Sealing Technology
Data Center
Seals decide whether a fitting in the water-glycol loop of a data centre stays dry for years and whether a valve seals again after service. This branch covers 429 items in five groups: O-rings for PVC-U unions in EPDM and FKM, flat and profile gaskets in PTFE and stainless steel 1.4571, seal kits for needle valves, ball valves and solenoid valves, thread sealants, and sealing washers and rings in PTFE, PVC and copper. Supplied by Fluidics equipment, Riegler, Stauff, Wika and Chesterton.
The compound is the most common source of failure. Water with glycol attacks elastomers differently from oil: EPDM stays dimensionally stable in water, hot water and aqueous glycol mixtures and is therefore the standard material in a cooling loop. NBR belongs with oil and compressed air, FKM with oils and aggressive chemicals; both give way against hot water and glycol. PTFE and stainless steel are uncritical in either medium, copper and gunmetal only in a single-metal assembly.
Categories
Sealing materials in a water-glycol loop - EPDM, NBR, FKM, PTFE, copper and stainless steel
| Material | Water and glycol | Oil and compressed air | Form supplied |
|---|---|---|---|
| EPDM | suitable, standard choice | unsuitable, swells in mineral oil | O-rings for PVC-U unions 50 to 90 mm |
| NBR | not recommended | suitable | wear part kits for solenoid valves, Camlock gaskets |
| FKM (FPM) | not recommended | suitable, also at high temperature | O-rings for PVC-U unions 20 to 40 mm |
| PTFE | suitable | suitable | flat gaskets, sealing rings, thread seal tape |
| PVC | suitable | limited | captive sealing rings for threaded ports |
| Copper | only in single-metal joints | suitable | sealing rings G 3/8 to G 1, metric copper rings |
| Stainless steel 1.4571 | suitable | suitable | gauge and manometer profile seals |
- PVC-U chilled water distribution: replace union O-rings when rebuilding or removing a run
- Coolant distribution units and headers: replacement gaskets for threaded ports up to Rp 4
- Gauge and sensor ports: profile seals in 1.4571 and PTFE flat sealing rings
- Servicing ball valves, needle valves and solenoid valves with the matching repair kits
- Tapered pipe threads: PTFE tape instead of hemp on plastic and stainless steel parts
- Strainers in the cooling loop: renew the O-ring whenever the screen is cleaned or changed
