MECHANICAL PISTON ROD

PACKING AND LABYRINTH

SEALS

By,
RAJESHWARAN N
(18MD35)
 Seal (mechanical)
• A mechanical seal is a device that helps to join
systems or mechanisms together by preventing
leakage (e.g. in a plumbing system),
containing pressure, or excluding contamination.
• The effectiveness of a seal is dependent on adhesion
in the case of sealants and compression in the case
of gaskets.
• A stationary seal may also be referred to as 'packing'.
 What Is A Labyrinth Seal?
• A type of a oil seal used around the main shaft bearing in a gas
turbine engine. The seal consist of a series of rotating
blades total most contact the seal land (the base of the seal).
• A small amount of air flows between the seal and the land
prevents oil from flowing past the seal.
• A gas seal between fixed and moving parts that
compose a series of chambers , even though their
sides do not quite touch, reduces the escape of gas to
near zero.
 Labyrinth Seal
• A labyrinth seal may be composed of many grooves that press
tightly inside another axle, or inside a hole, so that the fluid has to
pass through a long and difficult path to escape. Sometimes screw
threads exist on the outer and inner portion. These interlock, to
produce the long characteristic path which slows leakage.
• For labyrinth seals on a rotating shaft, a very small clearance must
exist between the tips of the labyrinth threads and the running
surface. The "teeth" of the labyrinth seal may be on the rotating
shaft (Teeth On Rotor - TOR) or on the stator (TOS), or both, in an
interlocking configuration.
MATERIALS USED IN
LABYRINTH SEALS
 Contd…
• Reducing the clearance in these seals has therefore
become a priority.
• Modifications to labyrinth seals have included two
variations,

• Rub-tolerant polymer seals

• Abradable seals
 Rub-tolerant polymer seals
• Labyrinths made with a rub-tolerant polymer can be
manufactured with reduced clearances.
• If contact is made between the stationary seal and smooth
rotating shaft, the stationary teeth will deflect during
contact without wear or damage to the rotor or seals.
• These are generally manufactured from
thermoplastics, with good fluid and temperature
resistance.
• The thermoplastic matrix materials are tougher and offer
the potential of improved hot/wet resistance.
 Abradable seals
• The use of abradable seals is one way of accomplishing
reduced clearances, and limits the risk of damage to the
rotating or stationary member if a rub occurs.
• The concept of an abradable seal was first used in aircraft
engines. However, over the years, the use of abradable seals
has become more common in centrifugal compressors.
• In conventional seal applications, the stationary static
aluminum labyrinth contracts the gas as it flows through
the close clearance gaps under the teeth, and then
expands it between the teeth.
 Contd…
• This repeated contraction and expansion reduces the flow of
the gas and lowers its flow rate.
• Leakage through the seal is proportional to the clearance,
Figure 3.149(a). For an abradable seal, the labyrinth teeth are
now on the rotating component, and the smooth abradable seal
is the stationary component, Figure 3.149(b).
MECHANICAL PISTON ROD
PACKING
MAIN FUNCTION OF ROD PACKING

The purpose of packing cases is to seal

(Dynamic sealing) any residual gases coming from
the cylinder along the piston rod.
 PISTON ROD PACKING
• Piston rod packing ensures sealing of the compressed
gas. The piston rod packing consist of series of cups
each containing several seal rings side by side . The
rings are build of three sectors, held together by a
spring installed in the groove running around the
outside of the ring.
• The entire set of cups is held in place by stud bolts.
Inside channels are there for cooling, gas recovery
and lubrication of the piston rod packing.
TYPICAL DIAGRAM OF PISTON
ROD PACKING
Thank You