Professional Certificate of Competency in Practical Mechanical Sealing

Course Duration
Duration
  • 3 Months
Course Study
Study Mode
  • Online
  • Online Mechanical Engineering
Course Location
Location
  • Online
Course Code
Course Code
CSR
Course Intakes
Intakes
Course Type
Course Type
  • Professional Certificate
  • Mechanical Engineering
Course Fees
Fees

Course Overview

This professional development course is designed for engineers and technicians who need to understand the theoretical and practical aspects of mechanical sealing.

Unfortunately, this course isn’t scheduled at the moment.

Course Benefits

  • You may be eligible to claim CPD points through your local engineering association.
  • Receive a Certificate of Completion from EIT.
  • Learn from well-known faculty and industry experts from around the globe.
  • Flexibility of attending anytime from anywhere, even when you are working full-time.
  • Interact with industry experts during the webinars and get the latest updates/announcements on the subject.
  • Experience a global learning with students from various backgrounds and experience which is a great networking opportunity.
  • Gain on depth understanding of the theoretical and practical aspects of mechanical sealing.
  • Learn the fundamentals and principles of mechanical seals, basis of classification, construction, and design of the mechanical seals.
  • Study the selection criteria of seals for a variety of specific and special industrial applications for a variety of equipment and materials based on various standards.
  • Acquire knowledge about seal failures, troubleshooting and practical ways to maximize the life of the mechanical seal.

Course Details

This comprehensive and interactive course will teach you the fundamentals and principles of mechanical seals, followed by the classification, construction, and design of the mechanical seals. You will learn how to select seals for a variety of specific and special industrial applications for a variety of equipment and materials based on various standards. You will also learn about environmental considerations as per the API standards.

The course is composed of 12 modules, covering topics such as environmental considerations related to seals as per API 610 and 682, design, installation, and troubleshooting of seals, and how to maximize mechanical seal life. It will also demonstrate the classification of various seals, including special seal types, considerations related to the materials used in seal construction, and selection, operation, and maintenance strategies.

Module 1: Fundamentals and Principles

  • Definition of zero leakage
  • Mechanics of sealing
  • Leakage
  • Purpose of sealing
  • Basics regarding speed and pressure
  • Temperature considerations
  • Basic seal requirements
  • Seal friction
  • Wear and seal life
  • Texture

Module 2: General, Special Seal Types and Materials of Seal Construction

  • Static and dynamic seals
  • Special seal types
  • Bushing, labyrinth and diaphragm seals
  • Gas, motion, slurry seals
  • Carbon seals
  • Liquid ring and liquid barrier seals
  • Inflatable, ferrofluidic seals
  • Positive action type
  • Self-adhesive compression seals
  • Properties of elastomers
  • Elastomeric materials
  • Plastic polymers
  • Cemented carbides
  • Miscellaneous sealing materials

Module 3: Seals for Specific/Special Applications

  • Hydraulic and pneumatic seals
  • Seals for special applications
  • Large diameter seals
  • High-speed sealing applications and requirements
  • Sources of excessive hydraulic pressure
  • Overcoming problems associated with high-pressure
  • Vacuum sealing applications

Module 4: Seal Selection, Application and Standards

  • Seal selection guides
  • Static and dynamic seal applications
  • Standards-ISO, British, DIN, ASME

Module 5: Mechanical Seal Fundamentals, Seal Design and Classification

  • Introduction and fundamentals
  • Sealing mechanism
  • Desirable features
  • Identifying seal components and their function
  • Primary sealing components – seal head, seal seat, springs for face loading, metal bellows
  • Secondary sealing components-elastomeric O-rings, V-rings, U-cup rings, wedge rings
  • Seal types and arrangements
  • Sealing face conditions
  • Seal pre-loading
  • Seal balance and balance ratio
  • Pressure distribution

Module 6: Mechanical Seal Materials, Environmental Considerations and Control

  • Desirable properties
  • General considerations
  • Suitable mating combinations
  • Abrasives, heat, dry operation
  • Flushing, recirculation, quenching
  • Convection, cooling, jacketing
  • Buffer and barrier fluid
  • Dead-end lubrication, grease packing, circulating face lubrication
  • API 610 and 682 environmental control schemes

Module 7: Auxiliary Equipment

  • Cyclone separators
  • Pressurization units
  • Air-coolers and heat exchangers
  • Rotameters and flow controllers
  • Leakage detectors
  • Pressure-sensitive switches
  • Filters and strainers

MODULE 8: Seal Storage, Handling and Installation

  • Seal storage and handling
  • Seal installation considerations
  • Seat squareness

Module 9: Mechanical Seal Selection and Standards

  • Selection considerations
  • Process liquid characteristics
  • Inboard vs. outboard mounting
  • Rotating vs. stationary seal ring
  • Face loading
  • Primary seal ring design
  • Secondary sealing devices
  • Seal selection rules
  • Mechanical seal standards

Module 10: Seal Failures

  • Factors influencing seal life
  • Factors affecting seal performance
  • Categorization of failures
  • Seal malfunction and probable causes
  • Premature failure causes
  • Seal face symptoms
  • Friction and wear
  • Adhesion, abrasion, corrosion and surface fatigue

Module 11: Troubleshooting Failed Seals

  • At the pumping site
  • At the equipment teardown
  • Leakage types
  • Discoloration, chipping, cracking, rubbing, elastomer swelling, stickiness, hardness – what do these mean?

Module 12: HOW TO MAXIMISE MECHANICAL SEAL LIFE

  • Preparing the pump – mechanically, hydraulically
  • Controlling temperature in the stuffing box
  • Controlling pressure in the stuffing box
  • What seal to choose?
  • What face combination and elastomer?

To obtain a certificate of completion for EIT’s Professional Certificate of Competency course, students must achieve a 65% attendance rate at the live, online fortnightly webinars.  Detailed summaries or notes can be submitted in lieu of attendance.  In addition, students must obtain a mark of 60% in the set assignments which could take the form of written assignments and practical assignments. Students must also obtain a mark of 100% in quizzes.  If a student does not achieve the required score, they will be given an opportunity to resubmit the assignment to obtain the required score.

For full current fees in your country go to the drop down filter at the top of this page or visit the Fees page.

Payment Methods

Learn more about payment methods, including payment terms & conditions and additional non-tuition fees.

You are expected to spend approximately 5-8 hours per week learning the course content. This includes attending fortnightly webinars that run for about 90 minutes to facilitate class discussion and allow you to ask questions. This program has a 65% attendance requirement in the live webinars in order to graduate from the program.  If you are unable to attend the live webinars, you have the option of watching the recording of completed webinars and sending a summary of what you have learnt from the webinar to the Learning Support officer.  The summaries go towards your attendance requirement for the program.

This program is run online on an intensive part-time basis and has been designed to fit around full-time work. It will take three months to complete.

We understand that sometimes work commitments and personal circumstances can get in the way of your studies, so if at any point you feel that you are struggling with the pace of the course or finding a particular module challenging, you are encouraged to contact your designated Learning Support Officer for assistance.

Hear from our students

  The delivery methodology and the information available in the e-library can’t be beaten. The other important aspect of online education is recorded lectures. You can review the tutorial and lessons on repeat when you need to understand the concept.  
M Masemola, South Africa
  What I liked most about the course and EIT is the flexibility is offered regarding education. It gave me the opportunity to study and work full-time.  
C Groenewald, South Africa
  I enjoyed interacting with students all around the world, and seeing how the principles I have learned applies to them as well.  
S Zeelie, South Africa
  My line of work requires me travel quite often. I could not attend every class due to my remote locations, but still I could recap and stay on top of the study material thanks to the recordings. Also, all the Instructors were world class.  
P Pretorius, South Africa

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