Determining a Seal Support System’s Quality Before Purchase

What makes a high-quality seal support system? In a basic sense, we may link the quality of a seal support system to its ability to provide the ideal condition for lubrication and cooling at the seal faces and its ability to minimize the risk of leakage and failure of the pumping system. But there is much more than these designated functionalities that speak to a seal support system’s quality. Prior to making a purchase, it's important to take into account how this quality is obtained and at what cost.

What Does Your Process Require From a Seal Support System?

Mechanical seal support systems are used in facilities to protect rotating equipment like pumps and turbines. They do so by ensuring the seal faces work at the specified process conditions. The ideal mechanical seal support system provides the following functions:

1. Improve seal face condition with adequate cooling and lubrication from buffer/barrier fluid to reduce heat due to friction
2. Enable seal flushing to get rid of contaminants that can affect the flow rate and cause excessive heating of the seal face
3. Prevent leakage of the process fluid into the atmosphere
4. Provide an ideal operating environment for the mechanical seal by regulating pressure and temperature conditions within the seal chamber

Oftentimes, if you have detected a leak, the first place you will check is the seal. This is because the intricate installation details, multiple connection points, constant exposure to vibrations, and unpredictable fluctuation in process conditions, make the seals and the support system the weakest links in the fluid system.

The mechanical seal support system at the process, in-between, and atmospheric side should follow the standardized API plans for mechanical seals and pipings. API Standard 682 provides design, installation, and testing guidance for mechanical seals and supporting systems, including recommendations for material selection, seal designs, and auxiliary piping plans.

Based on the plan, the following factors should be given importance when assessing the seal support system's quality. 

1. Improved Safety

Traditional seal support systems rely on threaded connections for the transfer of process fluids. However, more threaded connections mean greater chances of leaks, which can especially be disastrous in the petrochemical industry. To reduce the risk, API 682 recommends using an alternative solution to these connection points wherever applicable.

An effective and popular solution is tubing. Tubing limits the connecting points to just the mechanical seal and the support unit, drastically reducing the number of connection points. When made with metals like annealed stainless steel, the tubes can also be bent without losing their tensile strength to further reduce the need for connection points. Safety can also be assured with the use of flanged adapters and extended male connectors, which will eliminate the need for multiple fittings. 

2. Accessible System Design

Despite the best efforts, it is not ideal to neglect the possibility of failure. So, it is important that the accessibility of the system components be considered in the initial design of the system. This allows operators to:

• Inspect every component of pumps and seal support systems and replace them when required
• Perform regular preventive maintenance 
• Easily troubleshoot the system for leakage or clogs
• Safely fill the seal pots

API 682 recommends centralized construction of the system for quick access.  

3. Reliable Operation

Seal support systems must function continuously in tune with the rotating equipment to avoid hazards or downtime. So, you must be able to rely on your seal support system’s quality and operation. An important lesson in improving the system’s reliability is the proper and regular inspection of the system. Although you may have replaced pipes with tubes, used safer connections, or ensured quality system design, issues may still arise due to fluctuating process conditions or equipment malfunctioning.

With careful and accessible design and proper maintenance, you can ensure the quality of your seal support system and the reliability of operation.

A fluid system expert can help determine if your choice of seal support system meets all these requirements, ensuring it’s a reliable investment.

We Can Help You Assess Your Seal Support System’s Quality

Whether you are installing a new seal support system or seeking to upgrade an existing one, it is always an advantage to consult your local fluid system experts. With deep knowledge and years of experience, a local expert can evaluate your seal support system’s quality and provide consultation about the right design optimization and component selection to come up against issues such as leakage.

As your local fluid system expert in Alberta, Edmonton Valve & Fitting understands how your facility’s operational performance can decline due to various issues like mishandling, improper installation, or extreme weather conditions. You can leverage our onsite Field Advisory Services to evaluate the needs of your operation so we can assist you in finding a quality seal support system and compatible components.