Labyrinth seal

Fig. 10. The Groth ZG 5 centrifuge. R, rotor R, stationary shaft T, Teflon seal K, K, chambers for gas scoops S, S2, scoops V, gas supply M, manometer Z, Z2, tapping points for enriched and depleted gas P, P2, vacuum chambers E, electromagnet for eddy current heating Tb, Tb2, temperature measuring devices K, cooling coil and D, D2, labyrinth seals.

Labyrinth Seals The labyrinth is one of the simplest of the many sealing devices. It consists of a series of circumferential strips of met extending from the shaft or from the bore of the shaft housing to form a cascade of annular orifices. Labyrinth seal leakage is greater than that of clearance bushings, contact seals, or filmriding se s. 

Labyrinth seals are simple to manufacture and can be made from conventional materials. Early designs of labyrinth seals used knife-edge seals and relatively large chambers or pockets between the knives. These relatively long knives are easily sibject to damage. The modern, more functional, and more reliable labyrinth seals consist of sturdy, closely spaced lands. Some labyrinth seals are shown in Fig. 10-107. Figure 10-107 7 is the simplest form of the seal. Figure... 

Labyrinth seals work best when the pump is running. Centrifugal force favors the labyrinth seal s action. Earlier models were only specified for horizontal pump shafts. Later models are designed for both horizontal and vertical pump shafts and effectively perform their function whether the pump is running or off... 

The RR developed by the author at UCC was the only one that had a high recycle rate with a reasonably known internal flow (Berty, 1969). This original reactor was named later after the author as the Berty Reactor . Over five hundred of these have been in use around the world over the last 30 years. The use of Berty reactors for ethylene oxide process improvement alone has resulted in 300 million pounds per year increase in production, without addition of new facilities (Mason, 1966). Similar improvements are possible with many other catalytic processes. In recent years a new blower design, a labyrinth seal between the blower and catalyst basket, and a better drive resulted in an even better reactor that has the registered trade name of ROTOBERTY . ... 

Changes in speed or process gas pressure can change the axial position of the turboexpander shaft. Labyrinth seal wear in the turboexpander may also cause thrust force unbalance. To decrease the load... 

Figure 4-18. Labyrinth seal for nitrous gas equipped with seal air connection.

Two or four lobe bearings are used in these expanders, determined by the funetion of the rotor-dynamie requirements. A double-aeting thrust bearing may be mounted, if required. Labyrinth seals with eonneetions for seal gas are standard equipment, however, dry gas seals are available. 

To remove these undesirable but unavoidable salt deposits, a signi-fieant amount (about 1 % of mass flow) of boiler feedwater at 80-90°C is periodieally injeeted. Injeetion nozzles are typieally loeated in the inlet seetion, in the return ehannels, and in the labyrinth seals on the diseharge side of nitrous gas eompressors. This periodie flushing of the eompressor with water does have eertain disadvantages ... 

Obviously, oil leakage may be caused by leaking mechanical seals. In turboexpander compressors, however, the most common cause is improperly designed labyrinth seals. Tapered labyrinth designs seem more prone to suffer from this defect. 

In the tapered labyrinth (Figure 5-5), a fixed labyrinth seals against a tapered shaft. As the shaft moves axially, the clearance of the seal changes. This allows an excess seal gas flow. The resulting venturi effect actually drags the lubricating oil into the process stream. Also, since the tapered shaft seal makes it difficult to provide an effective oil slinger, the problem is compounded. 

Figure 6-20. Cross-section of turboexpander compressor with AMB and labyrinth seal.

Dry-friction whiri. This type of whip is experienced when the surface of a rotating shaft comes into contact with an unlubricated stationary guide. The effect takes place because of an unlubricated journal, contact in radial clearance of labyrinth seals, and loss of clearance in hydrodynamic bearings. 

These seals are used extensively in high-speed turbomachinery and have good mechanical reliability. They are not positive sealing. There are two types of noncontacting seals (or clearance seals) labyrinth seals and ring seals. 

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