# US 12,007,032 B2 · Method for operating a mechanical face seal assembly, and mechanical face seal assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,007,032 B2 - Document ID: US12007032B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/025,995 - Filed: 2021-08-24 - Published: 2023-11-16 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2020-09-17 - Assignees: EagleBurgmann Germany GmbH & Co. KG - Applicants: EagleBurgmann Germany GmbH & Co. KG - Inventors: Joachim Otschik; Michael Müller; Klaus Lang; Rolf Johannes; Armin Laxander - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12007032B2 ## CPC - F16J 15/3492: {with monitoring or measuring means associated with the seal} - G05B 23/0237: {based on parallel systems, e.g. comparing signals produced at the same time by same type systems and detect faulty ones by noticing differences among their responses} - F16J 15/34: with slip-ring pressed against a more or less radial face on one member - F16J: PISTONS {(specially adapted for dampers F16F9/32)}; CYLINDERS; SEALINGS - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) ## Abstract The invention relates to a method of operating a mechanical seal assembly (1) having a mechanical seal (2) with a rotating sliding ring (3) and a stationary sliding ring (4), defining a sealing gap (5) between the sliding surfaces thereof, comprising the steps of: collecting operating data and/or environmental data of the mechanical seal (2), transmitting the collected operating data and/or environmental data to a digital twin (31) of the mechanical seal (2), simulating and monitoring the operation of the mechanical seal (2) using the digital twin (31) based on the transmitted operating data and/or environmental data of the mechanical seal (2), and retransmitting a simulation result and/or data of the digital twin. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of operating a mechanical seal assembly having a mechanical seal with a rotating sliding ring and a stationary sliding ring defining a sealing gap between the sliding surfaces thereof, comprising the steps of: collecting operating data and/or environmental data of the mechanical seal, transmitting the collected operating data and/or environmental data to a digital twin of the mechanical seal, simulating and monitoring the operation of the mechanical seal using the digital twin based on the transmitted operating data and/or environmental data of the mechanical seal, and retransmitting a simulation result and/or data of the digital twin. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the simulating and monitoring the mechanical seal is continuously performed based on currently collected operating data and/or environmental data of the mechanical seal as well as preceding simulation results. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein during the step of retransmitting the simulation result and/or the data, operating commands for the mechanical seal are additionally co-transmitted. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the operating data and/or environmental data collected from the mechanical seal are analyzed using a system computer at the mechanical seal and the analyzed data are transmitted to the digital twin. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the collected operating data and/or environmental data of the mechanical seal are filtered using a first filter prior to being transmitted to the digital twin and/or wherein the simulation results and/or data of the digital twin are filtered using a second filter prior to being transmitted to the mechanical seal and/or wherein a reduction of the data is performed prior to the step of transmitting. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein when processing the collected operating data and/or environmental data in the digital twin a trend analysis is performed using the collected operating data, and/or wherein when processing the operating data and/or environmental data in the digital twin, clustering of the collected operating data is performed, and/or wherein the digital twin is a learning system. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to one claim 1, wherein the collected operating data of the mechanical seal are selected among data on temperature, pressure, rotational speed, leakage, gap height at the seal gap, vibrations at the mechanical seal, structure-borne sound, surface sound, stresses and/or deformations of the sliding rings, occurrence of contact of the sliding surfaces of the sliding rings and/or wear at the mechanical seal. ### Claim 8 A mechanical seal assembly comprising: a mechanical seal having a rotating sliding ring and a stationary sliding ring, defining a sealing gap between the sliding surfaces thereof, and having a plurality of sensors, the sensors being configured to detect various operating data and/or environmental data of the mechanical seal, a central computer comprising a digital twin of the mechanical seal, the central computer being configured to simulate and monitor an operation of the mechanical seal using the digital twin, and a transmitter-receiver device configured to transmit the detected operation data and/or environment data of the mechanical seal to the central computer and to receive simulation results of the digital twin. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The mechanical seal assembly according to claim 8, wherein the mechanical seal assembly furthermore comprises a system computer which is configured to process and/or reduce the collected operating data and/or environmental data of the mechanical seal assembly. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The mechanical seal assembly according to claim 9, wherein the system computer is configured to filter the collected operating data and/or environmental data of the mechanical seal using a first filter. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The mechanical seal assembly according claim 8, wherein the central computer is configured to perform a trend analysis and/or a clustering of the collected operating data and/or environmental data of the mechanical seal using the collected operating data and/or environmental data. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The mechanical seal assembly according to claim 9, wherein a cloud computer is interposed between the central computer and the system computer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The mechanical seal assembly according to claim 9, wherein the system computer comprises a configurable second digital twin. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The mechanical seal assembly according to claim 8, wherein the digital twin and/or the second digital twin is configured as a learning system.