The Fluid Sealing Association (FSA) recently introduced a new online tool: the FSA Knowledgebase. The goal of this tool is to collect and disseminate technical content that informs the seal user community on best practices for the design, selection and application of sealing technology to provide the most efficient sealing solutions with respect to cost, emissions, energy consumption and other key parameters. The FSA mission statement emphasizes the organization's goal to be "the primary source of technical information for our products and their applications." Historically, FSA has met this objective through the publication of hardcopy handbooks and other documents on mechanical seals, gaskets, compression packing and expansion joints. However, advances in technology have shifted user preferences from printed materials to searchable online content. To align with these preferences, FSA has engaged representatives of the leading seal manufacturers to collect, review and publish content that documents industry best practices relating to their products.
The FSA Knowledgebase can be accessed at www.fsaknowledgebase.org. Anyone involved in the design, specification, selection, installation or maintenance of seals is encouraged to use this tool as a primary reference source. Access is free to all, but users are asked to create a user account so the FSA content owners can identify their audience and continue to develop content aligned with their interests and needs. The FSA Knowledgebase allows all users to view the Knowledgebase materials but restricts the ability to download content to employees of FSA member companies. FSA member company employees are recognized by their company domains in the email addresses they enter as part of their user profiles. The Knowledgebase provides content in slide, document and video formats. The slide format is the preferred approach because it provides an effective format for knowledge transfer, whether self-instruction of an individual user or group instruction to a larger audience.
The FSA Knowledgebase was officially launched in May 2017 with a library of over 35 separate files in the mechanical seal repository. It is segmented into four different subject repositories -- Mechanical Seals, Gaskets, Pump and Valve Packings, and Expansion Joints to accommodate the sealing products within the scope of the FSA. At this time, content was only available in the Mechanical Seals repository. Within the Mechanical Seals repository, content is accessed by using the search function to navigate directly to a file that contains the topic of interest or by browsing the content in one of seven mechanical seal library categories. New content is currently being developed for this and other repositories. Knowledgebase users are encouraged to visit the Knowledgebase often, as the depth and scope of the content continues to expand. Users can request to receive automated email updates when new content is added to any of the Knowledgebase subject repositories. The Knowledgebase is intended to be a vital source of highly reliable technical information regarding seals and their support systems. In order to help the FSA continue to enhance the value provided by this tool to the seal user community, users are urged to provide feedback on how the FSA Knowledgebase can be improved by submitting input through the available link on the Knowledgebase home page.
The FSA Knowledgebase also offers free access to an online version of the Compressor Seal Lifecycle Calculator (LCC) tool, which provides an estimation of the costs, energy requirements and greenhouse gas emissions associated with operating a rotary shaft seal on a centrifugal gas compressor. This tool lets users compare these parameters for different seal and system configurations to allow users to make fully informed decisions on new capital projects or system upgrade projects. Access to other LCC tools will also be provided as their online versions become available.
For more information, visit www.fluidsealing.com or email info@fluid sealing.com.
