API Plan 14
API Plan 14 – Discharge Recirculation with Return to Suction
API Plan 14 is a combination of API Plan 11 and API Plan 13. It involves recirculating process fluid from the pump discharge to the seal chamber for lubrication and cooling, while excess fluid is returned from the seal chamber back to the pump suction. This helps in maintaining a cleaner and cooler seal environment.
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Features
How It Works:
- A portion of the process fluid is taken from the pump discharge and passed through an orifice or flow control device to regulate the flow.
- The fluid enters the seal chamber, providing cooling and lubrication to the seal faces.
- Any excess fluid from the seal chamber is returned to the pump suction through a return line, ensuring proper circulation and pressure balance.
Benefits
- Improves cooling efficiency – Continuous circulation helps maintain seal temperature.
- Prevents contamination – Removes impurities and prevents debris accumulation in the seal chamber.
- Maintains pressure balance – Helps control pressure variations in the seal chamber, reducing seal wear.
- Better than Plan 11 alone – The return to suction ensures cleaner operation by preventing stagnation of fluid.
Drawbacks
- More complex than Plan 11 – Requires additional piping for the return line, increasing installation costs.
- Not suitable for solid-laden or dirty fluids – Solids can clog the orifice or return line, leading to failure.
- Potential for pressure drop – Improperly sized piping may cause inadequate flow or pressure fluctuations.
- Limited effectiveness for high-temperature fluids – If the process fluid is already hot, cooling may not be sufficient.
Applications
- Oil & Gas Industry – Used in clean hydrocarbon pumps where controlled circulation improves seal reliability.
- Petrochemical & Chemical Processing – Ideal for chemical transfer pumps handling non-solidifying fluids.
- Power Plants – Applied in boiler feedwater and cooling water pumps to enhance seal cooling.
- Water & Wastewater Treatment – Used in clean water applications where flushing is needed.
- General Industrial Pumps – Suitable for applications requiring improved cooling and pressure control.
API Plan 14 is an enhanced version of Plan 11, offering better cooling and fluid cleanliness. However, it is not ideal for dirty or solid-laden fluids and requires additional piping, making it slightly more complex to implement.
Warning Notes
Related Technical Papers
Applicable Products
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