HOUSTON (June 17, 2014) – Pure terephthalic acid (PTA) is a pre-product of polyester that is used in great amounts to manufacture textiles and PET bottles. The increasing need for PTA has demanded even greater capacities. For a major project, EagleBurgmann delivered what is currently the largest agitator seal, with a 19-inch shaft size (480mm), for use in a new PTA plant in China.
The order received from SPX Flow Technology included 13 agitator seals and supply systems. The dimensions and weight of the 1.65-ton (1,500 kilograms) mechanical seal presented new challenges to the agitator OEM and the assembly and trials engineers. The agitator has a top entry drive capacity of 3,800 horsepower (2,800 kilowatts) and weighs 84 tons, with the gear weighing about 20 tons.
After a construction and production time of only 20 weeks, the agitator seal was tested in the presence of representatives from the agitator OEM and end user customers at the modern EagleBurgmann agitator test facility equipped with sophisticated control and instrumentation technology as well as accurate measured data acquisition. The seal was operated with a rotational speed of 58 revolutions per minute. The cooling flange was heated to 176 F (80 C) to simulate the heat transferred by the product.
“The seal exhibited no abnormalities during the test run. All measured temperatures remained ‘in the green,’” said EagleBurgmann’s sales engineer Peter Totzauer. The test run ended after an operating time of 100 hours.
After a cooling down phase, the seal was dismantled in the presence of inspectors so that they could jointly examine the sliding surfaces and other components. All of the participants and the construction, research and development specialists confirmed that the test run had been more than successful and that there would be no obstacles to operation. The operator of the plant expects a two-year operating period without interruptions. Continuous availability of the seal is an absolutely vital criterion because it is deployed in the crystallizer, which is the heart of the system.
EagleBurgmann manufactures sealing products.