“Pump 101 is down and going to the shop.”

“What’s the problem?  The seal?”

We use the word “seal” to mean many things.  I’m just as guilty as anyone.  Usually, when I say “seal”, I mean the seal ring assembly. But sometimes I mean the combination of the seal ring and mating ring components.  Other times, I mean the assembled seal cartridge.  Especially when with others, I’ll go along with the conversation and say “seal” instead of “sealing system”.  I should know better and do try to be more specific but old habits are difficult to break.

Below is an illustration of the way I try to think of a sealing system.

Auxiliary equipment includes coolers, reservoirs and even external circulating systems.

These days, the seal assembly usually means a cartridge assembly but it might mean the seal ring assembly.

Adaptive hardware consists of the sleeve, gland plate and various “adapters” that are necessary to fit a more or less standard seal ring and mating ring into the seal assembly and then into the pump.

And, no, that was not a lucky guess in the opening scenario.  Probably 60 to 80% of pump repairs are somehow related to the sealing system.