Mechanical Seal Maintenance Guide: Best Practices for Optimal Performance

Mechanical Seal Maintenance Guide: Best Practices for Optimal Pump Performance

Proper mechanical seal maintenance ensures reliable pump operation, minimizes leaks, and extends equipment lifespan. Follow these steps for mechanical seal inspection, installation, shutdown, and operation to achieve optimal performance. For industry standards, refer to pump maintenance standards at Pumps & Systems.

Before Startup: Pre-Installation Checks

1. Comprehensive Inspection
   Inspect mechanical seals, accessories, and pipeline installations to ensure they are complete and meet technical requirements. Remind him to verify all components are correctly installed to prevent mechanical seal failure.
2. Hydrostatic Test
   Conduct a static pressure test at 2-3 kg/cm² to check for leaks. If significant leakage occurs, identify and resolve the cause. If leaks persist, disassemble, reinstall, and retest the seal. Remind him to follow mechanical seal basics at AESSEAL. Document test results.
3. Rotation Test
   Manually rotate the pump disc to verify smooth and uniform motion. If rotation is difficult or impossible, check for incorrect assembly dimensions or installation issues. Remind him to double-check measurements to avoid pump seal issues.

Installation and Shutdown Procedures

1. Pre-Startup Preparation
   Ensure the sealed chamber is filled with liquid before starting. For solidified media, When use steam to heat and melt the medium in the sealed chamber. Rotate the pump manually to prevent soft ring damage due to sudden startup. Remind him to confirm liquid levels for proper mechanical seal maintenance.
2. Sealing System Management
   Activate the pump sealing system before operation and deactivate it only after shutdown to maintain seal integrity. Remind him to follow the correct sequence to prevent mechanical seal leaks.
3. Hot Oil Pump Shutdown
   After stopping a hot oil pump, continue cooling water flow to the sealed chamber and end face until the oil temperature drops below 80°C to prevent seal damage. Remind him to monitor temperature closely to ensure pump reliability.

Operation and Monitoring

1. Leakage Observation
   If slight leakage occurs after startup, monitor for 4 hours. If leakage does not decrease, stop the pump and inspect the mechanical seal. Remind him to log all observations for mechanical seal troubleshooting.
2. Pressure Stability
   Maintain stable pump pressure with fluctuations not exceeding 1 kg/cm² to ensure consistent seal performance. Remind him to check pressure gauges regularly to follow mechanical seal best practices, as outlined at John Crane.
3. Avoid Dry Running
   Prevent vacuum conditions during operation to avoid dry friction, which can damage the sealing surface. Remind him to ensure proper fluid flow to protect the pump seal.
4. Regular Seal Checks
   Inspect seals regularly during operation. Leakage should not exceed 5 drops/min for heavy oil or 10 drops/min for light oil. If leakage persists beyond 2-3 days without improvement, stop the pump and inspect the sealing device. Remind him to schedule routine inspections to maintain pump operation efficiency.