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15
DATE: Sept. 28, 2010
SUPERSEDES: 43.15
DATE: Apr. 28, 2004
General
Mechanical seals in markets served by Armstrong generally rotate a ‘soft’ material ring, such as Carbon, against a
‘hard’ material ring, such as Ceramic, Tungsten Carbide or Silicon Carbide, at 30 or 60 revolutions per second. At
these speeds the need for generous cooling and lubrication between the faces is obvious. Typically the liquid being
pumped supplies the necessary cooling and lubrication. In a Vertical In-Line (VIL) pump design the mechanical seal is
uppermost in the pump housing, so care must be taken to ensure that the seal is well-lubricated and maintained in the
best possible environment.
Added Value
The flushing liquid returns to the pump in a controlled manner through the throttle bushing. The throttle bushing is a
‘lemon journal’ design, with two grooves machined the length of the bushing at 180 degrees. An end view of the inside
bore of the bushing appear lemon-shaped. Lemon journals have been used for many years to ensure even
distribution of grease on rotating shafts within the journals. Similarly, the two grooves on the Armstrong Series 4300
throttle bushing ensure even distribution of water around the pump shaft, resulting in very smooth running pumps.
It should however be noted that most pumps used in open systems in the HVAC industry are installed without any
accessories. This typically results from either “first-cost economy” reasoning or from the fact that many pumps
installed in these systems are end suction or horizontal split-case (HSC) types that cannot derive full benefits from
seal environmental accessories as the seal chambers are not isolated from the general system liquid within the pump.
Isolated seal chambers, which can take advantage of clean seal flush liquid to extend mechanical seal life, are a
design feature only of split-coupled vertical in-line pumps and some HSC designs. The use of seal environmental
accessories is a customer/operator decision.
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In-line Filters
The most cost-effective and popular way to protect the
mechanical seal environment in a system with liquid borne
particulate is to filter the flush liquid. Such systems in the
HVAC market would include ‘open’ systems similar to
condenser cooling loops utilizing cooling towers and
retrofit systems where debris from the older piping that
has been disturbed by the work on the new section
circulates within the system.
Maintenance personnel will view the SFI when passing the pumping unit and ensure that sufficient flow is being
provided to the seal. Should the SFI indicate insufficient flow, the filter cartridge would be replaced with a new one.
To help extend the life of mechanical seals operating in liquid temperatures above 200F (93C) Armstrong offers an
optional Heat Exchanger installed in the seal flush line. An external cold water source is required for the service side
of the heat exchanger.