Food & Beverage

Sealing Multiphase Pumping Applications

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 05:00:00

Multiphase – or “tri-phase”– pumping applications have been growing in recent years, due in part to the increase in oil extraction activity. But the flexibility and economic feasibility of multiphase pumps are also contributing to the growth. For example, in Canada, the drilling and refining of tar sands often requires the use of multiphase pumps, since the fluid stream can be a mixture of gas, liquids, and solids. And multiphase production leads to simpler, smaller in-field installations; reduced equipment costs; and improved production rates, making it economically appealing to upstream operations.

John Crane Top Pick for Chemical Processing Readers

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 05:00:00

Once again, John Crane topped Chemical Processing Magazine’s Readers’ Choice Awards in the “Seals” category. John Crane has led the category since the awards were established, in 2004.Chemical Processing Magazine’s readers completed the Readers’ Choice survey using an emailed link to ChemicalProcessing.com. More than 300 readers participated in the survey, which was open for a month. Categories were listed, but respondents had to type their selections into text boxes, so that any bias in the survey could be avoided.

A Guide to Balancing Couplings

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 05:00:00

Balancing couplings is not something that John Crane recommends for the majority of applications. This is down to the fact that John Crane’s Metastream couplings are more than capable of meeting industry standards without any further adjustments.

New Separation Seals Expand The Options Available From John Crane

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 05:00:00

John Crane has launched two new separation seals that offer a proven solution to the problems of oil penetrating from a compressor bearing into an outboard gas seal, and the ingress of process gas from the outboard stage of the gas seal into the bearing cavity. The Type 83 and Type 93FR seals are designed primarily for turbomachinery applications and between them they offer a choice of contacting or non-contacting operation.

New H-Series High Performance Couplings For All Turbo Machinery Applications

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 05:00:00

John Crane has launched a new range of advanced, high performance couplings for the turbo machinery market. The new H-Series range has been developed as part of John Crane's continuous improvement process, which has seen a complete overhaul of the Metastream^TM High Performance Couplings range over the past 12 months.

In Business, Expect the Unexpected

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 05:00:00

You never know when you may need immediate, expert service. John Crane Service Centers, available 24 hours a day, can provide that crucial safety net. It's the power to furnish you with reliable, high-quality service at the most cost-competitive prices... delivered exactly when you need it.

As part of our commitment to customer service, John Crane has invested in a number of Advanced Service Centers that provide individual countries with their own dedicated Center of Excellence in gas seal service, repair and testing. Having these state-of-the-art centers located centrally for our customers can significantly reduce turnaround times, improve service and allow for local access to the sealing expertise that only the acknowledged leader in sealing technology can bring.

John Crane Bearings Technology Created to Provide Greater Solutions

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 05:00:00

Last fall, John Cane strengthened its product portfolio with the acquisition of Sartorius Bearing Technology (SBT), a leading manufacturer of high performance bearings for rotating equipment.

The acquisition of SBT allows John Crane to expand their global sales and service network to offer customers a wider range of solutions that will complement John Crane's existing mechanical sealing solutions, couplings and associated technologies and enhance relationships with existing customers.

John Crane Helps Major Mining Company Reduce Pump Operational Costs by 70%

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 05:00:00

It goes without saying that maintaining equipment uptime in a mining operation is essential. But, for one of South America's largest mining organizations that processes sulfurated copper, reliability simply wasn't acceptable. That is why they turned to John Crane to develop a Pump Sealing System Improvement Program using the Six Sigma methodology.

John Crane and the Carver Pump Company Recently Set Out to Destroy Their Products - Literally

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 05:00:00

According to Paul Richards, Marketing Specialist for John Crane, Carver Pump recently performed shock testing to discern how much destruction a pump and seal installed on a barge could withstand and still function properly. John Crane's Type 3710 split seal, made from Inconel® Alloy 625, was installed on the barge in a Carver Seawater Service Pump.

Sealing A Centrifugal Pump With Packing

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 05:00:00

In some cases, compression packing is used to seal light to medium duty pumps on applications that prove to be difficult for mechanical seals. The pump seal is formed by the packing being squeezed between the inboard end of the stuffing box and the gland. A common packing installation is shown in Figure 1 less the impellor. A static seal is formed at the ends of the packing rings and at the inside diameter of the stuffing box. The dynamic seal is formed between the packing and the shaft sleeve. Load applied to the packing deforms the packing against the shaft sleeve controlling leakage. Some leakage is necessary to cool and lubricate the packing. The amount of leakage will depend on the material of construction for the packing, operating conditions and the mechanical condition of the pump. The packing applied must be able to withstand the variables of the equipment such as runout, misalignments and thermal growth of the equipment without an appreciable increase in leakage.

The number of rings may vary from application to application depending on the objective of the sealing system. A lantern ring is used on most applications to introduce a lubricant to the packing. Packing rings from the lantern ring to the bottom of the box seal the fluid being pumped. The packing rings between the gland and lantern ring seal the lubricant used with the system.

Heavy-duty Slurry Seals offer critical performance with low operating costs

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 05:00:00

By working cooperatively with global slurry pump and rotating equipment manufacturers, John Crane has optimized the Type 5860 heavy-duty slurry seal for slurry pumps, mixers and other pieces of rotating equipment used in the processing and transportation of difficult-to-seal slurries, ores and minerals. The result is a seal that better meets industry needs because of its rugged construction, long operating life and fault-free installation while requiring minimal support with low operating costs.

John Crane Reaches 200,000 Unit Milestone on Popular INTERFACE TM Reliability Management Software

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 05:00:00

There is validity in numbers. Such is the case for John Crane's proprietary INTERFACE Reliability Management Software. Introduced in 1999 and currently being used around the world in 31 countries, the software recently reached the 200,000 unit milestone and has proven to be an effective and easy-to-use tool that organizes comprehensive plant performance data for all rotating equipment including pumps, mixers and agitators.

Free Guide to Increasing Pump Life

Thu, 30 Aug 2007 05:00:00

A major cause of pump failure is mechanical seal leakage. John Crane offers a comprehensive poster and guide for diagnosing the 12 most common causes of seal failure. The 23 X 26 inch poster contains observations, symptoms, causes, and suggested corrective steps. Determining the root cause and what steps you should take to solve the problem has never been so easy. To get your free poster, click on Free Poster Offer while supplies last.

Reliability Comes Standard

Thu, 30 Aug 2007 05:00:00

John Crane’s $4.8 million (£2.4 million) Turbomachinery Group investment program is already bringing direct benefits to customers with the formation of a new Gas Seals Reliability Group, tasked with helping customers maximize the reliability of their seals and ultimately reduce costs.

Investing in Innovation

Thu, 30 Aug 2007 05:00:00

John Crane’s Turbomachinery Group has invested $4.8 million (£2.4 million) in state-of-the-art seal testing facilities. The investment includes the company’s global test bay facilities in Slough (UK), which were upgraded to double the amount of seals tested.

How Condensate Kills a Seal

Thu, 30 Aug 2007 05:00:00

As today’s oil and gas industry continues to respond to the changing dynamics of a world economy, there is little argument that compressor reliability and uninterrupted operation are paramount and crucial to plant operation. One proven means to improve reliability is the integration of dry gas seal technology. Established as a solution for almost three decades on thousands of installed bases, the dry gas seal improves compressor and plant reliability, as well as product quality. However, the key to success is minimizing face contact for these seals. In many cases condensate causes these seals to fail, especially when a plant reliability team does not have a thorough understanding of the seal’s operating environment. Such challenges are typically avoidable though, with proper understanding of the scenarios that cause condensate.

New High Pressure Seals Launched

Thu, 30 Aug 2007 05:00:00

During the last two years, John Crane has invested approximately $10 million (£5 million) and built a dedicated team of experts to deliver the next generation of sealing products for the Turbomachinery industry. The first of these new products is a new high pressure variant of the Type 28 EXP. This seal features a silicon carbide stationary face, which is specially designed for today’s high pressure applications. The new hard face uses a solid silicon carbide material, which is then coated with a diamond like coating (DLC). The silicon carbide material provides a high modulus, limiting pressure deflection while the coating minimizes friction and maximizes wear performance.

ISOMAG Magnetic Bearing Seals Product Launch

Wed, 10 Jan 2007 05:00:00

John Crane has signed an exclusive distribution and licensing agreement with ISOMAG™ Corp. that provides them with the right to market and manufacture ISOMAG magnetic bearing seals globally. The ISOMAG patented magnetic bearing face seal technology provides proven performance benefits versus conventional lip seals and labyrinth-type isolators. With standard and engineered designs to fit most rotating equipment, the ISOMAG bearing seal is a compact face seal utilizing built-in magnetic attraction rather than springs or bellows to hold the faces together.

John Crane Receives Supplier Award from Goulds Pumps

Thu, 25 May 2006 05:00:00

John Crane has received a Top Supplier Performer Award for 2005 from Goulds Pumps Inc., a subsidiary of ITT Corporation.

Italians Recognize Benefits of John Crane's Valve Live Load Packing

Thu, 25 May 2006 05:00:00

Since the first half of 2005, John Crane Italy, with collaboration from the John Crane Morton Grove Packing Division, took on the challenge of promoting Valve Live Loading in the Italian petrochemical, oil and gas industries.

It's Getting Hot in Here: Seals for Hot Water Applications

Thu, 25 May 2006 05:00:00

Water used in the diverse industries served by John Crane varies in source from river water to a wide variety of treated waters. Regardless of the source, impurities present in water used by power, water treatment, wastewater and ethanol plants, as well as other industries, cause problems by forming deposits on components and equipment surfaces, thus impairing heat transfer, fluid flow and overall process efficiency. These deposits also contribute to corrosion of metal surfaces.

John Crane Develops Live-Loaded Mechanical Packing Cartridge Seal

Fri, 24 Feb 2006 05:00:00

John Crane has developed a live-loaded mechanical packing cartridge seal — the Type LMPC seal — for static or dynamic sealing applications.

The one-piece seal is mechanically loaded in the axial direction by a gland follower and can be installed easily in new or existing equipment without any modifications.

John Crane Academy Seminars Now Available Online

Fri, 24 Feb 2006 05:00:00

The popular John Crane Academy seminars are now available online.

A unique industry resource responsible for the training of thousands of professionals, the Academy was founded to expand the knowledge and skill levels of customers interested in achieving maximum return on their mechanical seal investment.

Meet Today's Split Seals: Advances in Technology Further Reduce Maintenance Costs and Ensure Reliability

Fri, 24 Feb 2006 05:00:00

The number of old pumps in operation today is staggering. Although the technology may be from yesteryear, these pumps found in the deep recesses of our factories to the far-reaching corners of our wastewater treatment plants continue to fulfill their critical mission. But, despite their longevity, many are plagued with frequent downtime and lost production. One growing trend to keep these older pumps in operation and out of extinction is the use of split seals.

The Organic Growth of Six Sigma at John Crane Inc.

Fri, 24 Feb 2006 05:00:00

It has been said that deployment is one of the most critical elements of a successful Six Sigma* program. From top-down support and Champion Training to awareness efforts targeting all employees, the deployment process for a company is a progression from which one input leads to an output that in turn leads to another input. However, simply completing each step does not guarantee a successful Six Sigma Program. Rather, key to success is affecting the very structure and nature of the organism itself. Such a distinction clearly separates those that "walk the walk" as compared to those whom merely "talk the talk."

Type 32GL Glass-Lined, Dry-Running Mixer Seal

Wed, 03 Aug 2005 05:00:00

Available in single and double arrangements, the Type 32GL is a dry-running mixer seal designed specifically for glass-lined vessels. Ideal for top-entering mixers, agitators and reactor vessels, use of the Type 32GL eliminates damage to shafts and contamination of product, as well as reduces necessary maintenance.

Type 32 Seal Solves Leakage Problem for Global Pharmaceutical/Chemical Company

Wed, 03 Aug 2005 05:00:00

While efficiency is valued in all industries, pharmaceutical manufacturing must take place in precise planned process sequences with critical time parameters. Further, all products must remain completely free from contamination from any source, particularly seal lubrication fluid. Recognizing these factors to be absolutes, a global pharmaceutical and chemical company specializing in the manufacture of bulk active drug substances sought a means to remedy leakage of seal lubrication oil.

John Crane Announces New Universal Vessel Seal

Wed, 03 Aug 2005 05:00:00

Within a modular cartridge design, this heavy-duty, gas-lubricated Universal Vessel Seal (7800 Series) is ideal for use in a wide variety of mixing and agitating equipment, as well as other top entry mixer applications. The Type 7800 uses modular hardware, allowing for maximum interchangeability and efficiency. This convertible format will support dry contacting, wet contacting, non-contacting or a combination of non-contacting and dry contacting seal technology without the need to change any adaptive hardware. The patented grooved rotor allows equal lift in the presence of up to 0.125-inch radial run-out, while the primary ring shape responds under pressure, further enhancing very low speed face separation and lift-off. The double cartridge use common springs, allowing for seal adjustment to axial motion.

Suitable Seals Lower the Total Cost

Thu, 21 Apr 2005 05:00:00

It is no secret that the cost of fixing pumps and related seal failure are among the highest recurring expenses in a maintenance budget. A recent study showed that one facility had repair costs of $1,600 for an ANSI overhung process pump every three to four months. At a minimum, this equates to $4,800 annually and $96,000 for the projected 20-year life of the pump. Consider the number of pumps in a typical process plant and this number grows exponentially extremely fast. The same study also found that the user of another pump reported a much higher repair bill for a single repair of $4,500; however, this pump needed repairs only every five years. This equates to $22,500 for the 20-year life, a savings of $73,500 as compared to the first pump with frequent, albeit less expensive, repairs.

Is It Time for an MTBR Standard?

Thu, 14 Apr 2005 05:00:00

In maintenance, just as in sports, you don’t know whether you are winning or losing unless someone keeps score. The “score” for many companies is the Mean Time Between Repairs (MTBR). However, unlike in a ball game, the MTBR score is subject to definitions and interpretation as other acronyms may be used to imply the same premise. Whatever the definition, using MTBR to track equipment reliability is an old idea. Although it was applied to refinery pumps in the early 1970s and described in reliability textbooks in the 1960s, it was probably used even prior to those instances. Today, “What is your MTBR” is a common question during roundtable discussions at equipment conferences. As such, is there a need for a “standard” definition of Mean Time Between Repairs? While a formal standard may seem unnecessary, it is important to note that MTBR is becoming both a benchmark and a contractual obligation. We’d like to use Pumps and Systems magazine to initiate a discussion on the definition of MTBR.

John Crane Reaches 50,000 Milestone with the Type EZ-1 Seal

Mon, 21 Mar 2005 05:00:00

John Crane recently reached a major milestone – production of the 50,000th Type EZ-1 cartridge-mounted metal bellows seal. Meredith Westner, Quality Assurance Manager and leader of the Cell for the Type EZ-1, credits this milestone to the seal’s universal cartridge design and interchangeable O-rings. This versatility offers customers huge savings in inventory and maintenance hassle, allowing plant managers to easily convert a large number of applications to the Type EZ-1, she said.

John Crane's Seal Serves for 24 Years, Saving Oil and Gas Exploration Company $25,000

Fri, 14 Jan 2005 05:00:00

Travel back to 1979, when Jimmy Carter was President, the Bee Gees' Saturday Night Fever topped the record charts, and the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Dallas Cowboys in the Super Bowl. Three days after Christmas, a pipeline coordinator at a major oil and gas exploration company found himself replacing a seal on a pipeline pump in New Jersey. He remembers wishing to himself on that bitterly cold day that the new seal - a John Crane Type 8B1 - would last longer than the previous one did - a mere two years.

Meet Today's Split Seals:Advances in Technology Further Reduce Maintenance Costs and Ensure Reliability

Thu, 06 Jan 2005 05:00:00

A recent analysis, performed by John Crane on a variety of sealing products for pumps and rotating equipment, confirmed that split seals offer significant, measurable advantages for process industries – specifically improved reliability, increased uptime and reduced maintenance costs.

New Catalog Available on RitePak® Packing

Tue, 30 Mar 2004 05:00:00

To meet the needs of those specifying the latest in flexible, resilient, and reliable packing solutions, John Crane has developed literature on RitePak Packings. The 12-page brochure highlights available off-the-shelf packing solutions for general, abrasive, chemical, food, and high temperature chemical service applications.

Large John Crane Mechanical Seal Still in Service After 13 Years of Exposure

Fri, 20 Feb 2004 05:00:00

A large mechanical seal, still in operation more than 13 years after installation, gives new meaning to the axiom, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

According to Colin Munro, John Crane sales representative, a John Crane Type 37FSB mechanical seal, installed in 1991 at a large water pollution control plant located at the southern tip of San Francisco Bay, Calif., is still in operation.

John Crane Receives Supplier Award from ITT/Goulds Pumps

Tue, 02 Dec 2003 05:00:00

John Crane is honored to announce its recognition as a Top Supplier Performer for 2002 from ITT/Goulds Pumps. A supplier for decades to Goulds Pumps, one of the fluid companies of ITT Industries, this is the first time John Crane has received this award. With more than a million process pumps installed worldwide and a 150-year history, Goulds Pumps is the leading global pump supplier in a variety of industrial markets.

Getting Closer To Customers

Wed, 02 Oct 2002 05:00:00

Close proximity to customers, combined with the Swedesboro facility’s state-of-the-art design and equipment, have improved John Crane’s ability to provide new products, product repairs, service and support quickly and cost-effectively.

Cartridge Seal Cuts Costs and Product Leakage

Fri, 26 May 2000 05:00:00

Replacing other more costly yet less efficient mechanical seals, and converting packing on pumps and rotating shaft equipment, the John Crane 4610 cartridge seal reduces maintenance and running costs, product leakage and equipment downtime.

Metastream® H-CE Couplings

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 20:55:44

Metastream^® H-CE Couplings offer the lowest possible overhung moments, and additional shrouding of the flexible elements and bolts. This arrangement produces a high integrity coupling suited for most medium speed and high-speed compressor drives.

The factory assembled H-CE hub/flex units are designed to accommodate typical machine shaft sizes for turbo compressor applications
The separate spacer on the H-CE can be varied to provide the appropriate distance between shaft end and the required torsional stiffness to suit individual applications
On some applications, the H-CE hub assembly on a compressor or gearbox input shaft is combined with the flanged H-FE arrangement for a turbine driver

For more information please visit www.metastreamcouplings.com