Pump Leakage

Prof. Dr. Eng. Maher

Higazy

16/12/15

Prof. maher Higazy

Internal and External Pump

Leakage
Internal Pump Leakage
Wearing
rings
provide
an
easily
and
economically renewable leakage joint between
the impeller and the casing. A leakage joint
without renewable parts is illustrated in Fig.
43. To restore original clearances of such a
joint after wear occurs, the user must either
(1) build up the worn surfaces by welding,
metal spraying, or other means and then true
up the part or (2) buy new parts.
16/12/15

Prof. maher Higazy

16/12/15

Prof. maher Higazy

Wearing Rings
16/12/15

Prof. maher Higazy

The new parts are not very costly in small pumps,

especially if the stationary casing element is a simple
suction cover. This is not true for larger pumps or
where the stationary element of the leakage joint is
part of a complicated casting. If the first cost of a
pump is of prime importance, it is more economical to
provide for both the stationary parts and the impeller
to be re-machined. Renewable casing and impeller
rings can men be installed (Figs. 43, 44, and 4o).
Nomenclature for the casing or stationary part forming
the leakage joint surface is as follows: (1) casing ring
(if mounted in the casing); (2) suction-cover ring or
suction-head ring (if mounted in a suction cover or
head); and (3) stuffing-box-cover ring or head ring (if
mounted in the stuffing box cover or head).

16/12/15

Prof. maher Higazy

Some engineers like to identify the part

further by adding the word "wearing," as, for
example, casing wearing ring. A renewable
part for the impeller wearing surface is called
the impeller ring. Pumps with both stationary
and rotating rings are said to have doublering construction.

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Prof. maher Higazy

Wearing-Ring Types
There are various types of wearing-ring designs, and
the selection of the most desirable type depends on
the liquid being handled, the pressure differential
across the leakage joint, the rubbing speed, and the
particular pump design. In general, centrifugal pump
designers use that ring construction which they have
found to be most suitable for each particular pump
service. The most common ring constructions are the
flat and the L types. The leakage joint in the former is
a straight annular clearance. In the L-type ring, the
axial clearance between the impeller and the casing
ring is large so the velocity of the liquid flowing into
the stream entering the suction eye of the impeller is
low.
16/12/15

Prof. maher Higazy

The L-type casing rings shown in figures have

the additional function of guiding the liquid
into the impeller eye; they are called nozzle
rings. Impeller rings of the L type shown also
furnish protection for the face of the impeller
wearing-ring hub.

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Prof. maher Higazy

Wearing rings
16/12/15

Prof. maher Higazy

Wearing rings types

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Prof. maher Higazy

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Some designers favour labyrinth-type rings which

have two or more annular leakage joints connected
by relief chambers. In leakage joints involving a
single unbroken path, the flow is a function, of the
area and the length of the joint and of the pressure
differential across the joint. If the path is broken by
relief chambers the velocity energy in the jet is
dissipated in each relief chamber, increasing the
resistance. As a result, with several relief chambers
and several leakage joints for the same actual flow
through the joint, the area and hence the clearance
between the rings can be greater than for an
unbroken, shorter leakage joint.
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Prof. maher Higazy

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The single labyrinth ring with only one relief

chamber is often called an intermeshing ring. The
step-ring type utilizes two flat-ring elements of
slightly different diameters over the total
leakage-joint width with a relief chamber between
the two elements. Other ring designs also use
some form of relief chamber. For example, one
commonly used in small pumps has a flat joint
similar to that in the figure, but with one surface
broken by a number of grooves. These act as
relief chambers to dissipate the jet velocity head,
thereby increasing the resistance through the
joint and decreasing the leakage.
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Prof. maher Higazy

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For raw water pumps in waterworks service and

for larger pumps on sewage service in which the
liquid contains sand and grit, water-flushed
rings have been used. Clear water under a
pressure greater than that on the discharge side
of the rings is piped to the inlet and distributed
by the cored passage, the holes through the
stationary ring and the groove to the leakage
joint. Ideally the clear water should fill the
leakage joint, with some flow both to the suction
and discharge sides to prevent any sand or grit
from getting into the clearance space.
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Prof. maher Higazy

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Wearing rings types

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Prof. maher Higazy

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In large pumps (roughly 36 in or larger

discharge size), particularly vertical endsuction single-stage volute pumps, mere size
alone permits some refinements not found in
smaller pumps. One example is the inclusion
of inspection ports for measuring ring
clearance. These ports can be used to check
the impeller centring after the original
installation as well as to observe ring wear
without dismantling the pump.

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Prof. maher Higazy

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Wearing ring and clearing

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Prof. maher Higazy

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The lower rings of large vertical pumps handling

liquids containing sand and grit on intermittent
service are highly subject to wear. During
shutdown periods the grit and sand settle out and
naturally accumulate in the region in which these
rings are installed, as it is the lowest point on the
discharge side of the pump. When the pump is
started again, this foreign matter is washed all at
once into the joint and causes wear. To prevent
this action in medium and large pumps a damtype ring is often used. Periodically the pocket on
the discharge side of the dam can be flushed out.
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Prof. maher Higazy

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One problem, with the simple water-flushed ring

previously described is the failure to get uniform
pressure in the stationary ring groove. If the pump
size and design permit, two sets of wearing rings in
tandem separated by a large water space provide the
best solution. The large water space allows uniform
distribution of the flushing water to the full 360
degrees of each leakage joint. Because ring 2 is
shorter and because a greater clearance is used
there than at ring 1, equal flow can be made to take
place to the discharge pressure side and to the
suction pressure side. This design also makes it
easier to harden the surfaces with satellite or to
flame-plate them.

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Prof. maher Higazy

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Impeller ring
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External Leakage

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Stuffing-box
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MECHANICAL SEAL

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Thank
You For
Attention
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Prof. maher Higazy

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