Troubleshooting Mechanical Seals Overview

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Troubleshooting Mechanical Seals

DISCLAIMER

While the FSA makes every reasonable attempt to ensure that the information contained in this document is accurate and current, the FSA, its officers, directors, volunteers, and authorized agents are not responsible for any errors or omissions contained therein nor are they responsible for any results obtained from the use of or reliance upon its content. All information is provided “AS IS,” with no guarantee of completeness, accuracy, timeliness or of the results obtained, and without warranty of any kind, express or implied. In no event shall FSA or its officers, directors, volunteers, or authorized agents be liable to you or anyone else for any decision made or action taken in reliance on the information con tained herein or for any for any consequential, indirect, special, or similar damages, even if advised of the possibility of such damages. The informa tion contained in this document is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. It also includes references to certa in standards that may change over time and should be interpreted only in light of particular circumstances. It is your sole responsibility to confi rm the current state of any referred to standards. FSA reserves the right to modify or update the document content and to modify this Disclaimer at any t ime, effective upon posting of an updated version of this Disclaimer.

© (April, 2023), Fluid Sealing Association. All Rights Reserved.

This Fluid Sealing Association Knowledge Series training provides an overview of the importance of troubleshooting failed mechanical seals to identify and repair system causes that will extend seal life and mean time between failures/repair.

Troubleshooting Benefits

▪ Seals are expected to achieve their MTBPM (Mean Time Between Planned Maintenance) when operated within their design specifications

▪ Failure occurs when leakage exceeds plant/site operating limits

▪ Mechanical seals are a major cause of failure in rotary liquid handling equipment

▪ Reinstalling a seal after failure without troubleshooting will likely lead to the same mode of failure

▪ Understanding the mode of failure can lead to increased life of the equipment

Causes of Mechanical Seal failures

▪ Incorrect selection of design or material for the application, temperature, speeds and fluid properties

▪ Abuse of seal component before installation

▪ Erroneous installation

▪ Improper start-up, operation or environmental controls

▪ Contamination of the sealed fluid

▪ Excessive shaft runout, deflection, vibration

▪ End of service life

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