Heat exchanger for centrifugal compressor gas sealing

• US 20070102139A1
• Filed: 09/15/2004
• Published: 05/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nuovo Pignone Tecnologie SRL (Nuovo Pignone International SRL)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Milani, Alessio, Banchi, Nicola, Boncinelli, Marco, Puggioni, Marcello, Pelella, Marco
• Granted Patent: US 8,814,508 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/72
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/124 with special means for adducting cooling or sealing fluid
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/584 cooling or heating the machine F04D29/5846, F04D29/5853 take precedence

Abstract

Heat exchanger device for a gas seal (1) for centrifugal compressors equipped with a fluid heat exchanger (3) positioned between the gas seal (1) and the housing wall of the seal to keep the temperature of the seal (1) low in the case of high temperatures of the wall and/or compressed gas.

Claims

1. A heat exchanger device for a gas seal (1) for centrifugal compressors characterized in that the device comprises a fluid heat exchanger (3) positioned between the gas seal of the compressor and the housing wall of said seal (1) to keep the temperature of said seal (1) low in the case of high temperatures of the wall and/or compressed gas.

2. The exchanger device according to claim 1, wherein said exchanger (3) is a circular exchanger suitable for enveloping said seal (1).

3. The exchanger device according to claim 1 wherein said exchanger (3) extends between said seal (1) and a supporting flange (2) of said seal (1).

4. The exchanger device according to claim 1, wherein said exchanger (3) comprises at least one inlet opening (4) and at least one outlet opening (6) connected to each other by a coiled path (8), said path for flowing a cooling liquid through said exchanger device.

5. The exchanger device according to claim 1, said seal comprises at least one inlet duct (7) and said at least one inlet duct passes through the centre of the exchanger.

6. The exchanger device according to claim 1, wherein the exchanger comprises a cooling liquid that further comprises water.