Whoever coined the phrase "Don't sweat the small stuff" was likely not an engineer. Everything engineers do is ultimately defined by the success of "the small stuff" that comprises the larger design projects.
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As plants continue to consolidate and streamline operations in the search for greater efficiency, one unintended consequence is that installation and troubleshooting knowledge can be lost as maintenance personnel retire or relocate to new jobs.
Multiphase pumping applications, also referred to as tri-phase, have been growing during the past several years, especially due to increased oil drilling activity. For example, in Canada the drilling and refining of tar sands often requires the use of multiphase pumps since the fluid stream can be a mixture of gas, liquids and solids.
Many factors must be considered when selecting a sealing system for the various types of slurry services. Most important are the properties of the slurry itself and how those properties may change in service and affect seal performance.
Dry fasteners provide secure attachment without personnel safety and
environmental issues.
The conditions described in this article are some of the most common causes of failure when gas seals are applied to pumps. However, with clear identification of these conditions during seal specification, gas seal designs can be applied that mitigate these application challenges.
Galvanic corrosion is an electrochemical process that occurs between two dissimilar metals, or between a metal and a conductive non-metallic material, when both are exposed to an electrically conductive media.
The storage of mechanical seal assemblies, whether in an as received or in service condition, requires practices that prevent deterioration of critical sealing properties. Exposure to process and flush fluids can limit shelf life and reuse of some elastomeric secondary seal and gasket materials, depending on type and length of exposure.
Most shaft seals are typically placed in bores made of steel, cast iron or other common ferrous metallic material. These ferrous, or iron-containing materials, are compatible with both metal cased and rubber covered seals.
Using an evaluation and selection process, plant operators have been able to increase their mean time between repairs (MTBR) from less than one year to more than three years.
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The focus has been on the main source of the emissions—valve stem packing. Several companies have evaluated current industry standards and have crafted testing protocols specific to their application requirements.
How does FSA’s role in standards development affect the pump and seal industries?
Dry fasteners provide secure attachment without personnel safety and
environmental issues.
Why are mechanical seals still the preferred choice in the process industries?
Many factors must be considered when making this important decision. Third of Six Parts
Proper seal choice is critical for optimal compressor operation.
What should be considered for the selection of expansion joints for pumps?
Power plant slashes maintenance time and labor costs dramatically by switching to split design mechanical shaft seal.
Why don’t my PTFE gaskets seal FRP, plastic and other light load flanges?
Find a reliable dry gas seal system for any application.
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The performance of a centrifugal pump with a trimmed impeller will follow the affinity laws as long as that trim is relatively small.
Standards for repair will begin with a standard for vertical turbine pumps.The pump industry is undergoing renewed interest in the technical aspects and quality of repairs.
Charlie Jackson was unaware of any centrifugal pump manufacturer that knew how to calculate hydraulic axial thrust produced within liquid ends of their pumps.
