Chicago, Ill (10 March, 2014) - The U.S. and European patent offices have awarded John Crane a patent for a breakthrough technology that will monitor the condition of a gas seal to improve product performance, extend average product lifespan and aid emission reduction in operations across the energy sector. The patented technology will be the next step-change leading to improved gas seal reliability, equipment uptime and lower operating costs for customers.
The patent outlines several configurations of an advanced gas seal condition monitoring system that will provide comprehensive and continuous real time monitoring of the status of a compressor, control panel and gas seal to improve gas seal performance. In-house prototype testing is scheduled through this summer, and extensive customer field tests will follow. Proprietary information was not released.
Joseph Haas, Chief Technology Officer of John Crane said: “This new technology is just one example of how John Crane is committed to R&D investment in engineered solutions that address customers’ growing processing demands while supporting environmental impact and improved energy efficiency. Because a gas seal is critical to our customers’ operations, monitoring its performance will further reduce chances of downtime that could cost them close to one million dollars a day.”
John Crane is holding its next employee innovation recognition event on the 12th of March at its Slough manufacturing site near London. Twelve inventors will be honored for a variety of recent patent awards.
In 1968, the first gas seal patent reinforced the company’s reputation as a world leader in sealing technology. Innovation continued when the company introduced a non-contacting, gas-lubricated seal in the 1980s, and in the 1990s, designed a next-generation gas seal for pumps that handle environmentally sensitive liquids. Applying this latest technology to a standard American National Standards Institute (ANSI) or American Petroleum Institute (API) pump will assist customers to meet or exceed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) stringent regulations for hazardous emissions. Today, the latest John Crane gas seal technology is used by thousands of customers across the energy services sector, including mid- and downstream oil and gas segments.
John Crane is close to marking a century of engineering solutions innovation and leadership with the company founded in 1917 and built from multiple inventions by Mr. John Crane. The company continues to build its legacy of strong proprietary product technology, with more than 230 active patents and patent applications. In total, the company holds more than 1100 patents.
John Crane www.johncrane.com is a global leader in engineered technology, supplying engineered products and services to energy services customers and other major process industries. The company designs and manufactures a variety of products including mechanical seals, couplings, bearings, and artificial lift equipment. It is part of Smiths Group www.smiths.com, a global leader in applying advanced technologies for markets in threat and contraband detection, energy, medical devices, communications and engineered components. Smiths Group employs around 23,000 people in more than 50 countries.
Note: The U.S. patent number is US 8,651,801 B2. The European patent number is EP 2 297 491 B1.