High-performance seals are used against high-pressure gases and liquid chemicals to withstand mechanical deformation. Seals are either machined or molded and are carefully designed using sophisticated simulation software. Seals are made of a variety of materials, such as polyurethane, rubber, or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). High-performance seals includes different types of seals such as hydraulic seals, rotary shaft seals, oil seals, packings, gaskets and other high performance rubber and plastic parts. High performance seals offer high resistance from fluid, heat, and wear & tear. High-performance seals are highly utilized by various end-user industries such as chemical, automotive, oil and gas, aerospace and defense, pharmaceutical, construction, and many others.
RISING USE OF HIGH-PERFORMANCE SEALS MARKET IN POWER GENERATION INDUSTRY TO CREATE LUCRATIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE MANUFACTURERS TO BOOST ITS DEMAND IN THE GLOBAL MARKET
Power generation, which generates electricity with the help of fossil fuel or renewable sources, suffers a threat from man-made and environmental contaminants. If these contaminants enter the system, they can damage or distort the functioning of an equipment to maximum capability. Hence, high-performance seals sustain in high-pressure and temperature conditions along with thermal cycling and resistance toward vibration. Hence, their use increases the life span of an equipment. For instance, in June 2019, an article published by POWER magazine highlighted that a German power plant suffered premature wear and excessive seal corrosion in its boiler feed circuit and flue gas desulfurization slurry pumps. However, by deploying the high-performance pump seals in the structures, the performance of the equipment was enhanced, which minimized the need for maintenance and problems arising from unplanned pump shutdowns were also eliminated. In coal-fired power plants, the use of seals is growing across several processes and is influenced by factors such as extreme conditions, vibration from pump shaft misalignment, and quality of the pumped fluids.
Similarly, in the wind energy sector, the installation of wind turbines has increased across the world. These turbines are often stationed at remote places, from mountaintops to offshore locations. Therefore, the sector generates the need for high operation and maintenance associated with turbines For instance, the report published by Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) represented that despite hit by COVID-19 pandemic situation, the onshore wind is expected to grow by 0.3% in the next five years with the average annual installation totaling to 79.8 GW. Similarly, the offshore wind is expected to grow by 31.5% in the next five years, with new installations quadruple by 2025 from 6.1 GW in 2020. The use of high-performance seals helps protect against the external environment and safeguards main bearings and gearbox components. Along with this, such seals eliminate the contamination and prevents lubricants escaping into the environment. With the rise in demand for advanced solutions, the need for light, compact, versatile, and high-performance seals has risen. In March 2016, SKF engineers developed a new generation of seals, under its the HRS range, to meet the rising challenges of the wind energy industry. These seals are composed of G-ECOPUR polyurethane, which features ozone resistance, UV resistance and water resistance along with providing excellent wear resistance in comparison to other rubber materials. Also, the used polyurethane material weigh less and utilizes less space than labyrinth seal designs. The rising investments in green energy and expanding focus toward renewable energy sources are expected to surge the demand for high-performance seals solutions in global market in coming years. For instance, Garlock provides fluid sealing solutions for diverse applications such as soot-blowers, turbine crossover connections, industrial pumps, static and actuated valves, and coal pulverizers. Hence, the rising use of high-performance seals in the power generation industry is expected to create lucrative opportunities for market growth.
