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Hydrodynamic Seals, are they all they're cracked up to be?

Hydrodynamic Seals, are they all they're cracked up to be?

Hydrodynamic Seals, are they all they're cracked up to be?

(OP)
Howdy,

I am working on a mostly rotating but sometimes static application and, like engineers before and probably always will till the end of time, I am having sealing issues. Unfortunately this is a project I am stepping into therefore am trying to figure out the reasoning of the first designer.

The seals that we were using were a PTFE spring energized seal. We are looking at holding 4500 psi static and 1500 psi when rotating at 140 rpm. The seal would be required about a Ø10". The PTFE's were melting. This as far as I can tell was a design error in the fixed and rotating pieces and there was metal to metal contact. Since a design change was necessary anyway someone (the boss) suggested going to a hydrodynamic seal. Has anyone used them before? Any suggestions or remarks would be helpful.

RE: Hydrodynamic Seals, are they all they're cracked up to be?

I've heard of mixer applications with diameters approaching yours and at operating pressures above yours.  I'm not sure about the ability to hold under the static conditions.  But I'd bet that a phone call to Flowserve, John Crane, Eagle Burgmann, or Chesterton might give you a better idea of what those mechanical seal mfgs offer for applications like yours.

RE: Hydrodynamic Seals, are they all they're cracked up to be?

There was a good paper presented at the International Pump User's Symposium that could be relevant.  This paper was related to a hydrodynamic seal (referred to as an upstream pumper) for sea water service.  This paper talks about a seal design that was limited to 300 psi dynamic and 450 psi static.  But there may be similar designs that can go higher.  I have never heard of one for a service as large, low speed and high pressure as yours. A copy of the paper could be purchased from Texas A&M Turbomachinery Laboratory, if you were interested.   

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