How to Extend the Service Life of Mechanical Seals?

To extend the service life of mechanical seals, it is necessary to control the entire process of selection, installation, operation and maintenance. The core is to ensure that the seals always operate stably under suitable working conditions and minimize abnormal wear to the greatest extent.

Specific measures can be taken from the following four key links:

1. Accurate Selection is the Foundation: Selecting seals that match the actual working conditions is a prerequisite for extending their service life.
- Medium Adaptation: Choose corrosion-resistant materials (such as fluororubber, silicon carbide) or seals with particle flushing structures based on the corrosiveness, viscosity, and solid content of the medium.
- Parameter Matching: Select the corresponding seal structure and elastic components according to the operating temperature and pressure of the equipment to avoid seal failure due to over-temperature or over-pressure.
2. Standardized Installation is the Key: Incorrect installation will directly shorten the seal life. Attention should be paid during installation:
- Ensure Coaxiality: The coaxiality error between the seal shaft and the seal chamber should be controlled within the specified range (usually ≤ 0.1mm) to avoid uneven end face wear caused by eccentricity.
- Control Compression Amount: Strictly adjust the compression amount of the seal according to the instructions. Excessive compression will increase frictional heat generation, while insufficient compression will fail to form an effective seal.
- Cleanliness and No Impurities: Thoroughly clean the seal chamber, shaft sleeve and other components before installation to prevent impurities from entering the seal end face and causing scratch wear.
3. Optimizing Operating Conditions is the Core: Reduce the working load of the seals by improving the operating environment.
- Control Medium State: Avoid sudden changes in medium temperature and pressure. For media containing particles, install filtering or flushing devices to reduce the scouring of particles on the seal face.
- Avoid Dry Friction: Ensure the seal chamber is filled with medium before starting the equipment, or use auxiliary systems (such as liquid priming, heating) to prevent dry grinding of the seal end face.
4. Regular Maintenance is the Guarantee: Establish a sound maintenance mechanism to promptly identify and solve potential problems.
- Daily Inspection: Regularly check the leakage amount and temperature of the seals. If increased leakage or overheating of the end face is found, stop the machine for inspection in time.
- Regular Replacement of Wear Parts: Replace the elastic components (such as O-rings, springs) of the seals in advance according to the service cycle to avoid deterioration of seal performance due to elastic failure.
- Record Operating Data: Record the service time and working condition changes of the seals to provide reference for subsequent selection and maintenance.