Can asphalt be used for asphalt pump seal fluid?

[ponderer]

We have a Vacuum Distillation Unit in our refinery.

The operating temperature of the Vacuum Residue(Asphalt) pump is 350C.

The mechanical seal plan of the Vacuum Residue pump is:

Plan 32 with Seal Fluid: HVGO(Heavy Vaccum Gas Oil)
+ 52 with Seal Fluid: Synthetic Lub. Oil

As the seal fluid(HVGO) is injected to the process line with Plan 32 , it may affect the quality of Vacuum Residue.

We are now considering to use Vacuum Residue(Asphalt) itself as a seal fluid for Plan 32.

Is there any refinery has such experience?

 

[wassell]

It's not ideal. Typically you would want as clean a fluid as possible, but given the severity of your service it may be your only option.

Plan 32 calls for a Clean external source flush, what you want to do seems to be more in line with Plans, 01, 11, 13 and 21, which is recirc line from process. Is this waht you intend to do??

 

[ponderer]

What I intend to do is to use Asphalt instead of HVGO for Seal Plan 32.

The Asphalt can be cooled to 160C before entering the pump seal.