An Investigation of the Operation and Failure of Mechanical Face Seals

Study of the fluid film vaporization in the interface of a mechanical face seal

“…A sharp increase in film thickness and in mass flow magnitude is obtained when two-phase flow occurs in the sealing interface. Indeed, the change in fluid density due to phase change enhances the hydrostatic load generation as explained by Orcutt [2]. It is obviously associated with a decrease in torque.…”

“…When mixture or vapor occurs at the outlet, a sharp pressure gradient is observed due to the kinematic viscosity rapid change. It is thus possible to generate a load even with a parallel surface, as discussed by Orcutt [2].…”

“…Orcutt [2] was one of the first researchers to experimentally study vaporization in a mechanical seal interface. He used a seal composed of a rotating transparent disc and carbon seal ring fed in water by the inner radius.…”

Heat transfer in a mechanical face seal

“…Indeed, the dissipated power due to viscous friction and asperities contacts in the sealing interface leads to a significant increase in tem- perature in the fluid film and in the contiguous solids [2,3]. Consequently, the lubrication conditions are modified because of fluid viscosity variation, thermal distortions of the seal rings and possible phase change.…”

Acoustic Emission Monitoring of Mechanical Seals Using MUSIC Algorithm Based on Higher Order Statistics

“…Studies on the AE monitoring of mechanical seals started in the 1960s. The pioneering work conducted by Orcutt [3] investigated the failure of mechanical seals using the AE method. Miettinen and Siekkinen [4] studied the AE response to the operation of a mechanical seal under different conditions and concluded that it was possible for AE measurement to detect leakage, dry running and cavitation in mechanical seals.…”