Besides oil and gas, chemicals, and power generation, mechanical seals are also present in many other industries, each with its own requirements for hygiene, wear, durability, and cost. This article introduces the common industries and things to note when choosing seals.
The top requirement is hygiene and non-contamination of products. Seals need to have materials that meet food or pharmaceutical contact standards, easy-to-clean surfaces, and withstand on-site cleaning (CIP) and steam sterilization (SIP) processes. For sterile processes, double seals with liquid barriers of water or steam are often used to prevent microbial invasion.
The environment with dust, sand, and solid particles causes very strong wear. Seal faces made of silicon carbide or tungsten carbide and designs that prevent particle jamming help increase lifespan. For large slurry pumps, split seals and clean water flush are common solutions.
Clean water pumps require simple, reasonably priced seals, while wastewater pumps need seals that can withstand fibers, sediments, and suspended solids. Split seals facilitate convenient maintenance for large pumps that are difficult to disassemble.
Pulp with high fiber content and concentration can clog and jam seals. It is necessary to design seals with spacious areas for fibers, clean flush, and wear-resistant materials.
Seals for ship propulsion systems and ballast pumps must withstand seawater, vibration, and limited installation space. Split seals and seawater corrosion-resistant materials are common choices.
Tunnel boring machines (TBM) require seals to protect the main bearing from mud, soil, and water under high pressure, demanding very high durability and wear resistance.
Cooling water pumps, pickling pumps, and water treatment pumps with solid particles or high temperatures require seals that can withstand heat and wear.
SNS-VN supports consulting on choosing mechanical seals for various industries. Please contact us and let us know the medium, equipment, and operating conditions to receive suitable advice.