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US 11,079,021 B2Granted
Barrier system for mechanical seal
OwnerAndrew John Stoneyinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A barrier system for a dual mechanical seal, the system comprising means for controlling barrier fluid pressure relative to product pressure. The pressure control means comprises means for monitoring the volume of barrier fluid in the system and for supplying additional fluid to the system to maintain the volume within a desired range. The system further comprises means for maintaining the barrier fluid pressure at a pre-determined pressure above product pressure.
Claims17
A barrier system comprising:
- a dual mechanical seal comprising a pair of seals with a barrier seal chamber between the pair of seals, wherein the barrier seal chamber has a barrier seal pressure (Pbarrier);
- and,
- a controller comprising a product pressure reference (Pref) input, a valve output controlling flow of a barrier fluid into the barrier seal chamber, and pre-determined pressure (Pbias) setting above the product pressure reference (Pref);
- wherein the controller is configured to track the Pbarrier and control the barrier fluid flow to maintain the Pbias in the barrier seal chamber over the product pressure;
- wherein the controller further comprises a volume monitor adapted to monitor a volume (Vbarrier) of barrier fluid in the system;
- and,
- wherein the volume monitor comprises one or more flow meters selected from the group consisting of:
- a flow meter between a bladder accumulator and the barrier seal chamber;
- a flow meter receiving fluid flowing from the barrier seal chamber;
- a pair of flow meters with one of the pair upstream to the barrier seal chamber and one of the pair downstream from the barrier seal chamber;
- and three flow meters.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.