What material is best for gaskets in centrifugal pumps?
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There are now many types of gaskets available in the market, each with its own advantages and disadvantages; some materials are hard while others lack wear resistance. I would like to ask what type of material is suitable for use as gaskets in centrifugal pumps when dealing with water that is alkaline, contains floating oil, and has trace impurities
The newly purchased oil-impregnated packing doesn’t seem to work well; it’s very hard, not wear-resistant, and causes leaks frequently
Why not simply choose a configuration with a mechanical seal?
Single-stage double-suction centrifugal pump; using packing is more convenient
Any gasket will not work well in a medium containing impurities; mechanical seals are, arguably, the best choice. However, high precision is required for the static sealing points that connect the two opposite machine seals to the housing, and once damaged, they are difficult to repair. The weakness of mechanical seals is rubber aging; regular replacement is a reliable solution. If it’s a water pump, one with a clean-water seal might work better.
This post was last edited by on 2020-9-29 at 14:36. Mechanical seals using SIC are probably better than packing, right?
The impurities are present in very small amounts. These pumps have been in use for 10 years, in cooling towers used in factories and mines; the water there is alkaline in nature. During repeated use, a small amount of engine oil and diesel ends up in the water. Since it’s an open-type cooling tower, the presence of oil means there are impurities in the water. The original sealing method involved packing made of ring gaskets and soft fillers, but now, after replacing these with new ones, leaks occur.
The existing sealing structure of the water pump is similar to that shown in this picture
What about using CMS2000 slurry filler along with a high-water-based gasket?