Stainless Housing Mechanical Sealing against High Pressure Washdown Vacuum Ingress
Hot washdowns followed by cold rinsing create internal negative pressure, pulling liquid moisture past flawed seals into IP69K stainless steel housings.
Gland Squeeze Calculation
Seal Design
Determining the percentage of compression applied to an elastomeric seal’s cross section when installed in its housing ensures the assembly prevents leaks. This process of gland squeeze calculation accounts for the initial seal diameter and the depth of the groove. It is an essential step in designing reliable static and dynamic fluid seals.
Mechanical Formula
To perform a gland squeeze calculation, the designer divides the difference between the uncompressed seal thickness and the groove depth by the uncompressed thickness. The result is expressed as a percentage that typically ranges from fifteen to thirty percent depending on the application. If the squeeze is too low, the seal may leak under low pressure, while excessive squeeze will cause damage during installation and increase friction in dynamic applications, leading to premature wear and failure under continuous cycling.
Calibration Influence
Metrological tracking of the actual dimensions requires high-accuracy micrometers and optical comparators to measure both the seal and the groove. In executing the gland squeeze calculation, dimensional tolerances of the machined parts must be factored in to determine the worst case scenarios for both maximum and minimum squeeze. This variation is managed by sourcing components with tight tolerances from certified manufacturers.
Operational Boundary
Thermal expansion of the elastomer at operating temperature alters the squeeze and must be evaluated. If the fluid being sealed causes the elastomer to swell, the calculation must be adjusted to ensure the groove is not completely filled, which would lead to seal extrusion. This adjustment is verified through laboratory testing under simulated process conditions.