Rotary seal testing at 10,000 psi


In a previous post, we described testing a rotary seal at 1,890,000 PV for 1,000 hours (7,500 psi at 252 feet/minute). This post describes a test that was conducted at approximately 10,000 psi while rotating at 28 feet/minute. The duration of the test was 6.5 hours, to meet an application-specific rotary cycle goal. The used seals are in excellent condition, as shown below.

The test was conducted in our high pressure swivel seal test fixture at 24 rpm using a pair of 4.5” Kalsi Seals and an ISO 68 viscosity grade seal lubricant. The fixture tests two seals at a time, exposing each seal to the full pressure. The differential pressure across the seals was maintained at 9,800 psi (67.57 MPa). The bulk lubricant temperature never exceeded 96°F (35.6°C), thanks to the interfacial lubrication provided by our unique seal design.

To achieve this level of performance, we tested our most advanced high pressure rotary seal configuration with our floating backup ring technology, which minimizes extrusion gap clearance. The Plastic-Lined Kalsi Seals™ that were tested incorporate a highly extrusion resistant liner formed from our -318 material. It seems likely, based on after-test condition, that they would have continued to operate for a much longer period of time, and are capable of higher pressures and speeds.

The seal and backup ring technologies used to achieve 10,000 psi operation are protected by pending and issued U.S. and foreign patents. To see if these technologies are right for your high pressure seal application, or to request a quote, call us at 281-240-6500 or contact us by e-mail. For available sizes of Plastic Lined™ high pressure seals, see our shaft seal catalog.

The used seals from our 9,800 psi test are in excellent condition. The combination of the hydrodynamically lubricated plastic seal material and the metal backup ring easily met application pressure and duration requirements while rotating at 28 feet/minute.
The used rotary seals from our 9,800 psi test are in excellent condition. The combination of the hydrodynamically lubricated plastic seal material and the metal backup ring easily met application pressure and duration requirements while rotating at 28 feet/minute.