MECO EP-Type-1

Where axial or linear space is available, the EP Type-1 seal is the answer for sealing wet and abrasive slurries that are often encountered in pulpers, agitators, cylindrical blenders, paddle mixers, holding vessels, mixing conveyors, and other similar rotating equipment. Industries served by the EP Type-1 are pulp and paper, home building products, biomass and ethanol production, and others handling semiliquid mixtures. Durably constructed, this seal is designed to withstand the abuse of shock loading, high shaft runout, and abrasive process materials often associated with paper pulpers. The entire seal assembly is fully-split and serviceable onsite.

With a housing and gland follower akin to a stuffing box and gland follower, this seal is a precision machined, fully-split, elastomer driven design. The elastomer drive ring forms a watertight seal at the shaft, and frictionally drives two rotating stainless-steel seal faces (rotors) against two soft polymer stationary seal faces (stators), that are fixed to the seal’s inboard housing and gland follower.

Seal face loading is dictated by an array of load springs acting on the outside of the gland follower, which ensure that the rotating seal faces are in constant contact with the stators in the event of shock loading or eventual wearing of the polymer seal faces. A water flush is introduced to the seal cavity at zero pressure to draw away heat, as well as flush out any process material that may have migrated onto the seal faces.

The EP Type-1’s continual water flush system not only serves to draw away heat and process debris from the seal cavity, but also as a diagnostic tool for installation integrity and performance. By reviewing the clarity of the flush water, as well as the change in temperature from inlet to outlet, maintenance of the seal becomes predictable and calibration of the seal is confirmed.

External load springs are attached to the outside face of the gland follower to close the seal faces and provide reactive seal face alignment. As the sacrificial stator material wears, the load springs gradually expand and the water flush expels the wear material. Once the springs have expanded to a measurable amount, spring force will need to be reset in order to maximize the service life of the seal. When adjustment is no longer achievable, and the gland follower flange has come into contact with the seal housing, a rebuild will need to occur. The seal may be rebuilt on-site or returned for factory refurbishing.

Standard configuration for the EP Type-1 uses stainless-steel rotating seal faces (typically 17-4 or 316L stainless steel) and 300 series stainless steel housings and gland follower. Stationary seal faces and elastomers are selected from a variety of bearing-grade polymers and rubbers, with many food-grade materials available. Specialty materials needed for chemical compatibility in complex applications are also available upon request.

Dimensions will vary according to each application, but typical spatial dimensions with respect to the shaft diameter are illustrated in the chart below. Seals are not forced to fit your equipment, but designed specifically for your equipment.

MECO Seals EP Type 1 Brochure