Introduction: Mechanical seal failure is responsible for nearly 80% of centrifugal pump maintenance issues. At the heart of these failures lies the abnormal wear of the rotary and stationary rings. For engineers in the pulp, paper, and chemical industries—where equipment like Sulzer® or Andritz® pumps must run reliably—understanding these wear patterns is essential to preventing unscheduled downtime.
1. Non-Invasive Inspection: 3 Steps to Predict Failure