API 682: a living standard revision

摘要

The API 682 standard of the American Petroleum Institute is an important standard for all mechanical seals and supply systems. Introduced in 1994, the standard has undergone almost six years of revision. This article gives a background to the standard and an overview as to what the API 682 4th Edition will offer. Nearly six years of intensive work went into the current update of the API 682 mechanical seal standard, due to be released in September. Since its introduction in the last quarter of 1994, API 682 has become 'the' standard that sets the global tone for the procurement and operation of seal and supply systems for centrifugal pumps in the oil and gas sector as well as in (petro)chemistry. API 682 is a 'living' standard that directly incorporates diverse practical experience in its regular updates. Founded in 1919 and located in Washington DC, the American Petroleum Institute (API), which includes close to 500 companies from the oil and gas sector as well as the petrochemical industry, has intensively occupied itself with technical standards since 1924. To this day, API has adopted roughly 500 standards that address the most diverse processes and components in detail and which ultimately ensure a maximum of operating and process reliability. API standards, which are clearly defined and partly attached to approval tests, do not take effect only in the US. In many cases, they have developed into worldwide industrial standards. API is often considered a synonym for safety and reliability.