Page 112 - Industrial Plants

result in a quality level
at least equal to ASME
IX. Welders may be
additionally qualified to
ASME IX but if you
make that a firm
requirement you may
raise the price tag
without benefit. The economical decision is to [ILLU BNA design]
leave this choice to the Vendor.
• Welding to AWS D1.1 is unusual in Europe and
hardly available. Welding of non-pressure or An Example

structural parts according to ISO welding In 2016 ENI SpA had to retrofit their Val D’Agri
standards should be allowed or tolerated. plant and quickly install additional pumps in order
Project engineers preparing or evaluating a bid typically to restart the plant. The pumps were specified as
spend many hours in discussion with pump vendors to API 676 and NACE MR-0175 compliant including
identify which of these points are relevant for the actual double-acting seals API 682 Cat. 2 with seal plan
project, which can be accepted to cut cost, and which 53B. The fluid was produced water and oily foam
are viewed critically by the client so that a concession (gas fraction) with H2S. Required discharge
request becomes necessary, adding to the time. pressure was 16 bar, high vapor pressure leading
to NPSH < 1 m. SEEPEX delivered complete
API 676 pump skids with BNA pumps within 11
SEEPEX BNA pump range of API weeks after award, to the surprise of the ENI

676 compliant pumps engineers who were accustomed to lead times of
20 weeks and more.
To provide project engineers with smooth sailing and
purchasers with favorable price and lead time,
manufacturer SEEPEX introduced a new range of API standard - Guideline or Law?

horizontal PC pumps that are designed based on API From the vendor’s point of view, unfortunately many
676 requirements – the BNA pump range – with built-in EPC Contractors and Clients do not use the API
conformity to the key points outlined under 1) and 2) standards as the guideline they were intended to be,
and avoiding welding completely. Main features are: but tend to view them as a law book, so that any
• heavy-duty cast casing with design pressure 50 deviation creates friction and is considered undesirable
bar even if actually there is no problem. PC pumps with
• flanges class 300 their particular characteristics are not well represented
• standard flanged casing drain in API 676, thus we keep discussing the same
• high nozzle loads inevitable topics.
• full uncompromised compliance to API 682 Cat. 2 We hope this editorial helps you understand the
/ API 610 for shaft seals specific situation of progressive cavity pumps and
• materials suitable for corrosive or harsh organize your work most efficiently.
environment and for fluids including Chloride and If there is anything SEEPEX can do for you, please let
H2S us know.

IndustrIal Plants - May 2017
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