Kalsi Engineering introduced the 673 series Axially Constrained Seal™ (ACS) in a blog entry in October of last year. We have continued testing this advanced rotary seal in conditions that the 462 series ACS would never be considered for.
The ACS is a partitioning seal used in applications having the pressure of the seal/bearing lubricant substantially balanced to the pressure of the environment fluid. It was designed to eliminate the need to provide seal lubricant over-pressure or use a spring loaded seal carrier (see Chapter D9 of our rotary seal handbook). A lubricant viscosity of ISO 460 or greater is recommended for 462 series seals. This viscosity requirement makes 462 series seals unsuitable for some applications.
We recently completed a series of characterization tests on the 673 ACS that simulate the conditions an ACS would see as the partitioning seal in a rotating control device (RCD), and in Kalsi Engineering’s high pressure washpipe assembly. In all three tests, the rotary seals were exposed to a water based drilling fluid with 2% sand content by volume, and the seal lubricant and drilling fluid were maintained at 0 psi.
The RCD tests ran with an ISO 150 VG lubricant maintained at 180°F. The shaft was rotated at 540 feet/minute, which represents 200 rpm on a 10.375-inch RCD mandrel. The seals were in excellent condition at the conclusion of the 200-hour tests, as seen in the first photo.
The washpipe assembly test ran with an ISO 46 VG lubricant maintained at 160°F. The shaft was rotated at 250 feet/minute, which represents a 3-inch bore washpipe rotating at 200 rpm. The test seal was in excellent condition at the conclusion of the 100-hour test, as seen in the second photo.
The ability of the 673 ACS to operate with low viscosity lubricants at high speeds accommodates the use of a simple diaphragm type lubricant reservoir system. This eliminates the need for complicated lubricant overpressure systems, or axially spring loaded rotary seals.
Contact us for additional information, or to request a quote.
