2.mechanical Seals

TYPICAL END SECTION PUMP
Front End view of Pump.
Typical Stuffing box with Compression Packing
Impeller
Compression Packing
Packing Pusher
(Gland Packing)
(Gland)
Stuffing Box
Fastner
DISADVANTAGE OF PACKING.
Power Consumption is high. The Ratio of
Power Consumption of Mechanical Seal to
Compression is 1:8
Leakage is very high and unpredictable.
Varies with the compression on the packing.
The Ratio of Leakage of Mechanical seal to
compression Packing is 1:600
No automatic wear compensation.
Fretting on Sleeve or Shaft.
Typical Mechanical Seal & Leakage Path.

1. Gland to Pump face- Sealed with a
Gasket.
2.Over the top

of the sealORing
3. Along
the Shaft
Rotary
4. Under the Rotary seal face
Stationary
5. BETWEEN
THE SEAL
FACES
Stuffing Box Pressure

The pressure acting on the stuffing box which must be sealed.
IT IS A FUNCTION OF PUMP IMPELLER DESIGN AND THE
PRESENCE OR CONDITION OF WEAR RINGS.
Impeller design and Stuffing box pressure
Back vanes - Open impeller

Suction + 25% of differential = Stuffing box pressure
Balance Holes - Closed impeller

Suction + 10% of differential = Stuffing box pressure
Double Suction (Generally Horizontal split case pumps)

Suction pressure = stuffing box pressure
Viscosity
Generally the higher the viscosity, the better the
lubricating characteristics
A product with a viscosity of 20,000 SSU (5000 cp) can be
sealed with standard seals
Beyond 5000 cp, the drive unit has to be beefed up to
compensate for the increased shear occurring at the sealing
faces.
For high viscous applications:
Single seal with Jacketed Stuffing box / external flush
Double seal with external flush

The viscosity & lubricity decrease with increased temperature.
For Water above 82C (viscosity 0.35 cp) seal faces can contact
each other and wear rapidly, unless specially designed
Specific Gravity
Specific Gravity = Density of a substance
Density of Water at 4C
Specific gravity is used to estimate the lubricity of

light hydrocarbons
Specific gravity below 0.68 (Heptane), require one

face as carbon and special seal face design with higher
balance to contain fugitive emissions
Vapour Pressure
THE PRESSURE AT WHICH A LIQUID WILL FLASH INTO
VAPOUR AT GIVEN TEMPERATURE
If seal generated heat causes the sealing liquid to boil in

seal chamber pressure, the liquid film between the seal
faces will vaporize.
Solution :
Increase seal chamber pressure with proper bypass
flush line and throat restriction device.
Cooling the seal chamber. Seal chamber should be
kept at least 15C below the boiling point of the
product at the seal chamber pressure
Cavitation
If the drop in pressure created at the suction side of the pump is
below than the vapour pressure for the temp of the liquid being
pumped, then vapour will be drawn from the liquid in this area.
A vapour Bubbles formed will travel along the vanes of the
impeller and reach the high energy region of the tip of the
impeller and burst. This process of the formation and
subsequent collapse of vapour bubbles in a pump is called
cavitation.
PUMP CAVITATION CAN CAUSE:
Failure of pump housing
Destruction of impeller
Premature failure of Seal
Excessive Vibration- leading to premature bearing failure
Higher power consumption
Decreased flow and/or pressure
Effect of Cavitation
DAMAGES TO PUMP CAN BE
* Pitting of impeller vanes and pump volute
* Short bearing life and heavy loading
*Shaft breakage and other fatigue failures in the pump
*Higher Power consumption

DAMAGES TO MECHANICAL SEALS CAN BE
Short seal life

Worn pins and pin slots
Broken springs
Shaft fretting
Chipping of carbon faces
High speed video shows that seal face temperature excursions

occurred when gases were drawn across the seal faces and by
the formation of gas bubbles in the seal chamber near the seal
faces during pump cavitation.
Seal Performance during cavitation :
Zones
Normal Pump
Operation
Pump Cavitation
Mode
Seal chamber
temperature (C)
65
65
Shaft sleeve
vibration, mils p-p
1.9
2 to 8.4
Seal face
vibration, mils p-p
<2.0
13 to 35
Seal face
temperature ( C )
67 to 74
166 to 427
VIBRATION
WHAT IS VIBRATION ?
Vibration is simply the motion of a machine or
machine part back and forth from it's position
of rest.
It is natural for all machines to Vibrate.
Machinery vibration levels just do not increase
or become excessive for no reason at all.
What Causes Vibration ?

Cavitation
Unbalance of Rotor
Misalignment between Driver & Driven Equipment
Bent shaft
Worn, eccentric or damaged gears
Bad drive belts and drive chains
Bad bearings - anti-friction type
Torque variations
Electromagnetic forces
Aerodynamic forces
Hydraulic forces
Looseness
Rubbing
Resonance
What is Vibration Analysis ?

Vibration Analysis is a two step process involving
the AQUISITION and INTERPRETATION of
machinery vibration data.
It's purpose is to determine the mechanical
condition of a machine, and pinpoint any specfic
mechanical or operational problems.
Schedule of Measurement
Routine periodic checks

Baseline measurements
Pre and Post overhaul (repair) checks
Machine trouble shooting
Nomenclature of a Typical Seal

Drive Pins
Set Screw
Springs
Collar
Gland Ring
Insert
Mounting
Compression Ring
Spring Pins
Mating Ring /
Insert
Compression Unit
Dynamic
Packing
Rotary Seal Face

Gland Gasket
EFFECT OF PRESSURE ON SEAL
BALANCED SEAL DESIGN
TYPES OF SEALS
Based on mounting
Outside seal
(Single seal
Inside seal
Based on arrangement
Single seal
Double seal
Tandem seal
Dry running seal
High pr seal
Based on design
Unbalanced
Balanced
Pusher type
(spring design)
Single coil
spring
Multi
spring
Special seal
Based on construction
Gas seal
Slurry seal
Custom built seal

Bellow design
Rotary
bellow
Teflon bellow
Metal bellow
Stationary
bellow
Elostamar
bellow
Single Out Side Seal
Single Out Side Balanced seal
METAL BELLOW SEAL
MATERIALS OF CONSTRUCTION
Seal Hardware Materials.

300 Series Stainless Steel like SS 316, SS 316L
400 Series Stainless Steel like SS 410
Duplex Stainless Steel

Alloy 20
Hastalloy B & C
Monel
Inconel
Nickel
Titanium
SEAL FACE MATERIALS

Characteristic of Seal Face Material
Low coefficient of friction
Sliding and dry running capacity
Excellent Wear /Abrasion resistance
Chemical Resistance
High modulus of Elasticity
Good Hardness
Low co-efficient of Thermal Expansion.
Resistance to Thermal Shock
Dimensional stability and Ease of Machinability
Seal Face Materials
CARBON :
Resin Impregnated Carbon

Antimony Impregnated Carbon
Anti Blistering carbon
TUNGSTEN CARBIDE
Seal Face Materials -- cont

SILICON CARBIDE
Silicon Carbide
Reaction Bonded Silicon Carbide.
It is produced by infiltrating compacts made of Silicon
carbide and Carbon with liquid silicon metal. Ideal seal
face will have 8 12 % of free silicon and of fine grain
material. High P-V Limit
Alpha Sintered Silicon Carbide
This is produced from pure Silicon carbide with nonoxide sintering aids. Its a homogeneous material, and
since there is no free Silicon it is the best suited for any
known chemicals. The limitation is its P-V limit, and
most brittle in nature.
GENERALLY USED OTHER SEAL FACE MATERIALS
Welded Stellite face on Metal body
Pure Ceramic 99.5% Aluminum Oxide

Chrome Oxide coating on Metal Ring
Leaded or Phosphorous Bronze
Solid Cast Ring

Glass Filled Teflon
SECONDARY SEALS
Neoprene
Buna-N or Nitrile
Temp. - 40 to 100
EPR / EPT (Ethylene-Propylene)
FKM Viton
Co polymer of vinylidene fluoride and hexafluoropropylene-18 to 210
PTFE Teflon Polytetrafluoroethylene
-70 to 175
FFKM KALREZ
Tetrafluoroethylene and perfluoromethyl/vinyl/ether
GF Teflon / Encapsulated Orings

Pure Graphite
-250 to 400/450
-18 to 350
Environmental Control
Environmental control is a key factor for the
proper functioning of Mechanical seal.
(I.e) flushing / quenching / Cooling or heating
/ Jacketing / etc.,

2.mechanical Seals

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TYPICAL END SECTION PUMP

Front End view of Pump.

Typical Stuffing box with Compression Packing

Typical Mechanical Seal & Leakage Path.

2.Over the top

4. Under the Rotary seal face

Stuffing Box Pressure

Back vanes - Open impeller

Balance Holes - Closed impeller

Double Suction (Generally Horizontal split case pumps)

Double seal with external flush

Specific gravity is used to estimate the lubricity of

Specific gravity below 0.68 (Heptane), require one

If seal generated heat causes the sealing liquid to boil in

*Higher Power consumption

Short seal life

High speed video shows that seal face temperature excursions

What Causes Vibration ?

What is Vibration Analysis ?

Routine periodic checks

Nomenclature of a Typical Seal

Rotary Seal Face

EFFECT OF PRESSURE ON SEAL

BALANCED SEAL DESIGN

Dry running seal

Custom built seal

Single Out Side Seal

Single Out Side Balanced seal

METAL BELLOW SEAL

Seal Hardware Materials.

Duplex Stainless Steel

SEAL FACE MATERIALS

Low coefficient of friction

Sliding and dry running capacity

Excellent Wear /Abrasion resistance

High modulus of Elasticity

Low co-efficient of Thermal Expansion.

Resistance to Thermal Shock

Dimensional stability and Ease of Machinability

Seal Face Materials

Resin Impregnated Carbon

Seal Face Materials -- cont

GENERALLY USED OTHER SEAL FACE MATERIALS

Welded Stellite face on Metal body

Pure Ceramic 99.5% Aluminum Oxide

Solid Cast Ring

GF Teflon / Encapsulated Orings

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