Page 192 - Centrifugal Pumps Design and Application

Pipeline, Waterflood and COa Pumps 167

Figure 10-34. Bronze impregnated graphite inserts for dry running applications,

metal contact exists. One approach used successfully is to install bronze-
impregnated graphite inserts into all stationary wear rings (Figure 10-
34). Rings of this type have operated with no damage during dry running
tests on multi-stage pumps where dynamic deflection permitted internal
contact with rotating and stationary rings.

Mechanical Seals

A number of solutions in the sealing of CO 2 are offered by the various
seal manufacturers who in their selection process must consider the poor
lubrication quality, the possibility of icing at the faces, and the typical
high-suction pressure. The CO 2 pipeline pump shown in Figure 10-35
had a pumping rate of 16,000 GPM and a maximum suction pressure of
1,800 psia. In this application, double seals were chosen using a compati-
ble buffer fluid with adequate lubrication properties.