With Mechanical Seals, Cleanliness is Next to Productiveness
It's a must for the seals to withstand extreme conditions-in extremely cold surroundings, under the scorching sun, settings with abrupt temperature changes, locations with toxic chemicals, and so on. To cope with these demanding applications, sealing technology is constantly changing. New and improved seals are produced so that sealing products can last longer.
On the other hand, aside from the quality of the seals, another thing companies need to pay attention to is cleanliness. Since seals prevent liquid and gas leaks, they are constantly exposed to gas bubbles, suspended solids, hazardous chemicals, and other substances that are detrimental to the life span of mechanical seals.
Now, there are a lot of devices and cleaning liquid flush systems that keep seals clean and efficient. The problem with these solutions is that operating costs can go sky-high. Large volumes of liquid flush products alone don't come cheap.
New Concepts for the Maintenance of Mechanical Seals
Using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)-a system used to evaluate the effectiveness and circulation of coolants in dual seals-new innovations for controlling sealing environments have been developed. Dramatic improvements in sealing maintenance have resulted from these breakthrough innovations. As sealing environments became more controllable, many seals started to operate in cleaner fluid environments without having to use pricey flush systems.
One such new technology involves the use of two contacting seal rings used to process liquid. One of the rings rotates along with the shaft, while the second ring is mounted to the seal's non-rotating components. There's an Environ Seal Spiracle spiral groove bushing at the seal chamber's impeller end. Along with a Chesterton seal's rotating sleeve, this spiral groove bushing gets rid of the solid particles inside the chamber. Thus, while the seal is at work, it eliminates unnecessary solid specks at the same time.
During the experimental phase of this new system, flush fluid was used to see the effectiveness of the cleaning contraption. When flush fluid is being used, the liquid enters the machine via nine circumferential spaced inlets. The fluid then circulates throughout the flow domain, and then is expelled via the system's annular outlet. Both the flush fluid and solid particles are then expelled through the annular outlet and into the flow located behind the impeller.
Controlling Fluid Leakage with Mechanical Seals
The key to controlling fluid leaks in industrial machines, such as mixers and centrifugal pumps, is isolating the rotating shaft as well as its housing with a seal. Although mechanical seals are simple in design, they play a huge role in industrial applications. They even pose engineering challenges to designers.
One the other hand, to ensure mechanical seals stay fully operational, their critical components have to be protected from heat, friction, and other outside elements that can hasten deterioration. Seals' susceptibility to damage is aggravated by thermophile surroundings in which they operate.
Based on experience, industry experts have found that cooler environments allow mechanical seals to deliver more stable performance. Plus, wear and tear is reduced. However, the thing is mechanical seals absolutely have to be subjected to demanding, extreme conditions. A combination of top-quality materials and highly effective cleaning systems should allow mechanical seals to perform at their optimal level.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6620927
It's a must for the seals to withstand extreme conditions-in extremely cold surroundings, under the scorching sun, settings with abrupt temperature changes, locations with toxic chemicals, and so on. To cope with these demanding applications, sealing technology is constantly changing. New and improved seals are produced so that sealing products can last longer.
On the other hand, aside from the quality of the seals, another thing companies need to pay attention to is cleanliness. Since seals prevent liquid and gas leaks, they are constantly exposed to gas bubbles, suspended solids, hazardous chemicals, and other substances that are detrimental to the life span of mechanical seals.
Now, there are a lot of devices and cleaning liquid flush systems that keep seals clean and efficient. The problem with these solutions is that operating costs can go sky-high. Large volumes of liquid flush products alone don't come cheap.
New Concepts for the Maintenance of Mechanical Seals
Using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)-a system used to evaluate the effectiveness and circulation of coolants in dual seals-new innovations for controlling sealing environments have been developed. Dramatic improvements in sealing maintenance have resulted from these breakthrough innovations. As sealing environments became more controllable, many seals started to operate in cleaner fluid environments without having to use pricey flush systems.
One such new technology involves the use of two contacting seal rings used to process liquid. One of the rings rotates along with the shaft, while the second ring is mounted to the seal's non-rotating components. There's an Environ Seal Spiracle spiral groove bushing at the seal chamber's impeller end. Along with a Chesterton seal's rotating sleeve, this spiral groove bushing gets rid of the solid particles inside the chamber. Thus, while the seal is at work, it eliminates unnecessary solid specks at the same time.
During the experimental phase of this new system, flush fluid was used to see the effectiveness of the cleaning contraption. When flush fluid is being used, the liquid enters the machine via nine circumferential spaced inlets. The fluid then circulates throughout the flow domain, and then is expelled via the system's annular outlet. Both the flush fluid and solid particles are then expelled through the annular outlet and into the flow located behind the impeller.
Controlling Fluid Leakage with Mechanical Seals
The key to controlling fluid leaks in industrial machines, such as mixers and centrifugal pumps, is isolating the rotating shaft as well as its housing with a seal. Although mechanical seals are simple in design, they play a huge role in industrial applications. They even pose engineering challenges to designers.
One the other hand, to ensure mechanical seals stay fully operational, their critical components have to be protected from heat, friction, and other outside elements that can hasten deterioration. Seals' susceptibility to damage is aggravated by thermophile surroundings in which they operate.
Based on experience, industry experts have found that cooler environments allow mechanical seals to deliver more stable performance. Plus, wear and tear is reduced. However, the thing is mechanical seals absolutely have to be subjected to demanding, extreme conditions. A combination of top-quality materials and highly effective cleaning systems should allow mechanical seals to perform at their optimal level.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6620927
No comments:
Post a Comment