Technical
- What is a mechanical seal?
- A mechanical seal is a device used to seal the gap between two mating surfaces in order to prevent leakage, typically in rotating equipment such as pumps, compressors, and mixers. It consists of two primary components: a stationary part that is fixed to the equipment housing, and a rotating part that is connected to the shaft. The stationary and rotating parts have smooth faces that come into contact to create a seal, and they are pressed together by a combination of springs or other mechanisms to ensure adequate sealing force. Mechanical seals are designed to withstand high pressures and temperatures, and they can be made from various materials depending on the application. They are commonly used in industries such as oil and gas, chemical processing, and water treatment.
- Why is the seal leaking between the pump shaft and the seal sleeve?
- Any leakage observed between the pump shaft and the seal sleeve is typically an indicator that the sleeve o-ring is damaged. Damage to this o-ring typically occurs during seal installation and is a result of burs or sharp edges on the shaft which cut the o-ring. Leakage from this area is typically observed prior to or during pump startup. The o-ring needs to be replaced and care should be taken to properly prepare the pump shaft for seal installation.
- Why is the seal leaking between the gland and the collar?
- Leakage observed between the seal gland and collar is typically an indicator that the either 1) a seal face is damaged or 2) an o-ring within the seal is damaged. This type of leakage can either be observed during pump startup or after the seal has been in operation for any amount of time. If this type of leakage is observed, the seal needs to be removed from the pump and inspected for damage.
- Why is the seal leaking between the pump (i.e. seal chamber) and gland?
- If leakage is observed between the seal chamber and the seal gland, this is often an indicator that there is an issue with the gland gasket. If the seal is not installed properly the gland gasket may not be torqued evenly and leakage from this area will result. The seal will have to be removed and a new gasket will need to be installed. Care should be taken to ensure the seal is installed properly and that the gasket is torqued evenly.
- The seal has a slow drip, is this an issue?
- It should be monitored for worsening conditions. Depending on the pumped fluid and the facility’s tolerance of fluid escaping equipment, the slow drip may be tolerable until conditions worsen. If the fluid is non-hazardous, the slow drip can likely be tolerated until the condition worsens. If the fluid is hazardous, the seal should be replaced immediately or the condition should be closely monitored, whichever the facility owner/operator will tolerate.
- Experience has shown that in some applications the seal will drip statically and seal dynamically. If this is the case, attempt to start the pump (where safe to do so) to see if the leak stops.
- There is smoke coming from the seal. Is this bad?
- Yes. The pump should be shut down immediately. Smoke coming from the seal is often a result of heat caused by friction. This can happen if the seal runs dry, meaning the pump and seal aren’t completely liquid filled. The seal faces need fluid across them for cooling and lubrication. If smoke is observed coming from the seal, this is likely an indicator that parts are damaged and the seal will need to be replaced.
- Alternatively, smoke coming from the seal during operation, immediately following pump startup, may likely be from forgetting to remove the set clips. If discovered quickly, this may be fixed by stopping the pump and removing the set clips, however, there may still be minor damage to the gland from the contacting wear.
- The seal leaked once the pump was started and the only damaged item was the seal sleeve o-ring. What does this mean?
- If the sleeve o-ring is the only damaged part in the seal, it is likely that the pump shaft rotated independently of the seal sleeve. This can happen if the seal set screws are not fully engaged into the pump shaft. The sleeve o-ring will look worn on the inner diameter. Care should be taken to ensure all set screws are fully engaged and torqued prior to pump startup. Although a very specific situation, this does happen occasionally.
- Should I pressure test the seal once it has been installed on the pump?
- Following seal installation on the pump and prior to pump startup, a pressure decay test is not a formal requirement by any standards organization, however, it is best practice. While the pressure test is not a performance test or indicator, it does provide the installer and operator with confidence that the seal was installed correctly.
- I’d like to pressure test the seal – how can I do that?
- The typical pressure test is facilitated using air. With the seal installed on the pump or a simulated seal chamber, pressurize the seal chamber with air to 25 psig and isolate the pressurizing source. Start a timer for 5 minutes and observe the pressure decay over this time period. If the pressure drop is less than 2 psig, the seal passes. If the pressure drops more than 2 psig, the seal failed the test and will need to be disassembled and inspected.
Orders & Shipping
- What countries do you ship to?
- Currently, we only ship products to postal addresses located within the United States. International shipping is unavailable at this time.
- How much does shipping cost?
- Shipping is free for all orders over $99.
- How long will it take to get my order?
- Shipping times are dependent upon location, however, product delivery is typically two (2) weeks or less after the order has been received and processed. Large quantity orders and non-standard material requests will result in longer lead times in excess of two (2) weeks.
- How can I track my order?
- An email notification will be sent to the email address on file once the order has shipped and will typically include shipment details. Shipment tracking numbers are available upon request once the product has shipped.
- How long does order processing take?
- Orders are processed within 1-4 business days, excluding weekends and holidays, before shipping. All orders are processed during normal business hours: Monday – Friday / 9 AM – 5 PM EST.
- How do I cancel or modify my order?
- Order Cancellations:
- Should an order need to be cancelled, please submit all order cancellation request via email as soon as possible. Order cancellation request must be submitted within 48 hours of the initial order. All cancellations after the order has shipped will be charged a 15% restocking fee. All order cancellation requests must be submitted to contact@verseel.com and must include the original order number.
- Order Modifications:
- Please submit all order modification request via email to contact@verseel.com and include the original order number. Most orders cannot be modified after they have been submitted. If additional quantities of items are needed, please submit an additional order.
- Order Cancellations:
- What if my order arrives damaged?
- If your order arrives damaged please submit a request for an in-kind replacement via email to contact@verseel.com. The request must include photos of the damaged product and a brief description of the as-found condition.
- What if my order never arrives?
- If your order has been marked as delivered and it has still not been received, please contact us via email at contact@verseel.com so we can investigate. While we cannot be held responsible responsible for all of our carriers’ (i.e. FedEX, DHL, etc.) mistakes, we will do everything our end to ensure customer satisfaction.
- Verseel customer service should be notified of all lost packages within thirty (30) days of the order ship date. If an order is not reported as lost within thirty (30) days of the ship date we are unable to assist with processing a replacement.
- What payment methods do you accept?
- Currently, only credit cards are acceptable forms of payment.
- When will I be charged for an order?
- Your card will be charged once an order has been submitted and processed.
Returns & Exchanges
- What is your return/exchange policy?
- Returns
- Product returns are by written request only. Products will not be accepted for return without prior written authorization by Verseel. Please submit a request via email to contact@verseel.com and include the original order number. All returns are subject to inspection and must be deemed acceptable in order to process a return. All products must be completely intact, unused, clean, and in their original packaging to be eligible for return. All product return request must be submitted within thirty (30) days from the date of the product shipment. All product returns are subject to a 15% restocking fee once the product has shipped.
- Exchanges
- Products exchanges must be requested within 30 days from the date of shipment. All products must be completely intact, unused, clean, and in their original packaging to be eligible for return or exchange.
- Returns
- When will I receive my refund?
- Refunds are process within 20 days of receipt of the returned item.
- How will my refund be issued?
- Refunds will be issued to the same means of payment used for the original order. Where applicable, the restocking fee will be deducted from the refunded amount prior to the transmission of funds.