DRY GAS SEAL

OPERATION

Presented by
M. Safdar Amin

Contents
INTRODUCTION
CONSTRUCTION
WORKING
DRY GAS SEAL SYSTEM
DRY GAS SEAL ( DGS ) DATA
COMMON PROBLEM
ADVANTAGES OF DGS
CONCLUSION

Introduction

Dry gas seal is a non-contacting type

mechanical seal which works on the principles
of hydrodynamic forces to create and maintain
precisely defined gap during operation.

Seal location on Compressor

Bearing

Bearing

Seal components

Seal in Tandem Arrangement

Rotating ring

Stationary ring

Stationary ring
Rotating ring

Primary Seal

Secondary Seal

Working of DGS
Seal gas supply

Primary vent

Buffer gas supply

Compressor shaft
Process side

Primary seal

Secondary seal

Secondary vent

Spiral Groove Sealing Surface

Rotating Ring

shaft rotation
clockwise

spiral
groove
Inner
groove
diameter

Sealing
dam
Opposing
face inner
diameter

outer
diameter

Spiral Groove Operation

Gas Enters
And is Induced
Towards the
Center

Direction of Rotation

Sealing Dam

Gas is Compressed and

Set Sealing Gap

Unidirectional

Bidirectional

Seal Pressure Profile

FC

FC=FO

Closing Force
S

FO
Opening Force

Grooves
Compression
P3 Expansion

S = Spring Load
P = Hydrostatic Load

Sealing
Dam

Gas Film
Pressure
Distribution

Significant hydrodynamic effect within grooved portion

Maximum pressure achieved P3
Linear pressure drop across seal dam to ID

Seal Control Systems

cooler

Original Seal Gas Supply System

Modified Seal Gas Supply System

DGS Data At Expansion Unit

No
.
Description

Syn Gas

Amm.

Arrangement

Tandem

Tandem

Design Pressure

77 Kg/cm2

4.9 Kg/cm2

Design Temperature

43 0C

43 0C

Injection (seal) Gas from

Recycle
discharge

2nd Stage

N2 Supply Pressure

0.2 Kg/cm2

0.2 Kg/cm2

Primary Vent Pressure (operating)

0.15-0.2
Kg/cm2

0.05-0.1
Kg/cm2

Secondary Vent Pressure

(Operating)

0.22 kg/cm2

0.22 kg/cm2

P Injection gas and balancing gas

(operating)

0.4 Kg/cm2

0.34 Kg/cm2

11

Injection Gas Adjustment

Bean Choke

Bean Choke

Common Problems
Seal Contamination

Elastomers

Seal Contamination
Source
Process Side
Seal Gas Supply
Bearing Lube Oil

Results
Dirt

Moisture

Seal hang ups

Corrosion

Wear of faces

Wear of faces

Elastomers
Limitations
Temperature

Pressure

Results
Loss of Elasticity

Advantages of DGS
Less Space
Low Maintenance Cost
Less Utility Consumption
Less Environmental Hazards
Prohibits Intermixing Of Fluids

Conclusion

Dry gas seal (DGS) is a state of the art technology

and an efficient tool in improving plant reliability

THANK YOU !

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