Seals for rotating shafts
Contact person
Dennis Kranert
Area Sales Manager
+49 (0) 3925/288-164
When Seals Fail to Perform Consistently
Initial situation
A classic gland packing was used in the conche. During operation, this exhibited uneven wear that was difficult to predict. The sealing performance was inconsistent and required regular readjustment. This resulted in increased inspection and maintenance costs, while service life could not be reliably predicted.
Technical challenge
The existing seal did not operate under defined conditions. The goal was to develop a solution that would enable consistent sealing performance while reducing wear. Furthermore, integration was to take place within the existing installation space without the use of additional media such as inert gas.
Solution approach
A spring-loaded SDF seal was used for this application. The key factor here was the defined spring force, which ensures constant contact pressure of the sealing elements. The design was engineered to fit within the existing installation space while enabling stable sealing performance without the need for a barrier gas.
Implementation
The existing gland packing was replaced with the SDF seal. The integration was carried out within the existing installation configuration without requiring any structural modifications to the system.
Results
After the conversion, the seal was monitored during operation. This revealed stable and repeatable sealing performance with reduced maintenance requirements. After six months, virtually no wear was detected, while leakage was significantly reduced compared to the original solution.
Figure 2 Left: Components of the stuffing box packing
Figure 3 Center: SDF310
Figure 4 Right: View inside the SDF310
Transferability
The approach shown is particularly relevant for applications where traditional gland packings are used and consistent sealing performance is required. Especially in food and confectionery production, a defined and low-maintenance sealing solution can contribute to process stabilization.
How stable is your seal under continuous operation?
Not every sealing solution is a standard case. We assess your existing setup and evaluate whether a retrofit makes sense — both technically and economically.
FAQs
Gland packings frequently exhibit uneven wear during operation. As a result, sealing performance is not consistent and must be readjusted regularly.
Wear is not uniform, which means that operating times cannot be predicted. The seal must therefore be checked and adjusted regularly.
By using a seal with a defined contact force. In the case shown, a spring-loaded SDF seal ensures uniform sealing throughout the entire operating period.
The new seal is designed to fit within the existing installation space. This allows the existing gland packing to be replaced without making structural changes to the system.
A non-inert gas design reduces technical complexity and enables a stable seal without the need for additional media.
In the application shown, the seal exhibited virtually no wear after six months and significantly reduced leakage compared to the original solution.
