High temperature rotary seal test facility

This video highlights Kalsi Engineering’s commitment to testing high temperature rotary seals in conditions simulating the thermal environment of oilfield downhole drilling tools. Such tools are immersed in flowing high temperature fluid, and many have also have a hollow shaft that conducts the fluid through the tool.
In this test facility, the housing for the test seal is immersed in a flowing thermal transport fluid which is maintained at the desired temperature by electric immersion heaters. Depending on the type of tool being simulated, the flow path is also conducted through a hollow portion of the rotating shaft, or along part of the exterior of a solid shaft.

The test facility includes a fireproof cement enclosure that is equipped with a carbon dioxide based automatic fire suppression system that allows for safe continuous testing. The enclosure is equipped with alarms and other warning features that prevent inadvertent entry when high temperature tests are being conducted. Conditions inside the room are monitored with a video feed and temperature sensors, and test parameters are monitored with a digital data acquisition system. Recorded data includes the temperature of the circulating thermal transport fluid, the temperature of the seal lubricant in the region near the test seal, differential pressure across the seal, shaft speed, and the hydrodynamic pumping related leak rate of the rotary seals.
For information on high temperature seals that have been developed using this test facility, see the catalog section of the Kalsi Seals Handbook, or call us at 281-240-6500.