Seal Chamber Pressure

John Crane
Mechanical Maintenance
Training Center
 By

Gordon Buck
John Crane Inc.
Baton Rouge, LA

for the

John Crane Mechanical Maintenance Training Center

Estimating the Pressure in Pump Seal Chambers
The pressure in the pump seal chamber must be known before the proper seal and flush system can be
selected. For some pumps, the seal chamber pressure is the same as the pump suction pressure; for
others, it may be near discharge pressure. The exact value depends on the fluid, flowrate, design and
condition of the pump. Often, accurate information is not available even from the pump manufacturer so
the best way to determine the stuffing box pressure is to measure it. This procedure shows how to
estimate the seal chamber pressure when measured data is not available and the pump manufacturer
cannot or will not help.

These symbols are used throughout this paper:

Pb = Pressure in the seal chamber
Ps = Pump suction pressure
Pd = Pump discharge pressure

Single Stage, Single Suction, Overhung Process

Pumps
Overhung process pumps are by far the most common type of pump used in the process industries.
These pumps can be either horizontal or vertical (inline) and are usually single stage, single suction.
The seal chamber is located near the back of the impeller.

Balance Holes/Back Wear Rings

The majority of overhung process pumps use balance holes and back wear rings in the impeller to
decrease the thrust load on the bearings. These features also set the seal chamber pressure. The
exact pressure is a function of the wear ring clearance as well as size and location of the balance holes.
It can be estimated as:
Equation 1: Pb = Ps + .15 (Pd - Ps )
Important: The same pump model may be available with or without balance holes.
Example: A single stage end suction pump that uses balance holes and back wear rings has a suction
pressure of 10 psig and a discharge pressure of 200 psig. What is the seal chamber pressure?
Pb = 10 + .15 (200 - 10) = 38.5 psig

Without Balance Holes

Balance holes may not be needed to reduce the thrust load at higher suction pressures. Also,
sometimes balance holes are omitted in an effort to increase pumping efficiency. For these pump
designs, the seal chamber pressure is very close to discharge pressure:
Equation 2: Pb = Pd
Important: The same pump model may be available with or without balance holes. Seals cannot be
flushed using injection from discharge.
Example: A single stage end suction pump does not use balance holes. Suction pressure is 10 psig and
discharge pressure is 200 psig. What is the estimated seal chamber pressure?
Pb = 200 psig

Seal Chamber Pressure 1

Pump-Out Vanes
Some pumps use pump-out vanes instead of balance holes to reduce thrust. This is
especially popular on ANSI pumps. Impeller clearance from back plate is critical to the
efficiency of these pump-out vanes. The seal chamber is slightly above suction pressure:
Equation 3: Pb = Ps + C (Pd - Ps )
For most of these pump designs, use C = 0.1 but see notes 1 and 2 below.
Note: 1.Goulds recommends C = .3 if the impeller is at minimum diameter but C = .1 if
the impeller is at maximum diameter.
2.Durco provides seal chamber pressure information on the pump performance
curve. The performance curve usually indicates pressures lower than Equation 3.
Seal chamber pressure is near suction pressure at no flow, maximizes near BEP,
then decreases.
Example: A single stage, end suction pump that uses back pump-out vanes has a suction
pressure of 10 psig and a discharge pressure of 200 psig. What is the estimated seal
chamber pressure?
Pb = 10 + .1 (200 - 10)
= 29 psig

Single Stage Double Suction Pumps

Double Suction impellers can be provided for many different pump constructions including single stage
overhung, single stage between bearings, horizontal multi-stage and vertical multi-stage. Next to the
single stage, single suction, overhung construction, the next most common pump construction is
probably the single stage, double suction impeller placed between bearings. This design requires a
mechanical seal on each side of the impeller. The seal chambers are placed adjacent to the suction
eye; therefore seal chamber pressure is the same as suction pressure.
Equation 4: Pb = Ps

Important: Seals in these pumps cannot be flushed using API Plan 13.
Example: A single stage, double suction pump has a suction pressure of 10 psig and discharge
pressure is 200 psig. What is the estimated seal chamber pressure?
Pb = 10 psig

Multi-Stage Pumps
Multi-stage pumps can be mounted horizontally or vertically. They might use single or double suction
impellers. Balance holes, wear rings, balance drums, impeller orientation and many other features are
used to control thrust and seal chamber pressure. For many of these pumps, the most important effects
on seal chamber pressure are produced by the location of the seal chamber with respect to the impeller
and the use of a balance line.

Two-Stage Horizontal Pumps

There are two distinct configurations of two stage horizontal pumps. Each has two seal chambers. The
more common design has the impellers “back to back”. In this design, the seal chambers are located
near the impeller suction eyes. This means that one seal chamber is at pump suction pressure.
Equation 5: Pb = Ps
The other seal chamber is at second stage suction (first stage discharge).
Equation 6: Pb = Ps + .5 (Pd - Ps )

2 Seal Chamber Pressure

United and Byron-Jackson each make a two stage pump with impellers “eye to eye”. In this design, the
seal chambers are located near the back of the impeller This means that one seal chamber is at the
discharge pressure of the first stage.
Equation 7:Pb = Ps + .5 (Pd - Ps )
The other seal chamber is at pump discharge pressure.
Equation 8: Pb = Pd

Important: Various bleed off lines are frequently used to lower the seal chamber pressure. See the
section on Multi-Stage pumps.
Example: A two stage United Model THF (impellers placed “eye to eye” has a suction pressure of 10
psig and a discharge pressure of 400 psig. What is the estimated seal chamber pressure?
The low pressure chamber is at (using Equation 7):
Pb = 10 + .5 (400 - 10)
= 205 psig

The high pressure chamber is at (using Equation 8):

Pb = 400 psig

Multi-Stage Horizontal Pumps

Multi-stage pumps are used to develop high pressures, but the seal chamber is not necessarily at a
high pressure. Most horizontal multi-stage pumps (boiler feedwater, pipeline) have two seal chambers:
a “low pressure” chamber at suction pressure and a “high pressure” chamber at a pressure between
suction and discharge. The low pressure chamber is at:
Equation 9: Pb = Ps
A balance line is used to reduce the pressure in the high pressure seal chamber. When the pump is in
good repair, the high pressure chamber is around:
Equation 10: Pb = Ps + 75

Important: If the balance line is not used or if the close clearance throat bushing is not maintained, then
the pressure in the high pressure seal chamber tends to approach midway between suction and
discharge pressure. That is:
Equation 11: Pb = Ps + .5 (Pd - Ps )
Example: A multi-stage pipeline pump has a suction pressure of 350 psig and a discharge pressure of
1200 psig. What is the estimated seal chamber pressure? What would the pressure be if the balance
line were not used?
For the low pressure chamber, use equation 9:
Pb = 350 psig
For the high pressure chamber, use equation 10:
Pb = 350 psig + 75
= 425 psig

Without the effects of the balance line, the high pressure chamber can reach:
Pb = 350 + .5 (1200 - 350)
= 775 psig

Seal Chamber Pressure 3

Multi-Stage Vertical Can (Turbine) Pumps
In these pumps even though the individual impellers may have balance holes and back wear rings, the
seal chamber is located in the discharge nozzle. Therefore the seal chamber pressure would be at
pump discharge pressure except for the effects of a balance, or bleed-off, line. When the pump is in
good repair, the seal chamber is around:
Equation 12: Pb = Ps + 75
Important: If the balance line is not used or if the close clearance throat bushing is not maintained, then
the seal chamber is at discharge pressure. In this case, flush plans using injection from pump discharge
(API Plan 11, 21, etc..) cannot be used.

Example: A multi-stage vertical can pump has a suction pressure of 350 psig and a discharge pressure
of 1200 psig. What is the estimated seal chamber pressure? What would the pressure be if the balance
line were not used? With the balance line:
Pb = 350 + 75
= 425 psig
Without the effects of the balance line, the chamber can reach:
Pb = 1200 psig

4 Seal Chamber Pressure

 Table 1 - Classification of Various Pumps

This table summarizes the classification of the standard construction of the more popular pump models
made by various manufacturers. Custom designs and variations are common.

Pump Manufacturer and Model Equation Remark

Bingham
CAP, CAD, CVA, HVA 1 (or 2) usually will have balance holes
CD/CDA, HS, HSA/HSB/HSD 4
MSD, CP/CPA 9, 10
BA, BK 12

Byron Jackson
SJ, SC7, IN 1 (or 2) usually will have balance holes
DSJ/DSJH 4
CMX, DVMX

Durco
Mark I, II, III 3 use C =.1 (see note 2 on page 2)

Goulds
3196, 3996 3 see note 1 on page 2
3700, 3910 1 (or 2) usually will have balance holes
3404/5, 3410, 3415, 3420, 3620 4
3640 5, 6
3300, 3600, 7200, 7500 9, 10
VIT, VIC 12

Ingersoll-Rand
A Line 1 (or 2) usually will have balance holes
S, J Line, SL 4
VOC, HOC 3 use C = .1
DA 9, 10

Pacific
SVCN, SPCN 1 (or 2) usually will have balance holes
HVC 4
ROV 5, 6
UXN, BFI, CB 9, 10

United
TC, VP, VIP 1 (or 2) usually will have balance holes
DVS, DSTC, DVSHF 4
THF 7, 8
VCD 12
MSN, WMSN 9, 10

Union
H, SRV, VLK, VCM, ULK, Uniline 1 (or 2) usually will have balance holes
HOL 4
M 9, 10
VCP 12

Wilson Snyder
ESN, ESW, VIL, VILS 1 (or 2) usually will have balance holes
DV 4
IVT 12

Seal Chamber Pressure 5

Notes:

6 Seal Chamber Pressure

 John Crane Inc.
Mechanical Maintenance Training Center
529 West Golf Road
Arlington Heights, Illinois 60005
Tel: 847-364-0577
Fax: 847-364-1677

© John Crane Inc. Seal Chamber Pressure MMTC 901-3 March 2000