Knowledge Builders

how does a labyrinth seal work

by Florida Beahan Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Labyrinth seals on rotating shafts provide non-contact sealing action by controlling the passage of fluid through a variety of chambers by centrifugal motion, as well as by the formation of controlled fluid vortices.

What prevents oil from leaking past a labyrinth seal?

Only the sealing air is employed to prevent the oil from leaking. The clearance of the labyrinth seal is full of oil. However, the centrifugal force of the oil in the labyrinth clearance is getting larger as the rotating speed increases.

What is a key advantage of a labyrinth seal?

Labyrinth seals can prevent media from leaking out while preventing ingression, which can be a serious challenge even for traditional seals with excluders. And labyrinth seals not only exclude particle contamination but moisture ingression as well, and can do so even when exposed to water sprays.

Do labyrinth seals wear out?

Labyrinth seals (LBS) are the most common and inexpensive seal type, albeit wearing out with operation thus penalizing performance and even affecting rotordynamic stability.

How does Turbo labyrinth seal work?

Function of Labyrinth Seals in Turbocharger The bearings are separated from the blower and turbine by labyrinth seals. These seals are sealed by air supply from the discharge of blower to prevent oil entering the blower and to prevent contamination of the oil by the exhaust gas.

What are labyrinth seals made of?

Labyrinth seals are used for many low-pressure air compressors, especially when robustness is more important than low leakage. They are normally made of metal, mainly aluminum, but thermoplastics can be used for higher corrosion resistance or better rubbing behavior.

What is the rotating portion of a labyrinth seal called?

Labyrinth seals are constructed in multiple pieces. One piece, known as the stator, is affixed to the machine and remains stationary. The other piece, called the rotor, is attached to the shaft and rotates with the motion of the system.

How do honeycomb seals work?

Sealing Without Gas Swirl Honeycomb seals are machined with individual chambers that create the pressure drop needed to slow leakage. Those chambers also disrupt circumferential flow around the shaft, preventing destabilizing forces caused by the gas swirl that is common with labyrinth seals.

What is a taconite seal?

The SKF Taconite Seal consists of two rings (one stationary and one rotating) which form a very narrow labyrinth between the two rings. The rotating labyrinth ring carries a V-ring seal that seals against the stationary labyrinth ring.

What is a labyrinth compressor?

The Laby® Compressor is designed to compress bone-dry, dirty, abrasive, cryogenic and other gases. The gastight casing reduces gas emission and losses to the environment to zero.

What is labyrinth in bearing?

Labyrinth seals are a common type of mechanical seal used to prevent contamination within a bearing system's design. Bearings are frequently used in locations with prolonged exposure to abrasive dust, dirt, debris, or mud.

How does a turbo lubricant work?

The turbocharger bearing system is lubricated by oil from the engine. The oil is fed under pressure into the bearing housing, through to the journal bearings and thrust system. The oil also acts as a coolant taking away heat generated by the turbine. The journal bearings are a free floating rotational type.

What does a bearing isolator do?

A Garlock bearing isolator is a technology used primarily in rotating ancillary equipment—like pumps, gearboxes, electric motors, split pillow blocks, and even steam turbines. It prevents bearing failure by adding an extra layer of protection between the bearings and the outer environment.

What is a Cretan labyrinth?

In Greek mythology, the Labyrinth (Greek: Λαβύρινθος, Labýrinthos) was an elaborate, confusing structure designed and built by the legendary artificer Daedalus for King Minos of Crete at Knossos. Its function was to hold the Minotaur, the monster eventually killed by the hero Theseus.

How do carbon seals work?

A Sea-Doo carbon ring (known as a carbon seal as well) is a part of a seal that is designed to keep the water outside the hull. This small ring with the rubber boot and the metal support ring all encase the driveshaft to give it a waterproof seal. As the carbon ring can wear out, it needs to be periodically replaced.

What is felt seal?

Plain felt seals are precision-cut washers fabricated from standard grades of felt. They are usually presaturated with lubricants of slightly greater viscosity than that used in the bearing.

What is a contact seal?

Contact Seals A contact seal, also known as a lip seal, is a rubber part (typically Buna-N and nitrile) bonded to a steel insert. This seal is designed to apply continuous pressure on a bearing's inner ring, which creates the contact found in the seal's name.

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