by Brandon Pascual Brandon Pascual No Comments

Advanced EMC Technologies: Revolutionizing Sealing Solutions Across Industries

Advanced EMC Technologies is synonymous with innovation and excellence in PTFE sealing solutions. Our products are designed to meet the most demanding requirements across various industries. In this blog, we delve into real-world application examples to showcase the exceptional capabilities of our PTFE rotary shaft seals in diverse fields such as oil and gas, renewable energy, aerospace, and space exploration.

Real-World Application: PTFE Rotary Shaft Seals in Oil and Gas Drilling

Challenge: In the oil and gas industry, drilling operations face extreme conditions, including high pressures, temperatures, and exposure to harsh chemicals and abrasive materials. Traditional seals often fail under these conditions, leading to costly downtime and repairs.

Solution: Advanced EMC Technologies’ PTFE rotary shaft seals provide a reliable solution for these challenging environments. Let’s explore how our seals excel in this application:

High-Pressure Resistance: During drilling operations, equipment such as mud pumps and rotary steerable systems experience high pressures. Our PTFE seals can withstand pressures up to 15 bar, ensuring continuous operation without seal failure.

TYPES OF SEALS FOR OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY

Broad Temperature Range: The temperature range in drilling operations can vary significantly, from sub-zero temperatures in deep-sea environments to high temperatures encountered during drilling. Our seals operate efficiently from -40 to +220°C, providing unmatched reliability.

THE BENEFITS OF PTFE SPRING ENERGIZED SEALS FOR OIL AND GAS

Chemical Resistance: Drilling fluids and chemicals used in oil and gas operations can be highly corrosive. Our PTFE seals offer exceptional resistance to a wide range of chemicals, preventing degradation and ensuring long-lasting performance.

HOW TO DESIGN AND SELECT SEALS FOR OIL AND GAS

Minimal Friction and Wear: Equipment downtime due to seal failure can be costly. Our PTFE rotary shaft seals are designed with a durable sealing lip that exhibits minimal friction and wear, reducing maintenance frequency and extending the life of the equipment.

THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY DURING COVID-19

Impact: By using our PTFE rotary shaft seals, oil and gas companies can achieve higher operational efficiency. The seals’ ability to withstand extreme conditions reduces the risk of equipment failure, ensuring continuous drilling operations and translating into significant cost savings.

Enhancing Energy Efficiency: PTFE Seals in Renewable Energy

Challenge: The renewable energy sector, including wind and solar power, demands reliable sealing solutions that can withstand environmental extremes and ensure efficient operation. Components must handle wide temperature ranges, exposure to elements, and continuous motion.

Solution: Advanced EMC Technologies’ PTFE seals are ideal for renewable energy applications. Here’s how:

Weather Resistance: Our seals provide excellent resistance to UV exposure, moisture, and extreme temperatures, making them perfect for outdoor applications such as wind turbine blades and solar panel mounts.

BENEFITS OF SPRING-ENERGIZED SEALS FOR WIND TURBINES

Durability: The high wear resistance of our PTFE seals ensures longevity, reducing the need for frequent maintenance and replacements in renewable energy installations.

WHEN TO USE A PTFE ROTARY SHAFT SEAL

Efficiency: By minimizing friction and wear, our seals contribute to the overall efficiency of energy generation systems, ensuring optimal performance and reduced energy loss.

SPRING-ENERGIZED SEALS FOR THE WIND INDUSTRY

Impact: Wind turbines and solar panels equipped with our PTFE seals perform more efficiently and require less maintenance, leading to lower operational costs and more sustainable energy production.

Taking Flight: PTFE Seals in Aerospace

Challenge: Aerospace applications demand sealing solutions that can endure high altitudes, temperature fluctuations, and extreme pressure conditions. Aircraft components require seals that guarantee safety and reliability.

Solution: Advanced EMC Technologies’ PTFE seals are designed to meet these stringent requirements. Here’s why our seals are a top choice for aerospace:

Temperature Tolerance: Our seals perform effectively across a broad temperature range, from the cold of high altitudes to the heat generated by aircraft engines.

A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO AEROSPACE SEALS

Pressure Resistance: The high-pressure resistance of our PTFE seals ensures reliability in hydraulic systems, fuel systems, and other critical components.

SPRING-ENERGIZED SEALS FOR SPACEFLIGHT

Lightweight: Weight is a critical factor in aerospace applications. Our PTFE seals are lightweight yet robust, contributing to overall aircraft efficiency without compromising on performance.

PTFE AEROSPACE SEALS

Impact: Our seals ensure that aircraft components operate smoothly and safely, reducing the risk of mechanical failures and enhancing the overall reliability and efficiency of aerospace systems.

Reaching for the Stars: PTFE Seals in Space Exploration

Challenge: Space missions involve extreme conditions, including vacuum, radiation, and cryogenic temperatures. Seals used in rockets and spacecraft must offer exceptional reliability and durability to ensure mission success.

Solution: Advanced EMC Technologies’ PTFE seals are perfect for space applications. Here’s how they make a difference:

Cryogenic Performance: Our seals maintain integrity at cryogenic temperatures, crucial for handling rocket fuels like liquid oxygen (LOX) and liquid hydrogen.

SEALS IN SPACE: THE UNSUNG HEROES OF ROCKETRY

Vacuum Compatibility: PTFE’s properties make our seals ideal for use in the vacuum of space, where traditional materials might fail.

A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO AEROSPACE SEALS

Chemical Inertness: The chemical resistance of our PTFE seals ensures they can withstand exposure to various rocket propellants and other harsh substances used in space missions.

ADVANCEMENTS IN AEROSPACE DYNAMIC SEALS: ENHANCING HIGH-TEMPERATURE CAPABILITIES FOR AEROSPACE APPLICATIONS

Impact: Our seals play a vital role in the success of space missions by ensuring the reliability and safety of critical components, from rocket engines to spacecraft systems.

Why Choose Advanced EMC Technologies?

  1. Customization: We understand that each application has unique requirements. Our team works closely with clients to design and manufacture customized PTFE seals that meet specific operational needs.
  2. Quality Assurance: Our seals are manufactured to the highest standards, ensuring consistent quality and performance. We utilize advanced materials and manufacturing processes to deliver superior products.
  3. Expert Support: From initial consultation to after-sales support, our team of experts is dedicated to providing exceptional service. We assist clients in selecting the right seals and offer ongoing support to ensure optimal performance.

Advanced EMC Technologies‘ PTFE rotary shaft seals are transforming industries by providing reliable, high-performance sealing solutions. Our seals are engineered to excel in the most challenging environments, ensuring operational efficiency, cost savings, and environmental safety.

Whether it’s drilling deep in the earth, harnessing the power of the wind and sun, soaring through the skies, or exploring the final frontier, Advanced EMC Technologies has the sealing solutions to keep your operations running smoothly.

For more information about our products and services, visit our website or contact our sales team at Sales@advanced-emc.com. Let Advanced EMC Technologies be your trusted partner in sealing solutions for all your industrial needs.

by Denise Sullivan Denise Sullivan No Comments

Introduction to PTFE Lip Seals

PFTE Lip seals

Radial shaft seals are often found in aggressive environments with high temperatures and pressures. Unfortunately, these environments are also frequently dry-running and unsuitable for traditional radial shaft seals. So, what are the options if traditional radial shaft seals won’t work? Using PTFE lip seals as rotary shaft seals can offer better protection and longer life than conventional radial shaft seals. Understanding these lip seals are essential to helping you make the right choice for your sealing needs.

What Are PTFE Lip Seals

PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) lip seals have a lip on the interior diameter (ID) that allows it to fasten to an outer diameter (OD) of a metal casing or shaft. The seal is completed with a gasket sandwiched between the sealing lips.

Not all lip seals are spring-energized. Therefore, the force from radial contact is lower. The lower pressure allows the seal to function at higher surface speeds of up to 10,000 sfpm. This type of seal is for high rates, making it the go-to choice for sealing rotating shafts.

PTFE Lip Seal Fillers

PTFE Lip seals can be enhanced by using fillers instead of virgin PTFE. Fillers can help the seal withstand sintering temperatures. Some of the filled compounds include:

  • Carbon-Graphite
  • Carbon Fiber
  • Aromatic Polyester
  • Molybdenum Disulfide and Fiberglass
  • Fiberglass
  • Graphite
  • Mineral
  • Stainless Steel

Each filler offers higher temperature resistance and lower creep rates than virgin PTFE. In addition, some offer lower abrasion or better corrosive protection depending on the filler type. Which type of filler you want will rely on the application where you use the lip seals. 

Applications That Use PTFE Lip Seals

PTFE lip seals are found in most applications where speed is concerned. However, they also are ideal for conditions where highly corrosive compounds or in dry, abrasive environments. 

Aerospace

The aerospace industry needs seals that can cope with extreme temperatures, surface velocities, and high pressures. External gearbox seals are just one place where PTFE lip seals are used in the aerospace industry.

Lip seals can handle the extremes and offer advanced fuel consumption efficiency. Better efficiency of burning about half-gallon of fuel per mile can save airlines an operating cost of $1.7 million per year. 

Other instances in which the aerospace industry uses lip seals include military applications such as:

  • Lift fans for vertical lift
  • Wing flap and slats actuator seals
  • Rotorhead
  • Equipment in arresting system to catch aircraft as it lands on aircraft carrier decks

Automotive

In the automotive industry, PTFE lip seals are employed in the drive shafts of the top-fuel blowers in NASCAR engines. Traditional crankshaft seals were burning out in these engines due to the high speeds and rapid pressure increases within five minutes at racing speeds.

They are also in e-drive and cooling systems in electric vehicles. Lip seals in electric cars can handle the shaft speeds seen in these automobiles. Electric vehicles can run at over 18,000 RPM, a higher rate than gas-powered cars. 

Conclusion

PTFE lip seals are ideal for rotary shafts operating at high speeds and temperatures, such as in the automotive or aerospace industries. Choosing suitable fillers can also help extend the seal’s life. Contact us today, and we can help you determine which PTFE lip seal options you want.

Challenges of Rotary Shaft Seals in the Food Industry | Advanced EMC Technologies
by Sara McCaslin, PhD Sara McCaslin, PhD No Comments

Challenges Faced When Specifying Rotary Shaft Seals for the Food Industry

A good seal should be reliable, experience minimal wear, be easy to install, and enhance equipment performance–but the rotary shaft seals on equipment for food preparation and handling involves much more.

The wrong rotary shaft seal for a food industry application can lead to expensive downtime, costly material waste, damaged equipment, problematic production delays, and even lawsuits. That is why it is critical that the rotary shaft seals that are used in the food industry be carefully specified–which involves several challenges.

Where Are Rotary Shaft Seals Found?

Dynamic rotary shaft seals are a key component for equipment such as …

  • High pressure homogenizers
  • Water purification equipment
  • Meat blenders
  • Distilled water pumps
  • Milk dispensers
  • Ice cream dispensers
  • Food portioning systems
  • Mixers
  • Screw conveyors
  • Milling rice, wheat, and flower
  • Holding tanks
  • Hoppers
  • Crushers
  • Dry product filling systems

Reliable rotary shaft seals are critical for food preparation and handling that includes chocolate manufacturing, baking, beverage manufacturing, bulk material handling, material and poultry processing, feed and grain processing, and dairy processing.

Exposure to Media

Seals in the food industry can be exposed to various types of media, including water, oils, acids, adhesives, powders, semisolids, suspensions, slurrys, and more. Some forms of media, such as acids and slurries, can accelerate the rate of wear experienced by a rotary shaft seal and lead to premature failure if the wrong material is selected. The choice of a material that is compatible both chemically and with the form of media is critical.

Sterilization and Sanitation

Many times rotary shaft seals will be subjected to sterilization procedures for CIP (Clean in Place), SIP (Sterilize in Place) and COP (Clean Out of Place). These methods may require aggressive cleaning agents or disinfectants, superheated steam, and potentially corrosive acids. Finding a suitable rotary shaft seal material that can handle the sanitation and sterilization methods in place for the target equipment can be challenging but not impossible.  

Another potential issue with regard to cleaning involves potential need for seals that can be disassembled and cleaned daily. The ability to spend minimal time in disassembly/assembly can have a significant effect on the cleaning process in terms of time, effort, and the quality of sanitation or sterilization achieved.

Temperatures

As just alluded to, seals may be periodically exposed to extremely high temperatures for cleaning or may simply operate in a high-temperature environment. However, not all temperature concerns relate to high temperatures: some applications involve sub-zero temperatures. The seal and material behavior at the extreme operating temperatures must be considered when specifying seal geometry and material.

Contamination

The food industry can be quite demanding when it comes to rotary shaft seals. Because food is involved, there are a myriad of concerns regarding contamination, with potential sources including lubricants for the seals, contamination from seals that have begun to leak, and contamination from the seals themselves. 

Compliance with Applicable Standards

Any part of a rotary shaft seal that comes into contact with food must conform to regulations such as …

  • USP Class VI
  • FDA 21 CFR 177.1680, 177.1550, and CFR 177.2600
  • (EU) 1935/2004
  • 3-A sanitary standards 18-03 and 20-27
  • NSF/ANSI standard 61 for drinking water systems
  • WRAS BS 6920
  • 3-A Sanitary Standards
  • (EC) No. 1935/2004

And compliance involves more than just the contamination concerns just discussed. The standards and regulations also look at answers to questions such as …

  • Does the material release any chemicals?
  • Does it exhibit outgassing?
  • Does it tend to absorb moisture?
  • Does it react chemically to acidic food ingredients?
  • Can the material be detected or traced?

Conclusion

Issues such as media type, sterilization and sanitation procedures, temperatures, contamination, and regulatory compliance are all challenges faced in the food industry, and that includes dynamic seals for equipment such as mixers and dispensers. Failure to address these issues leads to the premature failure of seals, which in turn leads to material waste, downtime, and production delays as well as the loss of customer confidence and even lawsuits. 

At Advanced-EMC, we understand the challenges involved with specifying rotary shaft seals for the food industry. Our team has the knowledge and experience to assist you in finding the right rotary shaft seal for all your food industry applications. We will work with you to choose a sealing solution that will provide excellent reliability, easy maintenance, and outstanding performance, all while complying with all applicable standards.