Why High-Speed Single Seals Often Fail in Seawater Injection Pumps

A technical document from Flowserve's sealing division analyzes the case of a single seal (Arrangement 1) operating in the short term in a high-speed seawater pump, and draws notable lessons.

Harsh operating conditions

Pumps are often high-pressure, high-speed pumps. The high peripheral speed creates significant centrifugal force and rapid flow around the seal, subjecting the seal to severe conditions.

Key findings

• The seal has a short lifespan and the seal face is heavily worn.
• The seal chamber pressure must be maintained at a sufficiently high level, usually thanks to a booster pump on the suction side, to prevent the seal face from drying out.
• During startup, if the pressure is not sufficient, the seal face may be subject to a similar effect as running dry.

Remedial measures

Check the startup procedure and suction pressure, select a high-speed seal face technology instead of a conventional flat face, and maintain a stable seal chamber condition.

Note

This is an analysis from a specific technical document, actual results vary from pump to pump.

Reference

Flowserve's technical document on Arrangement 1 seals in pumping services. The article is compiled and reinterpreted by SNS-VN; brand names belong to their owners.