Seal for a compressor and centrifugal compressor equipped with such a seal

• US 6,959,929 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2002
• Issued: 11/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thermodyn (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Thermodyn (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: Bolusset, Daniel, Friez, Patrick, Pugnet, Jean-Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): Glessner, Brian E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lugo, Carlos
• Application Number:
  US10/205,425
• Publication Number:
  US 20030030221A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,194 Days
• Field of Search: 277358-408, 277/930
• US Class Current: 277/408
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 17/122 the individual rotor discs being, one for each stage, on a common shaft and axially spaced, e.g. conventional centrifugal multi- stage compressors
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/122 especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/584 cooling or heating the machine F04D29/5846, F04D29/5853 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/3404 and characterised by parts or details relating to lubrication, cooling or venting of the seal
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/3468 Means for controlling the deformations of the contacting faces

Abstract

A seal for a rotary compressor comprises a casing, at least one assembly having a rotating seal face ring which rotates as one with a sleeve intended to be mounted on a shaft of the compressor and of a stationary seal face ring mounted on the casing, the seal face rings being urged to press against one another via their rubbing face. The seal design further incorporates fluid circulation for heating leaks of compressible fluid conveyed by the compressor that occur between the seal face rings, this fluid circulation being formed in the casing and extending at least partially downstream of the seal face rings with respect to the direction of flow of the fluid stream.

Claims

1. A seal for a compressor configured to compress a working fluid, said seal comprising:

a casing;

at least one assembly comprising a rotating seal face ring configured to rotate as one with a sleeve mounted on a shaft of the compressor and a stationary seal face ring mounted on the casing; and

circulating means for circulating a heating fluid for heating working fluid leaks that occur between the faces of the stationary and rotating seal face rings, said circulating means being operable when the compressor is not running, wherein a face of the stationary seal face ring is configured to be urged to press against a face of the rotating seal face ring, and said circulating means is formed in a low pressure region in the casing and extending at least partially downstream of the seal face rings with respect to a flow direction of said working fluid leaks.

2. The seal according to claim 1, wherein said circulating means comprise a heating duct in communication with a supply source of heating fluid which operates independently of working fluid supplying means for supplying the compressor with working fluid.

3. The seal according to claim 2, wherein the casing further comprises a flow passage for the working fluid leaks, said flow passage having a wall that, with the casing, is configured to delimit said flow passage so as to constitute a surface for an exchange of heat energy.

4. The seal according to claim 3, wherein a face of the wall facing towards the heating duct is provided with ribs forming therein a heating coil.

5. The seal according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the heating fluid is an oil.

6. The seal according to claim 5, further comprising a heat exchanger facing the stationary seal face ring.

7. A centrifugal compressor comprising a drive shaft having a seal according to claim 6 and driving a rotation of a collection of wheels configured to transfer a mechanical energy supplied by the drive shaft to a compressible fluid and at least one shaft output seal.

8. A centrifugal compressor according to claim 7, further comprising a supply source for supplying the heating fluid to the circulating means, said supply source operating independently of the remainder of the compressor.

9. The seal according to claim 1, wherein the working fluid leaks are heated when the compressor is not operating.