Don’t be so quick to blame your mechanical seal manufacturers if your seal fails to stick. A mechanical seal failure might be an indication of something bigger. It’s, therefore, crucial to take your seal failure seriously. Rather than simply replacing it with a new seal, make sure to get to the bottom of this. Here are some of the potential issues indicated by your seal failure.
Operating Conditions of the System
Ensure that the operating conditions such as the temperature, pressure, speed, torque are within the operating specifications. Also, check that the operating specifications of the pump meet the operating specifications of the seal for the seal to be compatible with the process.
If the seal fails because the pump isn’t operating within operating conditions, you need to find the reason for the changes in operating conditions. Changing the seal alone won’t solve the issue.
Vibrations
A mechanical seal can fail due to extreme vibrations. This can be due to improper shaft alignment, pump imbalance, and operating your pump too far from the Best Efficiency Point (BFP). Make sure to fix these issues before you install another seal. This can be just as damaging to the new seal.
Avoiding Seal Flush Plans
Seal flushing plans are an essential, especially for slurry pumps. It’s crucial to have seal flushing to avoid the accumulation of solid waste. If you don’t have a seal flushing plan in place or have been avoiding it for a while, your seal failure can very well be due to this. Establish a flushing plan and make sure to follow it to extend the service life of your new seal.
Misalignment of the Shaft
Misalignment of the shaft can also play a part in the failure of your mechanical seal. Excessive misalignment can cause the seal components to come in contact with the shaft, the stuffing box or the sleeve causing damage to the seal and the pump. Make sure you don’t have alignment issues. Installing a new seal without solving the issue will lead to the same outcomes.
Incorrect Seal Installation
The failure can be because the seal that you installed was not compatible with your system. It’s crucial to ensure that you’re installing the right seal for your processes. Some of the things to check before you install the seal are:
- Operating specification of the pump and the seal
- Material integrity of the seal and the process fluid properties
- Operating conditions of the process
- Alignment of the equipment
If you install the same seal again without considering the reason for the failure, you’ll end up with the same consequences.
If you’re looking for the best mechanical sealing in Houston, Texas, contact Robco of America. We’re a mechanical seal company that offers the best-engineered sealing solutions. We provide mechanical seals and services for all your industrial sealing needs. For more information, check out our services or call us at 1-800-662-0585.
