Abstract:
A seal support system, or a kit therefor, for use with a sealing device to seal a piece of industrial equipment, includes a stand with fixed support elements for accommodating selected functional components with different sizes of components being accommodated by differently sized pipework elements. The stand has one or more substantially fixed brackets with each bracket having a component securing device at predetermined longitudinal space intervals.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to seal support systems and especially systems, which are used with mechanical seals for the containment of process fluid. 
       BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    A seal support system typically comprises of a vessel or tank, which generally contains a volume of fluid. The vessel is piped to a sealing device on a pump, mixer or item of rotating equipment. Generally a return pipe is lead back to the vessel from the sealing device, hence closing the “loop”. This allows the fluid, contained in the vessel, to enter and exit the sealing device. Typically such a seal support system is employed with a mechanical seal with two or more sets of seal faces, more commonly referred to as a double or dual seal. 
         [0003]    The fluid within the vessel is generally chosen so that it lubricates and cools the components within the sealing device, whilst being compatible with the process fluid. The industry term for the fluid contained within the vessel, is Barrier or Buffer fluid. 
         [0004]    It is not uncommon for the seal support system to have other items of equipment, sited around the vessel, to permit pressure being applied to the barrier/buffer fluid, or to allow additional cooling or fluid circulation around the seal. 
         [0005]    Generally the sealing device sited on the item of rotating equipment is a mechanical seal comprising of a rotating member, which is secured to a shaft, and a stationary member which is secured to a housing. 
         [0006]    The interface, between the rotating member and the stationary member, on the mechanical seal, prevents the processed product from escaping. 
         [0007]    It is a well-documented fact that the majority of mechanical seals have a fluid film, acting between the two sliding seal faces. This fluid film lubricates the set of seal faces. The wider the fluid film, the more the mechanical seal can be said to leak. Therefore over time, some fluid loss from the vessel is to be expected. A means to maintain pressure and fluid level within the vessel is therefore desirable. 
         [0008]    Further loss of fluid from the vessel may result due to evaporation. Therefore a means to reduce said evaporation losses is also desirable. 
         [0009]    The reader will therefore note that seal support systems can complex in nature, involving many hundreds of parts all with a specific purpose and duty. 
         [0010]    In addition certain industries, such as the Oil and Gas industry, have complex standards which outline the design of some of the parts. 
         [0011]    Lastly, many customers have their own in-house specifications for seal support systems, not only outlining the types of components but the style of fixing the components such as socket welding, fillet welding and threaded flanges. 
         [0012]    It is therefore deemed advantageous if a modular seal support system can be offered which accommodates multiple component configurations from one design as this will enable the supplier of said systems to easily expedite bespoke configurations to suit many industrial applications. 
       Statements of the Invention 
       [0013]    According to the present invention there is provided a modular seal support system for use with a sealing device employed to seal a piece of industrial equipment. Said seal support system is characterised by
       A stand, used to position and site multiple components   A fluid connection means from the system to the seal and from the seal to the system
 
wherein, said stand has one or more substantially fixed elements, herewith termed brackets and each bracket has component securing means at predetermined longitudinal space intervals. Said space intervals are determined such that any number of different components can be secured onto said brackets to accommodate the differing application requirements.
       
 
         [0016]    Preferably, the brackets are welded to the vertical member of the stand. 
         [0017]    Preferably, the securing means at predetermined longitudinal space intervals accommodates butt welded flanges and fillet and/or socket welded flanges. 
         [0018]    The present invention may also be considered as a seal support kit for assembling a system for providing barrier fluid to a device for sealing a piece of industrial equipment, the kit comprising a stand with first and second fixed support element thereon, a plurality of differently sized vessels for storing barrier fluid, said first fixed support element being for supporting a chosen vessel, a plurality of differently sized functional components of a first type and a plurality of differently sized functional components of a second type, and differently sized pipework elements which may be selected for mounting on the stand by means of the second support elements and so as to interconnect the chosen functional components and the vessel. 
         [0019]    For example, functional components may include a pressure gauge, an isolation valve and a ball valve. 
         [0020]    There are various benefits of the modular seal support system of the invention, not least the ability to simplify the configuration of a number of complex component arrangements, which will now herewith be described with the aid of the following drawings. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]    The accompanying drawings are as follows: 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a prior art seal support system connected to a mechanical seal 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is a front view of a modular complex seal support system of the invention 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  corresponds to  FIG. 2  and shows an isometric view of the modular complex seal support system of the invention 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  corresponds to  FIG. 2  and shows two different types of components accommodated in the same longitudinal space arrangement. 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  shows a front view of a further modular complex seal support system of the invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  shows a front view of a further modular complex seal support system of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0028]    The invention will now be described, by way of examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0029]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a prior art seal support system  10 . From  FIG. 1 , an item of industrial equipment such as a pump  11  is sealed with a sealing device such as a double mechanical seal  12 . 
         [0030]    Within the mechanical seal  12  is a fluid, termed barrier fluid  13 , used to keep the seal faces cool and lubricated. The seal  12  has an integral pumping ring (not shown) used to circulate the barrier fluid  13  from the seal  12  to vessel  14  by way of connecting pipe  15  and from the vessel back to the seal  12  by way of connecting pipe  16 . 
         [0031]    The vessel  14  is mounted onto a stand  17  which is preferably secured to the ground  18 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 1  thereby shows a simple seal support system and its relation to the mechanical seal and item of rotating equipment. This relation will therefore not be referred to again as it is widely known. 
         [0033]      FIG. 2  is a front view of a modular complex seal support system  20  of the invention. 
         [0034]    From  FIG. 2 , the modular system  20  comprises of a substantially vertical stand member  21  which is preferably secured to the ground  22 . 
         [0035]    Preferably, at periodic longitudinally spaced intervals, are one or more brackets  22  and/or plates  23  secured to said vertical stand member  21 . Said brackets  22  and plates  23  are designed to site one or more complex components as deemed appropriate by the application. By way of example only, said components could include a pressure gauge  24 , a vessel or accumulator  25 , an isolation valve  26 , and a ball valve  27 . 
         [0036]    Said brackets  22  and/or plates  23  are preferably spaced to accommodate a wide range of intermediate components and component securing and/or connecting means as will be further described and illustrated by  FIG. 4 . 
         [0037]    Preferably, said modular complex seal support system  20  has an integral lifting means  30 , so that the system can be sited and manoeuvred easily. Preferably, said lifting means  30  is positioned at the upper most position within the system  20 . Preferably, said lifting means  30  seals the inner most surfaces of vertical stand  21 , preventing internal corrosion from moisture entry. 
         [0038]      FIG. 3  corresponds to  FIG. 2  and shows an isometric view of the modular complex seal support system  20  of the invention, more clearly showing the complex relationship between the number of components. 
         [0039]    Preferably, as shown, said stand  21  has an integral grounding or earthing means  31 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 4  corresponds to  FIG. 2  and by way of example is an enlarged view of the ball valve  27  and more specifically, the connecting means between the respective flanges  32  and  33 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 4A  and  FIG. 4B  shows a common longitudinal distance “X” between said flanges, however the reader will note two different types of flanged components employed between said Figures. 
         [0042]      FIG. 4A  thereby shows a butt welded mounting flange  32  whereby the join  35  between the flange  32  and the connecting pipe  35  is an in-line joint, typically termed butt. The two parts  32  and  35  are preferably permanently secured together by a weld around the circumference of the joint. This is a pressure tight joint due to the nature of the sealing system application. 
         [0043]      FIG. 4B  thereby shows a socket welded mounting flange  40  whereby the join  41  between the flange  40  and the connecting pipe  42  is a 90 degree type joint, typically termed fillet. Again, the two parts  40  and  42  are preferably permanently secured together by a weld around the circumference of the joint. The socket term is used as the pipe  42  is preferably inserted into a hole  43  in the flange  40  before the joint is secured. Again, this is a pressure tight joint due to the nature of the sealing system application. 
         [0044]    The reader will note that some industrial plants specify butt welded joints whereas some industrial plants specify socket welded joints. The modular system  20  of the invention permits a multitude of joining and component siting means from one modular stand  21 . This embodiment is deemed specifically advantageous. 
         [0045]      FIG. 5  shows a front view of a further modular complex seal support system  50  of the invention, whereby a different size vessel and/or accumulator  51  is accommodated by the modular stand  12  and mounting bracket  52 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 6  shows a front view of a further modular complex seal support system  60  of the invention, by way of example to further show the multiple configurations that may be accommodated by a modular stand  12 . 
         [0047]    The embodiments of the design are not restricted to complex seal support systems, as clearly they can be applied to other types of industrial equipment such as coolers, as deemed advantageous.