KSB Pumps and Valves continues to expand its range of mechanical seals for its own pumps as well as introducing solutions fit for a wide number of competitor pumps and applications.
The company is one of the world’s leading pump and valve manufacturers and has recently taken steps to develop and manufacture its own range of mechanical seals that are matched exactly to the purpose of different pumps using its advanced manufacturing facilities across the globe. The seals are also produced to the same exacting standards as its equipment.
According to KSB SupremeServ sales engineer for mechanical seals, Phumelela Ngcobo, the company is already producing a large portion of the seals used in its new pumps and has recently begun marketing and raising awareness of its sealing solutions. “Most people know KSB as a pump manufacturer and are surprised to learn that we also design, manufacture and support our own range of mechanical seals for nearly every pump type and that we are continually expanding our portfolio to meet customer needs.
“The roles of mechanical seals are important for the reliable operation of many types of pumps as their primary purpose is to prevent the pumped material from leaking along the rotating shaft in order to ensure that the fluid remains safely contained within the pump and not leaking into the surrounding environment.”
Ngcobo explains that the origins of KSB’s own mechanical seal range stemmed from its continuous drive to improve pump performance and it was during the development of one of KSB’s pump ranges that KSB engineers encountered recurring seal failures that could not simply be resolved by changing operating practices.
“Because we know and understand pump designs we have a detailed understanding of hydraulic performance, shaft behaviour, bearing arrangements and the operating conditions inside the seal chamber. That allowed our engineers to identify the root causes of the failures and develop sealing solutions specifically designed to overcome those challenges.
“Today our range includes sealing solutions for the vast majority of KSB pumps together with universal mechanical seals suitable for many competitor brands. Where a standard solution is unavailable our engineering team will even develop custom sealing systems based on pump dimensions and detailed process information supplied by the customer,” he says.
The range includes component and cartridge mechanical seals available in both single and dual arrangements. It also comprises pump-specific sealing solutions, seals manufactured in accordance with DIN EN 12756, API 682-compliant sealing systems for applicable process pumps, slurry application seals, boiler feed pump seals, high-pressure mechanical seals, and ATEX-certified sealing solutions for use in hazardous environments.
A considerable advantage of manufacturing mechanical seals is the ability to offer customers complete sealing solutions from a single source. In addition to mechanical seals, the portfolio includes API 682-compliant seal support systems, piping plans, seal pots, heat exchangers, flow meters, and associated instrumentation. Supplying these components as an integrated package ensures compatibility between the sealing equipment and support system simplifying procurement, installation, commissioning and ongoing maintenance while enhancing overall system reliability.
It is important to note that every application is unique and the materials selected for a mechanical seal are chosen to maximise reliability under the specific operating conditions. For general industrial duties Reaction Bonded Silicon Carbide (RBSiC) is often the preferred choice offering excellent wear resistance and reliable performance across a wide range of applications. For more demanding services involving aggressive chemicals, elevated temperatures or higher operating pressures Sintered Silicon Carbide (SSiC) is typically specified due to its corrosion resistance, higher mechanical strength and excellent performance under severe operating conditions.
“Carbon is widely used as a seal face material due to its excellent self-lubricating properties and low coefficient of friction making it ideal for clean fluid applications across a range of industries including food and beverage processing. For more demanding operating conditions involving higher temperatures and pressures antimony-impregnated carbon is often specified because of its improved mechanical strength, wear resistance and enhanced thermal conductivity. Where pumps handle abrasive slurries or fluids containing suspended solids Tungsten Carbide is frequently selected for its exceptional hardness and outstanding resistance to abrasive wear that ensures reliable performance in severe service conditions.
“Standard metallic components are manufactured from 316L stainless steel, while highly corrosive applications may require upgraded materials such as Super Duplex Stainless Steel. Secondary sealing elements are also carefully selected with elastomers including FKM (Viton), EPDM and FFKM (Perfluoro elastomer/Kalrez) specified according to the chemical compatibility and operating temperature of each application. There are many variables and it pays to deal with our team rather than to guess because every seal is engineered using the most appropriate combination of materials for the customer’s operating conditions,” Ngcobo explains.
KSB mechanical seals are used across a wide spectrum of industries including mining, water and wastewater, petrochemical processing, power generation, pulp and paper production, chemical processing, food and beverage manufacturing and general industry among others. These are supported by KSB SupremeServ’s dedicated refurbishment facilities which repairs KSB and competitor mechanical seals.
“Every seal that enters our workshop undergoes a detailed inspection before refurbishment. Once assembly has been completed they are pressure tested to ensure they meet our quality standards and no refurbished seal leaves our workshop without successfully passing those pressure tests.”
KSB’s aftermarket support extends well beyond workshop repairs. Field service technicians provide mechanical seal installation, auxiliary system installation, commissioning assistance, seal failure investigations and on-site technical support to assist customers to identify the underlying causes of premature failures rather than simply replacing damaged components.
KSB SupremeServ also offers complimentary technical training covering mechanical seal fundamentals, seal selection, API 682 piping plans, auxiliary systems, installation best practices and seal failure analysis. Continuous product training is also provided to KSB sales engineers and authorised sales partners to ensure customers receive technically sound advice from knowledgeable sealing specialists.
