Applying mechanical seals to centrifugal pumps

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 2000
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 588 KB
• Volume: 2000
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0262-1762
• DOI: 10.1016/s0262-1762(00)88870-7

✦ Synopsis

Applying mechanical seals to centrifugal pumps

Understanding the variety of conditions a mechanical seal may potentially encounter is essential to satisfactory and reliable sealing of a centrifugal pump. Stan Shiels discusses how these potential variations are assessed and the key areas which must be addressed.

The key areas affecting the success of a mechanical seal application in a centrifugal pump are:

• The hydraulic characteristics of the pump. • The variations of conditions which the pump & seal will encounter. • The flushing arrangements used to control the seal environment. • The seal design.

Definition of the fluid characteristics and the pump hydraulic specification is not sufficient for an optimised seal application. Knowledge of the pump operating envelope and the potential variations in seal cavity fluid condition associated with the extremes of suction and discharge conditions must also be known.

Typical pusher seal and bellows seal cross-sections are illustrated in Figures 1 & 2 to assist in understanding of the various concepts discussed.