Field Engineering Bulletin

Bulletin No. 40.2.33

Long-Term Storage and Protection of

Sundyne Pumps and Compressors
EFFECTIVE : MAY 1980 Rev: B
Page 1 of 7

Introduction

Long term storage and protection of equipment is a very complex subject that must be thoroughly evaluated prior to
taking any action. There are many alternatives; those described herein should not be construed as the only
acceptable methods. Factors such as cost, facilities, and capabilities must also be considered.

Initial Inspection

Upon receipt of SUNDYNE equipment, check visually for any damage, which may have occurred during shipment.
Notify the carrier and Sundstrand promptly if damage has occurred. Closures for critical openings have been installed
at the factory; these closures, plus the standard internal component preparation for shipment procedure, will provide
adequate protection for normal storage. If shipping closures are removed from any openings for inspection, they
must be replaced prior to storage.

Long-Term Storage

Certain long-term storage considerations should be met for any SUNDYNE unit, which will not be operating for a
period of time exceeding six months from date of factory shipment. If followed completely, this action will ensure
minimum corrosion damage to the gearbox and fluid-end components. Because of storage location and other
unknown site factors beyond our control, Sundstrand will not accept any liability for damage to the equipment during
the storage period, nor does Sundstrand guarantee the quality of the equipment during and after the storage period.

To ensure the original quality of the SUNDYNE unit prior to commissioning after storage, all components must be
inspected by an authorized Sundyne Service Engineer. Any components not of Sundstrand’s manufacture (except
mechanical seals) must be inspected by that particular submanufacturer’s authorized service personnel. The cost of
such service personnel and any component replacement will be at the Purchaser’s expense.

The only factors that affect the quality of an uninstalled SUNDYNE unit are the humidity/temperature changes and the
chemicals in the atmosphere surrounding the equipment. The method employed for long-term storage is to prevent
the humidity/temperature changes and airborne chemicals from making contact with the internal components of the
equipment.

When the equipment is to be stored in a strong chemical environment or near salt-water, protection procedures
should be executed immediately upon receipt of the equipment. For the purpose of evaluating the impact of the
environment, the following list itemizes the materials, which will normally be found inside any SUNDYNE gearbox:

Carbon Steel Silver

316 Stainless Steel Carbon with minimal binder material
Bronze Tungsten Carbide
Copper BUNA-N
Lead-Tin Aluminum

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14845 West 64 Avenue, Arvada, Colorado 80007 USA • Tel: 303-425-0800 • Fax: 303-425-0896 • www.sundyne.com
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Bulletin No. 40.2.33 Page 3 of 8

The fluid end of the pump or compressor may contain any of the above listed materials. Other materials may be
found such as Hastelloy, Titanium, 304 Stainless Steel, and Iconel.

1. Inert Gas Purging

Any inert environment provides excellent protection of the equipment for an indefinite period of time. Nitrogen is
one inert gas usually available at any refinery or chemical plant. Nitrogen also absorbs humidity when it is dry and
will, therefore, carry it away when permitted to flow.
a) Install nitrogen supply lines to the following locations:
1) Pump or compressor casing drain port.
2) Port #1 seal drain and also Port #2 if more than one mechanical seal is used.
3) Gearbox fill venting.
b) Install blind flanges on suction and discharge flange connection if the unit is installed or seal the flanges
if uninstalled.
c) Install a 3/4” NPT plug in the second fill/vent fitting in the gearbox. This plug must have a 1/8” diameter
hole drilled through to allow circulation of the gas.
d) Drain the gearbox sump of all oil. Oil may be left in the external lube oil piping.
e) Grease the input shaft and coupling areas with rust preventative grease. Fill the lipseal cavity with
grease and wrap the greased area with waterproof barrier paper.
f) Pressurize the gas purge system. NOTE: The pressure in the gearbox must not exceed 5 psig.
g) Allow the gas to flow through for several minutes by opening the flange connection and loosening the
plug on Seal Port #7.
h) Completely enclose the entire SUNDYNE unit with a heavy plastic, tarpaulin, or similar type of
protective cloth. Allow the nitrogen to leak out from underneath the covering. Place desiccant bags
inside the covering. Store on an elevated surface. Do not allow the weight of the covering to be carried
by any instrumentation.
i) Ensure that a minimum of 1 cubic foot per hour gas circulation (usage) is maintained at all times.
See Appendix 1 for schematic arrangement drawings.

2. Oil Flooding

Filling the gearbox completely with oil and then sealing it off provides excellent protection against the
environment. Using an ISO Viscosity Grade 32 general purpose or synthetic oil (refer to Sundyne Field
Engineering Bulletin 40.2.04, Rev. C) will allow starting the equipment without cleaning the internal components
of the gearbox by disassembly. The same method can be used without first cleaning the components in the
fluid end of pumps. For compressors however, the internal components of the fluid end must be cleaned
thoroughly before the compressor is used. Gas seals will require special cleaning or replacement after storage.
For both pumps and compressors with the fluid end built in a corrosive resistant material, it is not necessary to
further protect the fluid end from the environment. To protect the units with this method, the following
procedure should be followed:
a) Install stand pipes on:
1) The gearbox fill opening (3/4” NPT).
2) Seal Port #1 (1/2” NPT)
NOTE: the stand pipes must extend above the extreme top of the gearbox housing. For the
LMV-322 and 801 product lines, the stand pipe should be as short as possible.
b) Remove the gearbox pressure gage and remove the 1/4” NPT plug on top of the gearbox.
c) Seal off the pump/compressor process flanges.
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d) Remove the bull plugs from Seal Ports #5 and #6.

e) Fill oil through Port #6. When oil seeps out of Port #5, reinstall both plugs on both Ports #5 and #6.
f) Fill the stand pipe to Seal Port #1 completely with oil.
g) Fill the gearbox through the gearbox stand pipe completely with oil.
NOTE: Filling the gearbox is a slow process, which will take a long time.
h) When oil seeps out of the pressure gage fitting, the gearbox is full. Reinstall the pressure gage or pipe
plug and top off the stand pipe.
i) Pack the lipseal cavity with grease and grease the input shaft and coupling half. Wrap this greased
area with waterproof barrier paper.
j) Cover the entire unit with heavy plastic or a tarpaulin. Place desiccant bags inside the covering and
store unit on an elevated surface. Ensure that the weight of the covering is not carried by any
instrumentation. See Appendix 2 for arrangement drawing.

3. Desiccant Bags

Where rust preventative oil cannot be tolerated in the fluid end of pumps and compressors, desiccant bags
may be utilized to prevent rust. Such bags should be changed every sixty days or as the environmental
humidity dictates. The gearbox should be filled with oil as described in the previous procedure. For the fluid
end, the following procedure should be followed:
a) Place a drain pipe on Port #1. Oil will seep through the gearbox mechanical seal and must be allowed
to drain.
b) Place desiccant bags in the pump or compressor case as necessary.
c) Seal the flanges and ensure that all of the seal ports are closed with a steel plug.
d) Pack the lipseal cavity with grease and grease the input shaft and coupling half. Wrap with waterproof
barrier paper.
e) Cover the entire unit with heavy plastic or tarpaulin. Place desiccant bags inside the covering. Store
on an elevated surface. Ensure that the weight of the covering is not carried by any instrumentation.
f) Make certain desiccant bags are removed prior to startup.

Installed Equipment and Installed Spare Units

In the event that installed equipment will not be utilized for more than six months, protection should be provided.
Any of the previously described methods may be utilized. In the event the gearbox is equipped with an auxiliary
lube oil priming kit, the gearbox can be adequately protected by running this lube oil pump continuously with only
normal lube oil level in the gearbox. The fluid end will need protection separately from the gearbox. The input shaft
should also be turned two or three times every two weeks to protect against brinelling of the ball bearings. Installed
spare units should be operationally rotated by the main driver every six to eight weeks to ensure that the gearbox
internal parts are oiled adequately to protect them from the environment. No further protection is needed in normal
installations.

Protection of Operating Units Against Chemical Attacks

At times it may be necessary to protect the internal gearbox parts against corrosion attack from the environment on
a permanent basis. Such protection may be considered in, for example, strong H2S or ammonia atmospheres or for
steam turbine drivers when the turbine is leaking excessive amounts of steam onto the gearbox. In such cases,
instrument air or nitrogen may be applied to the gearbox and allowed to escape out through a “U” shaped pipe,
which is filled with lubricating oil. See appendix 3 for specific details. By adjusting the air or nitrogen flow such that
there is a slight bubble activity in the lube oil, the gearbox will be adequately purged to prevent any entrance of
corrosive agents.
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Main Drivers and Sub-Component Storage

The long-term storage of motors, steam turbines, etc. and other sub-components of the installation should be per
the applicable manufacturer’s recommendations.
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