Method of and apparatus for cooling a seal for machinery
First Claim
1. A method for cooling a seal located in a wall of a seal chamber and through which a movable shaft passes, said seal being heated by hot pressurized vapor that leaks through a labyrinth into the seal chamber and internal friction, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a seal chamber in which the seal is located and into which said hot pressurized vapor leaks;
(b) injecting cool liquid into the seal chamber in which the seal is located;
(c) cooling and condensing said hot pressurized vapor in said seal chamber thus cooling the seal and reducing the pressure in the seal chamber and producing condensate;
(d) supplying liquid containing said condensate from said seal chamber to a seal chamber condensate drainage vessel for collecting only liquid containing said condensate produced in said seal chamber; and
(e) pumping liquid containing the collected condensate from said seal chamber condensate drainage vessel to an exit of a condenser.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method is provided for cooling a seal located in a wall of a chamber and through which a movable shaft passes, the seal being heated by hot pressurized vapor that leaks through the seal into the chamber and internal friction. The method comprises the steps of: providing a chamber in which the seal is located and into which the hot pressurized vapor leaks; injecting cool liquid into the chamber in which the seal is located; and cooling and condensing the hot pressurized vapor in the chamber thus cooling the seal.
-
Citations
12 Claims
-
1. A method for cooling a seal located in a wall of a seal chamber and through which a movable shaft passes, said seal being heated by hot pressurized vapor that leaks through a labyrinth into the seal chamber and internal friction, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a seal chamber in which the seal is located and into which said hot pressurized vapor leaks;
(b) injecting cool liquid into the seal chamber in which the seal is located;
(c) cooling and condensing said hot pressurized vapor in said seal chamber thus cooling the seal and reducing the pressure in the seal chamber and producing condensate;
(d) supplying liquid containing said condensate from said seal chamber to a seal chamber condensate drainage vessel for collecting only liquid containing said condensate produced in said seal chamber; and
(e) pumping liquid containing the collected condensate from said seal chamber condensate drainage vessel to an exit of a condenser. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
- (a) providing a seal chamber in which the seal is located and into which said hot pressurized vapor leaks;
-
6. Apparatus for cooling a seal located in a wall of a seal chamber and through which a movable shaft passes, said seal being heated by hot pressurized vapor that leaks through the seal into the seal chamber and internal friction, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) a seal chamber in which the seal is located and into which leaks the hot pressurized vapor;
(b) means for injecting liquid into the seal chamber in which the seal is located such that the hot pressurized vapor is cooled and condenses in said seal chamber, thus cooling the seal and producing condensate;
(c) a line that supplies liquid containing said condensate from said seal chamber to a seal chamber condensate drainage vessel for collecting only liquid containing said condensate produced in said seal chamber; and
(d) a pump that supplies liquid containing the collected condensate from said seal chamber condensate drainage vessel to an exit of a condenser. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
- (a) a seal chamber in which the seal is located and into which leaks the hot pressurized vapor;
Specification