Dynamic sealing
Packing settles Cutting hydraulic powder problem piston leakage
James Walker reports on how its Compression Packing Division was able to resolve a problem for Janssen Pharmaceutics, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, which develops health products for human and veterinary applications.
At its main plant in Geel, about 40 km east Antwerp, Janssen Pharmaceutics operates a series of centrifuges where powders are mixed and dried. Tanks range in diameter from 1.5 m to 2 m, with lids that can be closed by hand or hydraulic ram.
The company was buying preformed lid seals with a silicone rubber core wrapped with etched PTFE foil. But they were not the exact diameter, which caused problems during seal fitting and operation.
Louis Serneels of James Walker Belgium, with technical advice from Andrew Goulding, general manager of James Walker's compression packing division recommended a trial with Tankatite@ 250. This was an immediate technical success, and after some minor adjustments it is now the specified packing for all centrifuges at Janssen Pharmaceutics.
For the majority of production batches, 30 mm x 10 mm Tankatite 250, with a nitrile and neoprene rubber core is supplied in lenght form, cut and joined on site. The same packing with an EP rubber core is fitted when chemical resistance is a problem.