| |SEPTEMBER 202219seals are the most common cause of pump downtime and account for more pump repair costs than any other part of a pump. Therefore, it's important that they are installed and maintained properly to prevent failures.Here are some of the challenges that are to be looked out for.INSTALLATION ERRORSInstallation errors can easily damage mechanical seals so it's incredibly important that mechanical seals are installed by a professional and that the installation instructions are followed exactly. If a pump is started with an incorrectly installed seal major damage could occur and potentially damage other parts of the pump as well as the seal. In recent years, scholars from all walks of life have performed research on mechanical seals and achieved various results. One of the research scholars in this field established a numerical simulation model of a noncontact mechanical seal considering the thermal deformation of the seal end face and the heat transfer of the film between seal faces. The results showed that thermal deformation cannot be ignored when designing mechanical seal structures under high operating conditions. Another research scholar studied the vaporization evolution trend of film on a seal end face considering face deformation. Notably, a large temperature gradient can adversely affect the stability of the film at the seal face.POOR OR ABSENT LUBRICATIONA mechanical seal might fail due to poor lubrication or no lubrication at all. When there is no liquid around the seal it will be subjected to increased amounts of friction which will increase the temperature inside the pump. This rapid increase in temperature can cause burnt elastomeric parts and damage O-rings or rubber on the seal. This usually happens when there is no pumped medium in contact with the seal rings to transfer the heat. Also, when lubrication is poor or absent mechanical seals made of hard materials will make quite a loud noise, this will cause parts of the seal to vibrate which can reduce the life expectancy of both the seal and the pump. A recent research study has established a numerical model of multifield thermodynamic coupling. The correctness of the model was verified by experimental research, and the model was developed into software convenient for applicationSome of the future technologies that are to be looked for are digitalized pumps and on­board CM which would help in reducing the risks of leakage.DIGITALIZED PUMPS ­ AN IDEAL SOLUTION TO MODERNIZE INDUSTRIESAs the world adopts digital solutions such as IoT, data analysis and network connectivity into accelerating their operations, the pump industry is resorting to digitalization for better water management, identifying faults, capture live data and all the while through a remote monitoring option. Modern pumps are being developed to fit the needs of constructions of the future, where output is required to be delivered faster, with more competence; and integrating digital technologies into pumps is the potential solution to offer this. The integration of IoT in such pump solutions develops a human-machine interface that allows for a closer look into operating pumps in real-time with lesser human effort. Smart sensors, a significant asset of IoT, is an example of this, which integrates embedded sensors and external sensor arrays. IoT's interconnectivity creates a network of every device equipped with smart solutions for an ecosystem of wireless connections across a facility to work in agreement.ON-BOARD CM & INTELLIGENT SUPPORT SYSTEMS: PROSPECTIVE TECH-NOLOGIESOn-board condition monitoring (CM) will help in reducing the expenditures associated with premature equipment failure or seal failure. It identifies the signals of poor performance and sends a signal to the operator to take necessary actions to rectify the parameters, which in turn significantly brings down the repair cost. This also saves costs associated with production losses. However, mounting those devices or adding pressure switches, temperature switches or any relevant equipment without changing the seal design offers a tough challenge to seal manufacturers. Emergence of nanotechnology has resolved some of these hurdles. However, lack of availability of transmitters, proximity devices, and temperature and pressure sensors in a nano scale is still a prime challenge.Future technologies that can convert these devices into nano components and incorporate them into mechanical seals are anticipated to increase adoption of on-board condition monitoring, which is expected to be a truly revolutionary development in seal construction and performance. "Manufacturers that offer a comprehensive package constituting mechanical seals, aftermarket support, and diagnostic capabilities are at a competitive advantage. Mid-tier manufacturers must focus on research and development and innovation to gain a competitive advantage", states Frost & Sullivan Industrial Automation & Process Control Programme Manager Ashwin Annareddy. With the future of the mechanical seals industry lying in the hands of researchers, the industry is expected to remain in progression in the long run notwithstanding the effects of the pandemic.
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