Pool & Spa

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

Sealide-C TM. New composite seal face material improves reliability and lowers operating costs on pumps and compressors.

Tue, 01 Apr 2003 05:00:00

Many factors can affect seal performance. A partial list might include seal design, seal load, lubrication conditions, the fluid being sealed, shaft size, shaft speed, pressure and temperature of the pumped fluid. The selection of materials applied in the seal design and, in particular, the material of the contacting seal faces plays a major role in the overall performance of any seal. Sealide-C (tm) is the latest development in engineered seal face material technology. It is a state-of-the-art sintered silicon carbide composite specifically designed to provide longer service life in virtually all pump and compressor applications. Sealide-C has been shown to provide longer life, very low leakage and trouble-free service. Based on extensive laboratory testing and many successful hours of endurance testing at John Crane, Sealide-C is being applied today to the the toughest of seal applications.