Mechanical seals are designed to prevent pumped material from leaking along the rotating shaft of a pump, ensuring that the fluid remains safely contained within the pump without leaking into the surrounding environment.

Recognising the key role that seals play in ensuring the reliable operation of various types of pumps, KSB Pumps and Valves develops and manufactures mechanical seals matched to specific pumps.

“Most people know KSB as a pump manufacturer and are surprised to learn that we also design, manufacture and support our own range of mechanical seals for nearly every pump type and that we are continually expanding our portfolio to meet customer needs,” says KSB SupremeServ sales engineer: mechanical seals Phumelela Ngcobo.

Ngcobo explains that the company’s understanding of hydraulic performance, shaft behaviour, bearing arrangements and the operating conditions inside the seal chamber allowed its engineers to identify the root causes of pump performance failures and to develop sealing solutions specifically designed to overcome the challenges of recurring seal failures.

“Today our range includes sealing solutions for the vast majority of KSB pumps together with universal mechanical seals suitable for many competitor brands. Where a standard solution is unavailable our engineering team will even develop custom sealing systems based on pump dimensions and detailed process information supplied by the customer,” he says.

The range includes component and cartridge mechanical seals available in both single and dual arrangements. It also comprises pump-specific sealing solutions, seals manufactured in accordance with DIN EN 12756, API 682-compliant sealing systems for applicable process pumps, slurry application seals, boiler feed pump seals, high-pressure mechanical seals, and ATEX-certified sealing solutions for use in hazardous environments.

In addition to mechanical seals, the portfolio includes API 682-compliant seal support systems, piping plans, seal pots, heat exchangers, flow meters, and associated instrumentation. The company says that the advantage of supplying these components as an integrated package is that it ensures compatibility between the sealing equipment and support system, helping to simplify procurement, installation, commissioning and ongoing maintenance while enhancing overall system reliability.

The company also explains that the materials selected for a mechanical seal are chosen to maximise reliability under specific operating conditions. For general industrial duties reaction bonded silicon carbide, or RBSiC, is often the preferred choice offering wear resistance and reliable performance across a wide range of applications. For more demanding applications involving aggressive chemicals, elevated temperatures or higher operating pressures, sintered silicon carbide, or SSiC, is typically specified for its corrosion resistance, higher mechanical strength and performance under severe operating conditions.

KSB notes that its mechanical seals are used in a range of industries including mining, water and wastewater, petrochemical processing, power generation, pulp and paper production, chemical processing, food and beverage manufacturing and general industry, and are supported by its KSB SupremeServ dedicated refurbishment facilities that repair its own and competitor mechanical seals.

In addition, field service technicians provide mechanical seal installation, auxiliary system installation, commissioning assistance, seal failure investigations and on-site technical support.

KSB SupremeServ offers technical training related to mechanical seal fundamentals, seal selection, API 682 piping plans, auxiliary systems, installation best practices and seal failure analysis.