Measurement system for end face mechanical seal performance

Abstract Improving the performance of mechanical seals requires the investigation of their behaviour. In order to improve the characteristics of long service life and low leakage, operating cost, and (presumably stable) operating torque, seals must be thoroughly evaluated under service conditions. However, the measurement of operating parameters in the field is hindered by the inaccessibility of seal components and by inadequate instrumentation. Therefore, a well calibrated and fully instrumented system is required to measure the performance characteristics of seals in the laboratory. A test stand has been developed to achieve this.