8
6.2 Mounting Positions
The seal cooler can be mounted vertically or horizontally, and as close to the seal
as possible. Vertical mounting is preferred for any closed loop system for venting
purposes.
In a horizontal position It is difficult to vent gas/air from a horizontal installation
because the gas/air can become trapped within the upper turns of the cooling coil. A
series of flush and bleed steps might be necessary in order to remove these trapped
gases. See figure 5 below.
The presence of trapped gas/air is more critical when using a Plan 23 seal flush or any
closed loop system. Trapped gases that are entrained in the sealing fluid can collect in
the seal cavity thus impede flow to the seal cooler. This can ultimately cause the seal
to overheat and fail due to a lack of lubrication.
It is strongly recommended that the seal cooler be mounted in a vertical position with
process fluid connections on top whenever possible to ensure thorough venting and
promote cooling efficiencies.
Figure 3: API Plan 21 Configuration Figure 4: API Plan 23 Configuration
Liquid
Gas/Air
Entrapment
Process
Inlet
Process
Outlet
