Tandem seal arrangement with reverse flow secondary seal
View Patent ↗A process fluid communication system includes a fluid source in communication with a process seal and a gearbox seal to communicate a pumping medium into a turbomachinery housing and a gearbox housing through the process seal and the gearbox seal.
1. A method of retrofitting a process fluid communication system for reverse pumping comprising:
reversing a gearbox seal and a primary process seal;
converting a vent area to a fluid source inlet;
communicating a pumping medium through a secondary process seal downstream of the primary process seal and the gearbox seal to communicate the pumping medium into a turbomachinery housing and a gearbox housing through the respective secondary process seal and the gearbox seal; and
flaring a process fluid from a primary vent area between the secondary process seal and the primary process seal.
2. A method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising: communicating an environmentally compatible gas as the pumping medium.
3. A method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising: communicating air as the pumping medium.
4. A method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
communicating the pumping medium to the secondary process seal downstream of the primary process seal of a tandem seal arrangement.