How To Select the Right Sealing Technology for an Application

It’s no secret that selecting the most effective sealing technology is the first step in increasing rotating equipment reliability. However, with so many options available like braided compression packing, mechanical seals, and air seals, making this high-stakes decision can be paralyzing.

In a recent pumpsandsystems.com article, SEPCO’s Steve Hall and Chuck Tanner breakdown how to match sealing technology to the appropriate industrial application to decrease downtime and increase overall system reliability.

What Factors Must Be Considered When Selecting a Seal?

So, how do end users and equipment manufacturers determine the best sealing technology? The potential applications can be broken down into three categories:

• Environmentally Safe Fluids: “Clean, environmentally safe fluids can often be sealed with braided compression packing. Hundreds of packing fibers are available, and these can be combined with several different lubricants and coatings for compatibility […] In instances where leakage from the stuffing box is prohibited or not ideal, a mechanical seal may be used instead.”
• Environmentally Hazardous Fluids: “Hazardous or corrosive fluids must be sealed with a double seal configuration and be lubricated with an exterior barrier fluid, such as water, synthetic lubricant, or glycol. Another option is magnetically sealing these applications.”
• Dry Powders or Heavy Mixtures: “Mixers, blenders, agitators and screw conveyors are some equipment types that move or mix powders or heavy slurries […] For these applications, a recommended solution is the noncontact air seal.”

Read the complete article on pumpsandsystems.com to learn more!