Single Mechanical Seals for Pipeline Efficiency

The conventional approach to addressing multifluid pipeline pumps has manifested the use of double mechanical seals along with API plan 53 or 54 barrier fluid for better seal face lubrication. This is generally associated with high OPEX, and additional maintenance costs add to the worry of reliability engineers.

However, with the advent of some changes in the mechanical seal design to withstand fluid phase change, there exists a solution to handle this situation by incorporating a single mechanical seal along with a containment seal that can withstand pressures up to 100 Bar.

Mechanical Seal Concept

The mechanical seal concept includes a containment seal that withstands the full pipeline pressure in the unexpected event of a catastrophic mechanical seal failure of the single product side seal (API 682 4th edition (2CW-CS)). This means massive leakage cannot leave the seal gland in an uncontrolled way in any case. To achieve similar safety and environment protection with a mechanical seal in a multiple fluid pipeline pump.

Compared to the conventional approach, the new mechanical seal design offers several advantages. It eliminates the need for a double pressurized mechanical seal and a pressurized supply system, providing the performance benefits and safety philosophy of a…