Alb Mod Mechanical Seal Flashcards
Mechanical seals are designed:
Not to leak, or to minimize leaking
When pumps are used for fire safety, laws state that mechanical seals are prohibited. Why?
When the seal fails, it fails completely
Mechanical seals are made up of four basic types of components: (4)
- Primary sealing faces
- Mechanism for holding faces together
- set of secondary seals
- metal components, set screws, springs, etc.
What are the 6 styles of secondary seals?
- Square/gasket packing
- v packing
- u cups
- PTFE (teflon) wedges
- delta rings
- O rings
What are the 5 sealing points on a mechanical seal?
- Primary seal faces
- Secondary sealing faces around stationary face
- Secondary sealing faces around rotating face
- between gland and pump
- If a shaft sleeve is used, the point between shaft and sleeve
Sealing at the primary faces is accomplished by the two faces, being extremely flat and smooth, being pushed together by ____ force
axial
The primary sealing faces are pushed together via: (3)
- Springs
- Bellows
- Product pressure
What are the 3 factors that govern the amount of friction at the sealing faces? (3)
- Seal ring material
- smoothness and flatness of seal faces
- closing force
Mechanical seals may be lubricated by what sources: (2)
- Pumped product, if compatible
- External supply
Gas lubricated seals are designed so the faces never come into contact with each other while running. This is accomplished via:
Gas grooves
Note: Only a few microns deep
The gap of a gas lubricated seal is due to aerodynamic lift off, provided via the rotation of the shaft, and is typically ____” to ____”
0.0001” to 0.0002”
Note: Clearance is set when the closing mechanism pressure is equal to the forces of the gas film
Primary sealing faces are lapped and polished to what degree?
between one and two light bands
In emergencies, sealing faces can be hand lapped to:
3 light bands
It is common practice to have the sealing faces made of dissimilar materials to prevent:
Galling/adhesion
The softer sealing face usually has a ____ seal face area
smaller
What are three considerations to take into account when selecting a material for a seal face? (3)
- corrosive properties of the liquid
- temperature of the pumped product
- Lubricity of the material
This secondary seal can be used in both static and dynamic applications. Their ability to flex and slide axially allows them to tolerate slight misalignment and shaft endplay. Can be used for both pusher and non pusher seals.
O ring
This secondary seal is designed to be pushed against the rotating carbon face without over stressing or breaking the primary seal. Used on pusher seals. Can only take pressure in one direction and cannot be used in a vacuum situation. Not tolerant of any misalignment or axial movement.
PTFE wedge
This secondary seal is usually made of PTFE. It is an automatic type of packing, as in the pressure in the seal chamber aids in the sealing. Uses multiple springs and can be used where space is a concern. Should not be used in vacuum situations, unless turned around for an exclusively vacuum situation
V-rings
This secondary seal is used mostly on pusher-type mechanical seals and are automatic, as in, they use the system pressure to aid in sealing. Uses an energizer/spreader ring to keep the seal loaded. Cannot be turned around to accommodate a vacuum situation.
U-Cups
A pusher seal is so called because its secondary seal is pushed back and forth axially. This movement:
maintains constant contact at the seal faces
Note: to compensate for wear and misalignment
The most commonly used pushing mechanisms are: (2)
- Single spring
- Multiple springs
With pusher seals, the constant axial movement of the secondary seals allows dirt to imbed in the packing, which:
causes the packing to act as an abrasive, fretting the shaft or sleeve
Single spring closing mechanisms incorporate a single coil spring of a large diameter wire. This style is: (3)
- Easy to use
- resists corrosion
- less susceptible to clogging
Single spring closing mechanisms are at a disadvantage because: (3)
- More axial length is needed to accommodate the spring
- Different springs needed for different size shafts
- Uneven face loading and distortion at high speeds
What are 3 advantages of multiple spring closing mechanisms? (3)
- Require less operating length
- Face loading is more evenly distributed
- # of springs can be varied to alter the face loading
What are two disadvantages of multiple spring closing mechanisms? (2)
- More susceptible to corrosion
- Tendency to clog
Non pusher seals are also called:
Bellows
Non pusher seals differ from pusher seals in that:
The secondary shaft seal is static and does not move axially on the shaft
Bellows seals are inherently:
Hydraulically balanced
Note: Meaning an increase in fluid chamber pressure does not lead to overloading of seal faces
Rubber (elastomer) diaphragm seals are the most common and use the rubber as a:
friction drive
Note: the rubber swells in contact with the liquid (3-5%) and vulcanizes to the shaft
Diaphragm/bellows provides the drive and acts as a secondary seal. A single spring is used to keep the seal faces loaded in low pressure as well as to:
help position during assembly
_____ seals are used in conditions where no available metals can handle the mediums corrosive environment. Made from virgin material, glass fillers are added to provide rigidity and reduce cold flow characteristics. Used on outside mounted seals.
PTFE bellows seals
_____ occurs when PTFE extrudes when clamped and slippage occurs between the seal and the shaft. TO prevent this, a metal clamping ring is used.
Cold flow
With any outside mounted seal, seal failure causes the product to:
Leak out from the rotating seal
____ seals are made up of a series of metal plates welded together at the inside and outside diameters. Can be made of any weldable metal. Loading of the seal faces is accomplished by the spring action of the bellows. Bellows capsule is one piece and provides even pressure along the primary seal ring.
Welded metal bellows seals
Some of the advantages of welded metal bellows seals are: (3)
- Used in high pressure high temperature
- do not require a secondary dynamic seal
- are hydraulically balanced