Lubrication and flushing of a fluid seal used with reactive materials

A pump control system comprising;

• a main pump configured to pump a fluid, the main pump comprising:
• a housing;
• a pump chamber defined by the housing;
• and
• a throat seal;
• control circuitry configured to:
• cause a lubricant pump, separate from the main pump, to pump at least one initial purge volume of lubricant through a lubricant system after the lubrication system is powered and before operation of the main pump, wherein the lubricant system comprises:
• the lubricant pump;
• a lubricant gallery defined by the housing;
• and
• a lubricant circuit fluidly connecting the lubricant pump and the lubricant gallery,
• wherein the throat seal is disposed adjacent to and between the pump chamber and the lubricant gallery;
• cause the lubricant pump to stop pumping for a first time period after the lubricant pump has pumped the at least one initial purge volume;
• cause the main pump to pump a fluid through the pump chamber after the lubricant pump has stopped pumping the at least one initial purge volume;
• determine if the main pump is still operating following the first time period;
• and
• cause, based on the control circuitry determining that the main pump is still operating, the lubricant pump to pump at least one first purge volume of lubricant through the lubricant system based on the first time period having elapsed and based on the main pump still operating.

A method of controlling a pump system, the method comprising:

• operating a lubricant pump to pump at least one initial purge volume of lubricant through a lubricant system after the lubricant system is powered on and before operation of a main pump of the lubrication system, wherein the lubricant system comprises:
• the lubricant pump;
• a lubricant gallery having an inlet and an outlet and defined by a housing of the main pump, the main pump comprising:
• a pump chamber defined by the housing;
• and
• a throat seal disposed adjacent to and between the pump chamber and the lubricant gallery;
• control circuitry configured to control operation of the lubricant pump independent of operation of the main pump;
• and
• a lubricant circuit fluidly connecting the lubricant pump, a lubricant reservoir, and the lubricant gallery
• stopping operation of the lubricant pump for a first time period after the lubricant pump has pumped the at least one initial purge volume;
• operating the main pump to pump a fluid;
• and
• operating the lubricant pump to pump at least one first purge volume of lubricant through the lubricant system based on the first time period having elapsed and based on the main pump still operating, wherein each of the initial purge volume and the first purge volume is equal to a volume of the lubricant gallery and the lubricant circuit.