Chemical Engineering February 2016 - 21

Newsfront
Sealing Solutions
to the Rescue
Improved seals, gaskets and valve packings stand up to
tougher process conditions
A.W. Chesterton
C
hemical processors
expect
more from their
seals, gaskets
and valve packings than
ever before, as sealing
components must
meet tighter and stricter
regulations regarding
emissions, stand up to
tougher process conditions
and perform for
greater lengths of time
in the extreme sealing
environments of the
chemical process industries
(CPI). Failure of
sealing elements is not
tolerated because the
impact can be costly
and catastrophic.
nents that are leaking
- meaning their seals,
packings and gaskets
- and find better alternatives
if they are not
meeting the current or
expected regulatory requirements. "
In
addition to a drasFigure
1. Certified Low-E valve packings, like Chesterton
1622 valve packing, can help reduce fugitive
emissions from valves. This high-performance, graphite
valve-stem packing blocks valve fugitive emissions
to below consent-decree requirements
Sealing challenges
According to industry experts, there are
several significant challenges facing chemical
processors and their sealing applications.
The first major concern is an ever-decreasing
allowable limit on emissions. While
methane is a hot-button issue for the petroleum
refining industry at the moment, there
is a general emphasis on the reduction of
hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds
(VOCs) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
throughout the CPI.
" Right now there is a major focus on the
proposed reduction of methane emissions
in the oil-and-gas sector, but there is a general
emphasis from the [U.S.] Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA; Washington,
D.C.; www.epa.gov) on VOC emissions,
as well, " notes Henri Azibert, technical director
with the Fluid Sealing Association
(FSA; Wayne, Pa.; www.fluidsealing.com).
" Because VOCs are found throughout the
CPI, processors need to look at the compotic
reduction in permissible
emission limits
over the last few years,
chemical processors
are also faced with the
prospect of dealing with
process changes aimed
at boosting their production
in an effort to
remain competitive in
a global economy. For
many, this means increasing
process temperatures,
which creates
extremely harsh process environments.
" Everyone wants to increase their efficiency,
which is often accomplished by increasing
their process temperatures, " explains
Andreas Schmiedel, technical manager of
life science and process industries for Europe
with Trelleborg Sealing Solutions (Fort
Wayne, Ind.; www.tss.trelleborg.com). " Not
only are the higher process temperatures a
challenge for sealing components, but when
you increase the temperature, the media
that is running through the process often becomes
more aggressive, as well, which can
also be very challenging and damaging to
the seals and gaskets used in process. "
Along with the stressors of lower emissions
and more difficult process conditions, there
is also a need for longer intervals between
seal maintenance, as workforces continue to
shrink, uptime demands increase and costs
must continually be reduced, meaning that
the lifetime of seals, gaskets and valve packChemiCal
engineering www.Chemengonline.Com February 2016
21
In BrIef
SEAlING CHAllENGES
ADVANCED
TECHNOlOGIES
REDUCING EmISSIONS
DESIGNING FOR HARSH
PROCESSES
http://www.tss.trelleborg.com http://www.epa.gov http://www.fluidsealing.com http://www.Chemengonline.Com
Chemical Engineering February 2016

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