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Mag-Drive Pumps Balance Sustainability and Performance
to Meet API 685 Requirements

To meet the stringent requirements pertaining to volatile organic
compounds (VOCs), many petrochemical and oil and gas companies
have turned to sealless pumps. These pumps are considered more
sustainable than mechanical pumps because they do not use seals,
which can fail and allow hazardous fluids to leak into the environment.
Using sealless pumps to meet strict sustainability requirements often
meant sacrificing hydraulic performance and reliability, but this trade-
off is no longer necessary when using sealless pumps that meet the
API 685 standards for centrifugal pumps.
Sealless mag-drive pumps offer a way to balance sustainability and
performance needs in environmentally critical applications. Extremely
versatile, they provide outstanding leakage protection and can handle
the high pressures, temperatures and aggressive/toxic media often
found in the oil and gas and hydrocarbon industries.

The API 685 standard
The API 685 standard addresses the minimum requirements for Containment shell prevents fluids from leaking into the environment
sealless pumps manufactured for heavy-duty petrochemical and oil API 685 mag-drive pumps use a containment shell made from alloy
and gas applications. It applies to mag-drive and canned motor pumps C4, a nickel-based material, for high-efficiency performance and high
and is very similar to the API 610 standard, one commonly associated corrosion resistance. Alloy C4 containment shells prevent process
with centrifugal pumps in the petroleum, petrochemical and natural fluids from escaping from the pump and leaking into the environment.
gas industries. API 685 mag-drive pumps also feature a secondary containment
The American Petroleum Institute recommends applying the 685 system behind the shell and backup renewable rings that provide an
standard for applications when conditions exceed any of the following: additional layer of leakage protection.
• Discharge pressure of 1900 kPa (275 psig)
• Suction pressure of 500 kPa (75 psig) Internal flushing system improves reliability
• Pumping temperature of 150°C (300°F) Instead of using an external flushing system, which may fail under
• Rotative speed of 3600 rpm aggressive conditions, API 685 mag-drive pumps leverage an internal
• Rated total head of 120 m (400 ft) flushing path designed to efficiently cool the magnets and lubricate
• Impeller diameter of 330 mm (13 in) sleeve bearings. The process fluid is fed from a high-pressure area
behind the impeller to the magnetic coupling, and a self-cleaning filter
Designed for sustainability and reliability helps prevent contamination.
Sealless mag-drive pumps meet the higher sustainability requirements
of the API 685 standard through a variety of innovative design Reduced maintenance and associated costs
features, including: In addition to features designed for sustainability and reliability, API
685 mag-drive pumps can also reduce maintenance labor and costs.
Some of these pumps utilize a standard back pullout design, which
simplifies general maintenance and inspections because the casing
stays in-line and the piping connections remain intact.
This contained back pullout design also makes drive-end maintenance
easy. The process fluid remains entirely confined, which eliminates
the need to drain or purge the pump. Further, maintenance personnel
aren’t exposed to potentially harmful process fluids.
Ideally suited for critical applications
API 685 mag-drive pumps are 100% leakage free, providing a
sustainable alternative to other pumps. Because of their innovative
design features, these pumps safely handle hazardous and volatile
fluids in extreme conditions, making them ideal for use in petroleum,
petrochemical and natural gas applications where companies have to
balance performance, reliability and sustainability.

86 86 Impiantistica Italiana - Settembre-Ottobre 2019