Typical Centrifugal Pump

3
8
2 4

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

Suction
Impeller
Discharge
stationary Casing
Rotating Shaft
Mechanical Seal in Stuffing Box
Gland
Radial & Thrust Bearings to Support the Shaft
Must be lubricated at all times.

5
6

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Seal Basics

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Pump Pressures
Suction Pressure
The actual pressure, positive or negative at the pump suction
connection as measured on a gage.

Discharge Pressure
The actual pressure at the pump discharge connection as measured on a gage.
It is equal to the pump suction pressure plus total head developed by the pump.

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.
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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
Suction pressure = stuffing box pressure
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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 external flush
Double seal with external flush
The viscosity & lubricity of water decrease with increased
temperature. Above 82C (viscosity 0.35 cp) seal faces can
contact each other and wear rapidly, unless specially designed
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Centrifugal Pump
Performance Curve

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Equipment Reliability
- Best Practices

% Head

Lower
Discharge
Impeller Life Recirculation
High
Temperature Low
Rise
Flow
Cavitation

Best
Efficiency
Point
Low Bearing &
Low Seal Life

Suction
Recirculation
Cavitation

Low Bearing &

Low Seal Life

Pump Curve

Pump oversized

Pump undersized
% Flow

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Equipment Reliability
- Best Practices
Operate pump -10% to +5% of B.E.P.
Use 8-10 L/D in suction line
Operate pump with minimum 25 psi over vapor
pressure
Eliminate pipe strain
Properly apply selected piping plan (a cool seal
is a happy seal)
Properly align shaft

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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

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Vapour Pressure
The pressure at which a liquid will flash into vapor 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

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Cavitation
Operated under cavitating conditions for sufficient length of time:
Pitting of impeller vanes and pump volute
Short bearing life and heavy loading
Shaft breakage and other fatigue failures in the pump
Short seal life
Damages to mechanical seals can be :
worn pins and pin slots
Broken springs
shaft fretting
Chipping of carbon faces

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Cavitation
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
65
65
temperature ( C )
Shaft sleeve
1.9
2 to 8.4
vibration, mils p-p
Seal face
< 2.0
13 to 35
vibration, mils p-p
Seal face
67 to 74
166 to 427
temperature ( C )

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Lantern Ring

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Disadvantages of Compression packings

Power consumption is HIGH.
The ratio of power consumption of Mechanical Seal to
compression packing is 1:8
Leakage is very high and unpredictable.
Varies with compression on the packings. The ratio of Leakage
of mechanical seal to compression packing is 1:600
No automatic wear compensation
Fretting on sleeve or shaft

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Compression Packing
Leakage rates
Pressure
2
lb/in (kPa)
0 - 60 (0 - 400)
61 - 100 (401 - 700)
101 - 250 (701 - 1700)

Leakage
drops / min
60

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cc/min
4
190
470

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Heat Generation of Gland Packing

The heat generation at the packing can be estimated as :
Q = f 2 P N D 2 L
-------------------CJ
where
Q = heat generated , Btu/min (W)
f = co-efficient of friction
P = liquid pressure at packing, lb/in2 gage (Pa)
N = Shaft speed, rpm
D = Sleeve OD or packing ID , in (m)
L = Sleeve length covered by packing, in (m)
C = 12 (60 for SI unit)
J = mechanical equivalent of heat = 778 ft . lb / Btu (1 N.m/s.W)
The co-efficient of various packings at a pressure of 100 lb/in 2 (689 kPa) is given
below.

Material
Plain cotton
TFE-impregnated asbestos
Grease-lube asbestos

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f
0.22
0.17
0.1
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Classification of End Face

Mechanical Seals
By Arrangement
Single

Multiple

Inside

Double Back to Back

Outside

Double Face to Face

Tandem
Staged

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Classification of End Face

Mechanical Seals
By Design
Unbalanced

Single Spring

Pusher Type

Balanced

Multiple Spring

Non-pusher Type

Flexible
Rotor
Flexible

O-Ring

Bellows Seal

V-Ring

Metal

Wedge Ring

Elastomer
TFE

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Stator

Face on
Rotor
Face on
Stator

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Rotary
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Stationary
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Typical Single Inside Pusher Seal

Faces must be in contact
Faces must be flat to
within 3 light bands (34.8
millionth of an inch) Most
are 1 light band (11.6
millionths)
Faces must be lubricated
by the liquid in the
stuffing box

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Mechanical Seal Terminology

Wear Nose
Springs

AntiRotation Pin

Semi-dynamic secondary seal

Rotor
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Stator

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Hardware
316 /316 L /
316 Ti..
Alloy 20

Inconel 600

Hast C-276

Zirconium

Monel 400

Nickel

Titanium Gr 2, 7

AM-350 For

17-4 PH

bellows

Duplex

Inconel 718

High Chrome
Iron
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Seal Faces
Silicon carbide

Ceramic -

Reaction bonded

Peramic

Silicon Carbide
Alpha Sintered

Tungsten Cabide
Ni binder
Tungsten Carbide
Co binder
Tungsten Carbide
- Binderless
Stellite
Chrome oxide Durchrome

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Seal Faces
# 5 Carbon

GF Carbon
(Ammonia Resistant Grade)

# 6 Carbon

NA Carbon
(Acid Resistant HF)

# 17 Carbon
# 19 Carbon
GE / KI Carbon
(Resin Impregnated)

RY Carbon
(Antimony Impregnated)

AE Carbon
(Dry Running grade)

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Secondary Packings
Viton
(Flurocarbon)

Nitrile
(Buna N)

Neoprene

Glass Filled
Teflon
Graphite filled
Teflon
Grafoil
(Durafite)

EPR / EPT
Kalrez
(Perfluro carbon)

Chemraz
(Perfluro carbon)

Pure Teflon

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Mechanical Seal Leak

Points

2
3
4

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Gland to pump face sealed with a gasket

Over the top of the seal O-ring
Under the seal - O-ring
Between the faces

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Unbalanced Seals
- Forces Acting on Seal Faces
Fspring + Fclosing - Fopening = Fnet

Closing
Balance
Force
Diameter
Spring Load

Atmospheric
Pressure
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Opening
Force

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Effect of High Pressure

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Balanced Seals
Balances out
portion of hydraulic
loads for process
fluid pressure to
reduce closing
forces on seal
faces
Has increased
pressure
capabilities

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Balanced Seals
- Forces Acting on Seal Faces
Fspring + Fclosing - Fopening = Fnet

Balance
Spring Load Diameter

Closing
Force

Flow Solutions Division

Atmospheric
Pressure

Opening
Seals
Force BW
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What is a light band?

It is a unit of measure.
One light band = .0000116
Two light bands = .000023
Three light bands = .000035

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Reading Seal Face Flatness

0

> 2 LB

To determine flatness,
draw a straight line from
the band on one edge to
the same band on the
other edge.

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Flow Solutions Division

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Flow Solutions Division

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Diann
DiannStender:
Stender:

Double Back to Back Seal

Sealing Liquid Outlet

Common Collar

Inner Seal

Outer Seal

Sealing Liquid Inlet

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Tandem Seal

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Single Outside Seal

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Basic Pusher Seal

Solid Build Up
Gasket hang-up occurs when solids build-up sufficiently to impede gasket movement.
The springs closing force is disrupted and heavy leakage soon develops.

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Non Pusher Seal

Solid Build Up
The secondary seal does not have to move along the shaft or sleeve
to maintain face contact
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PBR Seal

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PBS Seal

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CBR Seal

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