API Piping Plan Introduction

Introduction to Piping Plans FSA Knowledge Series

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Abstract This Fluid Sealing Association Knowledge Series training presentation introduces Piping plans for mechanical seals. A description is provided on: ▪ What Are Piping Plans?

▪ Basic Types of Piping Plans ▪ Process Fluid Piping Plans ▪ Atmospheric Piping Plans ▪ Barrier/Buffer Cavity Piping Plans

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What Are Piping Plans?

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Piping plans collectively are different piping arrangements of fluid used to improve the conditions the mechanical seal operates in with the objective of improving the mechanical seal’s life.

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The American Petroleum Institute adopted numbers and created definitions for each piping plan configuration, thereby allowing a common language across the industry to simply describe a particular configuration.

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The American Petroleum Institute standard API-682 is where the definition of each piping plan can be found and where they may periodically be updated.

Basic Types of Piping Plans Piping Plans can be connected to: ▪ Process fluid side of a single or dual seal ▪ ▪

Atmospheric side of a single or dual seal Barrier/buffer cavity of a dual seal Process Side Connection

Process Side

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Barrier/Buffer Cavity Connection(s)

Atmospheric Side Connection

Atmospheric Side

Process Fluid Piping Plans

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Process Fluid Piping Plans Process fluid piping plans change the seal chamber conditions by: ▪ Changing temperature ▪ ▪

Changing pressure Creating flow to remove debris

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Removing trapped vapor Introducing alternate fluid Process Side

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Atmospheric Side

Process Fluid Piping Plans Dual Seals

Single Seals

Unpressurized

Pressurized

Liquid Buffer Fluid

Liquid Barrier Fluid

Gas Buffer Fluid

Gas Barrier Fluid

Process fluid piping plans can be used on all seal arrangements 8

Process Fluid Piping Plans Process fluid Piping Plans are: ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ 9

API Plan 01 API Plan 02 API Plan 03 API Plan 11 API Plan 12 API Plan 13 API Plan 14 API Plan 21 API Plan 22 API Plan 23 API Plan 31 API Plan 32 API Plan 41

– Internal flush from high pressure source to seal chamber – Provisions for heating/cooling jacket around seal chamber – Seal chamber with internal circulation features – External flush from pump discharge to seal chamber – Plan 11 with a strainer – External flush from seal chamber to pump suction – Plan 11 and 13 together – Plan 11 with heat exchanger – Plan 21 with strainer – Liquid recirculation from seal chamber to a heat exchanger – Plan 11 with a cyclone separator – External flush to seal chamber – Plan 31 with a heat exchanger

Atmospheric Piping Plans

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Atmospheric Piping Plans Atmospheric piping plans change the environment around the atmospheric side of the mechanical seal by: ▪ Changing temperature ▪

Cleaning to remove debris

▪ ▪

Collecting leakage Displacing atmosphere (oxygen or humidity) Process Side

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Atmospheric Side

Atmospheric Piping Plans Dual Seals

Single Seals

Unpressurized

Pressurized

Liquid Buffer Fluid

Liquid Barrier Fluid

Gas Buffer Fluid

Gas Barrier Fluid

Atmospheric piping plans can be used on all seal arrangements 12

Atmospheric Piping Plans Atmospheric piping plans are: ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪

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API Plan 51 API Plan 61 API Plan 62 API Plan 65A API Plan 65B API Plan 66A API Plan 66B

– Dead ended liquid blanket with reservoir – Provisions for quench – Atmospheric quench (steam/gas/water) – Atmospheric liquid leakage alarm (Level alarm with orifice) – Atmospheric liquid leakage alarm (Level alarm with valve) – Atmospheric liquid leakage alarm (Pressure alarm dual bushing) – Atmospheric liquid leakage alarm (Pressure alarm single bushing)

Barrier/Buffer Cavity Piping Plans

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Barrier/Buffer Cavity Piping Plans Barrier/buffer cavity piping plans change the environment between the inner and outer mechanical seal by: ▪ Changing temperature ▪

Providing a safety buffer or barrier

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Staging pressure Providing lubrication* Process Side

*The selection of the buffer/barrier fluid can be optimized for seal performance.

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Atmospheric Side

Barrier/Buffer Cavity Piping Plans Dual Seals

Single Seals

Unpressurized

Pressurized

Liquid Buffer Fluid

Liquid Barrier Fluid

Gas Buffer Fluid

Gas Barrier Fluid

Barrier/Buffer cavity piping plans can only be used on dual seal configurations 16

Barrier/Buffer Cavity Piping Plans Barrier/buffer cavity piping plans are: ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪

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API Plan 52 API Plan 53A API Plan 53B API Plan 53C API Plan 54 API Plan 55 API Plan 71 API Plan 72 API Plan 74 API Plan 75 API Plan 76

– Unpressurized liquid buffer from reservoir – Pressurized liquid barrier from reservoir – Pressurized liquid barrier from bladder accumulator – Pressurized liquid barrier from piston accumulator – Pressurized liquid barrier from central system – Unpressurized liquid barrier from central system – Provisions for buffer gas – Unpressurized buffer gas supply – Pressurized barrier gas supply – Condensing liquid leakage containment – Vaporizing gas leakage containment

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