Barrier fluid reservoir for dual mechanical seals

The SO-1 buffer / barrier fluid reservoir is designed to contain barrier fluid for a tandem or double mechanical seal, to provide its cooling and to control mechanical seal performance.The SO-1 barrier fluid reservoir can be used with flush plans API 52 or 53 as per API682. To operate under the API 53 Plan, the barrier fluid tank can be equipped with a manual fluid make up pump.

The reservoir can be fitted with instrumentation and control for automatic checking of mechanical seal performance and pump shut down in case of mechanical seal failure. The instrumentation and control version of SO-1 can additionally include a level sensor, a pressure switch, and a temperature sensor. Sensors and switches are either intrinsically safe or explosion proof depending on customer’s order.

The rare feature of this buffer fluid reservoir is that it can be disassembled for cleaning if the heat exchanger gets fouled. The heat exchanger has straight tubes that can be mechanically cleaned.