SEPCO (Sealing Equipment Products Company) provides high-performance mechanical seals and air seals engineered for demanding industrial applications, including vessels such as reactors and storage tanks, as well as mixers and agitators. These components often experience significant shaft deflection, end-play, vibration, and exposure to abrasive, corrosive, or polymerizing media. SEPCO’s seals address these issues through features like hydraulic balancing, external mounting, and non-contact designs to ensure reliability, minimize leakage, and reduce maintenance. Based on SEPCO’s product catalog and application guidance, the primary seals suitable for these applications are the OMS, OSS, SMD, and SAS. Below is a detailed overview, including technical specifications, features, and applications.
Key Considerations for Selection
- Operational Challenges: Mixers and agitators in vessels often involve shaft misalignment (up to 1/4″ deflection), end-play (up to 1/8″), and pressures up to 750 psig. Seals must handle abrasive slurries, hazardous fluids, and thermal variations without fretting shafts or requiring frequent disassembly.
- Design Types: External mounting is common to accommodate movement; double seals provide redundancy for hazardous media; non-contact air seals excel in dry or bulk solids handling.
- Materials: Typically include 316 SS for metal parts, Hastelloy® C for springs, carbon-graphite or tungsten carbide faces, and elastomers like Viton® or EPR for chemical resistance.
- Applications: Common in industries like pulp and paper, chemicals, food and beverage, and mining, where vessels may contain reactors or tanks with top- or side-entry agitators.
| SEAL MODEL | TYPE | KEY FEATURES | OPERATING CAPABILITIES | SPECIFIC APPLICATIONS IN MIXERS, AGITATORS, AND VESSELS |
| OMS (Outside Mixer Seal) | Externally mounted single component seal | – Handles up to 1/4″ shaft deflection.Multiple springs for even load distribution. – Hydraulically balanced to prevent face separation under pressure surges. – Field-repairable with replaceable wear components. – Static shaft O-ring to prevent fretting. Easy installation with assembly clips (no measurements needed). – Allows inspection/cleaning without disassembly. | – Pressure: Up to 150 psig (10 bar g). – Temperature: -20°F to 250°F (-29°C to 121°C). – Speed: Up to 1000 fpm (5 m/s). | Ideal for slow-speed mixers, agitators in vessels, augers, and reactors with high deflection. Used in tanks handling abrasive or viscous media to reduce leaks and downtime. |
| OSS (Outside Single Spring Seal) | Externally mounted single spring component seal | – Handles up to 1/4″ shaft deflection and 1/8″ end-play. – Single spring design for simplicity. – Hydraulically balanced for cool operation and reliability. – Field-repairable and easy to service without disassembly. – Static shaft O-ring eliminates shaft/sleeve replacement needs. – Suitable for polymerizing products. | – Pressure: Up to 150 psig (10 bar g). – Temperature: -20°F to 250°F (-29°C to 121°C). – Speed: Up to 1000 fpm (5 m/s). | Designed for agitators in reactors, mixers, augers, and vessels like positive displacement pumps in chemical processing. Effective in environments with shaft movement and potential for product buildup. |
| SMD (Shaft Mounted Double Seal) | Externally mounted heavy-duty multiple component seal (double or tandem) | – Handles up to 1/4″ shaft deflection and 1/8″ end-play. – Reciprocal hydraulic balancing for pressure fluctuations. – Isolated metal parts for corrosive media. – Lug-driven for high-torque applications. – Available as cartridge for easy installation. – Supports flushing without product dilution. | – Pressure: Up to 750 psig (52 bar g). – Temperature: -20°F to 500°F (-29°C to 260°C). – Speed: Up to 5000 fpm (25 m/s). | Suited for high-pressure agitators, mixers, and reactors in vessels handling hazardous or abrasive fluids. Ideal for belt-driven equipment in tanks requiring redundancy and minimal leakage. |
| SAS (SEPCO Air Seal) | Pneumatic non-contact sealing system | – Non-contact design (uses air/gas for sealing) to handle misalignment and vibration. – Floating throttle accommodates angular (up to 1.5°) and parallel (0.0625″ TIR) shaft movement. – Maintenance-free with continuous air flow. – Split designs available. – Engineered clearances for uniform pressure/velocity profile. – Minimizes air consumption while preventing product ingress. | – Pressure: Up to 120 psig (standard 60 psig). – Temperature: Up to 750°F (399°C). – Handles wet/dry applications. | Recommended for mixers, blenders, agitators, and pulpers in vessels, especially in dry powder or bulk solids processes. Prevents leaks in food/beverage tanks (e.g., dough mixers) and pulp/paper vessels (e.g., hydrapulpers), reducing bacterial growth and maintenance. |
Additional Guidance
- Air Seals Emphasis: For safety-critical or harsh environments (e.g., food production or pulp mills), SEPCO prioritizes air seals like the SAS to accommodate shaft movement without contact, preventing leaks and extending equipment life. This is particularly useful in vessels where traditional packing fails due to vibration.
- Customization and Support: SEPCO offers field-repairable designs and engineering consultations for specific vessel configurations. For high-corrosion applications, opt for silicon carbide faces or perfluorinated elastomers.
- Installation Notes: External mounts (e.g., OMS, OSS) simplify setup in confined vessel spaces. Always verify flush systems for double seals like SMD to handle non-lubricating media.
For the latest specifications or custom solutions, consult SEPCO’s official resources or contact us directly at www.sepco.com.
