Case studies

Omniseal® Spring-Energized Seals
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Liquid Chromatography Reciprocating Piston Pump

Life Science Wear & Friction High Pressure

Environment

Liquid chromatography equipment is an analytical tool used to separate, identify and quantify components in a liquid mixture for purity and content. The equipment utilizes reciprocating pumps to pass pressurized liquid solvents with sample mixtures through a column filled with a solid absorbent material. Positive displacement pumps use Omniseal® spring-energized seals to optimize performance and equipment longevity.

Challenge

Since each customer's reciprocating pumps are unique, they need seals designed to accommodate specific pressure ranges and dimensional specifications. Seals must also be able to handle various liquid solvents and environments. Customers want improved cycle times up to two million cycles. They are looking for higher pressures and smaller seals with improved performance.

Liquid Chromatography Equipment

Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC) equipment utilize high operational pressure up to 20,000 psi (1400 bar) and above. Due to the high pressures utilized, critical sealing is necessary in the plunger pumps to ensure analysis accuracy. Seals are important for challenges such as chemical resistance, friction and wear control.

Solution

The right material for the equipment application and pressure range is key to the wear and overall equipment performance. Omniseal Solutions™ provides custom seals for precision fit and has compounded and designed several specialized materials to withstand harsh solvents and improve wear.

At the Kontich, Belgium research and development center, critical life and wear testing studies are performed in customers' reciprocating pumps, which ensure equipment performance for longevity and quality. Maintenance cycles can be reduced with the right material that is formulated based on our design and development experience in high pressure and solvent testing.

Omniseal APS Seal

Worried about high pressure? No pressure for these polymer seals!

Benefits

  • Chemical resistance and compatibility with saline solutions and a wide range of media and solvents

  • Low friction and wear for long life

  • Continuous performance under high pressures and flow rates

  • Cost effective product solutions

  • Offering smaller seal designs withstanding higher pressure ranges

Tags: Life Science Wear & Friction High Pressure