Use of Gland packing and Mechanical seals
Technology is ever-changing. What you think the latest gets outdated after some time. In the field of mechanical seals also there has been a big change in the past few decades.
The technology has evolved, and we have various sealing solutions for pumps and agitators. Mechanical seals offer several operational benefits, and therefore, they are a vital part of a pump.
As far as the most popular types of seals are concerned, gland packing and mechanical seals are the default sealing methods preferred by engineers for years.
If you do not know about their benefits and limitations, then you should read this blog. It talks about their fundamental differences in an interesting way.
How are they different?
Gland packing seals have been a widely used sealing choice for several years. In these seals, there is a rope-like material. It is wrapped around the shaft of a pump. It fills the dead space and prevents the loss of fluid.
As the seal gets old and wears happens, the loss of fluid increases. Thus, regular lubrication may get impaired.
In various diverse applications, mechanical seals are preferred over conventional packing seals. Why? It is because they are more durable, and they are sturdy enough to bear the operational load. In a basic mechanical seal, there are several sealing points. Therefore, the possibility of leakage issues gets minimized.
One of the two sealing points is fixed and the other one moves with the shaft. As the lapped faces collapse, the leakage of the fluid can be stopped by using a wedge, O-ring, or V-ring.
When to use packing seal?
As mentioned earlier, these seals are cost-effective, they are widely used even today. They are easy to install. You need not decouple the driveshaft to install. Therefore, the installation happens fast.
When there is a large radial movement in the pump, there is a high probability of it getting misaligned. Packing seals can easily adapt to the environment and keep the integrity of the pump.
A mechanical seal is ideal in a condition where you need stability, reliability, and long-term operation. They are costlier than mechanical seals, but the overall benefit is much higher.
Mechanical seals are the ideal choice when seal leakage is not an option for equipment or applications. This is usually the case when pump leakage can cause environmental or safety issues. They are considered best for minimizing sleeve damage.
Both options have plus and minus points. You can choose based on your needs.
Leak-Pack is ISO 9001:2008 certified company and leading mechanical seals manufacturer & supplier 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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