What is a mechanical seal?

Mechanical seals prevent liquid leakage by creating a hydrodynamic liquid film between two highly finished surfaces. In pumps, the simplest mechanical seals have one rotating surface and one static surface. They come in a variety of types and can be found in different pump technologies e.g., internal gear, external gear, and centrifugal pumps.

 

Image showing single component mechanical seal inside a cutaway pump
Single component mechanical seal installed in a demonstration pump. The rotating seal face is located on the pumps shaft, while the static (or stationary) face is contained in the pump housing.