2 operation – Flowserve 682 Seal Cooler User Manual
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It is strongly recommended that the 682 Seal Cooler be mounted in a
vertical position whenever possible for a Plan 23 to ensure proper cooling
efficiencies and simplify maintenance requirements. For applications that
must conform to API Standard 682 requirements, the API Standard 682
specifies that the seal cooler must be mounted to allow complete draining
and venting of both the cooling water and the process fluid. Vertical
installations achieve this capability but horizontal mountings do not.
2 Operation
2.1 When installing and again before start-up, ensure that the seal cooler,
piping, and vent locations provide complete venting of gas/air from both
the tube and shell systems. This requires the vents to be located at the
highest point in each system.
2.2 Before start-up, ensure that all the gas/air is vented from both the tube
and shell systems to provide the system efficiencies expected and prevent
a vapor lock condition.
2.3 When installing and again before start-up, ensure that the seal cooler,
piping, and drain locations allow for drainage of fluid from both the tube
and shell systems. This requires the drains to be located at the lowest
point in each system. A drain valve (not just a plug) should be mounted
in the shell system.
2.4 If the tube and shell systems can not be configured for both proper venting
and proper draining, as with a horizontal installation, it is more important
for proper venting be achieved.
2.5 Before start-up, ensure that all piping is properly attached to the appropri-
ate connections for both the tube and shell systems to prevent fluid leaks
and achieve expected cooler efficiencies.
2.6 At start-up, ensure that the flush fluid flow and cooling fluid flow are set
and stabilized at the prescribed flow rates determined for the application.
2.7 Do not allow the shell system cooling fluid flow rate to be operated below
24.6 L / min (6.5 gpm). Lower flow rates will encourage fouling which
reduces the seal cooler heat transfer capabilities.
2.8 Cooler performance should be monitored periodically. Baseline tempera-
tures should be gathered soon after equipment commissioning. Target
shell side base line temperature differential should be 20°F or lower.
Exceeding this temperature could result in a loss of efficiency and possibly
result in shell side fouling.
2.9 Periodically shell and tube side temperature differential should be
monitored. With no change in process temperature tube side
temperatures should be not exceed 10-20°F rise from base line.
Shell side differential exceeding 20°F or significant variation from base
line indicates loss of efficiency. Shell side fouling could be a cause and
cooler cleaning should be considered.