Simply put, a mechanical seal is a way to keep fluid inside a container (usually a pump, mixer, etc.) where a rotating shaft passes through a stationary housing or sporadically where the housing spins around the pole.
Sealing water is necessary to efficiently operate many pumping arrangements, including packing seals and mechanical seals. Seal water has three main functions: to lubricate the seal, to drain contaminants from the system, and to cool the seal and the shaft.
This post will give more input about slurry pump seal and their applications. So, keep reading.
What is a Slurry Pump Seal?
Slurry mechanical seals are doubled, semi-cartridge balanced seals designed to operate under challenging slurries without requiring a flush. The slurry mechanical seals have a unique, product-isolated, non-clogging spring. These are explicitly employed with media that contains solid particles and abrasives sands mining facilities must have a steady supply of clean groundwater. Slurry pumps’ seals are pushed with pressurized gland water to keep them free of bitumen, sand, and particles.
The slurry pumps used in oil sand mining include mechanical gland water seals. The slurry used in the abrasive process doesn’t get on the shaft because clean, pressurized gland water is fed into the stuffing box.
What are the Different Kinds of Slurry Pump Seal?
Single mechanical seal.
The most typical type of seal is a single mechanical seal, which is used to keep liquid inside the pump head and prevent leakage through the back of the pump casing, where entry is made by the shaft that is powered by a motor.
The seal comprises a rotating assembly that rotates in tandem with the shaft’s rotation, a fixed portion that is cooled by the liquid being pumped, and a spring that keeps the seal compressed and, most importantly, airtight. Machined Seals
A seal quench is created when pipes are connected to a mechanical seal. This lets high-temperature liquids be pumped while being cooled. When pumping abrasive liquids, seal quenchers can use freshwater for cooling and barrier fluids to keep the mechanical seal faces clean. Pump Having a QuenchThe second seal has a barrier fluid that keeps the faces clean and lubricated so that the seal doesn’t break.
Double mechanical seal
refers to using two mechanical seals inside a pump. As with the mechanical seal described above, the first seal keeps the fluid inside the pump. The mechanical seals would run dry and stop working without this liquid.
Cartridge seal:
Before inserting a mechanical seal into a pump, its clearances should be established. Clearances don’t have to be established by using a cartridge because the device is already put together, saving time on-site for labor-intensive assembly and spring setup.
Packed gland:
A packed gland is created when a shaft is wrapped in a braided material that resembles a flat rope. When glands are packed, it is also known as “stuffing” because it is frequently wrapped around the shaft and placed inside a space called a stuffing box.
To prevent burning, packed glands must slightly leak to allow cooling from direct contact with the shaft, and over time, shafts do deteriorate. Packed glands had a long history of use as they were utilized before mechanical seals were created.
As a cheaper alternative to expensive flushing liquids or double mechanical seals. They are still used in some boiler feed pumps where seal failure is common due to overheating, cavitation, or high levels of fine solids. It has rigid vanes attached to the back of a disc and resembles another impeller in appearance.
Expeller seal
An expeller seal is a way to seal a shaft. Instead of a mechanical seal or gland packing, an expeller, a spinning part, is put in the place of the mechanical seal or gland packing. I As it rotates, the rigid vanes lower shaft pressure, forming a dry seal around the shaft without the use of a gasket or packing.
What are the Functions of a Slurry Pump Seal?
In rotating equipment, seals are employed to stop fluid leaks. A seal keeps (dirty) water out of the installation and lubricants, like oil and grease, from entering the surrounding area.
With the least amount of friction, it allows the pump shaft to revolve within its sleeve. It stops the slurry from recirculating and harming the shaft’s seals. It permits a small degree of cooling of the pump shaft, which warms up due to its rapid rotation.
How Long Do Pump Seals Typically Last?
Most seal manufacturers say that if the seal is used within one of these limits, it will last at least two years and, in the case of certain seal types, at least three years, like those described in Standard API 682
Normal Wear and Tear: It is best to replace your slurry pump seal every two to three years because most OEM seals break and start leaking after about 7,500 operating hours, or about three years, on the average pool in Florida.
What is the Most Prevalent Reason for Pump Leaks?
- Seal material deterioration. A pump shaft is constantly enclosed with materials to keep it airtight. No matter what type of seal your pump employs, there is typically friction (contact) between the shaft and seal.
All shaft seal materials, including mechanical, and gland packing, deteriorate due to conflict. When the material has less friction on the shaft, the seal wears more slowly and lasts longer.
The hardest part is determining when maintenance has to be planned since the seal is worn out. To replace your seal as late as possible, you want it to endure as long as feasible.
By keeping an eye on the drain flow (MTBM), you can decrease the chance of a sudden pump failure and lengthen the time between repairs.
You can use a digital flow meter or a bucket and timer to manually check the seal’s health.
Dry Running Fluids are usually needed for a slurry pump seal to keep the parts around the shaft from getting too dry. The seal goes dry if no liquids are available to lubricate it, which increases friction and heat.
Because of the pressure, the seal will burn or melt, which will damage it and cause fluid to leak. Because of the pressure, the seal will burn or melt, which will damage it and cause fluid to leak. Even a short time of running dry can cause heat cracks or blisters, which can lead to a leaking pump shaft seal. Restarting the pump following maintenance causes the majority of dry-running failures.
Tremors and shocks
- The shaft might have significant axial and radial play due to excessive shocks and vibrations. This causes improper alignment and increased fluid leakage. The life of the seal can be cut short by bad alignment, bad operating conditions, or working the pump past its best efficiency point (BEP). If your pump has to work in tough conditions (like dredge pumps), make sure your seal can handle more than average axial and radial play.
They are deteriorating. The bearings experience wear from friction as the shaft rotates—the shaft swings when the bearings are worn out. Vibrations brought on by the shaft’s movement will leak the slurry pump seal, as mentioned in the previous section.
Pressure changes or increases
Wear will accelerate if your pump must deal with pressure fluctuations or spikes. Fluid leakage will increase due to the changing operating circumstances. Rubber lip seals are less prone to this problem and, thus, more forgiving in these conditions.
Summarize
In today’s technologically advanced and competitive world, the centrifugal pump is used more than any other type of pump. This is because it has many advantages, such as a low initial cost, buildare built, centrifugal pumps can be used for all kinds of pumping jobs.
When pumping slurries, there are a number of problems that can happen. But if you use the right engineering and equipment, you can work for a long time without worrying. When pumping slurries, there are a number of problems that can happen. But if you use the right engineering and equipment, you can work for a long time without worrying.
When choosing a slurry pump, it is important to work with a trained engineer because the wrong slurries can do a lot of damage to the pump.
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