Global Technical Standard

John Crane
Americas
Europe, Middle East, Africa Number: Rev: Date: Page:
Asia Pacific IS-134 A 03/27/09 1 of 6
Title:
STANDARD PRACTICES TO SAFEGUARD SEAL DESIGNS FOR OEM
PERFORMANCE TESTING AND PLANT COMMISSIONING

Author: Approved: Approved: Approved: Approved:

Ralph Gabriel Joe Haas Alan OBrien Gordon Buck Dave Casucci

Key Words: Seal Designs OEM Testing Plant Commissioning Testing Support Systems

Originating Location: Morton Grove, IL

1.0 PURPOSE
To establish standard practices to safeguard special seal designs as well as seal support systems from
damage during OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) pump performance tests and/or the
commissioning phase of a plant.

2.0 SCOPE
2.1 To establish standard practices for handling engineered designs involving seal face and certain
secondary seal materials that may be damaged or unsuitable for service when tested during the
OEM pump performance test or during plant commissioning other than those specific to the
service, i.e. seal designs designed to run in hydrocarbons, but tested in water. This applies to
the use of hard vs hard face materials and flexible graphite secondary seals.

2.2 To establish standard practices for test requirements where seals are subject to hydrostatic test
requirements above the limits of the seal designed to run at normal or rated conditions. In
addition to establish standard practices to avoid, where possible, designing seals to withstand
extreme hydrostatic tests that will not perform properly under normal or rated conditions.

2.3 To establish standard practices for seal support systems that may be used during OEM pump
performance tests and/or the commissioning phase of a plant when water is used as the
alternative fluid for seal testing.

3.0 STANDARD

3.1 When seal designs utilizing hard vs hard face combinations are required to run in water during
an OEM pump performance test or during plant commissioning, where the process fluid has
significantly different characteristics (such as hydrocarbons), an alternate face combination
suitable for water service shall be supplied for testing. The hard vs hard faces will be installed
after testing is complete.

Note: API 682 and ISO 21049 have specific sections dealing with this subject. The section of
these standards outlines the procedure for testing, replacement of the job seal, and any
 Global Technical Standard
John Crane
Americas
Europe, Middle East, Africa Number: Rev: Date: Page:
Asia Pacific IS-134 A 03/27/09 2 of 6
Title:
STANDARD PRACTICES TO SAFEGUARD SEAL DESIGNS FOR OEM
PERFORMANCE TESTING AND PLANT COMMISSIONING

subsequent static testing requirements. John Crane engineering should be consulted when
testing procedures differ from these standards to ensure that the substitute seal faces will
satisfy the requirements.

3.2 John Crane Engineering shall be consulted when the following conditions will occur during
OEM testing or plant commissioning:

3.2.1 When seal designs utilizing hard vs hard face combinations are required to run at very
low seal chamber pressures, such as can occur in OEM NPSHR checks.

3.2.2 When seal designs utilizing hard vs hard face combinations are required to run at low
pressure differentials and high peripheral speeds that are not required during normal or
rated service and/or in a non-service fluid such as water.

3.3 When seal designs are required to run in non-service barrier fluids, such as water during OEM
pump performance testing, the seal may have to be de-rated for pressure and/or speed. John
Crane engineering shall be consulted to review the conditions and provide de-raters as
necessary. A substitute set of seal faces may be required as noted in section 3.1.

3.4 Care must be taken with seals using flexible graphite packed secondary seals when running on
water. The flexible graphite packing can absorb water. During final commission, if subjected to
hot hydrocarbons the steam escaping from wet flexible graphite packing can result in damage
to the material structure and result in leakage.

3.5 If a water test has been applied when flexible graphite seat/mating ring secondary seals are
used, they must be replaced or thoroughly dried before use on a hydrocarbon service above
100 C (212F). See Appendix for drying procedures.

3.6 As a general rule of precaution, when running on water during the commissioning phase, it is
recommended that temperatures should not be allowed to rise above 60C (140F). The
water in the barrier systems should be potable water with Chloride content less than 50 PPM.
No inhibitor should be used in the water used in the barrier system.

3.7 Water must not be used for testing/commissioning any sealing system where any part including
the piping is manufactured from carbon steel as this could result in eventual seal damage from
rust caused by internal corrosion.
 Global Technical Standard
John Crane
Americas
Europe, Middle East, Africa Number: Rev: Date: Page:
Asia Pacific IS-134 A 03/27/09 3 of 6
Title:
STANDARD PRACTICES TO SAFEGUARD SEAL DESIGNS FOR OEM
PERFORMANCE TESTING AND PLANT COMMISSIONING

3.8 For Plan 52 and Plan 53A/B/C seal systems and piping manufactured fully in stainless steel,
for use with hydrocarbon buffer/barrier liquids, testing/commissioning using water can
generally be carried out provided the system and piping are thoroughly drained and dried prior
to refilling with the buffer/barrier liquid. If in doubt as to the effectiveness of the
draining/drying it is advisable to flush out the system with a hydrocarbon prior to final filling
with buffer/barrier liquid.

3.9 For Plan 53B systems manufactured with carbon steel accumulator shells water must not be
used for testing/commissioning unless the accumulator shell internal surfaces had a suitable
treatment during manufacture. Internal nickel plating is an example of a suitable treatment. If
in doubt consult John Crane for advice before proceeding. When water has been used for
testing/commissioning on those systems with internally treated accumulator shells, for use
with hydrocarbon barrier fluids, the system and piping must be thoroughly drained and dried
prior to refilling with buffer/barrier liquid. If there is any doubt as to the effectiveness of the
draining/drying it is advisable to flush out the system with a hydrocarbon prior to final filling
with buffer/barrier liquid.

3.10 OEM performance testing normally includes a hydrostatic test to be approved for use in the
field. Such test procedures need to be agreed upon by the User, Pump OEM, and John Crane.

3.11 API 682 and ISO 21049 specifies that the MAWP of the seal pressure casing (gland plate)
shall be equal to or greater than that of the pump pressure casing on which it is installed. In
addition they state that the piping or tubing shall be suitable for the hydrostatic test pressure
of the seal chamber or gland plate to which they are attached. However, seal component
parts are not required to meet the Maximum Allowable Working Pressure (MAWP) of the
pump. If the seals do not meet the MAWP of the pump then John Crane must inform the
pump company that the seals do not meet the MAWP of the pump.

3.12 In cases where the sales order and/or attachments specify that the seal must meet the MAWP
of the pump and the design of the seal will be such that it will NOT perform satisfactorily
under normal operating conditions the customer must be informed in writing of this condition.

Note: Seals designed to meet extraordinarily high MAWP but operate at low pressures and/or
speeds will typically leak excessively under normal operating conditions as the seal faces will
have a large converging gap due to the combination of pressure and thermal distortions.
 Global Technical Standard
John Crane
Americas
Europe, Middle East, Africa Number: Rev: Date: Page:
Asia Pacific IS-134 A 03/27/09 4 of 6
Title:
STANDARD PRACTICES TO SAFEGUARD SEAL DESIGNS FOR OEM
PERFORMANCE TESTING AND PLANT COMMISSIONING

3.13 Where the pump must undergo a hydrostatic test and the seals are not capable of withstanding
the high pressure the options are the use of packing if practical or a simple gland design where
the gland to shaft sealing is accomplished with and O-ring and anti-extrusion ring.

4.0 DEFINITIONS

4.1 The following definitions are supplied to educate the reader of the various pressure conditions
and ratings dealing with pumps and seals per industry standards.

4.11 Dynamic Sealing-Pressure Rating - highest pressure differential that the seal assembly
can continuously withstand at the maximum allowable temperature while the shaft is
rotating. Note: Thereafter, the seal retains its static sealing pressure rating.

4.12 Maximum Allowable Working Pressure (MAWP) - maximum continuous pressure for
which the manufacturer has designed the equipment (or any part to which the term is
referred) when handling the specified fluid at the specified maximum operating
temperature.

4.13 Maximum Dynamic Sealing Pressure (MDSP) - highest pressure expected at the seal
(or seals) during any specified operating condition and during start-up and shutdown.
Note: In determining this pressure, consideration is given to the maximum suction
pressure, the flush pressure, and the effect of clearance changes within the pump. This is
a process condition and is specified by the purchaser.

4.14 Maximum Operating Temperature - maximum temperature to which the seal (or seals)
can be subjected. Note: This is a process condition and is specified by the purchaser.

4.15 Maximum Static Sealing Pressure (MSSP) - highest pressure, excluding pressures
encountered during hydrostatic testing, to which the seal (or seals) can be subjected
while the pump is shut down. Note: This is a process condition and is specified by the
purchaser.

4.16 Static Sealing-Pressure Rating - highest pressure that the seal can continuously
withstand at the maximum allowable temperature while the shaft is not rotating. Note:
Thereafter, the seal maintains its dynamic sealing pressure rating.

5.0 REFERENCES
API Standard 682 (latest edition)
 Global Technical Standard
John Crane
Americas
Europe, Middle East, Africa Number: Rev: Date: Page:
Asia Pacific IS-134 A 03/27/09 5 of 6
Title:
STANDARD PRACTICES TO SAFEGUARD SEAL DESIGNS FOR OEM
PERFORMANCE TESTING AND PLANT COMMISSIONING

ISO Standard 21049 (latest edition)

Voids and Supersedes Standard AE-5-0271
Voids and Supersedes TB059_UK

6.0 NOTES
Original Issue A effective March 27, 2009

APPENDIX: Drying procedure for seals with flexible graphite packing

1. Disconnect the piping from the seal gland or the flush connection in case of a single seal.

2. Flush with drying gas from the seal to the pump casing and exhaust through the pump drain. On
some dual seals where there is no inboard flush this will not be possible. In these cases flush
through the nearest connection in the pump casing.
 Global Technical Standard
John Crane
Americas
Europe, Middle East, Africa Number: Rev: Date: Page:
Asia Pacific IS-134 A 03/27/09 6 of 6
Title:
STANDARD PRACTICES TO SAFEGUARD SEAL DESIGNS FOR OEM
PERFORMANCE TESTING AND PLANT COMMISSIONING

3. For dual seals also flush through the barrier out BO connection and exhaust from the barrier in
BI, i.e. exhaust from the lowest connection.

Using Nitrogen Gas (Cryogenically produced)

Flow 40-50 Normal liters/hour (1.4-1.75 ft3/hour) over the primary seal and secondary seals. With
nitrogen a drying period of 15 minutes is usually sufficient.

Using Air

It is preferred to dry the mechanical seal with Nitrogen, but it is realized that this amount of Nitrogen
exhaust in a pump manufacturers workshop is not allowed. The alternative is drying with air. Use the
same amount but extend the period of drying to 20-25 minutes.

To reduce the drying time in the field the nitrogen or air hose is sometimes heated by steam (if available).