§ 63.1028 - Agitators in gas and vapor service and in light liquid service standards.

§ 63.1028 Agitators in gas and vapor service and in light liquid service standards.

(a) Compliance schedule. The owner or operator shall comply with this section no later than the compliance dates specified in the referencing subpart.

(b) [Reserved]

(c) Leak detection -

(1) Monitoring method. Each agitator seal shall be monitored monthly to detect leaks by the methods specified in § 63.1023(b) and, as applicable, § 63.1023(c), except as provided in § 63.1021(b), § 63.1036, § 63.1037, or paragraph (e) of this section.

(2) Instrument reading that defines a leak. If an instrument reading equivalent of 10,000 parts per million or greater is measured, a leak is detected.

(3) Visual inspection.

(i) Each agitator seal shall be checked by visual inspection each calendar week for indications of liquids dripping from the agitator seal. The owner or operator shall document that the inspection was conducted and the date of the inspection.

(ii) If there are indications of liquids dripping from the agitator seal, the owner or operator shall follow the procedures specified in paragraphs (c)(3)(ii)(A) or (c)(3)(ii)(B) of this section prior to the next required inspection.

(A) The owner or operator shall monitor the agitator seal as specified in § 63.1023(b) and, as applicable, § 63.1023(c), to determine if there is a leak of regulated material. If an instrument reading of 10,000 parts per million or greater is measured, a leak is detected, and it shall be repaired according to paragraph (d) of this section; or

(B) The owner or operator shall eliminate the indications of liquids dripping from the agitator seal.

(d) Leak repair. If a leak is detected, then the leak shall be repaired using the procedures in § 63.1024.

(e) Special provisions for agitators -

(1) Dual mechanical seal. Each agitator equipped with a dual mechanical seal system that includes a barrier fluid system is exempt from the requirements of paragraph (c) of this section, provided the requirements specified in paragraphs (e)(1)(i) through (e)(1)(vi) of this section are met.

(i) Each dual mechanical seal system shall meet the applicable requirements specified in paragraphs (e)(1)(i)(A), (e)(1)(i)(B), or (e)(1)(i)(C) of this section.

(A) Operated with the barrier fluid at a pressure that is at all times (except during periods of startup, shutdown, or malfunction) greater than the agitator stuffing box pressure; or

(B) Equipped with a barrier fluid degassing reservoir that is routed to a process or fuel gas system or connected by a closed-vent system to a control device that meets the requirements of either § 63.1034 or § 63.1021(b); or

(C) Equipped with a closed-loop system that purges the barrier fluid into a process stream.

(ii) The barrier fluid is not in light liquid service.

(iii) Each barrier fluid system is equipped with a sensor that will detect failure of the seal system, the barrier fluid system, or both.

(iv) Each agitator seal is checked by visual inspection each calendar week for indications of liquids dripping from the agitator seal. If there are indications of liquids dripping from the agitator seal at the time of the weekly inspection, the owner or operator shall follow the procedure specified in paragraphs (e)(1)(iv)(A) or (e)(1)(iv)(B) of this section prior to the next required inspection.

(A) The owner or operator shall monitor the agitator seal as specified in § 63.1023(b) and, as applicable, § 63.1023(c), to determine the presence of regulated material in the barrier fluid. If an instrument reading equivalent to or greater than 10,000 ppm is measured, a leak is detected and it shall be repaired using the procedures in § 63.1024, or

(B) The owner or operator shall eliminate the visual indications of liquids dripping.

(v) Each sensor as described in paragraph (e)(1)(iii) of this section is observed daily or is equipped with an alarm unless the agitator seal is located within the boundary of an unmanned plant site.

(vi) The owner or operator of each dual mechanical seal system shall meet the requirements specified in paragraphs (e)(1)(vi)(A) and (e)(1)(vi)(B).

(A) The owner or operator shall determine, based on design considerations and operating experience, criteria that indicates failure of the seal system, the barrier fluid system, or both and applicable to the presence and frequency of drips. If indications of liquids dripping from the agitator seal exceed the criteria, or if, based on the criteria the sensor indicates failure of the seal system, the barrier fluid system, or both, a leak is detected and shall be repaired pursuant to § 63.1024, as applicable.

(B) The owner or operator shall keep records of the design criteria and an explanation of the design criteria; and any changes to these criteria and the reasons for the changes.

(2) No external shaft. Any agitator that is designed with no externally actuated shaft penetrating the agitator housing is exempt from paragraph (c) of this section.

(3) Routed to a process or fuel gas system or equipped with a closed vent system. Any agitator that is routed to a process or fuel gas system that captures and transports leakage from the agitator to a control device meeting the requirements of either § 63.1034 or § 63.1021(b) is exempt from the requirements of paragraph (c) of this section.

(4) Unmanned plant site. Any agitator that is located within the boundary of an unmanned plant site is exempt from the weekly visual inspection requirement of paragraphs (c)(3) and (e)(1)(iv) of this section, and the daily requirements of paragraph (e)(1)(v) of this section, provided that each agitator is visually inspected as often as practical and at least monthly.

(5) Difficult-to-monitor agitator seals. Any agitator seal that is designated, as described in § 63.1022(c)(2), as a difficult-to-monitor agitator seal is exempt from the requirements of paragraph (c) of this section and the owner or operator shall monitor the agitator seal according to the written plan specified in § 63.1022(c)(4).

(6) Equipment obstructions. Any agitator seal that is obstructed by equipment or piping that prevents access to the agitator by a monitor probe is exempt from the monitoring requirements of paragraph (c) of this section.

(7) Unsafe-to-monitor agitator seals. Any agitator seal that is designated, as described in § 63.1022(c)(1), as an unsafe-to-monitor agitator seal is exempt from the requirements of paragraph (c) of this section and the owner or operator of the agitator seal monitors the agitator seal according to the written plan specified in § 63.1022(c)(4).