Abstract: This article provides in-depth analysis of the main causes of mechanical seal leakage and offers practical maintenance and preventive measures to help customers reduce equipment downtime risk.
Mechanical seal leakage is one of the most common problems in chemical equipment operation, affecting production efficiency while potentially creating safety hazards and environmental risks. Understanding leakage causes and adopting correct countermeasures is crucial.
Four Major Causes of Leakage Analysis
- Damage to Seal Face Flatness: Uneven scratches or cut marks appear on seal faces, typically caused by seal box deformation, uneven bolt tightening, or thermal expansion differences during hot installation.
- Seal Face Lubrication Failure: Destruction of the end face liquid film leads to dry friction, causing instantaneous wear, increased roughness of seal faces, and even cracks in hard materials. This is usually related to sealing fluid evaporation or inadequate cooling.
- Dynamic Component Failure: Long-term operation causes O-ring wear and hardening, spring obstruction, loss of control in sliding components, and consequently loss of follow-up capability.
- Multiple Factor Accumulation: Various problems such as dry friction, poor sliding, and deformation occur simultaneously, often resulting from fatigue, uneven pressure, or liquid film destruction.
Innovative Repair Technologies
In response to these issues, the industry has developed multiple advanced repair technologies:
- High-hardness Composite Coating On-site Repair Process: Repairs damaged seal faces without equipment disassembly
- Multi-point Laser Calibration System and Segmented Balanced Tightening Process: Ensures installation accuracy and avoids deformation
- Parameter Monitoring and Buffer Protection Devices: Real-time monitoring of operating status to prevent leakage occurrence
Preventive Measures Recommendations
- Select O-rings with good wear resistance and excellent elasticity (fluororubber, polytetrafluoroethylene, etc.)
- Prioritize stationary-type mechanical seals to avoid high-speed rotation affecting follow-up capability
- Configure comprehensive sealing fluid cooling systems to prevent dry friction
- Strengthen routine inspections to promptly identify and address abnormal parameters