Dry Gas Seal Systems: Addressing Challenges in Harsh Industrial Environments
It’s no secret that harsh industrial environments can cause catastrophic damage to vital components, including crucial seals used to prevent leakages. However, with careful design considerations, dry gas seals can withstand the brutal environments common in industrial applications. Stein Seal uses our 60-plus years of experience and a deep understanding of thermodynamics, aerodynamics, and fluid dynamics to develop customized dry gas seals that will maintain optimal performance even in the harshest applications.
Dry Gas Seals are Designed for Harsh Environments
Built to Withstand Extreme Temperatures
When used in extreme temperature applications, such as liquid natural gas (LNG) processing, dry gas seals must be designed to prevent or accommodate condensation and expansion of both the buffering gas and the process material. This often includes adaptive technologies that allow the seal components to adjust to changes in conditions through coolant and heating components within the seal support system. Avoiding heat-sensitive raw materials will also prevent the components from becoming compromised due to exposure to low and high-temperature ranges.
Reliable Under Pressure
Using a type of adaptive technology that we call a ‘spoiled joint,’ our dry gas seals can accommodate fluctuations in pressure requirements by allowing more gas to leak through one side than the other. This is particularly important when the process fluid and the buffer gas require different pressures to prevent contaminating the buffer gas or seal faces. Dry gas seals can be manufactured to accommodate both low and high-pressure applications.
Designed for Corrosive Applications
The Chemical Industry is particularly notorious for corrosive and caustic applications that could potentially cause catastrophic problems if a seal fails or contaminants enter the process fluid. However, by developing a thorough understanding of all intended applications, dry gas seals can be designed to prevent disaster using specialized components manufactured with chemically inert materials.
Overcoming Design Challenges of Dry Gas Seals
Particulate Ingress
Contaminants can interfere with dry gas seal performance and potentially cause irreversible damage that can lead to costly repairs, environmental disasters, and hefty fines. To prevent this, dry gas seal control cabinets are fitted with specialized coalescing filtration systems with meshes as small as 1 micron. These filters prevent particulate ingress while also removing moisture from the buffering gas.
Sustained Vibration Exposure
Turbomachinery can reach incredible speeds, causing near-constant system vibrations, which can place seals at risk of premature failure. However, Stein Seal uses the latest adaptive design processes in our dry gas seals. This allows the seals to self-correct and compensate for sustained vibrations and shaft movements.
Cost Containment and ROI
Specialized high-pressure dry gas seals can be a major investment, one that isn’t always warranted. At Stein Seal, we have a line of dry gas seals rated for lower-pressure applications that require less buffer gas, which is often a more economical solution. While the upfront cost of new or replacement dry gas seals can be significant, their contactless operation and adaptive design reduce mechanical wear. Because they often require less maintenance over a longer lifespan, dry gas seals can offer a greater return on investment compared to other seal technologies.
