API Plan 32

[CaracasEC]

Hi All,
Do you have experience on seal flushing plan 32 on which the filter on this seal flush plan clogged? Because on the normal arrangement for this seal plan, it has a y strainer normally that is unspared and no monitoring of the delta P. thanks...

 

[JJPellin]

We do not normally use Y-strainers for this very reason. If the stream is that dirty, it is not suitable for flush. If the particles are small, a cyclone separator can remove them continuously without plugging. We have used strainers with a blow-down valve on the bottom and asked the operators to blow it down each shift to prevent plugging. But, this is difficult to manage. And, it is only safe and practical if the stream is water.

Johnny Pellin

 

[CaracasEC]

The seal flush fluid uses purge oil.please find attached file

 

[JCSC]

Plan 32 flush fluid should be clean, if it requires filtering you should likely find another flush fluid source.

 

[CaracasEC]

The purge oil that we are to supply for the plan 32 is a product from the ethylene cracker unit, we have flux oil which is more clean but this oil is buy as an import. For the original design, is it more reliable for the plan 32 to supply clean, cool and adequate flow to the primary seal to monitor the pressure downstream of the filter as shown by changing the PG into PT (pressure transmitter) to alarm the system when the pressure upstream of the seal is below the setting pressure. Hope to hear your brilliant ideas...