SULEIMANIYAH GAS POWER STATION
4 x 9FE Combustion Turbines [GE]
1
July 30, 2025
MECHANICAL SEAL PRINCIBLE
2
July 30, 2025
1. INTRODUCTION
A mechanical seal consists of a rotating element and a stationary
element. The sealing faces are highly lapped surfaces on materials selected for
their low coefficient of friction and their resistance to corrosion by the liquid being
pumped.
The faces run with a very thin film of liquid between them. In addition,
there must be a means of loading the seal. This is accomplished either with a
spring (or springs-called as multi spring) or with a flexible member of some
organic material.
Since mechanical seals are made in a wide variety of designs, the
instructions for the specific seal must be carefully studied and followed. A
mechanical seal is a precision device and must be treated accordingly.
Mechanical seals normally require no adjustment during operation.
Except for possible slight initial leakage, the seal should operate with negligible
leakage.
They should not be run dry. Seals may require a continuous supply of
flush and/or cooling liquid. Where seal damage due to system uncleanliness is
expected, it may be advisable to operate the pump with packing or temporary
seals and sleeves until the system is clean and start up problems are resolved. 3
July 30, 2025
2. BASIC PARTS OF MECHANICAL SEAL
The packing or temporary seals are normally used on systems where
the start up pumpage is different from the final process pumpage and are
replaced once the process pumpage is introduced.
All mechanical seal designs are limited in application, variables of speed,type of
fluid,fluid viscosity,differential pressure and temperature.
Depending on the severity of the application ,mechanical seals are subject to wear
with time in operation and subsequent leakage.They may require repair or
replacement periodically.
6 5 2 1 3 4
Rotating Seal face (1)
Stationary Seal face (3)
Secondary sealing elements (2+4)
Spring element (5)
Torque transmission (6)
A) Features of Seal faces
Solid, homogeny materials
Surface roughness (polished , lapped)
Hardness
Face width
Good heat dissipation
B) Types of Seal faces
Solid Seal Inserted Seal
C) Seal Face Materials
resistance to corrosion
resistance to wear
geometrical stableness
thermal conductivity
emergency running capability
price competitiveness
D) Secondary Sealing Elements
Enveloped rings
Rubber cups
Materials of sealing elements:
Elastomers:
E = Ethylen-Propylen-Dien rubber, EPDM
P = Nitril Butadien rubber( Perbunan )
V = Fluor-rubber, FPM, (Viton )
K = Perfluor-rubber, (. Kalrez, Chemraz )
Elastomers wrapped ( enveloped ):
M1 = TTV, Viton double PTFE enveloped
M2 = TTE, EPDM, double PTFE
enveloped
Non-Elastomers:
G = Statotherm, pure graphite
T = PTFE (Polytetrafluorethylen)
Y1 = Burasil, gasket asbestos free
E) Types of Springs
Helical Springs
Wave Springs
Metal Bellows
3. FUNCTION OF A SEAL
A) Features of Seal faces
Static closing force
Hydraulic closing force
Spring Media
Shaft
B) Media as a Lubricant and Coolant
Lubrication
Media
Shaft Cooling
C) Acceptable Minimal Leakage
Shaft Leakage
4. TYPES OF SEAL
A) Balance Ratio of Seal
1. Unbalanced Seals 2. Balanced Seals
• k >1 = unbalanced seal • k <1 = unbalanced seal
• used in the standard pressure • used in the high pressure
range range and for sensitive media
B) Heat developement of a Seal
Heat dissipation
Face Friction
C) Gap Deformations
Deformation due to pressure, temperature, shrink forces etc.
parallel V - gap A - gap
gap
Increased Thermal Overheating
Destruction of the
Leakage
faces
D) Leakage of Mechanical Seal
Leakage is necessary for proper seal operation.
Parameters effecting the leakage:
finish of the sliding faces
running in process
flatness of the faces
face deflections caused by thermal and
pressure loads
conditions of the secondary seals
vibrations and stability of the maschine
operation mode of the plant
characteristics of the sealed fluids
accuracy of the seal mounting and assembly
condition of the equipment
5. SEAL ARRAGNMENT
A. Externally Pressurized
Internally mounted = mounted inside the stuffingbox
• springs in product contact
• springs without product contact
B. Externally Stationary seals
• springswith product contact
• springs without product contact
C. Multiple Seals
1) Double acting seal arrangements
» Multiple seal
» Faces barrierfluid lubricated
» Back to back or face to face
» Pressurized barrierfluid ( P1 + 2..3 bar
resp. No product leakage
» For aggressive media
» For solid loaded media
» For polimerising, sticky media
» Environmental safe operation
» p.+10% over P1)
Product Atmosphere
2) Tandem arrangements
» Multiple seal
» Function as single seal with safety seal
» Quenchmedia pressureless ( standard )
» Surveyance possibility of seal
» Leakage control and drain
Product Quenchmedia
6. OPERATION TYPES OF MECHANICAL SEALS
A. Operation I Flush
» Operation with product circulation = flush
» Flushing into the stuffingbox from
discharge external source to the seal face
Flushing:
» Increase of pressure in the stuffingbox
» Temperature reduction
1 2
» Avoiding of deposits
B. Operation II Quench
Operation with an external quench
with different medias liquid steam gas
» Collection of leakage
» Prevent air contact
» Cooling / heating
» Additional lubrication
» Prevent icing
» Leakage Control
» Vacuum operation
1) Packing
2) Throttlebusch
3) Packing
4) Mechanical Seal
7. SUPPLY SYSTEMS FOR MECHANICAL SEALS
Tasks of a supply system
Supply of the buffer pressure
Dissipate the heat
Compensate leakage losses
Circulate the bufferfluid
Filter the bufferfluid if required
A. Basic Types of Supply System
(Open System)
Seal Tank
drucklos
B. Basic Types of Supply System
(Closed System)
Seal
7. FAILURES OF MECHANICAL SEALS
A) What is a seal failure
The mechanical seal is a wear part !
A seal failure can be considered if the seal show an unsatisfactory
operation much earlier than it could be expected compared to the seal
normal life expectancy.
B) Leakage Parameters
Sealface surfaces , finish of the faces
Running in process
Planity of the faces
Pressure and Temperature deformations of the faces
Vibrations and Stability of the maschine
Mode of operation of the plant
Characteristics of the media
Conditions of the secondary sealing elements
Assembly and Mounting
Condition of the equipment
C) Reasons for The Failure of a Mechanical Seal
1) Physical Reasons
Mechanical
Pressurefluctuations , boosts
Vibrations
Solids in the media
# Destruction of the faces
# Blocking of the seal
# Erosion
Wrong seal selection
Mechanical
Heat expansion , deformation
Thermal overloading of sealparts,
Elastomers, Bellows
Heat expansion , deformation
Wrong temperature for seal selection
2) Chemical Reasons
Chemical attack of the media to various seal parts
Metallparts:
selective
corrosion >> seal faces
gap corrosion
>> gaps , shrink fits
stress corrosion
>> springs
Surface
corrosion
Intercristalline
corrosion
Secondary Seals:
Swelling of
Elastomers
embrittlement of
O-rings
D) Examples of seal failures
1) Intercrystline Corrosion
2) Heatcracks in tungstencarbide face
4) Spring Damage by Vibration
5) Permanent O-ring Deformation
original cross section
6) Permanent O-ring Deformation
7) Extruded O - ring
7. REPAIR OF MECHANICAL SEALS
In general mechanical seal asa precision product should be
maintained and repaired be the manufacturer
Repair Work:
Replace or recondition sealfaces
O-rings, springs,small parts
Drivelocks
Surface coatings (Shaftsleeves)
Housing parts
Shrink fits
Optimal assembly
Pressuretest, (if possible, Cartridge seal with housing)
7. SAFE OPERATION REQUİREMENTS
Correct assembly
(Installation dimensions, tolerances etc. )
Sufficient sealfacelubrication
(lubricity of the product, vapourization in the sealgap)
Auxilliaries
(bufferfluidsupply , checking the systems )
Start up
(filling of the pump, venting etc.)