RBW-021 Metal Bellows – Flexible Industrial Seal Solution
RBW-021 Metal Bellows – Flexible Industrial Seal Solution
Overview
The RBW-021 is a METAL BELLOWS BALANCED SEAL WITH GRAPHITE WEDGE PACKING.
Metal bellows, balanced design with graphite secondary sealing. The seal can be supplied with metal bellows in Stainless Steel, Alloy C276, AM350, and Inconel 718 materials, with ends in Stainless, Alloy C4, Alloy C276, and Inconel 625.
The RBW-021 is internally mounted in the equipment and secured to the shaft with setscrews. It is offered in Carbon, Antimony Carbon, TC, and SiC seal face materials.
Product Description
Technical Specifications
| Seal Shaft Sizes | 1.000″ – 4.000″ (25mm – 100mm) |
| Inboard Seal Face Combination | Car, Ant.Car, TC, SiC |
| Secondary Sealing | Graphite Wedge |
| Shaft Speeds | Up to 25 m/s |
| Pressures | Up to 16 barg (232 psig) – Shaft Size Specific |
Typical Applications & Industry Use Cases
The RBW-021 is a balanced, metal-bellows mechanical seal built for demanding fluid-handling environments. The metal bellows design eliminates springs and sliding elastomeric seals, providing excellent durability and reliability under high-pressure, high-temperature, and chemically aggressive operating conditions. Its bellows’ flexibility naturally accommodates thermal expansion, shaft movement, and vibration.
Industries Served
Chemical and petrochemical processing
Oil and gas refining, hydrocarbon transfer, and hot-oil applications
Power generation and utility plants
General industrial processes requiringhigh-integrityy sealing
Pharmaceutical, food, and specialty chemical production requires leak-free, high-reliability sealing
Equipment & Use-Case Scenarios
- Centrifugal and process pumps handling corrosive, hot, or aggressive fluids
- Pumps with shaft sizes typically ranging from 25 mm to 100 mm
- Applications requiring shaft speeds up to approximately 25 m/s
- Servicesare subjected to pressure ranges up to around 16 bar, depending on shaft size
- Fluid systems where metal bellows provide superior resistance compared to elastomer or spring-type seals
Why It Fits These Applications
- Metal bellows offer excellent compliance and absorb shaft vibration, run-out, and axial movement without compromising seal performance.
- Balanced seal design provides stable face loading even under high pressure, reducing heat generation and extending seal life.
- No elastomeric secondary seals in the wetted area, making it suitable for aggressive chemicals and high temperatures.
- Multiple alloy options for the bellows (such as stainless steels or high-performance alloys) ensure compatibility with a wide range of fluids.
- Long service intervals and reduced leakage risk deliver excellent total cost of ownership benefits in harsh environments.
Installation Guidelines
Inspect shaft, seal chamber, and gland faces to ensure they are clean, smooth, and free of scoring or corrosion.
Install the RBW-021 carefully, ensuring the bellows are not twisted or overstressed.
Secure the seal using the set-screw drive mechanism, maintaining proper alignment and axial positioning.
Confirm that process conditions — temperature, pressure, fluid characteristics, and shaft speed — fall within the seal’s operating range.
Start the pump gradually and monitor for early signs of leakage, vibration, or abnormal heating to ensure proper seating and face interaction.
Maintenance & Inspection Best Practices
- Inspect bellows periodically for signs of fatigue, corrosion, or distortion, especially in high-temperature or corrosive-service installations.
- Examine seal faces for scoring, wear, or thermal damage; replace components before wear becomes severe.
- Check graphite wedge packing or secondary sealing elements for degradation.
- Maintain detailed operational logs to track temperature, pressure, fluid chemistry, and maintenance intervals.
- Upgrade filtration or flushing systems if solids or contaminants are present to help prevent abrasive wear on seal faces.
Service & Support Options
- Assistance with seal selection, matching bellows materials, and face combinations to specific process conditions.
- Availability of spare bellows units, seal faces, packing, and hardware for quick replacement.
- Startup and commissioning support to verify proper alignment, seating,g and sealing performance.
- Preventive maintenance programs tailored to high-duty rotating-equipment environments.
- Guidance for upgrades if fluid chemistry, pressure, or temperature increase beyond original design parameters.
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Contact HydroMax Seal
Contact HydroMax Seal today for innovative solutions, expert guidance, and over a century of engineering excellence. Your journey to mechanical sealing excellence starts with HydroMax Seal!
E-Mail: sales@hydromaxseal.com
Address: 18511 Beaumont Hwy Building D
Houston, TX
77049
