Understanding Possible Causes Of Hydraulic Seal Failure

Posted on: 21 December 2015

Hydraulic seals are commonly used in industrial settings. They are used in various pieces of machinery that are responsible for keeping the plant running smoothly. These seals are needed to prevent any breakdown of machinery. To help you better understand some of the ways these seals could be damaged, check out the following information below.

Fluid Contamination

If the fluid ends up getting contaminated, the seals and rods could end up failing. Any abrasive particles inside of the fluid could end up damaging the seals and pistons. If the contamination is in the air, it could be drawn to your cylinder through faulty seals. Mineral oil systems often become contaminated with water. The water ends up causing the fluid not to be able to lubricate the components properly. This makes the seals harden and causes the fluid to start leaking from the seals.

Many people don't realize that air can end up contaminating fluid. In actuality, it causes damage to piston rods. Systems sustaining pressure shocks during the higher cycling speeds could end up with a bunch of air bubbles in the system. It causes intense heating in the primary seal.

The best way to prevent this is to use a filtration system for the fluid. This allows the fluid to circulate efficiently and prevents contamination from destroying your components.

Improper Installation

One of the most common causes of seal failure stems from improper installation. While this might not seem like that big of a deal, it can cause major problems with your machinery. Hydraulic seals that aren't installed correctly could end up failing due to contamination, unsafe handling or uncleanliness. Something as simple as installing the seal upside down could end up causing liquid to leak out of the component. Improper handling can cause tearing of the seal, leading to untimely failure. Your best bet is to let someone who is familiar with the seals come out and do the job for you.

While these are only two reasons why hydraulic seals fail, there are plenty of others as well. Anytime you notice that your equipment isn't operating like it should, you need to get a trained professional out to take a look at it. Hydraulic seal failure can cause a number of problems for your equipment, so it isn't something you want to take a chance on. Getting it taken care of will save you a lot of hassles and headaches along the way.

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