A Guide to Gland Packing, Selection of

Gland Packing, Standard sizes

2010-03-07
Marine Machinery, Engines & Controls

PAGE CONTENT
 Gland Packing
 Applications of Gland Packing
 Gland Packing Vs. Mechanical Seals
 The Advantages of Gland packing over Mechanical Seals
 Properties of Good Gland Packing
  Different Types of Gland Packing (Materials used)
 Preconditions for a Successful Gland Packing Job
 The Lantern Ring and its Purpose
 Next Article
 Image Credits
 This post is part of the series: A Guide to Gland Packing

Gland Packing
Gland packing is used extensively for the sealing and restriction of
leakage of the working fluid along the stem in valves and along the shaft
in the case of pumps and also for stationary duties like manhole cover
sealing. The technology has developed over a period of time. Orginally
old ropes and natural fiber products were used for sealing … with
varying degrees of success. The technology has now progressed to
such an extent that now several combinations of artificial fibers and
cutting edge materials are used, and gland packings are even used in
harsh applications like nuclear environments and in the handling of
corrosive products.

Gland packing installation is not only a science, but is also an art as its
success depends on the skill of the operator installing it. The life of the
gland packing greatly depends on how they were installed, no matter
what grade of packing you use. Great prudence is required in the
adjustment of the gland packing as a minimum leakage is to be allowed
for the cooling and the lubrication purposes. An uninitiated engineer
would invariably over-tighten the glands, leading to the burning of the
packing and scored shaft and shaft sleeves.

Applications of Gland Packing

Gland packing are used for sealing in the following applications:

1. Stationary applications like tanks hatch cover sealing,

manhole covers sealing, etc.
2. Used for reducing leakage along the stem in globe valve, gate
valve, and ball valves.
 3. Used for reducing leakage of the working fluid in reciprocating
pumps.
4. Used for reducing leakage of the working fluid in rotating
pumps like centrifugal pumps, and screw and gear pumps.
5. In propeller shaft sealing in life boats and on old generations
of merchant ships.

All the above are entirely different applications, and hence the type of
gland packing to be used also differs. Selection also depends on the
nature of the fluid to be handled like temperature, pressure,
corrosiveness, and suspended solids, etc. A correct choice of gland
packing has to be made by the marine engineer.

Gland Packing Vs. Mechanical Seals

There are two types of stuffing boxes used in the centrifugal pumps and
other rotary pumps aboard ship. One type uses a mechanical seal, and
the other type uses gland packing. Nowadays almost all new ships have
mechanical seals on all the rotating pumps due to very strict pollution
laws like Marpol 73/78 and others. Any fluid leakage has to be further
collected, treated and filtered, with oil stored for discharge to shore
reception facilities. Water is to be discharged according to the
regulations by approved filtering equipment under a 15 parts per million
guideline. It amounts to a lot of work, and any marine engineer would
vouch for that.
However in certain applications, gland packing is still used where a
mechanical seal may not work properly. In certain corrosive
environments, for example, where a mechanical seal may corrode and
fail, a gland packing may serve better. In applications like globe, gate,
ball valves, and valve cocks gland packing is used because mechanical
seals require a rotary motion for successful sealing action. It is for this
reason that reciprocating pumps use gland packing. Sometimes a ship
owner may want gland packing to be installed on his ships to cut costs.
Also where skilled man power is not available, it is easier to open the
gland to change the gland packing, than to open the whole pump for
changing the mechanical seal. Also mechanical seals are very
expensive as compared to gland packing. Old ships use gland packing
extensively. However a certain amount of skill is required to cut the joints
and in their installation and removal, as otherwise it is difficult to get
consistent results and long life.

The Advantages of Gland packing over Mechanical

Seals
Although considered old and low-end technology, the advantages of the
gland packings over the mechanical seals are as follows:

1. It is an extremely reliable sealing method.

2. It is very simple to install and maintain.
3. It tolerates poor mechanical conditions like off-center shafts
and worn down anti-friction bearings better than mechanical
seals.
4. Works better in abrasive media and corrosive environments
than mechanical seals.
5. Reduces the stock holding as one size packing can be used in
all similar sized pumps.
6. It is very cost effective in down time as very little time is
required to change a gland packing, as little as fifteen minutes.
7. They are less expensive than mechanical seals.
8. The whole pump is not required to be opened for changing the
gland packing, however in mechanical seals the pump has to
be opened up.
9. The gland packings are not fragile and any amount of
mishandling would not destroy them, unlike the mechanical
seals.

Properties of Good Gland Packing

To be successful in its duty and to attain the objective of successful
sealing and trouble free operation the gland packing must have the
following properties.
1. Anti-friction properties. The gland packing basically rubs along
the shaft and stationary along the stuffing box side. If the
gland packing has friction it would score the shaft or the shaft
sleeve and also would heat up and fail and even burn due to
consistent overheating.
2. Chemical resistance to the fluid being contained. If the gland
packing reacts with the fluid it is supposed to seal it would
later disintegrate and be flushed away leading to leakage of
the fluid which is not desirable.
3. Temperature resistance. The gland packing should be able to
resist the working temperature of the fluid being sealed
without failing.
4. Compressibility and resilience. The gland packing should be
able to compress and confirm to the shaft under the force of
the gland flange and when the tension is released it should
come back to its original shape. The latter is important as
when the gland nuts are loosened the gland packing should
spring back releasing the shaft.
5. Retention of lubricants. All the gland packings are coated with
lubricants like graphite, grease, petroleum products etc., also
external lubricant is applied before insertion. The gland
packing should be able to retain this grease for anti-friction
properties.
6. Should not score the shaft. Normally on pumps a shaft sleeve
is inserted over the portion where the gland packings are
inserted and which is replaceable. The gland packing should
nonabrasive to avoid the scoring on the shaft sleeve. Of
course on a long interval this is not possible, but it should at
least sustain till the next overhaul
7. Should not contaminate the fluid being sealed. In some
applications like food and pharmaceutical industries the gland
packing should not contaminate the fluid, while in others it
does not matter.
8. It should be non-corrosive to avoid damage to the shaft and
the housing.
9. It should be wear resistant to last a long time.
 10. It should retain its property over a time period.

Different Types of Gland Packing (Materials used)

There are many different types of gland packing depending on the type
of applications such as for valve stem sealing, centrifugal pump shaft
sealing, reciprocating pump shaft sealing, static duties like hatches
sealing and pressure vessels manholes sealing, etc. Gland packings are
made from the following basic substances and are a combination of
these basic materials and are sometimes reinforced with metal wires for
extreme conditions.

1. Jute
2. Flax
3. Hemp
4. Cotton
5. PTFE
6. Aramid
7. Wrapped metal foils
8. Graphite fiber
9. Carbon fiber
10. Glass fiber
11. Poly acryl nitrile fibers

All the gland packing are a combination of the above mentioned basic
materials and great research is done by the manufacturers to develop
new and more efficient types of packing. The packing made of a
combination of graphite, carbon, glass, etc. are used for harsh
applications whereas gland packing made of materials like Jute, flax,
hemp, and cotton are used for light applications like sea water, potable
water etc. The compound PTFE is versatile and can be used for a wide
variety of applications.

Preconditions for a Successful Gland Packing Job

No matter how many times you change the gland packing and how well
you have done the job, the success of the gland packing job done would
also depend on the following factors.

1. The trueness of the shaft. A shaft that is bent would eat the
gland packings prematurely and there nothing you can do
except change the shaft. You must make it a point to check
the trueness of the shaft during each overhaul using a dial
gauge.
2. Concentricity of the shaft with the stuffing box bore. The shaft
might be true but if not aligned properly would again destroy
the gland packings in no time.
3. Surface roughness of the shaft. If the shaft or the sleeve is
pitted or unevenly worn it would again damage the gland
packings very fast.
4. Whipping of the shaft due to worn bearings.
5. Consistent cooling water supply in case of pumps with a
lantern ring.

The Lantern Ring and its Purpose

A lantern ring is an annular ring with channels for the passage of water
that is inserted between the gland packing. Fluid is fed from an external
pipe to the lantern ring for lubrication and the cooling of the packings. It
is used in applications where a number of packings are there and it
would be difficult of the intermediate packing to get fluid for lubrication. It
is also used where the fluid to be sealed is contaminated with abrasives
or is corrosive and a clean fluid is required for lubrication. While
installation it is crucial that the holes in the lantern ring meet or are
aligned with the holes in the pipes. It is very important to inspect and
align the lantern ring during each overhaul of the pumps.
PAGE CONTENT
 How to Select Gland Packing for Different Applications
 Gland Packing Details
 How to Cut Gland Packing
 How to Remove Gland Packings
 Packing Removal Tools
 Standard sizes of Gland packings
 How to Measure the length of the Packing Required
 How Much Gap is to be Kept?
 How to Insert the Gland Packing
 Running in of the Gland Packing
  Conclusion
 Image Credits
 This post is part of the series: A Guide to Gland Packing

How to Select Gland Packing for Different

Applications
The selection of gland packing is a very important part of the marine
engineer’s job. An incorrectly selected gland packing would soon fail in
service and lead to leakages. As a number of packings are available, the
field of selection is very wide. There is no single gland packing that can
handle all kinds of fluid or which is suitable for all types of valves and
applications. A valve is only good if its sealing is good and a leaking
sealing arrangement amounts to a leaking valve with all its associated
faults. Not only is it displeasure to the eyes it is also a work, health, and
fire hazard. Gland packings are made of the combination of the materials
discussed earlier and are manufactured in plaited, braided, twisted,
jacketed, corrugated foil, foil wrapped deformable core, and full foil form.
It is prudent to consult the manufacturer’s manual about the type of
gland packing to be used. The gland manufacturers also give a list of
applications where their gland packing can be used; these should be
consulted before use.

Gland Packing Details

How to Cut Gland Packing
The gland packing should be cut with a sharp knife to avoid fraying of
the edges. Do not use scissors or hack saw blade etc. A heavy duty
engineer’s knife or a sharpened ordinary knife would do.

There are two methods of cutting the gland packing, the first one is
straight or at 90 degrees i.e. Butt joint and the second one is at 45
degrees i.e. skive joint. The taper method gives better sealing but is
more difficult and skill oriented and the angle on both the ends should
match properly or otherwise it would lead to more leakages. In places
where there is an accessibility problem it is best to cut the gland packing
straight.
How to Remove Gland Packings
Removing a gland packing can be very tough sometimes, especially if it
is old and well set, you need to have specially contoured tools which the
marine engineer learns well to make with experience. There are also
gland packing extractors available in the market, which look like a cork
screw used to open the wine bottles but are flexible. They just have to be
twisted to get a grip and then the packings can be pulled out. The
problem comes when the old packings have lost their properties and the
packing comes outs in fibers. Sometimes in sea water pumps when the
packings are not coming out, a little opening of the sea water suction
valve would push out the packing with ease due to the water pressure.
But it should be done very cautiously as you can flood the bilges and you
must shut it promptly.

Packing Removal Tools

Standard sizes of Gland packings
In case the instruction manual is not available, then the correct size of
the packing can be determined from a simple method. Simply measure
the inner diameter of the bore of the stuffing box and subtract from it the
outside diameter of the shaft. The figure obtained must be divided by 2
to get your gland packing size. But generally the following sizes of the
gland packings are recommended for the different shaft sizes as follows:

1. For shafts of size 16 to 28 mm diameter the gland packing of

size 8 mm is used.
 2. For shafts of size 30 to 46 mm diameter the gland packing of
size 10 mm is used
3. For shafts of size 50 to 75 mm diameter the gland packing of
size 12.5 mm is used
4. For shafts of size 75 to 120 mm diameter the gland packing of
size 16 mm is used
5. For shafts of size 125 to 300 mm diameter the gland packing
of size 19 mm is used

But the above is only a guide line and it varies from manufacturer to
manufacturer.

How to Measure the length of the Packing Required

For measuring the gland packing size the following methods can be
used.

1. Take the reference of the old removed packing and cut

accordingly.
2. Put the new gland packing on the shaft circumferentially or on
a template and then mark and then cut the required length.
3. The most accurate is to measure the size of the shaft and
calculate its perimeter or circumference. For example if the
shaft is of 50 millimeters diameter then the circumference is
given by the formula P = Pi x Diameter. That would make the
perimeter 157.07 millimeters. This measured length can be cut
from the gland packing reel considering a 2 mm clearance in
packing which would swell in presence of sea water.

How Much Gap is to be Kept?

Some types of packing swell a little on contact with water. This must be
considered and an appropriate clearance should be provided. Otherwise
it would seize the shaft leading to overheating and burning of the
packing, as well as increasing the load on the shaft and the motor. In
some cases the shafts have even broken due to excessively tightened
packing.
Also sometimes the packings do not go in the stuffing box spaces easily
and they have to be hammered to make them a little thinner thus
elongating them in return. This factor must also be considered in giving
some gap. However the hammered and thinned packings would again
gain their width after being compressed. As a rule hammering should be
avoided as it damages the gland packings and should only be resorted
to in an emergency, when the correct size packing is not available.

How to Insert the Gland Packing

The following are the cautions and the instructions while installing new
gland packings.

1. After the gland packings have been removed the spaces must
be thoroughly cleaned with compressed air to ascertain than
no residues of the old packing remain inside.
2. The shaft must be carefully inspected for any abrasions and
pitting marks and if any must be removed with 300 grit emery
paper. In case it is not possible to smooth the surface, the
sleeve must be changed at the next possible opportunity.
3. Gland packing once used must not be reused and never try to
reverse a gland packing as the old packing must have lost its
properties in service.
4. The packings must be selected as per the service required.
5. The correct size of the packing should be referred from the
instruction manual or measured.
6. Cut the gland packing to the correct size and give a little
clearance if using natural fibers like hemp and jute which
would swell in contact with water.
7. Fit each packing one by one with lots of lubricant and do not
forget to stagger the same by 90 degrees each.
8. Compress with the gland to ascertain that it goes inside
evenly.
9. Check that the shaft is free to rotate after the insertion of the
gland packings.
10. Slightly tighten the gland till a little resistance is felt in the
turning of the shaft by hand.
 11. After the tightening slackens the nuts and finger tighten. The
tightening must be done during the running in process.
12. Remember that a gland packing is not supposed to
completely prevent leakage of the fluid, a small leakage of
about ten drops a minute is required for lubrication and
cooling.

Running in of the Gland Packing

After the gland packing has been inserted in the pumps (both
reciprocating and rotary) the pump must be allowed to run with a
moderate leakage for ten minutes and after that start tightening the nuts
one turn every five minutes. Keep monitoring the temperature of the
gland and if it is getting too hot slacken the same amount. After another
five minutes tighten again and monitor the temperature. Please
remember that a little leakage of about ten drops a minute is required for
the lubrication and the cooling of the gland packings. Do not attempt to
stop the leakage entirely because it would look all right for ten or fifteen
minutes, but the moment you turn your back and are busy with some
other work, the gland packings would burn triggering all the smoke
alarms in that area and the leakage would flood your bilges. It must also
be noted that over tightening the gland also leads to premature wearing
of the shaft sleeves.

Conclusion
Gland packings are used extensively in the marine field yet they are one
of those things that engineers take for granted. Normally engineers just
check the size and put the first packing they come across if it is of the
same color. This negligent attitude results in leakage and scored shafts.
It is also due to the fact that training material is not available to the junior
engineers when they join this field and by the time they come up the
ranks they are used to the idea of wrong working practice. In this article
the subject has been discussed in brief and it is hoped that it would be
useful to the new marine engineers as well as the practicing marine
engineers.