Seal away pump worries with innovative technology that boosts reliability and makes downtime nearly disappear.
Pump installation and maintenance in the water and wastewater industry present many challenges. Seal fatigue and breakdown inevitably lead to pump downtime and substantial labour and maintenance costs.
Technological advances have brought proven solutions that can dramatically reduce seal installation time, pump maintenance, and the likelihood of asset failure.
Advanced seal technology and configuration solutions
While mechanical seals only represent a small proportion of a pump’s overall acquisition cost, their failure can amount to significant expenditure. The key to reliability lies in maximising pump life, which can be effectively achieved with two simple yet highly effective solutions.
Split seals and active throat bushing technology considerably improve overall equipment reliability. Together, they enhance the seal environment with minimal or no flush water requirements and dramatically decrease the efforts (and costs) spent on pump maintenance.
Split seal technology
As the name suggests, split seals are split into at least two elements. They perform the same role as standard mechanical seals and can be utilised in the same locations (on rotating equipment). However, the most significant advantage offered is that no equipment disassembly is required to fit a split seal, and no additional expertise is needed.
Other advantages include the provision of a leak-free or virtually leak-free seal that will last for years. It can eliminate excessive shaft or sleeve wear while minimising the corrosion of essential assets. By providing solids handling capabilities, systems benefit from fewer clean-ups and fewer issues surrounding the disposal of products through the seal.
This further decreases the volume of water used to flush the system, as well as reducing a range of associated costs with maintaining pump systems. As a result, the return on investment increases significantly, providing better financial outcomes for shareholders.
Active throat bushing technology
The environment around the seal directly impacts its lifespan and reliability. The two most significant issues are contamination and heat. The traditional approach is an external flush – generally water – with the hope that this provides cooling, prevents abrasives from degrading the seal, and reduces the build-up of solids.
Despite such efforts, it’s common for seals to fail, mainly due to ineffective cooling and poor lubrication.
Active throat bushing is a cutting-edge technology that addresses heat and contaminant issues in one straightforward solution. It removes particulate contamination from the stuffing box and away from the seal, allows air to escape the stuffing box upon flooding and creates adequate circulation around the seal to minimise heat buildup.
This technology has far-reaching advantages. It dramatically simplifies operations, saves money by reducing the need for constant seal replacements, and promotes environmentally responsible practices.
The advantages of these dual technologies for water and wastewater processing are remarkable. Both are proven and in use globally, offering substantial savings on energy, running costs and asset maintenance.
This article is an excerpt from Chesterton’s e-book on how advanced sealing technologies can help maximise the life of your pumps and other rotating equipment in water and wastewater plants. To learn more, scan the QR code to download the free e-book in full.
