Dry Gas Seal

Rotary Group
Topics to be covered:
How Dry gas seal works?
Types of Dry Gas Seal
Dry Gas Seal systems
Gas Seal Contamination


How Dry Gas Seal works?
Dry gas seals are basically mechanical face seals, consisting
of a mating (rotating) ring and a primary (stationary) ring
During operation, grooves in the mating ring generate a fluid
dynamic force causing the primary ring to separate from the
mating ring creating a running gap between the two rings
A sealing gas is injected into the seal, providing the working
fluid for the running gap and the seal between the
atmosphere or flare system and the compressor internal
process gas.

Grooves
Spring
How Dry Gas Seal works? (Continue)
A balance of Spring forces, hydrostatic forces and
hydrodynamic forces acting on the stationary seal ring
controls the width of the running gap.
The pattern of the grooves in the sealing surface may work
in only one direction (unidirectional) or can work in either a
clockwise or counterclockwise direction (bidirectional).
During Normal operation, the primary seal absorbs the total
pressure drop to a vent system, and the secondary seal
serving as a back up to primary seal fail.
Types of Dry Gas Seal
Single
Double Opposed
Tandem
Tandem with internal labyrinth
Single
In this arrangement, there will be one set of
sealing faces, rotating and stationary.
Double opposed
In this arrangement, two sets of sealing faces
face each other, and the buffer gas is injected
between them.

Double opposed seals are commonly specified
when the process gas is not suitable as a buffer
gas and an inert gas is supplied.
Tandem style seal
In this arrangement, two sets of sealing faces
arranged in series, contained within a single
cartridge.
The Tandem style seal is typically applied in
process gas service

Tandem with internal labyrinth
In this arrangement, there will be Intermediate
labyrinth seal between two sets of sealing faces.
Typical P&ID
NFL P&B
Synthesis Gas Compressor
(Siemens Offer)
Dry Gas Seal Systems
Two basic types of gas seal systems

Differential Pressure (DP) Control

Flow control
Differential Pressure control
D P systems control the supply of seal gas to the
seal by regulating the seal gas pressure to a
predetermined value above a reference (sealing)
pressure.
This is accomplished through the use of a
differential pressure control valve.


Differential Pressure Control System
Flow control systems
Flow control systems control the supply of seal
gas to the seal by regulating the seal gas flow
through an orifice upstream of the seal.
This is accomplished with a simple needle valve,
or through the use of a differential pressure
control valve monitoring pressures on either side
of the orifice.
Flow Control System
Gas Seal Contamination
Three primary sources of gas seal contamination:
Process gas (from the inboard or high-pressure
side of the seal)
Bearing lubrication oil (from the outboard or
low-pressure side of the seal)
Seal gas supply itself (injected into the seal)

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