Page 35 - Practical Machinery Management for Process Plants Major Process Equipment Maintenance and Repair

20 Major Process @ipment Maintenance and Repair

160°F (or lower, as component design dictates) using the system
pump and lint-free cloth filter bags at all seal or packing inlet con-
nections; oil should be circulated for a minimum of four hours.
The filter bags should be examined and cleaned at approximately
30 minute intervals. Flushing should be continued until there is no
evidence of particle pickup for two consecutive 30 minute periods.

2. For pumps with tandem mechanical seals, the overhead reservoir
and all flush oil supply piping should be thoroughly cleaned by oil
flush prior to connecting to the pump.

3. It is important for good seal or packing performance that dirt and/
or foreign debris not be introduced into the seal or packing cavity.

Note: Pumps with double mechanical seals should not be flushed
out, steamed out, pressure tested, or operated without the seal
gland oil system in operation at the specified pressure level. The
gland oil system pressure should be 10-15 psi higher than the
pump side pressure on the inner seal for all operating conditions.
This will prevent inadvertent blowing open of the seal with
pumped product that could cause seal failure or contamination of
the flush system.

4. The flushing and steaming of pumps with single or tandem me-
chanical seals should be held to a minimum period of time. This
will minimize the amount of debris entering the seal cavity, and
prevent the destruction of the static seal elements by overheating.
Static seal elements should not be heated above the temperatures
listed in Chapter 10 of Volume 3.

5. All cooling water piping on pumps and turbines should be flushed
and connected prior to operation.
Prior to operation, any lube oil in bearing housings and constant
level oilers should be drained and new, clean lube oil added, and
the proper oil level established. Verify that the oil level in the bear-
ing housing is correct and that the constant level oiler is function-
ing properly. The owner should verify that the installing agency is
using the proper grade of lube oil.
6. On equipment to be lubricated by an oil mist system: install all
local oil mist piping or tubing with a slope toward the equipment
without any sags or low spots in the piping or tubing runs; install