SEALING FUNDAMENTAL

‘BASIC’

CONFIDENTIAL
 Centrifugal Pump Parts
Discharge Stuffing Box
Impeller
(Seal Chamber)

Vanes

Suction

Gland Packing or Bearings Coupling

Mechanical Seal

CONFIDENTIAL 2
 Mechanical Seal Principles
Why the need for a mechanical seal?

CONFIDENTIAL
 The Basic Sealing Problem:
Preventing Leakage

Vessel Atmosphere
Wall

Shaft

Process
Fluid Leakage

CONFIDENTIAL
 Solution : Gland Packing
Pump
Housing
Atmosphere

Impeller Packing

Shaft

Leakage
Process
Fluid

CONFIDENTIAL
 Packing: Common
Components

Stuffing Box
Impeller

Gland

Shaft

Rings of Packing

CONFIDENTIAL 7
 Packing

Pumped Atmosphere
Liquid
Housing
Begin at
Bottom/Bushing Face 60 drops
Impeller

per minute
Gland

Cooling and Lubrication

Proper installation is crucial for

maximum effectiveness

CONFIDENTIAL 8
 Packing

Lantern Ring Connection

Impeller

Shaft

Lantern ring installed between packing rings

CONFIDENTIAL 9
 Packing
Pumped
Liquid
Impeller

Excessive
leakage

Abrasion

Improper installation can damage pump

shaft or sleeve and will reduce effectiveness

CONFIDENTIAL
 Packing

Flush Injection
Pumped Blocked
Liquid
Impeller

Excessive
leakage

Shaft & Stuffing Box

Abrasion

Again, improper installation can damage the

pump and reduce sealing effectiveness

CONFIDENTIAL 11
 Common Packing Disadvantages :
 Is not a seal but rather a restricting device. Requires
leakage or it will burn.
 Will groove and wear shafts and sleeves.
 High horsepower load to overcome friction.
 Product loss.
 Requires large amounts of water.
 Requires maintenance time and downtime for installations
and packing adjustments.
 Equipment damaged and destroyed from leakage.

CONFIDENTIAL
 Packing to Mechanical Seals ??
 Will seal with invisible leakage. On difficult applications the
leakage ratio between seals and packing is 1 to 100 or
better.
 Seals have been known to run 3 to 10 years without
failure.
 Monetary savings from little to no product loss, water
savings and energy savings .
 Little maintenance required after initial installation.
 Seals offer better safety when sealing potentially
hazardous materials.

CONFIDENTIAL
 Solutions :‘ End Face’ Mech. Seal

Environment Vessel
Wall

Shaft
Shaft

Process
Fluid
Leakage

CONFIDENTIAL
 Required Features

Vessel
Wall
Shaft Movement

Shaft
Shaft

Process
Fluid

CONFIDENTIAL
 Required Features

Vessel
Wall
Shaft Movement

Shaft
Shaft

Process
Fluid

CONFIDENTIAL
 Required Features

Vessel
Wall
Shaft Movement

Need Self Adjusting Face

Shaft

Process
Fluid

CONFIDENTIAL
 Desired Features of a Seal
 Safely
 Long Life
 Low Leakage
 Easy Maintenance

CONFIDENTIAL
 Improve to A Flexible Seal
• Hydrostatic Loading
• Secondary Sealing Elements
• Replaceable Parts

Mating
Ring

Primary Ring Secondary Sealing Element

CONFIDENTIAL
 Example of a Complete Seal
Primary Ring
Snap Ring
Anti-X Ring
O-Ring
O-Ring
Disc
Springs
Retainer
Set Screw Gland Mating Ring

Shaft

CONFIDENTIAL
 5 Elements Of A Mech. Seal
1. Primary sealing elements

2. Secondary sealing elements

3. Drive elements

4. Load elements

5. Adaptive hardware elements

CONFIDENTIAL 21
 The Sealing Interface
Control life & leakage

 Shape:
Converging Parallel Diverging

 Gap:
Face Separation

 Fluid:

Non-flashing Flashing

CONFIDENTIAL
 Heavy Outside Diameter Contact

Possible
Edge Chipping

Rotation Due to
Pressure

Heavy to Light Contact

Moderate Contact

6
CONFIDENTIAL 23
 Heavy Inside Diameter Contact

Possible
Chipping

Rotation Due to
High Temperature

Light Heavy to
Contact Moderate Contact

7 8

CONFIDENTIAL 24
 The Sealing Interface
• Lubrication Purpose: Separation
– Separate surfaces

Magnified Surface B

Magnified Surface A
– Prevent contact of high surface
points

Lubricant
– Reduce friction/heat generation

Heat

CONFIDENTIAL
 Process Fluid Acts as
Lubricant Between Faces

Pump Housing Gland

Process Fluid

Primary Ring Mating Ring

Invisible Leakage:
Fluid Evaporates Upon Reaching Atmosphere

CONFIDENTIAL
 Without Lubrication,
Faces Run Dry And Overheat
Pump Housing
Gland
No Fluid Or Dry Running

Primary Ring Mating Ring

CONFIDENTIAL
 Heat Generation
 Rubbing
 Viscous Shear

Mating Ring
Primary Ring

CONFIDENTIAL
 Heat Transfer
 Conduction
 Convection

CONFIDENTIAL
 Flushing
 Removes Heat
 Replenishes Cool Clean Lubricating Liquid
Injection

CONFIDENTIAL
 Primary Seal: Flush
Single Seal Flushing By - Pass from Discharge (API Plan 11)
Discharge
By- pass Line from
Pump Discharge
to Seal Gland
Flow

Suction

CONFIDENTIAL
 Primary Seal: Flush
Single Seal Flushing from External Source (API Plan 32)

Discharge

Flow

A
Minimum Pressure
0.3 bar / 5 psi
Above “A”

Suction

Restriction Device
(Bushing)

CONFIDENTIAL
 Primary Seal: Quench
Single Seal Quench from External Source (API Plan 62)

Quench Source

Process Fluid

Restrictional Device (Packing)

CONFIDENTIAL
 Classification of Mechanical Seals
Sealing System

Auxiliary Equipment Seal Assembly

Seals Adaptive Hardware

Design Arrangement/Type

Balance ratio Type

Face pattern Single
Springs Multiple
Secondary seals
Drive

CONFIDENTIAL
 Classification of Seals

Mechanical Seals

Design Features Arrangements/Types

Arrangements

CONFIDENTIAL
 Design Features
 Balance Ratio

 Face Pattern

 Springs

 Secondary Sealing Element Type

 Drive Mechanism

CONFIDENTIAL
 Design Features
• Balance Ratio

Balance ratio is used to control the face load.

Closing Force Opening Force

CONFIDENTIAL
 Design Features
• Balance Ratio
Balance ratio is the ratio of the closing area
to the opening area.

A A
o
c

Closing Area
Balance Ratio =
Opening Area

CONFIDENTIAL
 Design Features
• Balance Ratio
An Unbalanced Seal

A A
c Fc o

CONFIDENTIAL
 Design Features
• Balance Ratio
A Balanced Seal

Ac Ao

CONFIDENTIAL
 Design Features
• Balance Ratio
Metal bellows seals are “inherently” balanced at low
pressures. Balance ratio increases at higher pressures.

Balance Ratio < 1

Zero Pressure
Balance Line

CONFIDENTIAL
 Design Features
• Face Pattern
Most seals have faces that are plain (no pattern) and
are lapped flat.

Primary Ring
Mating
Ring

Cross Section Face View

CONFIDENTIAL
 Design Features
• Face Pattern

Plain, Flat Hydropads

Plain, Tapered Spiral Grooves

CONFIDENTIAL
 Design Features

• Springs

 Provide The Initial Closing Force

 Are Very Important At Low Pressures

 Are Not So Important At High Pressures

CONFIDENTIAL
 Design Features

• Springs

 Single

 Multiple

 Bellows

 Wave

CONFIDENTIAL
 Design Features
• Springs
– High Speed Seals Use Stationary Springs
(5000 ft/min Typical Break Point)

CONFIDENTIAL
 Design Features
• Secondary Sealing Element
 Static
 Dynamic

CONFIDENTIAL
 Mating Ring / Seat Designs
O-Ring L-Nonpinned

Square Cup Mounted

Section

L-Pinned Clamped-in

CONFIDENTIAL
 Mating Ring / Seat Materials
 Ni-Resist

 Ceramic

 Tungsten Carbide

 Silicon Carbide

CONFIDENTIAL
 Design Features
• Secondary Sealing Element
– Pusher Seal

O-ring must
move axially

CONFIDENTIAL
 Design Features
• Secondary Sealing Element
– Non-Pusher Seal

Static O-Ring

CONFIDENTIAL
 Secondary Sealing Elements

Elastomeric Half Teflon Welded Metal

Bellows Convolution Bellows Bellows

V Rings U Cup Wedge Encapsulated O-Ring

O-Ring

CONFIDENTIAL
 Pusher vs. Non-Pusher
Pusher vs. Non-Pusher

O-ring secondary seal Bellows secondary seal

must slide along shaft as expands to accommodate
seal face wears face wear. Bellows tail is
stationary against shaft

CONFIDENTIAL
 Mechanical Seals
SEAL TREE
Pusher Non-Pusher

Contacting Non-Contacting Contacting Non-Contacting

O-Ring O-Ring Metal Bellows Metal Bellows

Type 8-1, 8B-1, 81-T Type 28AT Type 609, 604 Type 285, 2800MB
Type 48 Type 28ST Type 670, 680
Type 5610, 5620 Type 2800, 2800E, Type 5615, 5625
Type 3710 2800SS, 2800HP, 2800EX Type EZ-1
Type SE1, SE2 Type GL1B
Type FFET
Type RRAL/RREL Elastomer Bellows
Type 1&2
PTFE Wedge Type 21
Type 9, 9T, 9B Type 5611
Type 6, 6A, 11
Type 37FS

PTFE Bellows
Type 20
Type 20R
CONFIDENTIAL 60
 Gasket Materials
 Virgin PTFE
17.7°C to 260°C / 0°F to 500°F

 Spiral Wound
-212°C to 399°C / -350°F to 750°F

 Glass Filled PTFE

-268°C to 260°C / -450°F to 500°F

 Crane-foil®
-17.7°C to 399°C / 0°F to 750°F

 Reinforced Fiber
to 399°C / 750°F

Crane-foil is a registered trademark of John Crane.

CONFIDENTIAL
 Secondary Sealing Elements
287°C / 287°C /
600°F 550°F 550°F 316°C
204°C / 204°C /
400°F 400°F
400°F 149°C / 204°C
121°C / 300°F
250°F

200°F 93°C

0 -18°C
-29°C / -20°F -29°C / -20°F
-54°C / -45°C / -50°F -40°C / -40°F
-65°F
-200°F -129°C

-400°F -212°C / -350°F -240°C

Buna-N EPDM Viton® Kalrez® Aflas® PTFE

Viton & Kalrez are registered trademarks of DuPont. Aflas is a registered trademark of Asahi Glass Co. Ltd.

CONFIDENTIAL
 Design Features
• Drive Mechanism
 Must Transmit Torque

 Must Allow Axial Movement (Primary Ring)

CONFIDENTIAL
 Types of Drive Mechanisms

Dent Drive Key Drive Set Screw Drive

Pin Drive Snap Ring Drive Slot and Ear

Elastomer Drive Spring Drive

CONFIDENTIAL
 Classification of Seals

Mechanical Seals

Design Features Arrangements/Types

Arrangements

CONFIDENTIAL
 Seal Arrangements
 Single
 Inside Mounted
 Outside Mounted

 Multiple
 Pressurized
 Un-Pressurized

CONFIDENTIAL
 Seal Arrangements
 Single
 Inside Mounted

CONFIDENTIAL
 Arrangements
 Single
 Outside Mounted

CONFIDENTIAL
 Single Seal Arrangement
Gland

Inside Pump Housing

Mounted Mating
Atmosphere
Process Fluid Seal Head Ring

Shaft

Gland

Outside Pump Housing

Atmosphere
Mounted Mating
Process Fluid Ring Seal Head

Shaft

CONFIDENTIAL
 Arrangements
Rotating Head and Rotating Seat
Rotating Head Rotating Seat

Seal Head Seat Seat Seal Head

{

{
{

{
Rotating Stationary Rotating Stationary

Advantages Advantages
 Less Radial & Axial Space Requirements  Higher Speed Capability
 Lower Cost  Tolerates Misalignment Better
 Better Cooling
Use Rotating Head Assemblies up to:
 3500 fpm for Single Spring Designs
 5000 fpm for Multiple Spring Designs

CONFIDENTIAL
 Seal Arrangements

 Multiple

 Un-Pressurized

 Pressurized

CONFIDENTIAL
 Multiple Seal Arrangements
Classical “Tandem”

Process seal Buffer fluid seal

Classical “Double”

Process seal Barrier fluid seal

CONFIDENTIAL
 Multiple Seal Arrangements

Unpressurized
(Tandem)
Pressure

Process
Buffer Atmosphere

CONFIDENTIAL
 Multiple Seal Arrangements
Dual Unpressurized: P1 > P2
Buffer Fluid

Atm
P2
P1

Process Buffer Atmosphere

CONFIDENTIAL 74
 Multiple Seal Arrangements

Pressurized
(Double)
Pressure

Barrier
Process
Atmosphere

CONFIDENTIAL
 Multiple Seal Arrangements
Dual Pressurized P2 > P1
Barrier Fluid

Atm
P2
P1

Process Barrier Atmosphere

CONFIDENTIAL 76
 Type 1 Elastomer Bellows Seal
 Temperature: -40°C to 205°C/-40°F to 400°F
 Pressure: 29 bar g/425 psig

Set Screw
Collar Option

CONFIDENTIAL
 Type 1 Design Features
 Mechanical Drive

 Self-Aligning

 Special Balancing

 Non-Clogging, Single Drive Spring

 Low Drive Torque

CONFIDENTIAL
 Type 2 Elastomer Bellows Seal
 Temperature: -40°C to 205°C/-40°F to 400°F
 Pressure: 29 bar g/425 psig
 Speed: To 6000 rpm

Set Screw
Collar Option

CONFIDENTIAL
 Type 2 Design Features
 Full Convolution Elastomer Bellows

 Positive Mechanical Drive

 Inherently Pressure Balanced

 Non-Clogging, Single Coil Spring

 Self-Aligning Face

CONFIDENTIAL
 Type 8 Elastomer O-Ring Seal
 Temperature: -40°C to 205°C/-40°F to 400°F
 Pressure: 24 bar g /350 psig
 Speed: 25 m/s / 5000 fpm

CONFIDENTIAL
 Type 8 Design Features
 Highly Versatile O-Ring Design

 Mechanical Dent Drive Design

 Compact Design

 Easily Repaired on Site

 Balanced Version Accommodates High Pressure

CONFIDENTIAL
 Type 9 PTFE Wedge Seal
 Temperature: -212°C to 400°C/-350°F to 750°F
 Pressure: 24 bar g/350 psig
 Speed: 25 m/s / 5000 fpm

CONFIDENTIAL
 Type 9 Design Features
 Wedge Sealing Member
for Corrosive Fluids

 Compact Design

 Mechanical Dent Drive Design

 Precision Lapped Sealing Faces

 Easily Repaired on Site

 Balanced Design Accommodates High Pressures

CONFIDENTIAL
 Type 20 PTFE Bellows Seal
 Temperature: -45°C to 121°C/-50°F to 250°F
 Pressure: 10 bar g/150 psig
 Speed: 5 m/s / 1000 fpm

CONFIDENTIAL
 Type 20 Design Features
 No Metallic Components in Contact with Process Fluid

 Flexible PTFE Bellows Design for Extremely Corrosive

Fluids

 Independent Spring Assembly

 Replaceable Primary Ring

 Multiple Spring Design Standard

CONFIDENTIAL
 Type 21 Elastomer Bellows
Seal
 Temperature: -40°C to 205°C/-40°F to 400°F
 Pressure: 10 bar g/150 psig
 Speed: 13 m/s / 2500 fpm

Alternate Methods

CONFIDENTIAL
 Type 21 Design Features
 Non-Clogging, Single Coil Spring

 Positive Mechanical Drive

 Lapped Sealing Faces

 Stainless Steel Construction

 Automatically Adjusts Seals Faces

 Elastomer Bellows Convolution

CONFIDENTIAL
 Classification of Seal Failures

 Installation

 Machinery/Equipment Design and Operation

 Seal Design and Operation

CONFIDENTIAL
 Failures of Seal Components

 Seal Faces

 Loss of Flexibility

 Secondary Sealing Elements

 Material Compatibility

CONFIDENTIAL
 Failures of Seal Components
 Seal Faces

New

Worn

CONFIDENTIAL
 Failures of Seal Components
 Seal Faces

CONFIDENTIAL
 Failures of Seal Components
 Loss of Flexibility

Leakage decomposes
or solidifies and locks
primary ring in place

CONFIDENTIAL
 Failures of Seal Components
 Secondary Sealing Elements
 Cuts,

 Overheated,

 or compatibility with fluid

CONFIDENTIAL
 Failures of Seal Components
 Material Compatibility
 Corrosion

 Wear

CONFIDENTIAL
 Modern Mechanical Seals
 Minimize or Prevent Leakage
 Better performance than older designs
 Can meet local and federal requirements (emission)

 Reliable
 Economical
 Evolving
 Materials
 Arrangements
 Testing

CONFIDENTIAL
 No Seal Can Handle
All Applications

Part 2
CONFIDENTIAL