A sealless pump is similar to a conventional centrifugal pump, but without packed glands or mechanical seals. The dynamic seal that would normally be used to seal the impeller shaft is instead replaced by a static containment shell, or shroud, to form a completely sealed liquid end or pressure boundary.
Prime mover energy is transmitted to the sealed liquid end and the impeller by a bank of external magnets, which pass force through the containment shell to the impeller shaft.
Mechanical seals are designed to leak, maintaining their sealing capability by leaking small amounts of fluid as a means of keeping the seal faces lubricated. This leakage then reaches the environment as either liquid or vapour via a process referred to as fugitive emission.
Why would you buy a pump that leaks?! Mechanical seals are widely regarded as the weakest point in any pumping system accounting for a high proportion of all pump failures, the remainder being leakage through static seals such as gaskets / O rings and bearing failure. It follows that if you eliminate the problem, you eliminate the failures and save costs.
Furthermore, seals, like bearings, must wear. As they wear, the seal faces lose their effectiveness and liquid loss through the seal increases. These fugitive emissions can be costly, resulting in lost time and money, as well as decreased worksite safety.
Sealless pumps don’t leak, meaning that they can help reduce process inefficiencies, maximise output and minimise the risks posed to your process environment and people including from hazardous and volatile materials.
Without seals, which will ultimately fail, requiring expensive maintenance, sealless magnetic drive pumps represent a cost-effective and highly reliable alternative to traditional sealed pump designs.
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