TOWARDS BETTER LABYRINTH SEALS: HIGH PERFORMANCE POLYMERS OFFER LONGER LIFE AND HIGHER EFFICIENCY THAN ALUMINUM SEALS IN CENTRIFUGAL GAS COMPRESSORS

摘要

Labyrinth seals, non-contact type mechanical seals consisting of a series of annular orifices or cavities, are critical components in a centrifugal gas compressor. They are used on the impeller eye, on the shaft between impellers, and on the balance piston to seal a high-pressure area from a low-pressure area. The seal's annular cavities provide a tortuous path that minimizes gas leakage. Such seals have different configurations depending on the location of teeth and the mating sealing surface. In a Tooth on Rotor (TOR) configuration, seal rotating teeth are sealing against a smooth, abradable stationary surface. In a Tooth on Stator (TOS) configuration, seal stationary teeth are sealing against a smooth rotating surface. A combination of these two types is called the Interlocking or Hi-Low configuration.