Amarinth Offers Scalable Pump Seal Support System ATUs

Automatic Top Up Units (ATUs) enable the automatic refilling or topping up of Plan 53B barrier systems which maintain a constant barrier fluid supply through the seal system to the pump shaft seal, preventing leakage of the process fluid to atmosphere. Although ATUs are available from other suppliers, the long lead times of these units (typically 32 to 40 weeks) does not meet many of today’s shorter pump lead times which Amarinth is experiencing, especially with the recent upturn in pump orders being placed by the Oil and Gas industry.

With no definitive API standard for ATUs, end-user specifications define the design, construction and test of these units which means every package has historically been bespoke, significantly extending lead times. Drawing on its decades of industry experience and knowledge of end-user specifications (for example Shell DEP, ADCO, Norsok, BP DGS and Petronas), Amarinth has therefore developed a comprehensive and modular approach that is suitable for a broad range of applications and end-user needs.

The ATUs, which are all manufactured in-house, are scalable and configurable enabling them to be completed to suit short lead time contracts, which can often be under 22 weeks, whilst continuing to meet stringent customer specifications and restrictive customer vendor lists for all instrumentation, valves and controls.

ATUs can be assembled to suit anything from a single pump to multiple charging pumps and in addition to the number of pumps, the system is readily scalable for the length of time the pumps are run. Amarinth has already provided ATUs with tanks of working capacities in excess of 300 litres and greater capacities can be achieved within a scaled footprint. Manufactured from 316L stainless steel, meeting or exceeding all standard requirements, the Amarinth ATUs are fully ATEX compliant. Safety is paramount, and the ATUs come as standard with a non-return valve on the feed line to the seal system, pressure control valves to relieve excess pressure and a level transmitter in the tank to warn of low fluid levels.

The layout of the Amarinth ATU is designed with function and maintainability as the key parameters with carefully organised and consistent venting and drains throughout. An easily accessible basket strainer is provided with a differential pressure alarm to remind that filter cleaning is required. There is also an integral instrumentation sunshade to assist readability in bright conditions and to protect from solar temperatures. Safety equipment such as safety relief valves can also be included within the same layout allowing flexibility to suit a particular contract.

Drawing on its proven engineering agility and sound business processes, Amarinth is working with a select group of suppliers to achieve a lead time of under 22 weeks if the contract requires it. All components are from approved vendors ensuring the whole system is fully compliant with a customer’s requirements.

Oliver Brigginshaw, Managing Director of Amarinth, commented: “The recent increase in new pump orders we are experiencing is demanding ever shorter lead times and one of the longest lead time items in a system has been the ATU. By bringing the design and manufacture of these units in house and leveraging our proven skills in agile engineering, we have been able to make this breakthrough in design so that we can continue meet the evolving needs of our customers.”