Mechanical seals are available in various configurations. Each variant has some pros and cons. However, if you rate them in popularity, then component mechanical seals and cartridge mechanical seals take the top positions.
What is a cartridge seal?
A cartridge-type mechanical seal is a pre-assembled package of seal components. Therefore, its installation is very easy.
The elements of a cartridge seal are:
- Gland
- Sleeve
- Seal faces (2 or 4)
- Energizing force source (single spring, multiple springs, metal bellows, or elastomer)
- Lock collar
While choosing a mechanical seal type, the following parameters need to be considered:
- Cost of installation
- Long-term running costs
- Characteristics of the pump
- Anticipated operational conditions, such as heat, vibration, and pressure.
These factors will determine whether a component seal is preferable to a cartridge seal.
Benefits of cartridge seal
Since a cartridge mechanical seal is a completely enclosed seal system with preassembled components, it brings several advantages.
- It is easy to install. You don’t need any specialists.
- Since it has a pre-assembled seal with fixed axial settings, the functional security is high.
- There are no measuring errors.
- There is no possibility of axial misplacement and resulting seal performance issues
- Prevents dirt entry
- No damage to seal faces
- Reduced installation cost, time, and maintenance.
- Reduction in the degree of pump disassembly for seal replacement
- Easily repairable cartridges
- Protection of shaft sleeve and customer shaft
When using cartridge seals, it is important to ensure that the unit is in good operating condition. Thus, you can ensure minimize any future problems, such as a leak after the seal installation.
It is also important to check whether the bearings are within tolerance or not. The shaft should be straight, and the impeller has to be balanced. And most importantly, cartridge seals offer a level of standardization regardless of the type of OEM machine is being sealed. There is no drop-off in seal performance when switching from a conventional seal to a cartridge seal.
Cartridge mechanical seals have preset spring tensions. To hold the rotating and stationary elements in alignment, a retaining device is used during the installation process.
Most of the times, a cartridge mechanical seal cannot be installed on the wet side of a pump’s seal chamber, behind the impeller. It is generally incompatible with submersible pumps because of this reason only.
The cost of cartridge seals can be double or triple more than component seals. However, it requires lower labor costs and less production lost from seal replacement.
Leak-Pack is ISO 9001:2008 certified company and one of the best mechanical seals manufacturers, exporters and suppliers in India, providing solutions to all types of leakages by manufacturing Mechanical Seals and Sealing Components as per customer’s drawings, samples or requirements. To know more about Mechanical Seal call on +91-(2739) 271592 or email at info@leakpack.com.
Also Read:
Cartridge Seals: The Modern Option to Conventional Seal Choices
Component vs. Cartridge Mechanical Seals – What’s the Difference?