HOW FLEXASEAL SOLVED CRYOGENIC SEAL CHALLENGE

When it comes to sealing in cryogenic environments, the stakes are high and the margins for error are razor-thin. At temperatures plunging between -175°F and -425°F (that’s -115°C to -253°C), most conventional sealing methods simply can’t cope. This was exactly the challenge facing a major manufacturer of industrial and cryogenic gases.

Their ACD® cryogenic machinery relied on formed bellows with a composite stationary-to-metal face combination – a design that simply wasn’t lasting in service. Frequent seal failures meant higher maintenance costs, unplanned downtime, and unnecessary operational risk.

That’s when the pump manufacturer called in Flexaseal – and the result would not only solve the problem but set a new standard for reliability in cryogenic sealing.

The First Test: Sealing Argon

The initial challenge was Argon, the heaviest of the liquified gases produced at the facility. If the seal design could work here, it could work anywhere.

Flexaseal’s engineering team took a different approach, starting with a foundation of an engineered edge welded bellows seal – a more flexible, durable alternative to the formed bellows.

The Engineering Solution

Here’s what made the difference:

• Material Upgrade – A 347 stainless steel welded bellows core that doesn’t become brittle in extreme cold, maintaining flexibility and resilience.

• Optimised Seal Faces – A combination of tungsten carbide and cryogenic-grade carbon graphite to maximise PV values and minimise face closing loads, reducing heat generation near volatile fluids and gases.

• Self-Lubricating Capability – A film-forming additive in the carbon provided lubrication even in ultra-low temperature environments.

This was more than a drop-in replacement – it was a carefully engineered solution designed to last.

The Results – Then and Now

The impact was immediate:

• Longer MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures)

• Lower daily maintenance costs

• Reduced downtime

And perhaps the most impressive result? 20+ years later, this cryogenic gas manufacturer still relies on Flexaseal’s cryogenic mechanical seals for their operations.

The Flexaseal Cryogenic Seal: Built for Extreme Cold

If your operation handles liquified gases like Argon, Nitrogen, Oxygen, or LNG, you already know that traditional sealing methods rarely stand the test of time in these conditions. The Flexaseal Cryogenic Seal proves that with the right materials, engineering, and support, you can find a sealing solution that lasts.

At Specialised Flow Solutions, we bring this expertise to Australian industry. As Flexaseal’s trusted partner, we can help you select, install, and maintain the right cryogenic seal for your equipment – and keep it running for years to come.

Talk to our team today about how a Flexaseal cryogenic mechanical seal could improve the reliability and safety of your cryogenic process equipment.