Plunger Pump Lubrication System and Method

Abstract

A system and method for lubricating a packing gland of a positive displacement plunger pump. The system includes a pressure regulated lubricant discharge from the packing gland. The pressure regulated lubricant discharge maintains a positive pressure in the packing gland to resist unloading of the packing.

1 . A positive displacement plunger pump, the pump comprising:
 a plunger reciprocally disposed through a packing gland, the packing gland comprising an inlet and an outlet;   a pressurized lubricant fluidicly connected to the packing gland at the inlet;   a pressure regulated discharge device fluidicly connected to the packing gland at the outlet.   
     
     
         2 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure regulated discharge device comprises a relief pressure less than the pressure of the pressurized lubricant at the inlet. 
     
     
         3 . The pump of  claim 1 , further comprising a containment vessel fluidicly connected to the discharge through the pressure regulated discharge device. 
     
     
         4 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure regulated discharge device is a relief valve. 
     
     
         5 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the packing gland comprises seal rings. 
     
     
         6 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the packing gland comprises seal rings and a header ring. 
     
     
         7 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the packing gland is a non-adjustable packing gland. 
     
     
         8 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the packing gland comprises voids formed between adjacent seal members. 
     
     
         9 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the packing gland is a non-adjustable packing gland comprising voids formed between the adjacent seal members, wherein the pressure regulated discharge device comprises a relief pressure less than the pressure of the pressurized lubricant at the inlet. 
     
     
         10 . The pump of  claim 9 , further comprising a containment vessel fluidicly connected to the discharge through the pressure regulated discharge device. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 injecting a lubricant under pressure into a packing gland through which a plunger is reciprocating; and   discharging the lubricant from the packing gland in response to an outlet pressure greater than a selected relief pressure.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the relief pressure is greater than a compression pressure necessary to maintain seal elements of the packing gland in sealing contact with the plunger. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the discharging comprises discharging the lubricant into a containment vessel. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the injecting the lubricant comprises injecting the lubricant through a stuffing box. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the relief pressure is greater than a compression pressure necessary to maintain seal elements of the packing gland in sealing contact with the plunger; and   the discharging comprises discharging the lubricant into a containment vessel.