A Case For Brush Seals: Brush seals have found broad application in land-based turbomachinery

摘要

Introduced by the aerospace industry in the 1980s as a means to reduce air pollution and increase efficiencies in jet engines, brush seals have found broad application in land-based turbomachinery to reduce leakage between stationary and rotating parts. A brush seal is a compliant contacting seal with the innate ability to follow shaft movement while maintaining low wear and leakage characteristics. A brush seal generally consists of three components: a front plate, a backplate and a bristle pack. The seal's densely packed bristles bend with rotor contact (within an elastic limit) instead of wearing away like rigid seals (e.g., labyrinth seals). When rotor contact is removed, the brush seal's inner diameter returns to its original state, while a rigid seal experiences a permanent change in form. Brush seals can be used alone or inserted into existing labyrinth seals to further reduce leakage in a sealing system.