the wet-sump-with-ring-oil method, the wet-sump-with-
flinger method, and the wet-sump-with-purge-mist method.
standard force fed lubrication system if it has filtration, cooling, prelube pump, and
indications of pressure and temperature.