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Hydrodynamic Rotary Seals
Kalsi Seals® are a family of patented, one-piece rotary seals that
provide hydrodynamic lubrication to minimize seal and shaft wear, and to
accommodate high differential pressure. They are used for lubricant
retention and contaminant exclusion. They were originally developed for
the harsh and unforgiving oilfield downhole drilling environment, and
provide an effective solution to the severe service conditions found in
many different industries.
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The unique Kalsi Seal design
provides hydrodynamic seal lubrication even under high differential pressure. This reduces seal friction, and provides long life. |
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Typical Kalsi Seal applications include both low and high pressure
installations, such as: |
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Downhole drilling mud motors
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Rotary steerable drilling systems
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High speed drilling and
coring swivels
- Rotary blowout preventers
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Rotary valve actuators
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Rock drilling machines
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Slant hole drilling swivels,
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Underwater vehicles,
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Submersed dredge pumps,
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Oilfield cement pumps,
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Construction swivels,
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Oilfield vacuum truck agitators,
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Industrial slurry mixers,
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Oilfield roller reamers,
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Machine tools, and
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Other abrasive service rotary equipment
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How Kalsi Seals Work...
Kalsi Seals are installed in a housing groove and
compressed against a shaft, and seal statically in the same manner
as other interference-type seals, such as O-rings.
The dynamic sealing lip incorporates a wavy
hydrodynamic edge on the lubricant side, and an abrupt circular
exclusionary edge the environment side. When rotation occurs, a thin
lubricant film is hydrodynamically wedged into the dynamic sealing
interface by the waves. This
hydroplaning effect lubricates the seal and shaft, preventing the typical
dry rubbing wear, high running friction and heat associated with conventional
seals, allowing higher pressure and speed combinations and providing long life.
When rotation stops, the hydrodynamic lubricating action stops, and static
sealing is reestablished.
Click here
for slow motion seal animation of seal lubrication.
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Features and Benefits |
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Hydrodynamic lubrication reduces seal and
shaft wear, running torque, and seal-generated heat,
and permits higher pressure and speed combinations.
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Lip design excludes environmental abrasives.
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Suitable for transient conditions that cause mechanical
face seals to fail or leak excessively,
such as frequent starts/stops, pressure fluctuations, shock and vibration,
and temperature changes.
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Compact, one-piece seal design is installed in a simple
O-ring type groove.
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Rotary Seal Selection
Kalsi Seals are available directly from Kalsi Engineering in an assortment
of styles, cross-sectional sizes, and materials to address various
operating parameters. For detailed information, visit our
literature page. Seals are stocked in diameters ranging from 0.394" (10
mm) to 17.500" (444.5 mm). Custom diameters and cross-sectional sizes can
also be provided if desired. |
Product Background
Kalsi Engineering, Inc. was established in 1978 to provide mechanical
consulting engineering services, and is recognized worldwide for technical
excellence. The founder of the company,
Dr. M.S. Kalsi, was the manager of
R&D for an oilfield equipment manufacturer prior to starting Kalsi
Engineering. He first became interested in elastohydrodynamic lubrication
while pursuing his graduate degrees, and his fundamental research led to the
basic Kalsi Seal design. Since then, the company’s application experience
and continued commitment to hydrodynamic seal research have resulted in many
innovations that continue to enhance rotary performance and expand our product
line.
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During initial seal development,
lubricant film thicknesses were predicted by specially developed elastohydrodynamic lubrication software. Film thickness
predictions and rotary performance have been verified by optical interferometry studies, and by years of testing and commercial
use. |
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Application Support
Detailed technical information, including installation dimensions, is provided in the Kalsi Seals
Handbook, available on the
literature page.
Experienced Kalsi Engineering personnel are also available to
provide technical support. If you would like Kalsi Engineering to
review your rotary seal application, please download an application
questionnaire in PDF
or Word
format, and
e-mail or fax to us at
281-240-0255. Alternately, you can
e-mail us with your rotary sealing questions, or call us
directly at 281-240-6500.
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Rotary seal test fixtures are available to test
customer-specified conditions. Here a test is being set up for a custom
42" high pressure seal. |
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Consulting Engineering Services
Computer-controlled rotary test fixtures are available to evaluate
seal performance with customer-specified lubricants, process
fluids, temperatures and other application-specific conditions.
Comprehensive engineering ser-vices are also available.
Continuing Seal R & D
Kalsi Engineering’s research and development mission is continual
product improvement directed at the needs of new and existing rotary
seal markets.
Products are developed and refined using state-of-the-art analysis
techniques and rigorous testing.
The performance of existing rotary seal products is also continually being
evaluated in our well-equipped laboratory. |
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Kalsi Seals are thoroughly inspected to assure
conformance to our demanding design specifications.
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Kalsi Seals are offered for sale under the terms
and conditions of the "Offer of Sale" that is included in the
current revision of the Kalsi
Seals Handbook.
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