RPW-115 Single Cartridge Seal – Reliable OEM Mechanical Seal
RPW-115 Single Cartridge Seal – Reliable OEM Mechanical Seal
Overview
HydroMax Seal RBW-125 | Rotary Pusher Wet Single Cartridge Seal for FLOWSERVE MkII Pumps
The RBW-125 is a Rotary Pusher Wet (RPW) single-cartridge seal, specifically engineered for use in FLOWSERVE MkII pumps. It features hydraulically balanced, shrink-fitted seal faces housed within a metal bellows rotary design. The seal features flush environmental ports, an outboard restriction bush, and O-ring secondary seals, ensuring reliable performance on parallel rotating equipment shafts.
The cartridge seal is set screw driven for secure engagement with the pump shaft and is delivered factory assembled and tested for operational readiness.
Product Description
Design Features
- Purpose-designed for FLOWSERVE MkII pump compatibility
- Metal bellows rotary construction for balanced operation
- Flush port and outboard restriction bush included
- O-ring secondary sealing
- Supplied factory tested and assembled
- Set screw driven for positive shaft engagement
Technical Specifications
| Seal Shaft Sizes | 1.125″, 1.375″ |
| Inboard Seal Face Combination | Car/TC, Car/SiC, TC/TC, TC/SiC, SiC/SiC |
| Gasket | GFT, AF1 |
| Elastomers | Viton, ERP, Aflas, Kalrez |
| Shaft Speeds | Up to 20 m/s |
| Pressures | Up to 16 barg (232 psig) — shaft size specific |
| Temperatures | Up to 230°F |
Warning
Seal performance characteristics are listed separately for each variable. Do not use upper limits of speed, pressure, and temperature in combination. Always consult HydroMax Seal for application-specific advice.
Typical Applications & Industry Use Cases
The RPW-115 is a multi-spring, hydraulically balanced single-cartridge mechanical seal with a flush port and O-ring secondary seals. It is ideal for general industrial rotating-shaft equipment — especially centrifugal pumps, OEM equipment, or auxiliary systems — where a reliable, compact single-seal solution is needed that supports flush/flushing or clean-liquid buffer needs.
Industries Served
Water supply, water-treatment, and wastewater systems
booster pumps, service pumps, and fluid-transfer systems where compact, pre-assembled seals and low maintenance are desirable.
General industry fluid transfer
clean or lightly contaminated liquids under moderate pressure and temperature, where a balanced cartridge seal is sufficient.
Chemical processing (light to moderate duty)
pumps handling non-aggressive or moderately aggressive fluids where flush support may be used to protect seal faces or maintain cleanliness.
OEM / Retrofit applications
replacing older seals or packing on small to medium pumps where ease of maintenance, reduced downtime, and simplified installation are priorities.
Equipment & Use-Case Scenarios
- Single-shaft centrifugal or horizontal pumps with standard stuffing-box/seal chambers, particularly where gland space is limited but a flush-port seal is required for reliability.
- Services where pumped fluid is clean or moderately clean, and where flush/buffer fluid support (via flush port) can improve seal life and reduce wear or leakage risk.
- Retrofit or maintenance operations: since RPW-115 is a cartridge seal, replacement is simpler and quicker than reconstructing individual seal components — useful where downtime must be minimized.
- Pumps operating under moderate conditions: reasonable shaft speeds, pressures, and temperatures (within the seal’s specification limits) — typical for many industrial water, utility, or general-duty pumping services.
Why It Fits These Applications
- Cartridge seal construction (pre-assembled, factory-set) eliminates on-site assembly — reducing the risk of installation errors, misalignment, or improper spring loading. This simplifies installation and maintenance.
- Hydraulically balanced, multi-spring design helps maintain stable face loading despite pressure or flow fluctuations — improving wear life and sealing reliability under varying operating conditions.
- Flush-port capability and O-ring secondary seals provide flexibility: flush fluid can be used to clean or lubricate seal faces when working with process fluids that may carry contamination or require clean support fluid — increasing adaptability in diverse services.
- Cartridge format reduces maintenance complexity and downtime: instead of assembling multiple components, the seal can simply be slid onto the shaft and secured — ideal for plants where reliability and rapid servicing matter.
Installation Guidelines
Before installing the RPW-115, ensure the pump shaft, seal chamber bore, and gland face are clean, corrosion-free, free of scoring or imperfections, and within tolerance — proper surface condition is vital for long seal life.
Slide the cartridge seal carefully onto the shaft — since it’s pre-assembled and factory-set, avoid disturbing the seal face alignment or spring settings. Secure the set-screw drive (or clamp) to the shaft as per manufacturer instructions.
If using flush support: connect the flush/buffer fluid lines to the flush port, prime and vent the flush loop properly, ensure the flush fluid is clean, and verify flow before starting the pump.
Commission the pump under controlled conditions: monitor for leaks, vibration, seal-face temperature, and flush-fluid flow (if applicable) — confirm stable operation before moving to full duty cycle.
Maintenance & Inspection Best Practices
- Monitor operating conditions regularly: check for leaks, temperature rises, vibrations, or any signs of seal-face wear or flush-fluid degradation — early detection helps avoid catastrophic failures.
- During maintenance shutdowns, inspect the seal: remove the cartridge if feasible; examine the seal faces for wear or scoring; check the O-rings or secondary seals for wear or hardening; and verify the condition of the set-screw/sleeve.
- Maintain operational logs: record shaft speed, fluid properties (cleanliness, chemical composition), flush-fluid performance (if used), start/stop cycles, and any anomalies — this helps trend seal life and schedule preventive maintenance.
- Replace secondary seals (O-rings/gaskets) and refresh flush/buffer fluid (if applicable) on a preventive schedule rather than waiting for failure — especially important if fluid conditions or cleanliness fluctuate.
- If operating conditions change (higher pressure, increased temperature, more aggressive fluid, or more frequent start-stop cycles), reassess whether RPW-115 remains suitable — consider upgrading to a more robust seal or alternate materials.
Service & Support Options
- Pre-installation review to confirm the RPW-115 is correctly specified (shaft size, fluid type, pressure/temperature, flush requirements) and that materials (seal faces, elastomer) are compatible with service conditions.
- Commissioning assistance: ensure the flush-port connection is correct, verify flush/buffer cleanliness and flow, and check shaft alignment and seal-face status during initial runs.
- Spare-parts availability: supply seal faces, O-rings/gaskets, gland plates, sleeves, or set-screw drives for timely replacement and minimized downtime.
- Preventive-maintenance planning: schedule periodic inspections, leak checks, flush-system refresh, and parts replacement — prolong seal life, reduce unplanned shutdowns, and optimize total cost of ownership.
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Contact HydroMax Seal
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E-Mail: sales@hydromaxseal.com
Address: 18511 Beaumont Hwy Building D
Houston, TX
77049
