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Our plant is installing several John Crane 2800 dry running gas seals. My question is what everybody is using for the purge gas. We started out using nitrogen but are looking at natural gas now. Does anybody have experience with using natural gas in this application, or any reasons for not using it.
Thanks!
Jack Carlson

The majority of industry utilize nitrogen as the gas supply because it is typically a cleaner and drier source. Some plants have used plant-air in the past, but there are simply too many particulates and impurities that can cuase damage to the face surface. In addition there seems to be added mositure which can fill the grooves and result in adequate lift-off.

Whatever the source, be sure that your gas control panel utilizes a coalescing filter and that your operations group constantly monitor/maintain the equipment.