Cartridge mechanical seal is assembled by the rotary ring, stationary ring, spring, secondary seal( o rings, PTFE), gland and other mechanical seal parts together as a collection, known as the cartridge seal, sometimes also called the cartridge mechanical seal.
Features of Single Cartridge Seals
- faster and easier replacement of pump shaft seals
- less downtime
- reliable start-up after a sealing change
A single cartridge type mechanical seal consists of two very flat surfaces that are pressed together by a spring and slide against each other. The single mechanical seal is a mechanical seal composed of 1 set of seal face. the sealing structure is simple, easy to manufacture and install features. Generally used for the medium with good lubricity and allows a slight leakage. Single cartridge seals are the most commonly used mechanical seal type. Single cartridge pump seals do not work well when the media is the toxic, flammable, explosive and strict requirement of leakage.
Mechanical seals tend to leak a vapor from the high-pressure side to the low-pressure side. This fluid lubricates the seal faces and absorbs the heat generated from the associated friction, which crosses the seal faces as a liquid and vaporizes into the atmosphere. So, it's common practice to use a single mechanical seal if the pumped product poses little to no risk to the environment.
Advantage of Single Cartridge Seals
- ready-to-install: components include rotating components, bushings and glands
- gage bolts applied for the most gland box
- easy to replace the packing or bearing
- easy to install in uneasy install place
- Used for longer time than non-cartridge mechanical seal
Disadvantages of Single Cartridge Seals
- the structure is more complex, high requirements for manufacturing and processing of mechanical seal ;
- installation and replacement is more complex, and requires workers to have a certain level of installation technology;
- in case of accidental accidents, more difficult to deal with;
- high investment than the non-cartridge mechanical seal.
Material of Single Cartridge Seals
When a single cartridge seals used in the oil-filled motor, it is not only necessary to prevent the machine outside the impurities, sand and water to enter, but also to prevent the leakage of oil within the machine ,So sealing requirements is higher, sealing ring material requirements need to be good, its sealing face material is made of tungsten carbide or silicon carbide. If it is installed on the shaft of the water-filled motor shaft, it only requires sand control. The sealing ring can be made of alumina ceramic, silicon nitride or other harder materials, so the cost is relatively low.
Recommended applications of Single Cartridge Seals
General industrial applications including chemical processing, food and beverage, petrochemical processing, pharmaceutical, wastewater and power generation.
Centrifugal pump, Chemical pump, Slurry pump, Mixer, Agitator, Circulation pump, Submersible electric pump, Reactor, Oil pump etc.
Difference between Cartridge mechanical seal and non-cartridge mechanical seal
- Cartridge mechanical seal has a sleeve and gland; non-cartridge seals only have the rotary and stationary ring.
- The installation error rate of the Common non-cartridge mechanical sea is higher than the cartridge mechanical seal. Therefore, use cartridge shaft seal can greatly reduce the occurrence of mechanical seal failure.
- Since the cartridge mechanical seal does not require any adjustment of the mechanical seal by the installer (such as spring, sealing surface, etc.), only the bolts need to be tightened, which greatly improves the reliability of the mechanical seal installation.
