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Installation & Troubleshooting

Guidelines for API Seal Flush Plans

API Piping Plans

Review of Piping
Plan Schematics

Installation & Troubleshooting Guidelines

for API Seal Flush Plans-Introduction
The seal faces and the seal assembly
generate heat in the seal chamber due to
liquid turbulence in the seal chamber
liquid shear in the sealed fluid between the seal
faces
mechanical motion in the seal assembly
occasionally bumping or touching of the seal
faces
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Installation & Troubleshooting Guidelines

for API Seal Flush Plans-Introduction
This heat must be removed in most applications to
maintain stable operation
In high temperature applications the opposite
may be true. The heat in the seal chamber must
be maintained to provide a stable operation
To control the temperature in the seal chamber
and to provide adequate lubrication for the seal
faces, a seal flush is required for the vast majority
of applications
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Installation & Troubleshooting Guidelines

for API Seal Flush Plans-Introduction
The various seal flush arrangements have
been categorized by API
The plans are numbered and identified as
API Piping Plan XX eg. ( API Plan 11 + 62)
A brief overview of the various piping plans
commonly encountered follows

Installation & Troubleshooting Guidelines

for API Seal Flush Plans-Introduction
API Piping Plan Summary (* = not covered)
01*,02*Pump feature flush plan
11,12*,13,14By pass Flush- Flush plans intended to keep the
seal area clean and remove seal generated heat
21,22*,23.Cooling Flush plan - Flush plans intend to cool
the seal area
31,32,33*.Slurry Flush Plan - Flush plan intended to keep
the slurries away from the sealing area.
41*....a combination plan for cooling and slurry
52,53.....Dual Seal Flush plans
61,62.Atmospheric flush plans to provide for a
suitable atmosphere outside the seal area or
behind the primary seal faces-Quench

Installation & Troubleshooting

Guidelines for API Seal Flush Plans
Orifice

API Piping Plan 11

Line from discharge through
orifice to seal flange
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Installation & Troubleshooting

Guidelines for API Seal Flush Plans
Pressure
Gauge

Block Valve
Orifice

Gauge
Valve

API Piping Plan 11

Line from discharge
through orifice to seal flange

Installation & Troubleshooting

Guidelines for API Seal Flush Plans
Preventive Maintenance and TroubleshootingPlan 11

The seal flush line should be checked

regularly with a temperature indicator.
It should be the same temperature at
both ends of the line.
The typical mode of failure is a clogged
orifice or a closed valve.
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Installation & Troubleshooting

Guidelines for API Seal Flush Plans
Orifice

API Piping Plan 13

Line from seal flange through
orifice to pump suction
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Installation & Troubleshooting

Guidelines for API Seal Flush Plans
Block Valve

Pressure
Gauge

Orifice
Gauge
Valve

API Piping Plan 13

Line from seal flange
through orifice to pump
suction

Installation & Troubleshooting

Guidelines for API Seal Flush Plans
Preventive Maintenance and TroubleshootingPlan 13

The seal flush line should be checked

regularly with a temperature indicator.
It should be the same temperature at
both ends of the line.
The typical mode of failure is a clogged
orifice or a closed valve.
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Installation & Troubleshooting

Guidelines for API Seal Flush Plans
Orifice

Heat Exchanger

API Piping Plan 21

Line from discharge through
orifice and cooler to seal flange
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Installation & Troubleshooting

Guidelines for API Seal Flush Plans
Block Valve

Pressure
Gauge

Orifice
Gauge
Valve
Heat Exchanger

API Piping Plan 21

Line from discharge through
orifice and cooler to seal flange
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Installation & Troubleshooting

Guidelines for API Seal Flush Plans
Preventive Maintenance and Troubleshooting-Plan 21
The seal flush line should be checked regularly
with a temperature indicator. When the pump is
running the outlet of the seal cooler should be
noticeably cooler than the inlet
The cooling water lines should be checked
regularly with a temperature indicator as well.
The outlet cooling water line should be warmer
than the inlet cooling water line.
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Installation & Troubleshooting

Guidelines for API Seal Flush Plans
Preventive Maintenance and Troubleshooting-Plan 21
The typical modes of failure are
clogged orifice or a closed valve
loss of cooling water flow
missing or oversized orifice

The body of the heat exchanger should be warm while

the pump is in operation
The heat exchanger case drain should be opened
periodically to purge the heat exchanger of
accumulated solids and debris
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Installation & Troubleshooting

Guidelines for API Seal Flush Plans
API
PIPING
PLAN 23

Vent Valves

To suitable drain
or disposal system

Long radius
tubing bends
required for
all elbows

Heat
Exchanger

Line from seal

to cooler
and back to
seal flange

18-24

Installation & Troubleshooting

Guidelines for API Seal Flush Plans
Preventive Maintenance and Troubleshooting-Plan 23
The typical mode of failure are an unvented
system, a closed valve in the seal flush circulation
lines, or loss of cooling water flow
The body of the heat exchanger should be warm
while the pump is in operation
The heat exchanger case drain should be opened
periodically to purge the heat exchanger of
accumulated solids and debris
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Installation & Troubleshooting

Guidelines for API Seal Flush Plans

API Piping Plan 31

Line from discharge through orifice
and cyclone separator to seal flange
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Installation & Troubleshooting

Guidelines for API Seal Flush Plans
Block Valve

Pressure
Gauge

Gauge
Valve

API Piping Plan 31

Line from discharge through orifice
and cyclone separator to seal flange
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Installation & Troubleshooting

Guidelines for API Seal Flush Plans
Preventive Maintenance and Troubleshooting-Plan 31

The seal flush line should be checked regularly

with a temperature indicator. It should be the
same temperature as the pump case throughout
its entire length.
The typical mode of failure is a clogged orifice,
a closed valve, a clogged cyclone separator, or a
clogged line from the cyclone separator back to
suction.
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Installation & Troubleshooting

Guidelines for API Seal Flush Plans
Pressure
Indicator
Pressure
or Flow
Regulator

Check Valve

Flow Indicator

Pressure
Indicator

Block
Valve

External Source
of Clean Fluid

API Piping Plan 32

Flush from External Source
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Installation & Troubleshooting

Guidelines for API Seal Flush Plans
Preventive Maintenance and Troubleshooting-Plan 32

The seal flush line should be checked regularly

with a temperature indicator. It should be the
same temperature at both ends of the line.
The typical mode of failure is a clogged orifice,
a defective flow or pressure controller, loss of
pressure in the line, or a closed valve.

Installation & Troubleshooting

Guidelines for API Seal Flush Plans
Orifice
Pressure
Gauge
Pressure
Switch

Block and
Bleed Valve
High Level Switch
Long Radius
Tubing Bends
Cooling
Required
Water
Connections

To Suitable
Vapor Recovery
System
Fill Connection
Low Level
Switch
Temperature
Indicator
Drain
Valve

18-24

API Piping Plan 52

Circulation of clean unpressurized
buffer fluid from seal to external
reservoir and back to seal

Installation & Troubleshooting

Guidelines for API Seal Flush Plans
Preventive Maintenance and Troubleshooting-Plan 52

When a level increase is observed, also check

the pressure reading.
A level decrease in the reservoir is a
symptom of a leaking secondary seal. Check
all the seal circulation piping and
connections. Make sure the drain valve is
closed.
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Installation & Troubleshooting

Guidelines for API Seal Flush Plans
Source of gas
or clean liquid
Block
Valve
Pressure
Switch
Pressure
Indicator

Check Valve
Fill Connection

Pressure
Regulator

Low Level
Switch

Block and
Bleed Valve
Long Radius
Tubing Bends
Required

Temperature
Indicator
Cooling Water
Connections

Drain
Valve

18-24

API Piping Plan 53

Circulation of Clean Pressurized
Barrier Fluid from Seal to
Reservoir and back to Seal

Installation & Troubleshooting

Guidelines for API Seal Flush Plans
Preventive Maintenance and Troubleshooting-Plan 53
The double seal reservoir should be checked on normal
operator rounds on a regular basis. The base level should
be checked for fluid loss or gain. The base pressure of the
system should also be monitored. The temperature of the
reservoir should be checked.
A pressure loss in the reservoir may be an indication of
either a primary or secondary seal leak. Small
fluctuations are acceptable since the supply pressure to
the pressure controller may also be variable. A pressure
loss can also be due to a defective controller.

Installation & Troubleshooting

Guidelines for API Seal Flush Plans
Preventive Maintenance and TroubleshootingPlan 53
A pressure increase in the reservoir is usually due to a
malfunction in the pressure controller. High pressure
services will normally have a bias regulator. Tap on the
regulator to see if it is stuck. If the pressure increases
or becomes erratic, shut down the pump in an orderly
manner for maintenance. The regulator may need to be
replaced or recalibrated. If it is a bias regulator, the
pressure sensing line may be clogged.
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Installation & Troubleshooting

Guidelines for API Seal Flush Plans
External Nitrogen
Pressure Source
Pressure P.I.
Regulator

Coalescing
Filter

Flow
Meter
Pressure
Switch
Flow
Switch

Gas Control Panel

Barrier Inlet

Check
Valve
Ball Valve

API Piping Plan 53 (Gas)

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Installation & Troubleshooting

Guidelines for API Seal Flush Plans
Preventive Maintenance and
Troubleshooting-Plan 53 Gas
The seal system should be checked on normal
operator rounds
The gas panel should be checked for proper
pressure and gas flow readings. Significant
changes in these readings can indicate the
primary and/or secondary seal is beginning to
leak and should be monitored carefully
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Installation & Troubleshooting

Guidelines for API Seal Flush Plans
Pressure or
flow indicator
or switch

Orifice
.125 typical

P.I.

Normally
open

Check Valve
1-2 psi opening
maximum

.250
min
Sump w/liquid
level indicator
or switch

Normally
closed

To flare
or vapor
recovery

To drain or suitable
enclosed recovery
system

API Piping Plan 61

Vent to Closed Vapor System
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Installation & Troubleshooting

Guidelines for API Seal Flush Plans
Preventive Maintenance and Troubleshooting-Plan 61
The line to the flare header should be checked
regularly. The pressure in the line should be zero or
less than or equal to the flare header pressure. It
should not be cold (for light hydrocarbons) or warm
(for hot services)
The typical mode of failure is a clogged orifice, an open
drain valve, a stuck check valve, or a closed valve in the
flare line.

Installation & Troubleshooting

Guidelines for API Seal Flush Plans
API Piping Plan 62

Block
Valves

Liquid or Gas Quench To

Atmospheric Side of Seal Faces

Steam or
Other Gas
Or Liquid
Supply

Pressure
Regulator
Quench
Connection
Drain
Connection
To Drain or Suitable
Recovery System

Block
Valve
Trap

Installation & Troubleshooting

Guidelines for API Seal Flush Plans
Preventive Maintenance and Troubleshooting-Plan 62-Steam
Quench

The steam quench should be checked regularly. If

a pressure gauge is used, it should be checked to
make sure the set point has been maintained.
Steam condensate should be visible on a cold
object held near the drain port.
The typical mode of failure is a clogged orifice, a
defective pressure controller, loss of pressure in the
line, or a closed valve.
3

Installation & Troubleshooting

Guidelines for API Seal Flush Plans
Line Up Procedure-API Plan 62-Water Quench
Open the line from the water source.
Open the block valve for the water quench. If a
regulator and gauge are used make sure the
gauge shows the proper pressure. If a needle
valve is used, open the needle valve until the
desired amount of drippage is observed at the
bushing or drain port or line on the seal flange.

Installation & Troubleshooting

Guidelines for API Seal Flush Plans
Line Up Procedure-API Plan 62-Water Quench
Continued
Check for leaks around valves, fittings, and the orifice if
used in the quench line
Proceed with opening all valves for service
Start pump per normal procedure
Once running check to make sure the water quench is
still in operation. All water should be coming out of the
drain port or line. There should not be any water
visible on the pump shaft.