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.
First of Six Parts
Follow the major developments in seal technology
This month's "Sealing Sense" was prepared by FSA member Larry Sheffield.
Proper safety precautions for selecting, installing and maintaining seal systems
In some cases, diluent fluids may be left unrecovered in the process stream, acting as a tolerable contaminant even though it ultimately reduces the purity, quality and value of the final product. A more efficient system is illustrated in Figure 4. It minimizes the amount of diluents that is introduced into the process fluid. pump system optimization
As we learned last month, carbon/graphite fiber packings have proven to be effective solutions to many common sealing applications. This time, we have learned that flexible graphite packings appear to have become the packings of choice when sealing fugitive emissions, high heat media, and rotating equipment with limited cooling or flush available.
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.
Gas lubricated seals are relatively recent developments in pump seal technology. They provide a new approach to double seals for controlling pump emissions, minimizing heat generation and reducing power consumption.
Distributors play a vital role in keeping the lines between manufacturers and users operating smoothly. They can expedite response times, enhance a company's reach and even create value-added packages.
Today's technology has still not perfected reduced contamination sources from mechanical seals. In sanitary pharmaceutical applications, gas seals and "carbon free" seal technologies are becoming more common. New technologies and sealing methodologies are needed to address additional pharmaceutical concerns.
A major concern of U.S. petroleum refineries and chemical process plants is regulatory compliance. Federal, state, special regulatory district and consent decree mandates require compliance of all regulations with the 1990 Clean Air Act (CAA). Petroleum refineries were an early priority target for the EPA. It is likely that chemical process plants will become the next focus of EPA attention.
