Pumps Seals

CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS SEALS
Centrifugal Pumps Seals
Sealing
The proper selection of a seal is critical to the success of every pump
application.
For maximum pump reliability, choices must be made between the
type of seal and the seal environment.
A sealless pump is an alternative, which would eliminate the need for

a dynamic type seal entirely.
Sealing Basics
There are two basic kinds of seals:
Static seals :
Which are employed where no movement occurs at the Juncture to be
sealed. Typical static seals are:
Gaskets.
O-rings .
Sealing Basics
Dynamic seals :
Which are used where surfaces move relative to one another.
where a rotating shaft transmits power through
the wall of a tank.
Through the casing of a pump or through the
housing of other rotating equipment such as a
filter or screen.
Sealing Basics
Sealing Basics
Pump manufacturers use various design techniques to reduce the
pressure of the product trying to escape such:
1. The addition of balance holes through the impeller to
permit most of the pressure to escape into the suction side
of the impeller.
2. The addition of back pump-out vanes on the back side of

the impeller.
As there is no way to eliminate this pressure completely, sealing
devices are necessary to limit the escape of the product to the
atmosphere. Such sealing devices are typically either compression
packing or end-face mechanical seals.
Sealing Basics
Packing Seals:
The most common arrangement
for gland packing used in pumps
is the solid packed stuffing box
It is important not to overtighten

the packing gland so that all
leakage is prevented, as it is this
small amount of liquid, which
lubricates the packing and so
reduces friction and wear.
Sealing Basics
Packing Seals:
A replaceable sleeve is often
fitted to the shaft in the region of
the stuffing box.
This simple type of packing
arrangement should not be used
when the pump is operating with
Why?
suction lift conditions.
Because air may be drawn into

the pump through the stuffing
box. Causing the pump to lose
How to solve
suction. this problem?
Sealing Basics
Packing Seals:
Pumps designed to operate under suction lift conditions use a sealing
or injectionWhy?
type of packing arrangement.
This uses a liquid to
help seal the packing
gland and prevent air
being drawn into the
pump.
This sealing liquid
comes from either
the discharge side of
the pump or from an
external source .
Sealing Basics
Packing Seals:
If the sealing liquid is supplied from the pump, then the stuffing box is
said to be internally sealed. If the sealing liquid supplied from an
outside source, then the stuffing box is said to be externally sealed.
A sealing ring cage

that often called a
lantern ring is usually
used to distributing the
sealing liquid within the
stuffing box.
Sealing Basics
Packing Seals:
Lantern rings are usually made of brass or bronze and are normally
positioned mid-way in the stuffing box, with an equal number of packing
rings at each side.
If the pump is to
handle liquids
containing sand or grit,
then the sealing
system should be of
the external type.
Sealing Basics
Packing Seals:
The pressure of the sealing liquid must be greater than the pump
suction pressure.
Why?
Sealing Basics
Packing Seals:
A typical packed stuffing box
arrangement consists of:
Five rings of packing
A lantern ring used for the
injection of a lubricating and/or
flushing liquid.
A gland to hold the packing and

maintain the desired
compression for a proper seal
Sealing Basics
Packing Seals:
A flow from 40 to 60 drops per
minute out of the stuffing box
must be maintained for proper
lubrication.
Sealing Basics
Packing Seals:
Internally sealed
Sealing Basics
Packing Seals:
Externally sealed
Sealing Basics
Packing Seals:
When pumping slurries
or abrasive liquids, it is
necessary to inject a
dean lubricating liquid
from an external source
into the lantern ring .
A flow of from 0.2 to 0.5

gpm is desirable and a
valve and flowmeter
should be used for
accurate control.
Externally sealed
Sealing Basics
Packing Seals:
Sealing Basics
Packing Seals:
By a quench type gland. Water,
oil, or other fluids can be
injected into the gland to
remove heat from the shaft,
thus limiting heat transfer to the
bearing frame.
This permits the operating
temperature of the pump to be
higher than the limits of the
bearing and lubricant design.
The same quench gland can be used to prevent the escape of a toxic or volatile
liquid into the air around the pump (smothering gland)
Packing Materials
The materials commonly
used to make packing
include cotton, asbestos
and flax.
They are usually woven or

braided to form a
continuous length of
square section.
The lengths of packing are often impregnated with graphite to assist in reducing
friction and are available in a range of different section sizes to suit pumps
having differing stuffing box dimensions.
Packing lengths are often reinforced with wire strands which strengthens the
material and helps it to retain its shape.
Packing Materials
In addition to the natural
packing materials, there is
also a range of synthetic
and metallic packing
materials, which may be
more suitable for high
temperature applications or
for certain types of pumped
liquid.
Many of the synthetic packing materials are made in the form of a "V" or chevron
section and are installed with the open part of the "V" facing the liquid being
pumped. In this position, the pressure of the liquid in the pump tends to expand
the packing and helps it to seat on the shaft.
Packing Installation
It is important that the correct number of packing rings are used when inserting
packing into the stuffing box. This can be achieved by one of the following:
1. By counting the number of rings previously removed.
2. By checking the manufacturer's recommendations.
3. By measuring the depth of stuffing box (the width of the lantern
ring must be deducted from the total depth of the stuffing box).
To insert each ring of packing separately and push it into position with the
gland.
The rings should be dipped in oil before insertion (If the packing is not of the
lubricated type).
The location of lantern rings (if it is used).
The thermal packing extension clearance.
Checking the shaft or sleeve when re-packing a stuffing box..
A total re-pack job should be done whenever more than one ring of packing is
required.
It is normally permitted to add one extra ring of packing to a stuffing box that
has a slight leak, but a note should be made when the ring is added so that
more rings are not added at a later date.
Mechanical Seals
When leakage of the pumped liquid is not acceptable, packing seals are not
suitable and one of the many different types of mechanical seals is used
instead.
A mechanical seal is a sealing device, which forms a running seal between

rotating and stationary parts.
Advantages of mechanical seals over conventional packing are as follows:
1. Zero or limited leakage of product (meet emission regulations.)
2. Reduced friction and power loss.
3. Elimination of shaft or sleeve wear.
4. Reduced maintenance costs.
5. Ability to seal higher pressures and more corrosive environments.
Mechanical Seals
6. The wide variety of designs allows use of mechanical seals in almost
all pump applications.
The Basic Mechanical Seal

Principles of Operation:
A. Stationary Seal Ring – This is
usually made of tungsten carbide
or stainless steel and fits into the
seal plate.
B. Stationary Seal Ring Seal –
This is an O-ring which prevents
leakage of liquid between the
stationary seal ring and seal
plate.
C. Rotating Seal Ring – This is
secured to the shaft and is
pressed against the stationary
seal ring by the combined action
of the spring and the pressure of
the liquid. The material used is
normally carbon.
D. Rotating Seal Ring Seal – This
is also an O-ring , which
prevents leakage the rotating
seal ring and the shaft.
E. Spring – This is a single coil
spring which helps to maintain
contact pressure between the
faces of the rotating and
stationary seals.
F. Thrust Collar – This is secured
to the shaft by a grub screw and
takes the reaction thrust of the
spring. The position along the
shaft where the thrust collar is
mounted will control the amount
of thrust exerted by the spring
upon the sealing faces.
G. Seal Plate – This seals the
stuffing box and also houses the
stationary seal ring.
H. Seal Plate Seal – This may be

either an O-ring or a flat gasket
which prevents leakage from the
joint between stuffing box and
seal plate.
Mechanical Seal Types :

PUSHER:
Incorporate secondary seals that
move axially along a shaft or sleeve
to maintain contact at the seal faces.
This feature compensates for seal
face wear and wobble due to
misalignment.
Advantage:
•It's inexpensive
•Commercially available in a wide
range of sizes and configurations.

PUSHER:
Incorporate secondary seals that
move axially along a shaft or sleeve
to maintain contact at the seal faces.
This feature compensates for seal
face wear and wobble due to
misalignment.
Disadvantage:
•It's prone to secondary seal

hang-up and fretting of the shaft
or sleeve.

UNBALANCED:
Advantage:
•It's inexpensive.
•Leak less.
•More stable when subjected to
vibration, misalignment, and
cavitation.
Disadvantage:
•Its relative low pressure limit.


CONVENTIONAL:
Which require setting and alignment
of the seal (single, double, tandem)
on the shaft or sleeve of the pump.
Although setting a mechanical seal is
relatively simple.

NON-PUSHER:
The non-pusher or bellows seal does
not have to move along the shaft or
sleeve to maintain seal face contact.
Advantage:
•its ability to handle high and low
temperature applications.
•its does not require a secondary seal (not prone to secondary seal
hang-up).
Disadvantage:
•Its thin bellows cross sections must be upgraded for use in corrosive
environments.

BALANCED:
Balancing a mechanical seal involves a
simple design change, which reduces
the hydraulic forces acting to close the
seal faces.
Balanced seals have higher-pressure

limits, lower seal face loading, and
generate less heat. This makes them
well suited to handle liquids with poor
lubricity and high vapor pressures such
as light hydrocarbons.

BALANCED:
Advantage:
•Its higher-pressure limits .
•Lower seal face loading .
•Generate less heat.

CARTRIDGE:
Which have the mechanical seal premounted on a sleeve including the gland
and fit directly over the special model shaft or shaft sleeve (available single,
double, tandem).
The major benefit, of course is no requirement for the usual seal setting
measurements for their installation.
Cartridge seals lower maintenance costs and reduce seal setting errors.
Mechanical Seal Arrangements :

SINGLE INSIDE:
This is the most common type of mechanical seal.
These seals are easily modified to accommodate seal flush plans and can be
balanced to withstand high seal environment pressures.
Recommended for relatively clear non-corrosive and corrosive liquids with
satisfactory' lubricating properties where cost of operation does not exceed
that of a double seal.

SINGLE OUTSIDE:
If an extremely corrosive liquid has
good lubricating properties, an outside
seal offers an economical alternative
to the expensive metal required for an
inside seal to resist corrosion.
The disadvantage is that it is exposed

outside of the pump which makes it
vulnerable to damage from impact and
hydraulic pressure works to open the
seal faces so they have low pressure
limits (balanced or unbalanced).

DOUBLE (DUAL PRESSURIZED):
This arrangement is recommended for
liquids that are not compatible with a
single mechanical seal (i.e. liquids that
are toxic, hazardous, have suspended
abrasives, or corrosives which require
costly materials).
The advantages of the double seal are
that it can have five times the life of a
single seal in severe environments. Also,
the metal inner seal parts are never
exposed to the liquid product being
pumped, so viscous, abrasive, or
thermosetting liquids are easily sealed
without a need for expensive metallurgy.

DOUBLE (DUAL PRESSURIZED):
In addition, recent testing has shown that
double seal life is virtually unaffected by
process upset conditions during pump
operation. A significant advantage of
using a double seal over a single seal.

DOUBLE GAS BARRIER (PRESSURIZED DUAL GAS):
Very similar to cartridge double
seals ... sealing involves an inert gas,
like nitrogen, to act as a surface
lubricant and coolant in place of a
liquid barrier system or external flush
required with conventional or cartridge
double seals.
The gas barrier seal uses nitrogen or
air as a harmless and inexpensive
barrier fluid that helps prevent product
emissions to the atmosphere and fully
complies with emission regulations.
The double gas barrier seal should be considered for use on toxic or
hazardous liquids that are regulated or in situations where increased reliability
is the required on an application.

TANDEM (DUAL UNPRESSURIZED):
Due to health, safety, and environmental considerations, tandem seals have
been used for products such as vinyl chloride, carbon monoxide, light
hydrocarbons, and a wide range of other volatile, toxic, carcinogenic, or
hazardous liquids.
Tandem seals eliminate icing and freezing of light hydrocarbons and other
liquids, which could fall below the atmospheric freezing point of water in air
(32° F or 0° C). {Typical buffer liquids in these applications are ethylene glycol,
methanol, and propanol.)
A tandem also increases online reliability. If the primary seal fails, the outboard
seal can take over and function until maintenance of the equipment can be
scheduled.
Mechanical Seal Selection :

The proper selection of a mechanical seal can be made only if the full
operating conditions are known:
1. Liquid.
2. Pressure.
3. Temperature .
4. Characteristics of Liquid .
5. Reliability and Emission Concerns .
Seal Environment :
STANDARD BORE STUFFING BOX COVER:
Designed thirty years ago specifically

for packing. Also accommodates
mechanical seals (clamped seat outside
seals and conventional double seals.)
Seal Environment :
CONVENTIONAL LARGE BORE SEAL CHAMBER:
Designed specifically for mechanical

seals. Large bore provides Increased
life of seals through improved
lubrication and cooling of faces.
Seal environment should be controlled
through use of CPI or API flush plans.
Often available with internal bypass to

provide circulation of liquid to faces
without using external flush. Ideal for
conventional or cartridge single
mechanical seals in conjunction with a
flush and throat bushing in bottom of
chamber.
Seal Environment :
CONVENTIONAL LARGE BORE SEAL CHAMBER:
Also excellent for conventional or

cartridge double or tandem seals.
Seal Environment :
LARGE BORE SEAL CHAMBERS:
Enlarged bore seal chambers with
increased radial clearance between the
mechanical seal and seal chamber wall,
provide better circulation of liquid to and
from seal faces.
Improved lubrication and heat removal

(cooling) of seal faces extend seal life
and lower maintenance costs.

Pumps Seals

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Pumps Seals

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CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS SEALS

Centrifugal Pumps Seals

A sealless pump is an alternative, which would eliminate the need for

2. The addition of back pump-out vanes on the back side of

It is important not to overtighten

Because air may be drawn into

A sealing ring cage

A gland to hold the packing and

A flow of from 0.2 to 0.5

They are usually woven or

A mechanical seal is a sealing device, which forms a running seal between

The Basic Mechanical Seal

H. Seal Plate Seal – This may be

Mechanical Seal Types :

Mechanical Seal Types :

•It's prone to secondary seal

Mechanical Seal Types :

•Its relative low pressure limit.

Mechanical Seal Types :

Mechanical Seal Types :

Mechanical Seal Types :

Balanced seals have higher-pressure

Mechanical Seal Types :

Mechanical Seal Types :

Mechanical Seal Arrangements :

Mechanical Seal Arrangements :

The disadvantage is that it is exposed

Mechanical Seal Arrangements :

Mechanical Seal Arrangements :

Mechanical Seal Arrangements :

Mechanical Seal Arrangements :

Mechanical Seal Selection :

Designed thirty years ago specifically

Designed specifically for mechanical

Often available with internal bypass to

Also excellent for conventional or

Improved lubrication and heat removal

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