SEALING SENSE 77

Methods for Pressurized Seal Systems

What are the best practices for ensuring the reliability of API Piping Plan 53C?

By Mark Savage
FSA Member, John Crane

T
here are many methods to A Plan 53C barrier system consists of barrier fluid located on the other side.
pressurize the barrier fluid for two main elements: As the piston rod reduces the effective
a dual pressurized mechanical • Barrier fluid circulating loop: area of the piston face in contact with
seal. Each method, or piping plan, uses A pumping device within the the barrier fluid, the barrier fluid
a different mechanism to apply the mechanical seal circulates barrier pressure is amplified.
pressure to the barrier fluid and, as a fluid to a heat exchanger, where The pressure amplification ratio is
result, each has its own set of advantages. heat absorbed into the barrier fluid simply the ratio of the area of each side
One of these methods is American is dissipated and then the fluid is of the piston.
Petroleum Institute (API) Plan 53C. returned to the mechanical seal. The pressure amplification ratio can be
Although not as widely installed as a • Piston accumulator: Stores barrier calculated as:
traditional API Plan 53A system, it does fluid and amplifies pressure from the (area 1)
differentiate itself from other methods. pump to pressurize the barrier fluid ratio =
(area 2)
API Plan 53C has the ability to change circulating loop.
the barrier pressure as the pressure Increasing the piston rod diameter
inside the pump changes. The piston accumulator pressurizes has the effect of reducing Area 2,
This pressure tracking ability makes the barrier fluid loop by using a reference and thus increases the pressure
this system ideally suited to high- pressure line connected to the pump. amplification ratio.
pressure pumps, or for pumps that This reference line is used to Due to the practicalities of design
tend to experience a wide range of pressurize one side of the piston, and function, amplification ratios are
operating pressures. which pushes the piston against the typically in the range of 1.05 to 1.30.

To barrier fluid Piston

Area 1 circulating loop rod
Stored
barrier fluid

Stored barrier Area 2

fluid
Circulating
loop
Piston
Heat Piston rod
exchanger
Reference Pumped
line from Piston fluid
pump accumulator
Mechanical
seal

Piston
Reference line
from pump

Image 1 (left). Simplified Plan 53C schematic. Image 2 (center). Typical piston accumulator. Image 3 (right). Piston face areas (Images
courtesy of FSA)

p u m p s a n d s y s t e m s . c o m | M a rch 2019
78 SEALING SENSE

50 YEARS AND RUNNING STRONG

Cat Pumps produces the longest-lasting, most durable high-pressure
triplex pumps on the market. With over half a century of field-proven Pressure ratios above this have large
reliability, the surest way to maintain production is to specify Cat Pumps. diameter piston rods (relative to the
A Wide Range of Pressure and Flow: cylinder) and become longer in order
100 to 10,000 psi (6.9 to 689 bar) | 0.13 to 240 gpm (0.49 to 908 lpm) to provide sufficient barrier fluid
storage volume.
Whatever your specs and application, Cat Pumps has the right pump.
Take the next step to more dependable pumps today.
Tracking the Barrier Pressure
(763)780-5440 • info@catpumps.com As the pressure changes in the reference
line, the pressure produced by the
piston accumulator and delivered to the
barrier fluid circulating loop will change
proportionally to the amplification ratio.
barrier reference x amplification
=
pressure pressure ratio
The ability to track barrier pressure
with respect to the reference pressure is
what makes an API Plan 53C different
from other dual seal barrier systems.
Since the barrier pressure is generated
by amplifying the reference pressure
© 2019 Cat Pumps 19037 1/19
from the pump, the piston accumulator
Circle 139 on card. requires no external utilities to function,
which further simplifies the installation
and operation of a Plan 53C system.

Pump Reference Pressure &

Amplification Ratio Selection
Selecting the right amplification ratio
and reference pressure point on the
Meet the pump pressure casing is key to ensuring

Ruhrpumpen CPO the correct barrier pressure for the

mechanical seal.
API 682 recommends a minimum
Our CPO ANSI/ASME B73.1 pump offers
barrier pressure of 1.4 bar/20 pounds
leading design features and unequaled
performance and reliability.

FEATURES
Open impeller design
External impeller adjustment
More than 30 different sizes
Back pull-out design
Enhanced hydraulic design and low NPSHr
Optional C-Frame motor adapter

RUHRPUMPEN PLANTS 1.05

GERMANY, Witten USA, Tulsa MEXICO, Monterrey EGYPT, Suez ARGENTINA, Buenos Aires 1.15
INDIA, Chennai BRAZIL, Rio de Janeiro CHINA, Changzhou UK, Lancing RUSSIA, Moscow 1.30

Image 4. Length increase with

For more information contact us at info@ruhrpumpen.com amplification ratio and constant stored
www.ruhrpumpen.com/CPO barrier fluid volume

Circle 138 on card.

M a rch 20 1 9 | Pumps & S y stem s

 79

per square inch (psi) above the seal

chamber. The reference pressure and the
amplification ratio need to be selected
to meet this minimum requirement.
Additionally, the range of pressure at the
Protecting your Investments
reference point must also be factored into
the selection process.
YOUR ONE STOP SOURCE
For high pressure pumps, the seal VALVES | DAMPENERS | STABILIZERS
chamber can be used as a reference
pressure and meet the minimum
differential pressure requirements.
A simple connection in the seal chamber
or mechanical seal gland plate can be
used to plumb a reference line to the
piston accumulator.
However, for low pressure pumps, a
pressure higher than the seal chamber
must be maintained in order to meet
the minimum differential pressure Since 1976. Don’t pump without us
requirements. Depending on the pump
www. .com
design, this can be the pump’s final
800.603.7867 951.342.3100 Sales@Blacoh.com
discharge pressure or the discharge of
an intermediate stage (if the pump is a Circle 141 on card.
multistage design).
An alternative design would be a piston
accumulator with a “helper spring” that
provides a minimum pressure offset.

Installation & Commissioning

The two elements of the Plan 53C EQUIPMENT FOUNDATION SYSTEMS
system, the barrier fluid circulating A patent pending monolithic foundation system
loop (with heat exchanger) as well as
the piston accumulator, need to address
NEW combining both the equipment mounting surface
and traditional concrete pad into one integrated
different factors. design. Made from corrosion resistant Zanite ®Plus
The barrier fluid circulating loop polymer concrete, each foundation is cast with
needs to be installed to offer the least rugged walls containing internal reinforcements
resistance to barrier fluid flow produced eliminating common stress cracking.
by the pumping ring located within the • Quick 1-day installation • Secure lifting provisions
mechanical seal. • Lowest total installed cost • Integrated grounding
The location of the heat exchanger • Built to specified height system
and the path of the interconnecting • Thick reinforced walls • Material options
• Integrated PoxyVials™ • Superior flatness
tubing between the heat exchanger
and mechanical seal are critical to FLATNESS 0.002” PER FOOT

meeting this requirement. Additionally, COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH 18,000 PSI

provisions to vent the circulating loop CORROSION RESISTANCE EXCELLENT

RIGID —
DEFLECTION
must be incorporated so any trapped air WILL NOT BEND

can be removed from the system prior WWW.BASETEK.COM VIBRATION DAMPING HIGHEST

to commissioning. 877-712-BASE (2273) INSTALLED COST LOWEST

A low point drain is also recommended

when operators are decommissioning the GREENSHIELD— WE MAKE IT EASY! ©2017 BaseTek, LLC. Zanite Plus is a registered trademark of BaseTek, LLC.
system for maintenance.
Circle 140 on card.

p u m p s a n d s y s t e m s . c o m | M a rch 2019
80 SEALING SENSE

Your
Y ourr B
Be
Best
es
st Va
Value
alue
e
in Progressive The barrier fluid circulating loop needs to be
Cavity Pumps installed to offer the least resistance to barrier fluid
flow produced by the pumping ring located within
the mechanical seal.

The location of the piston minimum volume threshold points

accumulator is more flexible. have been exceeded, or a linear position
The only flow that occurs in the transmitter can be installed to provide a
piston accumulator is the slow precise remote indication of the barrier
movement of barrier fluid to replace fluid remaining.
any leakage that occurs from the A shield is recommended to prevent
mechanical seal. accidental damage and the effects of
When done correctly, the piston dirt and debris from weathering to the
accumulator should be mounted in surface of the piston rod and piston
the vertical orientation (to assist with rod seal.
venting) with the piston rod protruding Periodically, the consumed barrier
from the top of the accumulator. fluid will need to be replenished.
A location accessible by maintenance This is achieved by pumping barrier
personnel should be selected where fluid from a reservoir into the piston
the interconnecting piping does not accumulator. Typically, a wheeled cart
obstruct maintenance access to the with a small reservoir and pneumatic
pump. A high point vent to remove air or hand pump is used to replenish the
from the system and a connection to barrier fluid.
enable replenishment of barrier fluid The replenishment interval is
must also be included. determined by the size of the piston
accumulator and the rate of normal
Piston Accumulator Operation barrier fluid consumption of the
During operation, barrier fluid is mechanical seal.
consumed due to normal leakage of
Providing a Quality the mechanical seal. Barrier fluid stored Plan 53C Limitation
Product at a Fair Market in the piston accumulator moves into The pumped media is used as the source
the barrier fluid circulating loop to of pressure in the piston accumulator.
Price since 1982 replace the lost barrier fluid, resulting So, the properties of this pumped fluid
Call or Email: in the piston and piston rod slowly must be considered when selecting a
920-869-4800 moving upwards. The extension of Plan 53C system.
sales@summitpump.com the piston rod from the top of the The following pumped fluids should
accumulator provides a direct indication be avoided to ensure reliable operation
of the volume of barrier fluid remaining of the barrier system:
in the accumulator. • Pumped fluids that solidify at
Circle 132 on card.

A scale can be mounted to a bracket ambient conditions. As there is

adjacent to the piston rod to provide effectively minimal flow of fluid in
a local display of the remaining the reference line, the fluid in this
TM
barrier fluid. Proximity switches can line will, over time, cool down to
PUMP, Inc also be fitted at desired alarm points ambient temperatures. Fluids that
to provide a remote indication that solidify as they cool can plug the
www.SUMMITPUMP.com

M a rch 20 1 9 | Pumps & S y stem s

 81

When Experience
Counts

reference line preventing the pump pressure from acting

against the piston in the accumulator and resulting in loss of
barrier pressure.
• Pumped fluids that contain suspended solids. The
suspended solids can migrate into the piston accumulator
and interfere with the function of the piston seal, causing
wear and damage to the internal surfaces of the cylinder • Diagnostic
resulting in leakage past the piston seal and loss of Testing
barrier fluid.
• Pumped fluids at elevated temperatures. As the pumped • Field Service
• Engineering
fluid is introduced into the piston accumulator during
commissioning, thermal damage to the piston seal can
occur if it is exposed to temperatures above the limits of
piston seal material(s).
• Pumped fluids that are corrosive. The compatibility of the
materials of construction of the piston accumulator with
the pumped fluid should be reviewed to ensure no corrosive
damage occurs to the internal walls of the accumulator and
to the piston seals. PPS Serves ALL Your Pump and System Needs

www.propumpservices.com
Conclusion sales@propumpservices.com | 610-868-8425
Plan 53C pressurized seal systems offer the ability to adjust
the barrier pressure as the pressure in the pump changes Circle 145 on card.
making this a simple, safe and reliable solution in a range of
pumping applications.
The correct sizing of the piston accumulator, heat exchanger
and barrier fluid flow rate together with best installation and
operational practices are the key to years of reliable performance
from a Plan 53C system.

Next Month:
What to know about expansion
joints reducers

We invite your suggestions for article topics as well as questions on sealing issues so
we can better respond to the needs of the industry. Please direct your suggestions and
questions to sealingsensequestions@fluidsealing.com.

Mark Savage is a product group manager at John Crane,

responsible for the design, development and application of
metal bellows seals for pumps, compressors and rotating
machinery. He has worked in the sealing industry for
25 years and has been involved with development
of best practices for shaft seals and their support
systems. Savage holds a Bachelor of Engineering
from the University of Sydney, Australia. For more
information, visit johncrane.com.
Circle 146 on card.

p u m p s a n d s y s t e m s . c o m | M a rch 2019