Metal Bellows Seals: Zero-Leakage Solutions for Critical B2B Applications

Applications  Metal Mechanical Seal

Metal bellows seals are used in processes having thermal fluctuations or exposure to chemicals or unstable process operations. The following list contains a few different types of industries that use metal bellows seals, and the resulting advantages these seals offer them.

The Industry of High-Temperature Process Pumps

High-temperature process pumps utilize bellows-type seals and are typically found in applications such as thermal oil pumping stations, heating systems used in refineries, etc., where elastomer materials may not be able to keep the performance characteristics needed. The use of bellows-type seals allows you to maintain the face loading or load stability through the expansion and contraction of the materials.

The Chemical Processing Industry

Pumps utilizing chemical processing materials such as solvents, acids, or aggressive chemical formulations typically require durable long-life seals. The bellows or the design allows for the use of metallurgy proven to be corrosion resistant and to extend service life over time in chemicals that may degrade conventional seals.

Low-Pressure Systems & Vacuum Equipment

Metal bellows seals are particularly beneficial for maintaining low-leakage rates and reducing outgassing risk, which makes them very advantageous for low-pressure vacuum furnace applications, semiconductor manufacturing hardware (specifically, some of the super low-pressure ongoing efforts), and laboratory research.

Petrochemical & Refinining Industries

Petrochemical and oil refining applications utilize metal bellows seals for the same reasons as high-temperature application processes. The design provides a method of supporting an operating system with stable operating characteristics during excessively rapid process fluctuations (i.e., thermal expansion and contraction).