Why FEA Is Important For Valve Stem Packing Seal?

Why FEA is important for valve stem packing seal?

June 29. 2021

Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is extremely important in critical seal design. JST conducted PR2 tests as per API6A, as well as FEA to its FS seal, S seal, valve stem packing seal, valve face seal. So why FEA is important and necessary?

FEA capabilities make possible:

1. Seal failure prediction from cracks, leaks, or deformation, allowing a better-designed product or reverse-engineering of existing problems to discover root causes.

2. Assembly force requirements to install the seal, allowing end-users to determine whether specific tooling is needed.

3. Temperature simulation to determine thermal effects on various seal materials.

4. Thermo-viscoelasticity simulation to analyze the effects of creep and viscoelasticity over a period of time, determining sealing load long after installation. Elastomers can be tested for properties such as hyperelasticity and Mullins effect.

5. Friction analysis to determine breakout torque and running torque of rotary seals, or actuation force of linear seals.

The gate valve stem packing seal assembly and valve seat seal contribute to the overall performance of industrial operations. They serve the vital task of keeping oil and liquids in while keeping contaminants out, giving a reliable seal for superior performance.

The FEA helps JST to choose the best materials, and optimize spring energized seal design details.

spring energized seal design