Service instructions

Grafoil
Stem seals

SI500.11/5e
CCI 2002

Table of contents
1

Grafoil stem seals

1.1
1.2
1.2.1
1.2.2
1.3

SI500.11/5e

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Addendum to BTG service instructions for steam conditioning and

control valves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
General conditions for installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Sealing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Stem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Die moulded Grafoil packing rings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Service instruction Grafoil stem seals

CCI 2002

II

Service instruction Grafoil stem seals

CCI 2002

SI500.11/5e

1 - Grafoil stem seals

Grafoil stem seals

1.1 Addendum to BTG service instructions for
steam conditioning and control valves
The BTG valves are as standard fitted with Grafoil (Reg. Trademark of
Union Carbide Corp.) graphite stem packings.
Grafoil is made of expanded graphite. The shaft seals withstand saturated, HP, superheated and condensated steam of up to 500 bar (7250 psi)
pressure and temperatures above 1000 C (1830 F) and to process, demineralized and hot water at all pressures and temperatures. Regarding
other fluids, please contact your local BTG office and/or Union Carbide
Corp. specialized distributor.
The Grafoil packing material is available in two styles, both used by
BTG, depending on operating conditions and type of steam conditioning
or control valve.

1.2 General conditions for installation

1.2.1 Sealing
The successful sealing of a valve stem with Grafoil is achieved if you
take the following guidelines into consideration:
1. The component to be sealed must be mechanically in sealable condition. Mechanical parts, such as stem, shaft, bearing, stuffing box
room, lantern rings, gland, follower-sleeve etc. have to be crosschecked for surface condition and tolerances. Grafoil can under load
extrude through relatively small gaps, and the following tolerances
are therefore important:
a. Diameter tolerance between stem and stuffing box wall at the bottom - <0,2 mm (0.008")
b. Diameter tolerance between stuffing box wall, gland, followersleeve, bushing, distance sleeve or lantern ring - < 0,2 mm (0.008")
2. When working with die-moulded packing rings, purchased from official Grafoil distributors, slightly higher gaps can be tolerated.
3. When pressure exceeds 100 bar (1500 psi) and higher, the above tolerances should be reduced by about 50% (consider the thermal expansion). Metal washers or flat steel rings are sometimes required to fill
up large tolerance gaps. In this case, the outside diameter of such
washers or sleeves must correspond to a press fit and the inside diameter should be precision machined to a tolerance of +0.1 mm (0.004").

SI500.11/5e

Service instruction Grafoil stem seals

CCI 2002

1 - Grafoil stem seals

1.2.2 Stem
1. Surface-polished to better than 0.8 Ra average surface roughness, free
of pits, burrs, scratches.
2. Check cylindricity (deviation max. 0.05 mm) and parallelity.

1.3 Die moulded Grafoil packing rings

1. If the box is very deep (more than 4 - 8 rings) or if the play between
spindle and stuffing box bottom is too large (more than 0.5 mm
(0.02") diametrically) we suggest you fit a suitable spacer or spacer
rings to reduce the depth of the box.
2. Fit the first Grafoil ring separately and push it down into the box bottom by use of a bushing (possibly split). This bushing shall have a diametrical play of 0.6 mm (0.02") against spindle and box wall. If a free
shaft or spindle end cannot be obtained, slit the prepressed ring - either
straight or on the cross. Open the ring axially and slip it around the
shaft or spindle. Displace the following slit rings 120 as usually.
3. Compress the ring using gland and gland nuts. Use common hand
wrench tools and tighten as much as possible.
4. Repeat the procedure for the following rings - one or max two at a
time.
5. For final adjustment of the gland, loosen it and check free spindle
movement. Then tighten gland successively until the valve is tight under pressure. Readjustment is normally not necessary.
Note: Only by compressing the rings one at a time, by use of a
bushing, you can be sure that the first ring (bottom ring) seals
properly. In some cases, when this method is not used, it is possible to compress all rings at once. However, in that case note that
the gland must be tightened as much as possible and then loosened and adjusted according to point 5.

Table 1: Selection of strip width

If the packing space is

Use Ribbon-Pack

Up to 6 mm

(0.24")

12.5 mm

(0.49")

6 mm - 10 mm

(0.24"-0.39")

19.5 mm

(0.77")

10 mm - 13 mm

(0.39"-0.51")

25.0 mm

(1")

13 mm or more

(0.51" or more)

38.0 mm

(1.5")

Service instruction Grafoil stem seals

CCI 2002

SI500.11/5e