Importance

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Abstract

A method for controlling leakage of a barrier fluid from a dual seal assembly of equipment, such as a pump or valve, employs a barrier fluid supply arrangement connected to a barrier fluid chamber of the dual seal assembly, a pressure intensifier mechanism coupled to a process fluid chamber and the barrier fluid chamber of the dual seal assembly and being operable to maintain the pressure of the barrier fluid at a preset level above the pressure of the process fluid in response to the absence of barrier fluid leakage from the dual seal assembly, and a pressure monitoring and control arrangement coupled to the barrier fluid supply arrangement and the pressure intensifier mechanism and being operable to detect and measure the decrease of the barrier fluid pressure below the preset level and to compensate therefor by actuating the barrier fluid supply arrangement to supply barrier fluid to the barrier fluid chamber until the barrier fluid pressure has increased above the preset level. The pressure monitoring and control arrangement is also operable to calculate and provide a readout of both the average and instantaneous leakage rate.

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First Claim