| dc.description.abstract | The pulp and paper industry as well as all other industry branches are subject to continuous, ongoing development. Mechanical seals have already replaced stuffing-box packings in virtually all pulp and paper factories in Europe, as well as in a very large number of production plants throughout the world. The advantages gained through the use of mechanical seals for example lower leakage rates, friction output, and maintenance outlay make a significant contribution toward sparing both environment and resources while enabling more economic production operations. The chemical and petrochemical industries have already shown the way in this respect with impressive success. Yet these branches have had experience with mechanical seals for a long time and are using closed loop seal supply systems to keep the buffer fluid in its place, in contrast to the pulp and paper industry where most systems consist of a mechanical seal, a control device to adjust buffer flowrate and pressure, and drainage where the buffer water goes after it leaves the seal. This results in high water consumption for mechanical seals in pulp and paper mills. The dead-end seal is a kind of “closed-loop-system” in itself and has proven to save a lot of seal water (and, with this, money) in several applications, not only in the pulp and paper industry. A description of the dead-end seal, its operation ranged, and plant studies are presented. The plant histories discuss economic, environmental, and reliability benefits achieved from using the dead-end seal in different fields of application. | en |
