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.,