Turbine Shaft

Sealing System
Muhammad Saad Mushtaq
 OBJECTIVE
 To understand the Function, Components and Working of Shaft Sealing
System.
 Identify common checks before taking Gland Sealing in service.

 Understand actions to be taken in case of Gland Sealing Equipment

malfunction/failure to control steam seal.
 CONTENTS
1. Pre- Requisites for Understand Sealing System
2. Why Turbine Gland Sealing is Needed?
3. Methods of Turbine Sealing
4. Principle Of Gland Steam Sealing system
5. Sources of Gland Sealing Steam
6. Seal Steam Cycle
7. Important Components of Gland Steam Sealing System
8. ALARM Set Points
9. Gland Sealing Steam System Startup
10. Emergency Operations
PRE- REQUISITES FOR UNDERSTAND SEALING
SYSTEM

 Turbine structure
 Turbine Steam Path
WHY TURBINE GLAND SEALING IS NEEDED?
Turbine section to avoid steam mixing of working steam and escape into
the atmosphere.
Reduces efficiency
Increases surrounding bearing temperatures
Reduces Lube Oil quality due to air ingress

LP turbine section to avoid air ingress into the under vacuum section.
Disturbs Condenser Vacuum (air ingress)
Sudden ingress of air into LP section may cause thermal stresses on Turbine Rotor
components.
METHODS OF TURBINE SEALING
 Shaft Gland Packings
 In
between clearance of Rotor and casing
 Metallic Laybrinth Type

 Gland Steam Sealing

Labyrinth
Packing
SHAFT GLAND PACKINGS
 The packing is a steam throttling device consisting of stationary and rotating
teeth arranged concentrically with small radial clearance, thus presenting a
high resistance to the flow of steam and greatly reducing the amount of
leakage.
 The rotating element consists of step recesses machined directly in the
turbine rotor, while the stationary elements are segment rings provided with
teeth.
 The ring segments are machined with proper joint clearance so as to provide
complete circumferential protection after the segments have expanded due to
operating temperature.
PRINCIPLE OF GLAND STEAM SEALING SYSTEM
PRINCIPLE OF GLAND STEAM SEALING SYSTEM
 HP-IP Casing (High Pressure, Steam escapes to surrounding), Pressure
Packings
 LP Section (Vacuum, Air Ingress), Vacuum Packings.

 Turbine start up-the gland seal steam has to be given at both the ends, so that
condenser will be isolated from the atmosphere and Vacuum pulling can be
started.
 On Load- Leak Off’s from High Pressure side HP IP Side provide sealing
steam for Low Pressure Side.
SOURCES OF GLAND SEALING STEAM
 Turbine Startup:
 Auxiliary Header
 CRH

 Turbine On load:
 Leak off from HP IP packing
 ICVs, MSVs and RSVs.
SEAL STEAM CYCLE
L
HP IP
P

From Start up
Boiler Aux Steam
Header
From CRH
Gland Exhauster
Fan
Steam
Seal
From MSV’s leaks Header Gland Steam
off Condenser
From RSV’s Leaks
off
From CV’s Leaks
off Condenser
IMPORTANT COMPONENTS OF GLAND STEAM
SEALING SYSTEM
 Gland Steam Condenser:
 Shelland tube Type Heat Exhanger
 Condenses Sealing steam to retain water and heat within the cycle.
 Provides a slight vacuum to sealing steam across the seals to create a pull for steam,
hence maintaining the sealing.
 Located at 4m Turbine.
IMPORTANT COMPONENTS OF GLAND STEAM
SEALING SYSTEM
 Gland Steam Exhauster
 Removes non condensable gases from the sealing steam return.
 Helps maintain slight pull for Sealing steam to maintain steam seal and avoid water
ingress to surrounding main (journal brarings)
 2 installed for redundancy, 1 kept standby , changed over during turbine aux.
changer over schedule.
 Installed on Gland steam condenser shell at 4m Turbine area.
GLAND SEALING STEAM SYSTEM STARTUP
 Sealing Steam System needs to be taken into service and maintained before
taking condenser evacuation system.
 Condensate cycle should be normal before taking sealing steam in service to
allow for condensation/cooling medium at gland steam condenser
 Steam trap is provided on Steam line coming from the Aux. Steam Header.

 Gland Exhauster Fan should be started after Sealing Header temperatures

have reached between 150 to 200 °C, while temps are increasing Sealing
header drains should be open, this is to avoid condensation of steam across
the gland seals which may lead to water mixing with lube oil at the bearings.
EMERGENCY OPERATIONS
 Gland Exhauster fan’s outlet valve need to be adjusted after taking sealing
steam in service to maintain slight vacuum in gland steam condenser, drains
at inlet and outlet valves should be open. Same is to be done incase standby
exhaust fans cuts in or exhaust fan changeover is done.
 TG should be running or atleast available before taking seal steam in service
as if TG is not running than the heat will be concentrated at one point
 If auxiliary header is charged, steam seal can be taken in service earlier
through Aux. header
EMERGENCY OPERATIONS
 Always wait for the vacuum to get poor and reach atmospheric pressure
before cutting of sealing steam to avoid sudden ingress of air into turbine
which may erode and cause excessive thermal stresses.
 Seal steam should be cut off once the Turbine reaches 0 RPM. Keeping
sealing steam in service on a cold turbine for longer durations is not
recommended.
 If both Gland Steam Exhausters fail due to any reason , Steam seal header
should be maintained at a lower pressure (0.1bar) immediately, Oil Purifier
should be checked to be in service.
 Extended running of unit without GEF is not recommended , Unit should be
taken of bar if GEF cannot be brought back. And only be started after
clearance.