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Std-125 - INSPECTION OF MECHANICAL SEALS
Std-125 - INSPECTION OF MECHANICAL SEALS
Std-125 - INSPECTION OF MECHANICAL SEALS
Amended edition
FOR RESTRICTED
CIRCULATION
NO.
FOR RESTRICTED
CIRCULATION
NO.
Prepared by
SECTION
1.0 Introduction
2.0 Scope
3.0 Types of Mechanical Seals
3.1 Single Balanced Type
3.2 Double Mechanical Seal
4.0 Installation of Mechanical Seal
4.1 Lateral or Axial Movement of Shaft
4.2 Radial Movement of Shaft
4.3 Shaft Run Out
4.4 Stuffing Box Squareness
4.5 Concentricity of Stuffing Box
8.0 References
Appendix I
Selection of Mechanical Seals
INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE OF MECHANICAL SEALS
Mechanical seals have been a constant source Double mechanical seals are arranged back to
of failure of pumps in the oil industry. back and a barrier of buffer fluid is used at a
Breakdown of seals has even led to major fires. pressure of 1kg/sq. cm. above stuffing
These comprehensive guidelines for inspection pressure.
and maintenance of mechanical seals have
been drawn up in the context of the above. Seal flushing plans for single seals, double
seals and tandem seals should be as per plans
shown in Table 1.
2.0 SCOPE
4.0 INSTALLATION OF
This section covers the inspection and
maintenance requirements for safe working of MECHANICAL SEALS
mechanical seals installed in various types of
pumps in oil industry. The following checks should be carried out on
the equipment prior to seal installation.
3.0 TYPES OF MECHANICAL 4.1 LATERAL OR AXIAL MOVEMENT OF
SEALS SHAFT
These are the recommended type of The total indicated axial movement of shaft
mechanical seals for use in oil industries. should be held between .001” & .004”. A
mechanical seal cannot function satisfactorily
3.1 SINGLE BALANCED TYPE with a great amount of endplay and can cause
sealing problems due to the following reasons:
This type of seal essentially consists of a
satisfactory face with its insert packing and the a) Excessive end play resulting in the shaft
rotary unit. This type of seal is normally floating can cause pitting, fretting or wear at
internally mounted. Flushing arrangements the point of contact between the shaft
used vary from seal to seal and can be selected packing in the mechanical seal and the
from Appendix I depending upon the shaft or sleeve O.D.
requirement.
b) As the mechanical seal driving element is
locked to the shaft or sleeve, any excessive
3.2 DOUBLE MECHANICAL SEAL
end play or lateral movement will result in
overloading or underloading the springs,
Double mechanical seal arrangement should be
causing excessive wear and seal leakage.
used where a buffer zone is required between
pumpage and atmosphere. Liquids in this
c) A floating shaft can cause chattering, which
category are mainly toxic, volatile, hazardous
results in chipping of the seal faces,
and abrasive fluids. Double mechanical seals
especially the carbon element.
can be arranged in tandem or back to back.
d) Ideal mechanical seal performance
a) Tandem Arrangement
requires a minimum of wear pattern and the
maintenance of a liquid film between the
When two seals are arranged facing in the
mating contact faces. Excessive end play
same direction then the mechanical seal
reduces seal life and performance by
arrangement is called tandem seal
disturbing both the established wear pattern
arrangement. In tandem mechanical seal the
and lubricating film between the contact
outer seal is flushed with a compatible fluid at
faces.
lower pressure than the stuffing box pressure.
4.2 RADIAL MOVEMENT OF SHAFT
Inner mechanical seal always takes high
(Whip or Deflection)
pressure, but the outer mechanical seal must
also be able to withstand full pressure in the
The radial movement of the shaft (Whip or
event of inner mechanical seal failure.
deflection) should be measured keeping the
dial indicator as close to the radial bearing as
possible. The reading should be less than mechanical seal shaft packing at the point
.003”. of contact with the shaft or sleeve.
Excessive radial movement can cause wear, b) A seal that is wobbling on the shaft can also
fretting or pitting of the shaft packing or cause wear of the drive pins. Erratic face
secondary sealing element at the point of contact causes poor seal performance and
contact between the shaft packing and sleeve life.
OD.
4.5 CONCENTRICITY OF STUFFING BOX
Excessive wear at the mating contact faces will
occur when excessive shaft whip or deflection The concentricity of the stuffing box should be
is present, due to defective radial bearings or checked since the eccentricity alters the
bearing fits. The contact area of the mating hydraulic loading of seal faces, reducing seal
faces will be increased resulting in increased life and performance.
wear and the elimination or reduction of the
lubricating film between the faces further Using the same dial indicator set up for
reducing seal life. checking stuffing box face squareness, place
the indicator stem well into the bore of the
This should be measured in the following stuffing box. The stuffing box should be
manner: concentric to the shaft axis to within a .005”
total indicator reading.
Install the dial indicator so that the stem
touches against the shaft as close to the radial
5.0 INSPECTION OF SEAL
bearing (back pull out type) as possible. Lift the
shaft or exert light pressure at the impeller end. COMPONENTS PRIOR TO
Reading on dial indicator gives the radial shaft INSTALLATION
movement. It should be less than 0.003”.
a) It should be ensured that all parts are kept
4.3 SHAFT RUN OUT (BENT SHAFT) clean, especially the running faces of the
seal ring and insert.
Check the run out of the shaft at the impeller
mounting area, sleeve bearing area, bearing b) The seal rotary unit should be checked to
mounting area and coupling end. The run out ensure that the drive pins and/or spring
should not exceed 0.003”. pins are free in the holes or slots.
A bent shaft can lead to many seal failures and c) The set screws in the rotary unit collar
poor sealing performance due to vibration and should be checked to ensure that they are
reduced life or bearings. free in the threads.
a) Liquid pumped
a) The complete seal assembly drawings and b) Criticality of the pump
instructions should be carefully studied c) Pressure being sealed by the seal
before starting installation. d) Temperature in seal area.
e) Speed at which pump is running.
b) All burrs and sharp edges should be
removed from the shaft or shaft sleeve Considering all the above points, maintenance
including sharp edges on key-ways and of mechanical seals can be classified as:
threads. Worn shaft or sleeves should be
replaced. - Preventive Maintenance
- Shutdown Maintenance
c) The stuffing’s box bore and stuffing box - Breakdown Maintenance
face should be checked to ensure that they
are clean and free of burrs. 7.2 PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE
d) The shaft or shaft sleeve should be marked No actual preventive maintenance of the seal
with various reference marks required for can be carried out since there is no access to
installation of seal as per assembly the seal but for the satisfactory working of the
drawings. seal, its auxiliary system, i.e. circulation and
quenching system has to be maintained
e) The shaft or sleeve should be oiled lightly properly. Auxiliary system will have instruments
prior to seal assembly to allow the seal and accessories like pressure gauge,
parts to move freely over it. temperature gauge, orifice, cyclone separator
or filter, flow meter and cooler. For proper
f) The rotary units should be installed on the functioning of these periodical checking and
shaft or sleeve in proper sequence. calibration should be carried out. A periodic
check of the circulation/flushing, flow rate and
g) The back of the collar should be set at the inlet temperature to seal is very important as
proper distance from the original reference failure/wide fluctuation of these may result in
mark on the shaft or sleeve. Tighten all set seal failure.
screws firmly and evenly.
Monitoring of parameters and auxiliary
h) The seal faces should be wiped clean and equipment used for different seal flushing plans
a thin oil film applied prior to completing the (as per API610) should be followed as given in
equipment assembly. the table below:
i) The Gland ring should be inserted with
insert over the shaft carefully. Complete
the equipment assembly taking care when
compressing the seal into the stuffing box.
v) Worn spot in the stationary ring: i) Elastomers should be checked for swelling,
sticking or disintegration. These are signs
When the stationary ring is carbon and the of chemical incompatibility. It can be solved
recirculation from the pump discharge impinges by using a different material.
on it, erosion can occur. In order to avoid this,
the flush line should be directed not directly at ii) Hardening of the elastomer should be
the seal, but tangential to it, that is, the flush checked.
should come in at an angle causing the fluid in
the stuffing box to circulate. iii) The elastomers should be checked for
charring, cracking and burned appearance
vi) Deep wear in the hard face: of the elastomer and changed shape i.e.
deformed Note 1 from ‘O’ ring to square.
This often occurs seals in misaligned pumps
and seals in severe abrasive service. It is The above mentioned points are all signs of
caused by face separation of large particles excessive heat. Usually, the source of heat is
between faces. These particles then embed in the face or a; metal to metal contact of two
the carbon face and grind the hard face. This parts
problem gets compounded by reuse of the
carbon face because it shows little wear. When
lapping compounds are used to lap carbon the 8.0 REFERENCES
same problem can occur. The compounds get
embedded and then grind the hard face. The following codes, standards and
publications have either been referred to or
c) Inspection of seal drive used in the preparation of this document and
the same shall be read in conjunction with this
Seal designs all use the same method to document.
transmit torque from the shaft to the rotary face.
Normally is achieved with pins, set screws and i) Centrifugal Pumps for General Refinery
lugs and in some cases with single spring. The Service
drive should be inspected for signs of wear at
the pins, drive lug, dent or spring. Worn drive ii) Manufacturer’s Manuals on Mechanical
lugs and worn drive slots normally happen due seals.
to the sticking up of the faces together.
Appendix-1
TFE 5000F/2600C
Nitrile (Buna-N) 2500F/1210C
Neoprene 2000F/930C
Flucao elastomer 4000F/2040C
FFKN elastomer 5000F/2600C
Graphite Foil 7500F/3990C
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Table 1.3