Dry gas seals

Principle Layout

compressor housing
housing
stationary atmosphere
face
retainer

process springs

thrust ring

rotating dynamic
mating sealing
ring element
shaft sleeve

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Self-acting gas seal

housing sleeve
retainer

primary ring
spring
spring disc/thrust
spacer sleeve
shaft sleeve

collar sleeve

mating ring

secondary seal element

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Disbury gas seal

In 1978 the first compressor gas seal was installed in

the field. Installation was made on the thrust side only
of Natural Gas Pipeline Compressor for 90 bar and
163 mm shaft size at the Disbury station.

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Princess triple gas seal

Second important event in the history of the compressor

gas seals occurred in 1984 during the design and
testing of spiral groove gas seals for a 10” large shaft

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Gas seal/mechanical seal

The figure shows comparison between the basic

element of the dry gas seal, and a corresponding
mechanical seal.

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Benefits

The dry gas seal offers several benefits over

conventional oil lubricated seals:

low
no power consumption
no wear in system
seal oil required
operation
no pressure/velocity limit

improved rotor stability

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Gas seal/mechanical seal

Wet Oil Seal Dry Gas Seal

Pumps, reservoirs, filters None
Seal oil support traps, coolers, consoles
systems costs
+/-3 -25 l/day
Seal oil consumption No seal oil
A major expenditure
Maintenance cost overequipment life
Negligible
Seal Power loss: +/-7 -22 kW
Unit driven pumps: +/-15 -75 kW
Energy costs +/-0.7 -1.5 kW
Gas Leakage: +/-1l/H

Of Pipelines: High clean up costs

Process gas leakage Less than 0.1 l/H
Of Process: Catalyst Poisoning
Oil contamination None

Toxic and corrosive Buffer Gas Consumption (egN2 ) >>> Consumption

Applications
Unscheduled High downtime costs Very reliable
Shutdowns
Aborted startups
Frequent Rare

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Face groove patterns

The modern hydrodynamic face patterns are shown.

These are not necessarily the ones most effective as
many more exist among seal manufacturers and those
shown should serve only as examples.
Power Generation Industrial Applications
Dry gas seals
Uni-directional face groove patterns

APG -Groove

Spiral -Groove

V -Groove
Power Generation Industrial Applications
Dry gas seals
Uni-directional face groove patterns

APG -Groove

Dam Land Groove

T -Groove

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Spiral groove

Pressure will be generated at the end of each spiral as

the rushing gas is stopped and compressed by the
end wall of each spiral.

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Pressure fields

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Pressure distributions

(a) 40 Bar pressure on the seal but no face grooves, no rotation

(b) 40 Bar pressure, grooved face, no rotation
(c) 40 Bar pressure, grooved face, 12,000 rpm speed
(d/e/f) as (a/b/c) for .0025mm gap

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals

FC=FO
FC FO

CLOSING FORCE OPENING FORCE

S P

COMPRESSION

EXPANSION

SPRING LOAD GAS FILM

+ HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE
DISTRIBUTION

FC
FCF<CF>OF O FOF O

CLOSING FORCE OPOEPNEINGIN FGO FROCREC E

S PP

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Axial force balance

The normally stationary seal ring is axially movable

and subject to large axial forces acting in opposite
directions. For it to remain in stable axial position,
these opposing forces have to be in equilibrium and
therefore:
FC = F0

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Spriral groove

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Bi-directional face groove patterns

T -Groove

Phoenix -Groove

Christmastree -
Groove
U -Groove
Power Generation Industrial Applications
Dry gas seals
Bi-directional groove

Each groove has a right side and the left side as

mirror-like opposites. Of course, one side responds
with lift (or face opening pressure) generation to one
direction of rotation, the other to the opposite direction

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Gas film model

Gasfilm Model

Spring / Damper System

•The damping coefficient must be positive to

maintain the gas film.

•The film stiffness is strictly related to the gap width,

the smaller the gap width, the higher the film
stiffness.
Power Generation Industrial Applications
Dry gas seals
Gas film model

•The adapted gap width is mainly related to the

balance ratio. The result of a higher balance ratio
is an increased gap width.
Seal Face area Pressure loaded area

Seal Face area

k=
Pressure loaded area

•The balance ratio determines the main load on the

gasfilm Power Generation Industrial Applications
Dry gas seals
Gas film model

•The stationary face must follow the movements of

the rotating face without overpressing the gasfilm.
In any case the gasfilm must carry the loads
created by the springs and the friction of the
secondary sealing element.

•Additional loads will be created by axial vibrations

(accellerations).

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Isobar for APG grooves

Pressure
[barg]
3,08 2,85
2,62 2,39
2,16 1,93
1,69 1,46
1,23

Size : Kennz. 49
Shaft-Ø : 115 mm :
Speed n 50 min-1 :
Sealing Pressure p 3 barg : Air
Medium

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Isobar for T-grooves

Pressure
[barg]
3,08 2,85
2,62 2,39
2,16 1,93
1,69 1,46
1,23

Size : Kennz. 49
Shaft-Ø : 115 mm :
Speed n 50 min-1 :
Sealing Pressure p 3 barg : Air

Medium
Power Generation Industrial Applications
Dry gas seals
Pressure field

Groove depth
Outer Diameter

Inner Diameter

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Pressure field -Boundary conditions

Speed Sealing pressure, Temperature,

Kind of gas

Inside Pressure

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Pressure field -3D pressure field

Size : Kennz. 55
Shaft- Ø : 130 mm :
Sealing Pressure p 5 bara : 1
Inside Pressure p bara :
Speed n 11000 min -1
Medium : Air

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Pressure field -Calculation of the integral pressure distribution

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Influences on the seal

Seal Faces
• Waviness
• Taper
Process side •Groove geometry
•Gas • Speed
• Pressure •Axial &
• Temperature and radial vibrations (movements)
• Contamination

Atmosphere
• Backpressure,
•Oil Contamination

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Calculated influences on the seal

Seal Faces
• Waviness
• Taper
Process side •Groove geometry
•Gas • Speed
• Pressure •Axial &
• Temperature and radial vibrations (movements)
• Contamination

Atmosphere
• Backpressure
•Oil Contamination

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals

Dry gas seal arrangements

•Single seal

•Tandem seal

•Tandem seal with intermediate labyrinth

•Double opposed seal

•Triple seal

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Single dry gas seal

Clean Gas

Clean Gas
Leakage

process atmosphere
Power Generation Industrial Applications
Dry gas seals
Single dry gas seal

•Used for non-toxic and / or non-hazardous gases

•Short in length

•Low weight of the rotating mass

•Pressurized by an inert gas (approx. 2-4 bar positive
pressure differential to Product pressure)

•Moderate pressure range, up to 100 bar

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
O-ring design : Standard and Spring energized O-ring

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
O-ring design

Natural voids
in O-ring

High pressure gas

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
PTFE Gaskets

•PTFE material is not susceptible to explosive

decompression
•Excludes gap extrusion by minimizing gap dimensions

• Insures functionality over the full pressure range

from 0 to 340 barg

•Achieves resistance against explosive decompression

•Approaches temperature range from -80°C to +230°C

•High chemical resistance

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
PTFE J-ring

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Centering the rotating face

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Tandem dry gas seal

Clean Gas
Leakage
Clean Gas

Clean Gas
Leakage

process atmosphere
Power Generation Industrial Applications
Dry gas seals
Tandem dry gas seal

Properties
•Backup feature for better safety
•Inter stage tap for diverting of process leakage
•Backup seal separates process gas from bearing
atmosphere
•Option for inter stage buffering to fully contain
process leakage
•Easy way to instrument and monitor the condition of
both seal units
•Short in length
•Low weight of the rotating mass
Power Generation Industrial Applications
Dry gas seals
Tandem dry gas seal

•Sealing pressures at present up to approx. 320 bar.

•When the machine is in shut-down yet still
pressurised condition, the seal must be supplied
with filtered, dry seal gas in order to ensure that
no unfiltered, possibly moist gas can flow out of
the compressor and to the seal.

•When external seal gas is supplied with the

compressor in blocked-in condition, the quantity
fed in must be discharged again in a suitable
manner.

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Tandem dry gas seal with inter stage labyrinth

Inert Gas
Inert + Clean
Gas Leakage

Clean Gas

Inert Gas
Leakage

process atmosphere
Power Generation Industrial Applications
Dry gas seals
Tandem dry gas seal with inter stage labyrinth

Properties
•The Inert Gas flow through the Interstage labyrinth
avoids product gas migrating to the atmosphere

•When the machine is in shut-down yet still

pressurised condition, the seal must be supplied
with filtered, dry seal gas in order to ensure that no
unfiltered, possibly moist gas can flow out of the
compressor and to the seal.

•The long insertion length may have a negative

effect on the rotor dynamics.

•Secondary seal gas (usually N2) must also be

available when compressor is at standstill.
Power Generation Industrial Applications
Dry gas seals
Double opposed seal

The seal barrier gas fed in between both seal’

flows into theB caorrmierp Greasssor via the inner se
flows into the bearing-side vent via the outer seal.

Barrier Gas Barrier Gas

Leakage Leakage

process atmosphere

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Double opposed seal

Properties
•Short length low weight of the rotating mass

•Sealing pressures below atmospheric pressure are

possible.

•Sealing pressures below vent pressure are possible.

•Sealing pressure is not dependent on the flare.
•A precondition is a reliable external gas source,

otherwise there is the danger of pressure reversal

(seal barrier gas pressure > sealing pressure + dp
over seal; dp usually 3 bar).
Power Generation Industrial Applications
Dry gas seals
Double opposed seal

•Low gas consumption (no clean gas labyrinth but,

instead, a gas seal).
•A bypass around the seal may be necessary for
heat dissipation.
•Sealing pressures up to 50 bar are possible,
assuming adequate external seal gas pressure.

•The seal is particularly suitable for contaminated

gases, since the seal is always supplied with clean
gas in the form of external seal barrier gas.

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Triple seal

Clean Gas
Clean Gas
Clean Gas (Half Pressure) Leakage
(Full Pressure)

Clean Gas
Leakage

process atmosphere

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Triple seal

• System used in high pressure applications

• Needs more axial space

• Higher weight of the rotating mass

• Full pressure differential can not be sealed across

one sealing gap only

• No full pressure capability of the outboard seal

• No safety seal function possible

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Materials tandem seal

Stainless steel (Alloys)

Aluminium/Bronze

Carbon-graphite
Silicon carbide

O-ring/Polymer seal

Polyme4r0/M0 eCtlaals/Esx Spt.a inless steel

Graphite
Power Generation Industrial Applications
Dry gas seals
Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting

•Seal face hang-up

•Tandem dry gas seal back-up unit hang-up
•Failure of the dry gas seal to hold pressure on restart
•Dry gas seal hang-up at operating conditions
•Dry gas seal face wear:

-Grooves with deposits

-Reverse pressurization
-Reverse rotation
-Slow roll, turning gear
Power Generation Industrial Applications
Dry gas seals

Dry gas seal experience

Dry Gas Seal Usage

Single

Double

Tandem
Tandem (75%)
Tandem +
Tandem +
Labyrinth Labyrinth
18%
Triple

Triple 2%

Single 0.1 %

Double 5%

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Troubleshooting

For the proper operation of the seal it is important

that Fs is always higher than Fd because for a
back-up seal with no pressure on it, these are the
only significant axial forces that act on the
stationary sealing ring when the rotating sealing
ring is moving away from it.

Normal operation Hang-up

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Troubleshooting

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Troubleshooting

Dry gas seal repair

Dry gas seal repair or rebuild is done for several

reasons:
•preventive replacement of elastomer elements
after predetermined number of years of service
•dry gas seal suffers from hang-up problems
•high leakage or spiking leakage condition
•evidence of face contact, debris in the leakage
line

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Troubleshooting

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Malfunction

Experience has shown that the majority of seal

malfunctions are caused by contamination of the seals
by solids and liquids.

For example:

Dirty
  Gas

Gas condensate liquids
Sour Gas
Hydrate and Ice Formation
Wet chlorides
Power Generation Industrial Applications
Dry gas seals
Malfunction

Dirty Gas
In some instances the process gas may be
considered particularly dirty and during periods of
standstill there may be a risk of the dirty gas
entering the seal cavity.
In such cases it may be appropriate to utilise a
clean buffer gas. This must be compatible with the
process gas and be available at a pressure higher
than system pressure. The buffer gas is circulated
to the seal chamber via the filter gas supply
system.

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Malfunction

Gas condensate liquids

Condensing of the compressor gas is most likely to

occur:

 When the filtered gas stream pressure

reduces through a throttling device such as a
restriction orifice or pressure regulator. As the
gas expands the ’Joule Thomson’ effect causes
it to cool and the heavy hydrocarbons
condense out as liquid.

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Malfunction

As a result of cooling when the compressed gas is

circulated through pipework from compressor
discharge via filters to the seal area.

During static settle-out conditions when

the compressor casing is pressurised
and the temperature drops below the
dew point of the gas.

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Malfunction

Sour Gas

Maintain the temperature above the dew

point of the compressor gas. Heat trace
filters gas pipework if necessary or source
clean gas supply from a warmer area.

Keep length of filter gas pipework

between compressor discharge and seal
chamber to a minimum. Lag pipework to
reduce heat loss.

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Malfunction

Minimise pressure differential across

throttling device in filter gas line, which
will limit the cooling effect of the gas.
Consider receiving the compressed gas
from an intermediate stage of the
compressor.
 Install coalescing filters in the filter
gas line, preferably downstream of
the throttling device to maximise
removal of condensate. This may
result in a requirement for large filter
size due to a reduction in the filter
capacity at lower pressure. Power Generation Industrial Applications
Dry gas seals
Malfunction

Control the seal environment by

circulating a filtered dry external buffer
gas to the inboard dry gas seal.

Avoid or minimise duration seals

are subjected to high-pressure
settle-out condition.
Install a double seal design
with a pressurised Nitrogen
barrier gas between the seals.

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Malfunction

Hydrate and Ice Formation

The conditions promoting hydrate formation are:
gas is at or below its water dew point with ”free”
water present
low
hightemperature
pressure

Secondary considerations include:

high gas velocities
pressure
any pulsations
introductionagitation
type of of hydrate crystals

 Power Generation Industrial Applications
Dry gas seals
Malfunction

Wet chlorides
Wet chloride is an aggressive contaminant.
Material distress takes the form of pitting and
stress corrosion cracking.
Tungsten carbide and stainless steels can
degrade in the presence of wet chloride
contamination so alternative materials such as
duplex stainless steels, hastelloy and silicone
carbide are normally selected.

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Cause/effect

Lack of buffer gas while the lube oil pump is running

Effects:
The lube oil can migrate from the oil separation
labyrinth seal via the compressor shaft towards
the DGS.
 This oil will fill up the clearance volume in
secondary leakage and slowly penetrate
through the DGS.
The stator ring and the rotor ring of DGS will stick
together and will not lift off while the compressor
is
Therotating.
rotor ring of the DGS will burst immediately.


Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Cause/effect

Compressor casing pressurised during long period of

standstill
Effects:

 In that case, no clean gas will be supplied via the

clean gas filters to the DGS from the process side.
A small leakage rate through the seals is always
present. As there is no clean gas supplied to the
seal for protection, dirt from process side can
migrate through the seals.
When the compressor rotor is started, this dirt
can cause damage to the rotor ring as well as to
the stator ring.

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Cause/effect

No maintenance on the clean gas filters

Effects:
 In case of excessively high diff. pressure on the
filters, only a small amount of clean gas can be
supplied to the DGS for protection. This amount
will be smaller than the normal leakage rate of the
DGS.
Due to this effect, a small amount of dirty process
gas will migrate through the seals, and this will
act
Over like sandperiod
a long blasting.
of compressor operation, an
increasing leakage rate on the primary leakage
can be recognised.

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Cause/effect

Wet process gas

Effects:
The volatile constituents of the leaking process
gas will disappear through the primary leakage
of the DGS, while crystals will be precipitated
out of the process gas (knocked out). The
process precipitation will be enforced by the
temperature loss of the process gas expanding
through the seals and labyrinths.
Crystals will block the installed springs and
labyrinths. To protect the seal from wet and dirty
gas, the clean gas system can be adapted with
trace heating as well as with coalesced filters.
Power Generation Industrial Applications
Dry gas seals
Questionnaire

Questionnaire

Dry gas seals

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Questionnaire

Question 1 Name the numbered items.

• filterbody
•drain valve
•equalizing valve
•change over valve
•vent valve

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Questionnaire

Question 1 Name the numbered items.

• filterbody
•drain valve
•change over valve
•vent valve

equalizing valve Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Questionnaire

Question 1 Name the numbered items.

• filterbody
•drain valve
•vent valve

equalizing valve change over valve Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Questionnaire

Question 1 Name the numbered items.

•drain valve
•vent valve

filterbody

equalizing valve change over valve Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Questionnaire

Question 1 Name the numbered items.

•vent valve

filterbody

equalizing valve change over valve drain valve

Power Generation Industrial Applications
Dry gas seals
Questionnaire

Question 1 Name the numbered items.

vent valve

filterbody

equalizing valve change over valve drain valve

Power Generation Industrial Applications
Dry gas seals
Questionnaire

Question 2 When a filter is fouled, how is this alarmed?

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Questionnaire

Question 2 When a filter is fouled, how is this alarmed?

Answer 2 A fouled seal filter is alarmed by a notification

that the pressure over the seal gas filter is too
high. The kind of notification depends on the
compressor.

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Questionnaire

Question 2 When a filter is fouled, how is this alarmed?

Answer 2 A fouled seal filter is alarmed by a notification

that the pressure over the seal gas filter is too
high. The kind of notification depends on the
compressor.

Question 3 When a filter is fouled, what action should be

taken?

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Questionnaire

Question 2 When a filter is fouled, how is this alarmed?

Answer 2 A fouled seal filter is alarmed by a notification

that the pressure over the seal gas filter is too
high. The kind of notification depends on the
compressor.

Question 3 When a filter is fouled, what action should be

taken?

Answer 3 When the seal filter is fouled, the compressor

should be switched to the other filter and the
fouled filter should be replaced.

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Questionnaire

Question 4 What seal-gas filter body is in use in the

picture below?

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Questionnaire

Question 4 What seal-gas filter body is in use in the

picture below?
Answer 4 Filterbody A is in use in the picture. This can be
seen by the position of the change over valve.
When the front side of the handle is to the right,
the left body is in use and visa versa.

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Questionnaire

Question 5 Dry gas seals are applied on both sides. Are

both seals the same?

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Questionnaire

Question 5 Dry gas seals are applied on both sides. Are

both seals the same?
Mostly unidirectional seals are used and thus
Answer 5 they are different, that is, their rotating ring is
made for functioning in opposite directions. But
when bi-directional seals are used they are the
same.

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Questionnaire

Question 5 Dry gas seals are applied on both sides. Are

both seals the same?
Mostly unidirectional seals are used and thus
Answer 5 they are different, that is, their rotating ring is
made for functioning in opposite directions. But
when bi-directional seals are used they are the
same.

Question 6 How can be seen on which side a seal should

be installed?

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Questionnaire

Question 5 Dry gas seals are applied on both sides. Are

both seals the same?
Mostly unidirectional seals are used and thus
Answer 5 they are different, that is, their rotating ring is
made for functioning in opposite directions. But
when bi-directional seals are used they are the
same.

Question 6 How can be seen on which side a seal should

be installed?
Answer 6 The seal is marked with CW when it is made to
work clockwise and CCW when it is made to
rotate counterclockwise.

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Questionnaire

Question 7 What happens when too little buffer gas flows into
the barrier seal and the lube oil pump is running?

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Questionnaire

Question 7 What happens when too little buffer gas flows into
the barrier seal and the lube oil pump is running?
When the buffer-gas-supply is too little and the
Answer 7 lube oil pump is running oil can migrate into the
dry-gas-seal. This can cause the static and
rotating ring of the dry gas seal to stick together,
which will result in a bursting mating ring.

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Questionnaire

Question 7 What happens when too little buffer gas flows into
the barrier seal and the lube oil pump is running?
When the buffer-gas-supply is too little and the
Answer 7 lube oil pump is running oil can migrate into the
dry-gas-seal. This can cause the static and
rotating ring of the dry gas seal to stick together,
which will result in a bursting mating ring.

Question 8 How is warned for such a situation?

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Questionnaire

Question 7 What happens when too little buffer gas flows into
the barrier seal and the lube oil pump is running?
When the buffer-gas-supply is too little and the
Answer 7 lube oil pump is running oil can migrate into the
dry-gas-seal. This can cause the static and
rotating ring of the dry gas seal to stick together,
which will result in a bursting mating ring.

Question 8 How is warned for such a situation?

Answer 8 Depends on the compressor, but the control
system will give an alarm.

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Questionnaire

Question 9 What happens when no maintenance is applied

to the seal gas filters?

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Questionnaire

Question 9 What happens when no maintenance is applied

to the seal gas filters?
When no maintenance is applied to the seal gas
Answer 9 filters, the pressure difference over these filters
will increase. This will result in a decrease of
seal gas flow into the dry gas seals. When this
flow becomes less than the leakage of the dry
gas seals, dirty process gas will migrate into the
dry gas seals. This will act like sandblasting,
which will cause an increase in leakage etc.

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Questionnaire

Question 9 What happens when no maintenance is applied

to the seal gas filters?
When no maintenance is applied to the seal gas
Answer 9 filters, the pressure difference over these filters
will increase. This will result in a decrease of
seal gas flow into the dry gas seals. When this
flow becomes less than the leakage of the dry
gas seals, dirty process gas will migrate into the
dry gas seals. This will act like sandblasting,
which will cause an increase in leakage etc.

Question 10 Locate the pressure measuring devices in the

primary seal vent line.

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Questionnaire

Question 9 What happens when no maintenance is applied

to the seal gas filters?
When no maintenance is applied to the seal gas
Answer 9 filters, the pressure difference over these filters
will increase. This will result in a decrease of
seal gas flow into the dry gas seals. When this
flow becomes less than the leakage of the dry
gas seals, dirty process gas will migrate into the
dry gas seals. This will act like sandblasting,
which will cause an increase in leakage etc.

Question 10 Locate the pressure measuring devices in the

primary seal vent line.

Answer 10 See P & I Diagram

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Questionnaire

Question 11 What is wrong when the primary seal vent flow

rises?

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Questionnaire

Question 11 What is wrong when the primary seal vent flow

rises?
Answer 11 When the primary seal vent flow rises probably
one of the inboard dry gas seals is leaking too
much. In order to determine which seal is
leaking the compressor should be pressurized
up to about 10 barg and the valve in the
primary seal vent line of the non-driven-end
should be closed. Monitoring the leakage rate
should reveal which seal is causing the high
leakage.

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Questionnaire

Question 11 What is wrong when the primary seal vent flow

rises?
Answer 11 When the primary seal vent flow rises probably
one of the inboard dry gas seals is leaking too
much. In order to determine which seal is
leaking the compressor should be pressurized
up to about 10 barg and the valve in the
primary seal vent line of the non-driven-end
should be closed. Monitoring the leakage rate
should reveal which seal is causing the high
leakage.

Question 12 What is wrong when the primary seal vent flow

drops?

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Questionnaire

Question 11 What is wrong when the primary seal vent flow

rises?
Answer 11 When the primary seal vent flow rises probably
one of the inboard dry gas seals is leaking too
much. In order to determine which seal is
leaking the compressor should be pressurized
up to about 10 barg and the valve in the
primary seal vent line of the non-driven-end
should be closed. Monitoring the leakage rate
should reveal which seal is causing the high
leakage.

Question 12 What is wrong when the primary seal vent flow

drops?
Answer 12 When the primary seal vent flow drops one of the
outboard dry gas seals is probably leaking or the
control valve is malfunctioning.
Power Generation Industrial Applications
Dry gas seals
Questionnaire

Question 13 When disassembling, what should be removed

first, the barrier seal or the dry gas seal?

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Questionnaire

Question 13 When disassembling, what should be removed

first, the barrier seal or the dry gas seal?
The barrier seal is the most outward seal and
Answer 13 should therefor be removed first.

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Questionnaire

Question 13 When disassembling, what should be removed

first, the barrier seal or the dry gas seal?
The barrier seal is the most outward seal and
Answer 13 should therefor be removed first.

Question 14 What parts should be removed before the

seals can be removed?

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Questionnaire

Question 13 When disassembling, what should be removed

first, the barrier seal or the dry gas seal?
The barrier seal is the most outward seal and
Answer 13 should therefor be removed first.

Question 14 What parts should be removed before the

seals can be removed?
On the non-driven end the thrust bearing and
Answer 14 thrust collar and the radial bearing should be
removed first and on the driven end the coupling
and the radial bearing.

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Questionnaire

Question 15 Should the drain of the seal gas filter be opened

or closed?

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Questionnaire

Question 15 Should the drain of the seal gas filter be opened

or closed?
The drain of the filters should be closed. After
Answer 15 changing of the filter the drain of the dirty filter
should stay open until it is emptied. Also the filter
to be taken in service should be drained first.
In case of a coalescer filter the drain of the
filterbody in use should be opened and of the
filterbody not in use it should be closed.

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Questionnaire

Question 16 What consequences can a wet process gas

have on the functioning of the dry gas seals?

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Questionnaire

Question 16 What consequences can a wet process gas

have on the functioning of the dry gas seals?
A wet process gas can have the following
Answer 16 consequences on the functioning of the dry
gas seals:
When the compressor is at standstill, the
volatile constituents of the leaking process gas
that disappear through the primary leakage of
the dry gas seal cause the gas in the dry gas
to cool down causing crystals to be
precipitated out of the process gas. These
crystals might cause the blocking of the
moving parts of the dry gas seal which will lead
to malfunctioning.
When the compressor is running, this will not
take place, as a result of the high temperature

of the seal faces. Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Questionnaire

Question 17 Is a dry gas seal fully leakage proof?

Power Generation Industrial Applications

Dry gas seals
Questionnaire

Question 17 Is a dry gas seal fully leakage proof?

Answer 17 No, a dry gas seal always leaks a little. It is still

possible to prevent leakage of the process gas
for 100% by using a double seal

Power Generation Industrial Applications