Glycol used for barrier fluid

[CaracasEC]

Dear all,
anybody got experience on using glycol as barrier seal for a plan 53c to be used on cryogenic pumps (ethylene fractionator reflux pump)?

 

[flexibox]

Yes a long time ago on a Bingham vertical pump. Seals seemed to work ok.

 

[CaracasEC]

thnks flexibox...is it with the same application?(ethylene reflux pump operating temp -36.3 deg C?)thanks...

 

[engmau46]

Hi, here in Brasil I have any aplication for GLP (-20ºC) using glicol+water (50%/50%). But we have problems cuse our glicol was not clean. We are looking for a best product.

 

[CaracasEC]

thanks engmau46...

 

[Airsporter1st]

Glycol/water is an excellent barrier fluid, but a few things should be kept in mind:

Use only pure monoethylene glycol (MEG).

Ideally use demineralised water.

Do not use proprietry anti-freeze - it contains additives which plate out on the seal faces.

Do not use 100% glycol - it causes high heat generation by viscous sheer and actually has a higher freezing point (you can see a typical graph of freezing point versus concentration here). Use 50/50 glycol/water, which is good for around -40 degC or 60/40 glycol/water which is good for around -65 degC.


One of the biggest reliabilty issues surrounding glycol?water barrier fluid is mishandling - using dirty/open containers etc, resulting in contamination of the barrier fluid and mixing in the wrong proportions. Many users these days tend to buy it pre-mixed in sealed containers, which is the best way to do it.

 

[CaracasEC]

thank you very much airporter...