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March 2007 Archives

March 7, 2007

Old test lab days..


95000 stem cycle
Originally uploaded by frisard.
This was a test that we did for a valve company in Canada. basically we completed 95,000 stem cycles as we heated the valve to 400°F and checked for packing leakage. This is the interface I created using Testpoint software.

This was done around the year 2000 when I was manager of the Packing lab.

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Posted on March 7, 2007 11:02 AM | | Comments (0)

March 8, 2007

175 Peel & Seal Field Test


175 field test
Originally uploaded by frisard.
I was the engineer in charge of releasing the 175 peel and seal product. One thing I did when I released it was attach a 4" piece to the bumper of my truck. I wanted to see how long the adhesive would last and stand up to rain and temperature swings (it is Massachusetts ).

Well it is has been over 8 years and a small amount is still there. I guess the adhesive is quite strong.

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Posted on March 8, 2007 1:36 PM | | Comments (0)

March 9, 2007

Fire Testing of Packing


MVC-004F
Originally uploaded by frisard.
This picture was taken at at an independent test lab we use in Maine to do fire testing of our valve packing. Consolidation is such an important key to having a successful seal and here I am doing that step. Most people can not I actually get dirty and here is proof it happens sometime.

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Posted on March 9, 2007 10:50 PM | | Comments (0)

March 10, 2007

Article by Gore on Pump Packing Installation


gore
Originally uploaded by frisard.
Here is the article written on pump packing installation by Gore.
They go over many issues to look out for during installation. They also touch on making sure the ring is teh correct width by measuring it. They are hitting on a bad press job or over sized packing by a lower quality vendor.
They stay away from the really tough issues of gland adjustments, leakage, flush setup, and length of service. It is kind of like a puff piece in that regard.

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Posted on March 10, 2007 7:29 PM | | Comments (0)

March 11, 2007

Good Bolitng Resource Website


short bolting
Originally uploaded by frisard.
Short bolting : the failure mode of bolts by not having enough threads engaged into the nut. We hear this a lot but sometimes people think this is a old timers story and it really does not matter. Well here is a good article going into detail on the subject.
The website this comes from is a bolting consultant in Europe and he has many good articles and also an online course.
He also makes bolting software. Very interesting.

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Posted on March 11, 2007 12:37 PM | | Comments (0)

March 12, 2007

Nice fiber information website


packing
Originally uploaded by frisard.
I found this really nice website that goes over details on man made fibers. It has some of the basic information and links to manufactures.
also their were many descriptions and overviews.

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Posted on March 12, 2007 2:39 PM | | Comments (0)

Pump packing failure

This video was taken at a waste water plant and you can see how badly the packing is failing. Actually it does not even look like there is packing in the box. I also love the hose to the drain.

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Posted on March 12, 2007 5:53 PM | | Comments (0)

March 13, 2007

Non-asbestos gaskets getting brittle


MVC-003F
Originally uploaded by frisard.
I have seen non asbestos gaskets get brittle when you get them to high temperatures and in steam service many times. The non-asbestos version of gaskets I feel have never lived up to the asbestos gaskets without giving up something. Sure, graphite can handle everything but it needs to be handled with care compared to the old asbestos sheet days.
Well I found this patent for a new non-asbestos gasket that explains why non asbestos gaskets do not work as well. Here is an excerpt:
"the amount of the organic fiber is limited usually to 5 to 15 wt %, because such an organic fiber has a fiber diameter larger than asbestos fiber and is inferior to asbestos fiber in heat resistance and steam resistance. Many inorganic fibers such as rock wool, carbon fiber, and glass fiber can also be used as a base fiber only to the extent of 10 to 30 wt %, because inorganic fibers are more rigid and their fiber diameters are larger as compared with the asbestos fiber. Many organic fibers are easily broken during mixing or forming."
Here is the link to the patent.

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Posted on March 13, 2007 6:13 PM | | Comments (0)

March 15, 2007

"How to pack a pump" - Boilers Exam Prep Guide


boiler operators exam 1
Originally uploaded by frisard.
I found this on Google's book search and I thought it had some basic facts that are good and a few really bad ideas.
The Good:
- always use the correct size
- use a mandrel when cutting
- remove old packing
- lining up lantern ring
- seat each ring
The Bad:
- coat the new rings with a lubricant
***This idea will damage most packing materials and prolong the break-in period
I copied a few other pages and put them into a flickr group here.

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Posted on March 15, 2007 11:48 PM | | Comments (0)

March 16, 2007

Coker on its way to Fort McMurray

Back in 2001 I did some training at Suncor in Fort McMurray Canada. It was a real eye opener of where the next generation of oil will come from. When I was way back in 2001 there only two refineries were up and running, Suncor and Syncrude. Here is a good history on the place. Now last time I heard there were 5 more.
The process of getting oil out of of there is combining two different industries: Mining and oil refining. Here are some pictures I took on my trip up north back in 2001.

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Posted on March 16, 2007 9:52 PM | | Comments (0)

March 19, 2007

Packing failure in steam line article


newlogo
Originally uploaded by frisard.
Saw this informative article about what typically happens when a packing leak is first noticed. It kind of talks about the old reactive maintenance model ~ the old fire fighter.
The broomstick method is still used today and the work is still very deadly.

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Posted on March 19, 2007 12:05 AM | | Comments (0)

Article I wrote on pump packing for the FSA


100_0060
Originally uploaded by frisard.
I wrote this article last year for the FSA on pump packing issues. I wanted to write a paper that talked about real issues and not just give the standard info. I spend most of the paper discussing flush pressure as it relates to stuffing box pressure and how the differential can really mess with pump packing.

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Posted on March 19, 2007 7:04 PM | | Comments (0)

March 22, 2007

Valve packing accident - case history


Contents
Originally uploaded by frisard.
found this really good site from Japan that goes over industrial accidents. This one in particular is a classic and I have seen it many times. The packing friction was very high and the operator tried to move the stem using a wrench and causes the packing to leak. This accident resulted in a plant shutdown.

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Posted on March 22, 2007 12:03 AM | | Comments (0)

March 24, 2007

EPA study on Methane Leak Detection


leaking valve
Originally uploaded by frisard.
Saw this great report on how to monitor emissions leaks. It has some great case histories and you can tell that the presenter is from the detection technology instead of the sealing industry.

Had a great case history (picture) had leaking packing that was losing over $17,000 a year. Very interesting.

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Posted on March 24, 2007 2:52 PM | | Comments (0)

March 26, 2007

Great Article on Fugitive Emissions


supply shortage
Originally uploaded by pbo31.
This is an article written in Africa from a professor. What I love about this report is it starts about greenhouse gases and then brings it all the way down to the subject of valve packing leakage.

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Posted on March 26, 2007 12:23 AM | | Comments (0)

March 27, 2007

Another great bolting reference


bolting
Originally uploaded by frisard.
I mentioned in my old blog about the MIT open courseware project where you can download practically everything for certain MIT courses. Well, I found this great PDF on bolted joints that is like a highlighted Bickford book on bolted connections. It is a must for a good quick bolting reference.

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Posted on March 27, 2007 7:42 PM | | Comments (0)

March 29, 2007

Great site for global maps based on statistics


Hydo mapped
Originally uploaded by frisard.
I love statistics. This site from the Univ. of Michigan breaks the world into 185 countries and then creates graphs based on the per person average on statistical facts. This one is on the ratio of Hydro kilowatts to population. They have over 100 different ones and they have a detailed PDF file for each one. Excellent site.

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Posted on March 29, 2007 8:52 AM | | Comments (0)

March 30, 2007

Wikipedia and sealing


800px-PTFE-3D-vdW
Originally uploaded by frisard.
So I was looking around Wikipedia today and found this great image of a PTFE (teflon) molecule. I then noticed there were many item on this site that has a good basic information on.
-Gland on Stuffing Box
- Carbon fiber (talks about the recent shortage of fiber)
- Gaskets (uses Bickford as a reference)
- Bolted Joints

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Posted on March 30, 2007 10:29 PM | | Comments (0)

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About March 2007

This page contains all entries posted to Smart Sealing in March 2007. They are listed from oldest to newest.

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