Professional Documents
Culture Documents
2009
Principle of
operation:
Pressure
Leak off
Although these dry gas seals are able to handle high levels of vibration
without damage, reverse rotation of the shaft at high speeds will damage the
seals as they are not able to develop the hydro-dynamic pressure required
to push the sealing faces apart.
A supply of filtered buffer gas is injected into the cavity between the primary
gas seal and inboard labyrinth. This supply of gas will leak past the inboard
labyrinth back into the compressor which will ensure that the cavity is free
from liquids or particles that could damage the gas seal. The supply gas will
also leak past the primary gas seal, into the cavity between the primary and
secondary gas seals which is directed to an approved vent or flare system.
Seal gas
Leak off to
vent system
Leak off into
compressor
suction
Labyrinth seals are used in conjunction with dry gas seals
in order to restrict the leakage between chambers around
the seal
A labyrinth seals works like a maze, creating a torturous path which
the fluid needs to flow through in order to escape
Balance drum
BEARING
SEAL
SEAL
Flow
controllers
Gas filters
Secondary
gas supply
Vent system
pressure
monitoring
Primary seal gas is supplied from HP
fuelgas for start up, then automatically
changed over from compressor
discharge. It is vented back to the low
pressure flare system.
(Backup supply for process
compressors is defrost gas)
Bearing
Bearing
Bearing
Bearing
HP LP
RO
FC FC FC FC
FC
PDT
PDC
N2
HP Fuelgas
ga s skid
ea l
LP s
a s sk id
P seal g
H or
es s
pr
P com
L
ssor
pre
c o m
HP
Primary Gas
Primary gas is injected in front of the seal to create a positive flow. It is used to ensure the gas
entering the seal is completely dry and clean, completely free from dirt, dust and moisture.
Primary Vent
Primary Gas
Compressor
Suction Atmospheric
pressure pressure
Compressor Bearing
drive shaft housing
Secondary Gas
Secondary gas is nitrogen used to provide a clean source of gas to the secondary seal faces. The 2
seals are separated by another labyrinth and the leakage gas is lead to an atmospheric vent in a
safe location (above the building)
Secondary Vent
Secondary Gas
Primary Vent
Primary Gas
Compressor
Suction Atmospheric
pressure pressure
Compressor Bearing
drive shaft housing
Separation Gas
Separation gas is nitrogen used to keep lube oil from the adjacent bearing housing
from leaking into the dry gas seal system
Before starting lube oil
Secondary Vent
Separation Gas
Secondary Gas
Primary Vent
system ensure separation
Primary Gas
gas is on to keep the lube
oil out of the seal!!
Compressor
Suction Atmospheric
pressure pressure
Compressor Bearing
drive shaft housing
Dry gas seal
assembly
Labyrinth ring
for separation
gas
Keeper pin
Inserted to support
John Crane Assembly while
Dry gas seal Sliding out
assembly
Sliding out
DP
ALARM
P
The vent system is kept under a back pressure by passing
the flow through a restriction orifice. A secondary path is
opened by bursting a rupture disc to safely vent the higher
flows caused by seal failure.
Vent/Flare
A differential pressure transmitter
monitors the pressure between seal
supply and the low pressure vent.
When the seal is healthy, this dP is high
(Primary Seal Gas supply pressure on
one side and Flare pressure on the
other side). This high dP is used as a
HP Trip start permissive for the compressor.
P When the seal fails, the dP becomes
low, initiating a compressor trip.
RO
ORIFICE
MARKS
PATENT
PLATE
Filter A Filter B
isolated in service
A B
-Control room
DCS
Filter
Dirtydirty
filteralarm
alarm Gas flow is
controlled from 3 DP
transmitters routed
through a high
selector to the valve
output
Rupture disc
Failure alarm
XA-032 XA-033
-Quiz Can you
answer the following
questions?
1. What must you do before starting the compressors lube oil system?
2. During normal running, where is primary seal gas supplied from?
3. What is the source of secondary gas?
4. How are the 2 seal faces prevented from touching during normal operation?
5. What is the purpose of separation gas?
6. True or False?
The seal at the low pressure end of the compressor casing has an easier job than
the seal on the high pressure end.
7. If the compressor is accidentally turned backwards by the reversal of gas flow,
the seals will be damaged. Explain why?
8. True of False?
Some of the seal gas will leak back into the compressor casing.
9. Where is secondary gas vented to?
10. When a high Pressure is detected in the vent system, what is the most likely
cause?
MAN