Where have we been, and where should we be going? You've been using mechanical seals for many years now. Over the years you've witnessed many design changes, but have there been any real improvements in seal performance, or is your increased seal life coming from the use of environmental controls, such as flushing, quenching and the use of jacketed stuffing boxes? I'm going to attempt to list the most significant improvements in the basic design of mechanical seals and give you some ideas as to where the sealing industry should be spending their development dollars. Here are some of the...
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Lubricating the rubber parts of the seal. Lubricants are used on the elastomers to make installation easier, but you must be careful: - Any petroleum lubricant will damage an ethylene propylene (EPR) o-ring causing it to "swell up". This failure usually occurs within five days. The flexible seal components will "lock up" and prevent the lapped faces from staying together; - Silicone grease can prevent the rubber bellows in some seal designs from sticking to the shaft. The proper lubricant is designed to cause the bellows to "swell up" and attach its self to the rotating shaft; - If you...
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