Thames Barrier seals are replaced after 20 years of service
- Publisher
- Elsevier Science
- Year
- 2009
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 87 KB
- Volume
- 2009
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 1350-4789
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
Thames Barrier seals are replaced after 20 years of service S eals that are part of the hydraulic system which opens and closes the Thames Barrier's gates are being replaced.
Absolute reliability is needed from the hydraulic cylinders that lift the barrier's massive gates which protect London against surge tides or flooding.
'For over 20 years the same 16 sets of James Walker hydraulic seals have worked in the heat of summer and freezing winter conditions to open and close the barrier's four main 3300tonne gates,' commented Murray Crozier, regional sales executive for James Walker.
'These seals are now being replaced as part of the cylinder refurbishment project.'
Each cylinder uses a Solosele G single element seal with a block ring, and a Twinset packing set, all of 1.1-m diameter, plus a Chevron multi-lip packing set, 431 mm in diameter.
Used seals from the barrier have been examined by James Walker Technology Centre to determine their condition. All were found to be within the customer's original tolerance limits, and in good working order. There was little evidence of wear or damage to the seals, apart from slight scoring on the lip of a Solosele G and some minute specks of metal imprinted on its circumference.
Andy Parkinson, James Walker's business development manager for heavy-duty hydraulics, explained: 'These are the worst possible working conditions for hydraulic seals. They sit in the same position during long periods of inactivity, then they must work faultlessly when needed.'