REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS FROM A UNIQUE PLAN 66A BUSHING DESIGN
Abstract
As crude oil remains the dominant fuel and raw material source for transportation and industry the crude oil pipeline continues to be the preferred crude transportation method across large land masses. Along with this continued reliance on high pressure pipelines comes an increasing demand for safety and containment. Though various mechanical seal arrangements exist to ensure safety and spill avoidance including dual and safety containment seals, many pipeline pumps providing the power for fluid transportation rely on single mechanical seals to contain the crude and prevent leakage. With the continued use of single mechanical seals comes the need for leakage detection, containment and management in the event of an operational upset. In this paper we look at the capability of a unique dual bushing arrangement commonly referred to as API piping plan 66A for use with a single mechanical seal. We demonstrate the capacity of the arrangement to provide a warning signal in the form of a detectable pressure increase that can be used to trigger pump shut down and isolation activities. We examine the limitation of relying on the pressure signal to provide an accurate assessment of primary seal condition. Also shown are the capabilities of the arrangement to limit the volume of crude escaping the pump during operational upsets, shut down and isolation activities mitigating or eliminating the need for clean-up operations and reducing environmental impact.
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Citation
Steigerwald, Tom; Wasser, Jim; Morton, John (2022). REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS FROM A UNIQUE PLAN 66A BUSHING DESIGN. Turbomachinery Laboratory, Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station. Available electronically from https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /197037.