Dual Mechanical Seal Failure Summary

with API Flush Plan 53B

Description:

In the IN-SITU plants, the dual seal with API flush plan 53B is widely used due to the low operation cost. This presentation will cover three failure modes:​

• Seal barrier pressure dropping;

• Seal barrier pressure increasing by itself, the accumulator not heat traced/insulated; and

• Pumping product leaking out.

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Presenters:

David Li, P.Eng.

Senior Rotating Equipment Engineer​, Suncor

He is a Senior Rotating Equipment Engineer in Firebag, Suncor Energy.

He provides Rotating equipment technical support for maintenance and operation, working on performance and reliability improvement opportunities trouble shooting issues by advising in technical matters, optimize the PM program and equipment strategies. He is working in Suncor from Jan 2007. Prior his current position he worked as Reliability Rotating Equipment Engineer for 10 years  in PetroChina refineries including delayed coker, FCC and RFCC. Mr. David Li graduated from East China University of Science and Technologies with Bachelor degree of Engineering, Shanghai, China in 1995 and registered as P.Eng in Alberta Canada in 2008.

Study of Pulsation Dampener Designs for Reciprocating Pumps

Description:

Pressure pulsations from reciprocating pumps can generate high shaking forces that put the pump systems at risk of vibration and fatigue failures. Pressure pulsations can also cause cavitation in the pump suction system that can damage the pump fluid end and power end.

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API 674 (Positive Displacement Pumps-Reciprocating 3rd Edition) specifies two design approaches for reducing the effects of pressure pulsations. However, it lacks guidance for selecting the right approach for a particular application, often leading to an inadequate pulsation control device design.

In addition, typical industry practices for sizing a pulsation control device are often insufficient in the authors’ experience. Pulsation control devices are usually selected early in the project by an equipment vendor or engineering company, well before the acoustical (pulsation) simulation has been conducted. Recommendations from the pulsation simulation are difficult to implement late in the project schedule, resulting in a compromised design or costly modifications.

This lecture will present a parametric pulsation simulation study that evaluates a range of pulsation control strategies for reciprocating pump systems. The results from this study will illustrate the limitations to common industry approaches and provide guidance for selecting the appropriate pulsation control devices for reciprocating pump applications.

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Presenters:

Kelly Eberle, P.Eng.

Principal Consultant​, Wood

Kelly is a Principal Consultant at Wood since 1988. Kelly graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 1986. He has accumulated a wide range of design and field experience, particularly in the area of pressure pulsation analysis and mechanical analysis of reciprocating compressor and pump installations. His experience also includes field vibration analysis, flexibility studies, structural analysis and foundation analysis.

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Diwan (David) Zhou, PhD

Computational Dynamics Scientist​, Wood

David is an Computational Dynamics Scientist and has been with Wood since 2013. He graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Ph.D. degree, Chemical and Biomedical Engineering 2010. His experience includes pulsation and mechanical analysis of reciprocating compressors and pumps. His current role also includes the development of Wood’s pulsation analysis software.

Usage of Epoxy Grout for Long Term Reliability of Pumps​

Description:

When installed according to manufacturer’s recommendations and industry accepted best practices, epoxy grout will provide long-term benefits to the reliability and operational efficiency of pumps. By decreasing the mean time between failures and decreasing the overall operating and life cycle costs, pumps installed with epoxy grout should be a part of every critical equipment installation. Case histories will be shown to illustrate how proper selection and installation of epoxy grout has led to reduction in vibrations experienced by operating pumps, stiffening of the pump foundation, and long-term chemical protection of the foundation system.

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Presenters:

Christopher Matthews-Ewald

Industrial Applications Engineer, ITW Performance Polymers

Chris joined ITW Performance Polymers in 2015. His primary responsibilities include providing technical support and educating customers and personnel in engineering, construction, operations, recommendations on best practices for epoxy grout design and installation. His primary focus is on Industrial applications and US Military Marine installations, and a secondary focus on all marine applications. Prior to this role, Chris worked in the upstream oil and gas industry, both onshore and offshore, with well abandonment and well completion technologies. He holds a degree in Civil & Environmental Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Among Chris’ publications are “When in Doubt, Check Your Grout” as published in the June/July 2016 Issue of Northeast ONG. He has given presentations on Installation Techniques for Equipment Reliability at the 2018 Breakstones conference in Viña del Mar, Chila and on Proper Anchor Bolting Design and Treatment at the 2018 RATS Maintenance, Reliability, & Operations (MRO) Conference in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada.
In his spare time, Chris enjoys spending time with his daughter and wife, running, reading, and playing with their dogs.