Avoid Premature Mechanical Pump Seal Replacement With These Best Practices

When Bay Area refineries have to tighten their belts, the first place to look for cost savings is mechanical seal failure. When it happens, the impact is more than just the price tag of pump seal replacement. You’ll likely have to pay for bearing replacement, shaft rebalancing, or other pump rebuild costs, not to mention the costs of unplanned downtime. These costs are especially tough to swallow considering mechanical seal failure is usually avoidable.

The best way to get ahead of the problem is by preventing it from occurring in the first place with good preventative maintenance practices. Seal support systems are especially important to ensure a pump’s mechanical seals are kept cool and well-lubricated. Seal support system failure usually means mechanical seal failure requiring pump seal replacement. A properly functioning seal support system also helps protect the mechanical seal from damage if other problems occur in the system.

Keeping seal support systems in good working order is one of the most important ways to protect your mechanical seals and reduce the maintenance costs of your rotating equipment. Follow these best practices to ensure a long pump life with lower maintenance costs, less downtime, and fewer pump seal replacements.

Check Seal Support Systems to Avoid Costly Pump Seal Replacement

Mechanical seals and their seal support systems are critical to keeping pumps working efficiently and preventing leaks, which is why there are so many double mechanical seal systems in Bay Area refineries. Leaks can lead to fires, personnel exposure, and fines—none of which are acceptable in a modern refinery. 

To keep seal support systems running smoothly, engineers must take a proactive approach to address any potential problems early, and there can be a lot to check. Here are the main areas to put on your rotating equipment and seal support systems inspection checklist:

Flow

Cooling

Instrumentation

Lubrication

Fluid Compatibility

Leak-Tightness

Barrier Fluid Choice

There’s a lot to check for around your seal support systems, but the effort is worthwhile. A well-performing seal system will delay pump seal replacements and help prevent potentially expensive or dangerous failures.

The right vendor can help evaluate your systems and put in place risk-mitigating measures. Don’t think of your seal support system vendor as just another part supplier—they should also be a partner in your preventative maintenance efforts. 

The Best Seal Support System Partner in the Bay Area

Swagelok Northern California has an expert team ready to help evaluate your seal support systems and ensure they are functioning optimally. Whether it’s just a review, a minor instrumentation upgrade, or a complete seal support system replacement fabrication and assembly, no seal support system project is too large or too small. 

Our Northern California team can be onsite or available by virtual appointment for any Bay Area refinery as quickly as you need us. With Swagelok, you not only get access to top quality engineering—all of our team is factory trained and certified—but also some of the best fluid handling components and fabrication available. We stand by our product quality—our Lifetime Warranty provides the best coverage in the industry.

To learn how Swagelok Northern California can assist you with seal support system evaluation, design, and fabrication to help you avoid a pump seal replacement, Contact our team today by calling 510-933-6200.