1. What is going on inside a packed stuffing box?
How much water is being used?
Can you reduce this water usage?
Is water getting into the product?
How do solids get into the packing?
HOW A STUFFING BOX SHOULD LOOK WHEN IT IS COMPLETELY PACKED
LANTERN RING MUST BE POSITIONED BELOW FLUSH INLET TO ALLOW MAXIMUM RESULTS FROM FLUSH FLUID: FLUSH PRESSURE SHOULD BE 10 TO 15 PSI (0.8 TO 1 BAR) OVER MAXIMUM STUFFING BOX PRESSURE.

2. Packing needs to compress to work.
Due to the compressibility of the packing the gland force is not effectively transferred through each packing ring.

3. The lack of compression transmitted to the bottom rings Causes them to run “loose”.
This allows solids from the process fluid being pumped to accumulate between the sleeve and packing.
Conventional flush arrangements are not effective at keeping solids out of packing. This is a major source of packing and sleeve wear.

4. Bottom of
Stuffing Box
Lantern Ring Position

5. Sleeve damaged by stock trapped under the bottom packing rings
Bottom of Stuffing Box

6. Flush water goes to drain. 0 PSI Open Valve
80 PSI Flush
Flush water must overcome the product pressure to keep the solids out of the packing.
A pressure drop is occurring between the flush water source and atmosphere.
The pressure in the stuffing box is less than 80 PSI.
It is easier for the flush water to go to the atmosphere than it is to remove the solids.
Solids are not effectively removed from the packing with this method.
Flush water goes to drain.
Process 30 PSI
Solids
0 PSI
1. Typical packing configuration of two rings below one lantern ring and three rings above.
2. After a few adjustments the gland follower can bottom out, requiring another ring of packing to be added.
Open Valve

7. Considerable product dilution can occur. 0 PSI Closed Valve
80 PSI Flush
The flush water must overcome the product pressure to keep the solids out of the packing.
The pressure drop now occurs between the flush water source, atmosphere and the product.
The pressure in the stuffing box is now 80 PSI.
The packing must now seal the full 80 PSI.
The packing must be “tight” to control leakage, causing frictional heat.
This method reduces water use and eliminates some solids.
Considerable product dilution can occur.
Process 30 PSI
Solids
0 PSI
1. Typical packing configuration of two rings below one lantern ring and three rings above.
2. After a few adjustments the gland follower can bottom out, requiring another ring of packing to be added.
Closed Valve

8. SpiralTrac: How Does It Work?
Flow meter
Check
Valve
Ball valve

9. Flow Meter with Valve 40 20
SpiralTrac Type P separator uses centrifugal force to direct the flow of the flush and effectively prevents solids from entering the packing.
Adjustable flow meter is used to reduce flow rates 20 to 30 gallons per hour!
This arrangement will operate at significantly reduced flush pressures and flows.
Reduced pressure allows the packing to seal effectively with reduced gland force.
80 PSI
Flush
GPH
Process 30 PSI
Solids
With the SpiralTrac installed there is no chance of compression and restriction of the flush port.
Less rings of packing are used
Flush is reduced
Leakage is reduced to only drops per hour
SpiralTrac
Version “P”

10. Reduced Flush Flow and Pressure.
Flow Meter with Valve 40 20
Reduced Flush Flow and Pressure.
80 PSI
Flush
GPH
Flush Pressure only needs to be slightly above (10-15 psi) process pressure for flow to occur
Process 30 PSI
Solids
Reduced Gland Force
No Solids
Gland has improved “adjustment feel” because bolt force is transmitted through just 3 packing rings.
With the SpiralTrac installed there is no chance of compression and restriction of the flush port.
Less rings of packing are used
Flush is reduced
Leakage is reduced to only drops per hour
SpiralTrac Ver “P”

11. Condition of Shaft Sleeve After Two Years Run Time