Abstract: An active flush regulation system having a rotary component, a stationary component, one or more biasing elements for applying a biasing force to the stationary component in a first direction for biasing together a rotor sealing surface and a stator sealing surface, and a holder component for holding one or more of the stationary component and the rotary component. The rotor sealing surface and the stator sealing surface form an under-balanced seal face, where in a first closed position the rotor sealing surface and the stationary sealing surface contact each other, and when flushing fluid is introduced to the seal face, the flushing fluid acts to place the rotor sealing surface and the stator sealing surface in an open position where the rotor sealing surface and the stator sealing surface are separated from each other to form a gap to allow the flushing fluid to pass therealong.

Abstract: A mechanical seal assembly includes a gland assembly having a chamber formed in an inner surface for seating a fluid insert element. The fluid insert element promotes movement of particles present in a slurry process fluid away from a seal interface formed by the sealing surfaces of rotary and stationary seal rings.

Abstract: A mechanical seal that employs a lock ring assembly having associated therewith a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism can include a nut element, such as a barrel nut, that allows an associated bolt element to adjust a tightening load and position while clamping occurs of the components of the mechanical seal. This adjustment flexibility removes or reduces unwanted bending stresses in the bolt element, thus allowing for more torque to translate directly to the lock ring. The barrel nut allows for more material to remain in the lock ring, thus providing for additional overall strength relative to a traditional locking element. The lock ring also includes a plurality of flex regions in the form of notches that allow the lock ring to flex when the main body is tightened about the shaft.

Abstract: A mechanical seal assembly having a gland element configured to mount to stationary equipment, a rotary seal ring for coupling to and rotating with a shaft, a stationary seal ring configured to remain stationary relative to the shaft where the stationary seal ring has a main body having an outer surface having a heat transfer channel formed therein that is sized and configured for circulating a heat transfer fluid, and a holder element for coupling the rotary seal ring to the shaft and for rotating with the shaft. The heat transfer channel can be a low pressure heat transfer channel.

Abstract: A system for regulating an axial biasing force applied to a stacked set of packing elements mounted within stationary equipment, comprising a packing loading assembly for sealing a process fluid within the stationary equipment and for applying the axial biasing force to the packing elements via a pressurized fluid from a pressure regulator. The packing loading assembly includes a gland element for mounting to the stationary equipment by a plurality of gland bolts, and an external actuation subsystem for coupling to at least one of the plurality of gland bolts for applying an axial actuation force directly to the gland element in response to the pressurized fluid. The gland element in response to the axial actuation force applies the axial biasing force to the packing elements.

Abstract: A mechanical seal assembly includes a gland assembly having a chamber formed in an inner surface for seating a fluid insert element. The fluid insert element promotes movement of particles present in a slurry process fluid away from a seal interface formed by the sealing surfaces of rotary and stationary seal rings.

Abstract: A mechanical seal that employs an axially movable spring holder plate that engages a sealing element, such as an O-ring, associated with a stationary seal ring. In turn, the stationary seal ring can have a sealing face that engages with a sealing face of a rotary seal ring. The rotary seal ring can also have a sealing element, such as an O-ring, associated therewith. The O-rings are initially disposed in an unloaded position where they are not radially compressed and hence the ends do not expand circumferentially past the end faces of the holder or gland segments. The spring holder plate can be moved axially by tightening selected bolts associated therewith. When moved axially, the spring holder plate moves the stationary seal ring and the O-ring associated therewith in an axially inboard direction, thus placing the O-rings in a loaded position, where the O-rings are radially compressed.

Abstract: A mechanical seal that employs a lock ring assembly having associated therewith a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism can include a nut element, such as a barrel nut, that allows an associated bolt element to adjust a tightening load and position while clamping occurs of the components of the mechanical seal. This adjustment flexibility removes or reduces unwanted bending stresses in the bolt element, thus allowing for more torque to translate directly to the lock ring. The barrel nut allows for more material to remain in the lock ring, thus providing for additional overall strength relative to a traditional locking element. The lock ring also includes a plurality of flex regions in the form of notches that allow the lock ring to flex when the main body is tightened about the shaft.

Abstract: A mechanical seal that employs an axially movable spring holder plate that engages a sealing element, such as an O-ring, associated with a stationary seal ring. In turn, the stationary seal ring can have a sealing face that engages with a sealing face of a rotary seal ring. The rotary seal ring can also have a sealing element, such as an O-ring, associated therewith. The O-rings are initially disposed in an unloaded position where they are not radially compressed and hence the ends do not expand circumferentially past the end faces of the holder or gland segments. The spring holder plate can be moved axially by tightening selected bolts associated therewith. When moved axially, the spring holder plate moves the stationary seal ring and the O-ring associated therewith in an axially inboard direction, thus placing the O-rings in a loaded position, where the O-rings are radially compressed.

Abstract: A pressure regulating system for use with a mechanical seal and stationary equipment for applying a substantially uniform force or load to a stacked set of packing elements. The force applied to the packing elements can be regulated or controlled in real time and in a remote manner. The mechanical seal includes an axially movable follower element that can be energized by pressurized fluid to move between a pre-loaded position where the follower element does not apply an axial load to the packing elements to a loaded position where the follower element applies the axial load to the packing elements.