Though the mechanical seals are being used in centrifugal pumps for more than eight decades now, they are still a ‘lesser known’ element of the pump. Moreover, there has been almost negligible change happened in their design.
Despite the fact that seals play a crucial role in the proper functioning of the pump, several aspects of mechanical seals are unknown to the people.
This blog explains top five things that everyone who uses mechanical seals should know. These tips will enhance the knowledge of users and help in getting the best performance.
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Mechanical seals are prone to wear and tear
A hydrodynamic lubricating film separates the two sealing faces of the seal. It provides the leakage path.
In principle, the seal should last forever. However, we all know that it is impossible.
When the film collapses, and the faces of the seal come into contact during the stopping and starting condition, wear and tear occur.
Sometimes, the wear gets accelerated due to abrasives get trapped between the faces.
Process upset conditions also cause wear and tear.
All these aspects must be known to a mechanical seal user.
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Mechanical seals require lubrication
The design of a mechanical seal is quite simple. It has two parallel faces that slide past each other. A hydrodynamic film keeps them apart by providing lubrication when the seal operates.
If sufficient lubrication is not obtained, then the lubricating fluid is supplied from outside. To form the thin film, it is essential that the two faces are perfectly parallel to each other.
When the two faces don’t remain perfectly parallel, then the lubricating film collapses, and excessive wear happens. It results in damaging the seals eventually.
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Even when the seal is alright, it fails
There are situations when there is no problem in the working of a mechanical seal. Still, due to the heavy use, the lubrication or parallelism gets disturbed, and wear and tear happen.
It happens due to some external reason and not because of a problem in the seal itself. For example, excess pressure or temperature against the seal due to some process upset may damage the seal.
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It is not possible to prevent seal failure
There has been an improvement in the seal design, but still, it is impossible to avoid seal failure completely.
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It is essential that the seal operates within design limits
There are design limits specified by the pump manufacturers in the process manual. It is essential to operate the seals within those design limits.
Leak-Pack is ISO 9001:2008 certified company and one of the best mechanical seals suppliers, manufacturers and exporters 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.
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