The Basics of Mechanical Seals vs Packing

by Sweta Shah HR Executive in Ambica Machine Tools

‘Mechanical sealing’ and ‘packing’ are terms associated mainly when speaking of centrifugal pumps. Such pumps are at high risk of getting broken and can cause leakage leading to tremendous damage.

Having said that, these two methods of addressing leakage in centrifugal pumps are quite efficient and advantageous in their own unique ways. They have their own pros and cons. Let’s get into the details of how every mechanical seal manufacturer in India manufactures mechanical sealing and packing, and find out which one is better and why.

Understanding packing:

Originally, only packing was used as a method of sealing long before mechanical seals can into a picture. Here are a few features of using packing as sealing:

There are various materials, which are soft, and flexible that is used in the process of packing. The intention is to keep the packing flexible for easy flow in the centrifugal pump.

Over the long term, packing may turn out to be a costlier venture than it seems. There is too much maintenance effort that needs to be put in in order to ensure that packing stays in place.

Compared to mechanical seals, more product loss occurs during the process of packing.

The material used in packing are readily available, the installation cost is minimum and can easily be used immediately.

Having said that, it is still a matter of personal choice to opt for packing over mechanical sealing to combat the leaking issue of centrifugal pumps.

Understanding mechanical seals:

The biggest advantage that mechanical seals, especially Teflon Bellow mechanical seal, can provide is that they are extremely reliable, especially when compared to packing.

Company owners can have mechanical sealing placed on their pipes instead of packing, this ensures that there is absolutely no leakage and hence, there is no need to keep checking the pipes every now and then.

The total lack of leakage ensures that workers carry out their activities in a safe environment and don’t face any danger related to leakage.

The cost of continuously checking, replacing and repairing packing as a form of protection is tremendously cut down. This improves the overall budget of the company and keeps it stable.

In addition to this, every mechanical seal manufacturer in India strives to provide the best mechanical sealing to their clients thereby improving their overall performance.

Which one is better? And why?

Speaking of curbing losses and saving money, mechanical sealing is, no doubt, the best option to resort to. Also, when it comes to providing a leakage-free environment for workers, mechanical sealing takes the cake.

The time and money saved by getting mechanical sealing instead of packing is tremendous, and will definitely show in the company’s overall profit and growth in the long run.

Conclusion:
True that packing and mechanical sealing have their own unique advantages and disadvantages, one cannot simply declare one better than the other. It wholly depends on the need of the situation and what the circumstances call for.

Under certain conditions, Teflon Bellow mechanical sealing may be the best choice, while in certain others, packing may be the best option to resort to. Whatever it is, make sure you choose that option that is best suited to your circumstances.