Bearing

Housing/Pedestal
Bearin
g
Turbine Case
Carbon
Seals

Bearing
Housing/Pedestal
Bearin
g
Turbine Case
Carbon
Seals

Bearing
Housing/Pedestal
Bearin
g
Turbine Case
Carbon
Seals

230
degrees f.

Temperatur
e

230
degrees f.

Bearing
Housing/Pedestal
Bearin
g

Stea
m
Turbine Case
Carbon
Seals

230
degrees f.

Temperatur
e

230
degrees f.

Condensate
Magnet

Stea
m
Turbine Case

Seal
Failure

Bearing
Housing/Pedestal
Bearin
g

Carbon
Seals

230
degrees f.

Temperatur
e

230
degrees f.

Steam
Path

Bearing
Housing/Pedestal
Bearin
g

Turbine Case
Carbon
Seals

Steam moves out of the case, down

the shaft and past the carbon seals
to atmosphere.

Bearing
Housing/Pedestal
Bearin
g
Turbine Case
Carbon
Seals

Some steam dissipates into the

atmosphere. In some instances
(such as in cold climates), this could
cause a visibility hazard.

Bearing
Housing/Pedestal
Bearin
g
Turbine Case
Carbon
Seals

It could also cause a slipping hazard

as condensate collects on the
ground, or can cause severe burns if
contacted near the exhaust path.

$$$$$$$
Bearing
$$$ Housing/Pedestal
Bearin
g
Turbine Case
Carbon
Seals

$$$$$$$
$$$

Lost steam is also money thrown

into the wind.

Bearing
Housing/Pedestal
Bearin
g
Turbine Case
Carbon
Seals

Yet another consideration if water

enters your bearing housing, the
integrity of your oil (lubrication system)
will be compromised.

Bearing
Housing/Pedestal
Bearin
g
Turbine Case
Carbon
Seals

This could lead to bearing failure and

ultimately, equipment failure.

Condensate
Magnet
Bearing
Housing/Pedestal
Bearin
g
Turbine Case
Carbon
Seals

When shaft seals fail, your only

barrier against oil contamination are
your bearing case seals.

Condensate
Magnet
Bearing
Housing/Pedestal
Bearin
g
Turbine Case
Carbon
Seals

These seals can be standard OEM

H seals, or upgrades such as
modified H seals (Disrupter Seals)
or aftermarket Barrier Seals.

Soluti
ons

Try to reduce or eliminate steam

leakage at the source.

Soluti
ons

Protect your oil from contamination.

Carbon
Seals

The standard shaft seals on most

small steam turbines are carbon
rings.

Carbon
Seals

If installed correctly, they provide a

good seal. However they do
deteriorate rapidly.

Effective Clearance Over Time

Carbon
Advantages
Disadvantages
Rings

Inexpensive
Easy to install
Perform well
when properly
sized and
installed
Lightweight

Easily cracked/
chipped
If not properly
sized, can
either seize on
shaft or leak
too much
Short life,
resulting in
high leakage

Mechanical
Seals

Mechanical
Advantages
Seals Disadvantages
Best sealing
performance
Longer life than
standard carbon
seals

Expensive initial
investment
Difficult to install,
requires entire rotor to
be removed for
installation/
maintenance
Can require permanent
case modifications
Finite life-span before a
costly overhaul is
required.

Brush Seals

Brush Seals
Advantages

Disadvantages

Moderately priced
More durable than
carbon seals
Extremely long life

Must be installed in
shop
Not stocked for all size
turbines
Relatively new
technology for steam
applications
Heavy floating seals
can gravitate
downward on turbines
that cycle, thus
decreasing efficiency

Brush Seals
Current Applications

Utility Turbines
Mechanical Drive Turbines
Gas Turbines Aircraft & Industrial
Single Stage Turbines
Elliott All YR sizes
Dresser Rand
General Electric
Westinghouse

Brush Seals
Brush Pack
Rotation
Shaft

The typical brush seal design consists of a pack of fine wire bristle material sandwiched
between two plates. The two plates (or washers as they are commonly called) and the
brush pack are then joined together.

Holder
Holder is SS
Fence

Flow

Brush Pack
Brushes are a Haynes 25 material

Brush Seals
Little or no case modifications
beyond original design
specifications.
Lower sustained leakage than
carbon rings.
Indefinite life span eliminating
periodic replacement.

Brush Seals
Installation Considerations

Sealing faces and ID

of carbon box are
machined to assure
a good seal fit.

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Internal Alignment is Important

On Fixed (non-floating) Brush Seals
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Suggested Shaft Coatings

None Base Metal
Chromium Carbide
Tungsten Carbide

(preferred)

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Leakage Data From

SST Test
Test comparing
brush seals with
cold (new) carbon
seals
Brush seals
installed with
zero clearance
Carbon seals
installed with 2.5
mil radial clearance
Carbon seals exhibit
equivalent
clearance of 4.3
mils
B = Brush Seal

C = Carbon Seal

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Brush Seals vs. Carbon Rings

Effective Clearance over Time

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34

Effective Clearance over Time

Carbon seals will degrade almost

immediately. Brush seal performance
will always stay the same.

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Compressor & Turbine Services.

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Brush Seals for Steam

Turbines
May be used as a
replacement for Carbon Rings
Or
May be used in conjunction
with Carbon Rings

Compressor & Turbine Services.

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Application: Brush Seals to Replace

Carbon Rings
Non Floating Seals

COST:
Around $10k
Per SST
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Application: Brush Seals to Replace

Carbon Rings

More Risky Than Brush/Carbon

Combination Since Brush Seals DO
NOT Have a History for this
Application. Only recommended for
turbines that are in continuous service.
(floating seals)

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Application Requirements:
Brush Seals as Replacement for
carbon rings
Minimum radial space
between shaft and
packing box ID of 1.0 inch
typically
Maximum pressure drop
across one seal is 150 psid
Packing box must be
reasonably aligned with
bearings
Best used on turbines that
are in continuous
operation

Drain

Brush Seals
41

Split line

Anti-rotation pin

Brushes

Sealing face

Application: Brush Seals to Replace

Carbon Rings
Non Floating Seals
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Elliott BYRHH
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Flow
No.1
Drain Pipe

No.2
No.3

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Estimated around 100 turbines in operation with

Brush Seals in this configuration.

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Brush Seals/Carbon Rings - A

Winning Combination
No case modifications beyond original design
specifications.
Lower sustained leakage than stand-alone carbon
rings.
Indefinite life span eliminating periodic
replacement.
Protects carbon rings from contamination
Reduces pressure on carbon rings
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Leakage Data From

SST Test
Test comparing brush
seals with cold (new)
carbon seals
Brush seals installed
with zero clearance
Brush seals exhibit
equivalent clearance
of 3.4 mils radial
Carbon seals
installed with 2.5 mil
radial clearance
Carbon seals exhibit
equivalent clearance
of 4.3 mils

B = Brush Seal

C = Carbon Seal

48

COST:
Around $ 3k 6k
Solid Ring
Design
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Brush Seals
Installation Considerations

Single Stage Turbine Brush Seal Benefits When used with carbon rings

Brush Seal
used to protect
carbon rings

Carbon rings
Protects carbons
1) by reducing
steam pressure.

One Brush Seal

ring required
upstream of
carbons on both
ends

2) Reducing
particulate
contamination.
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51

Single Stage Turbine Brush Seal Benefits When used with carbon rings

Brush Seal
used to protect
carbon rings

Carbon rings
Protects carbons
1) by reducing
steam pressure.

One Brush Seal

ring required

2) Reducing
particulate
contamination.

before the bleedoff.

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Standard Brush Seal

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CTS Brush Seal

53

Single Stage Turbine Brush Seal Benefits

To complement carbon rings
No case modifications beyond original design
specifications.
Lower sustained leakage than stand-alone carbon
rings.
Increased run-time.
Protects carbon rings from contamination
Reduces pressure on carbon rings
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The Result is
Reduced
Maintenance
Costs
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Our Sealing Systems

Brush Seals

Designed & Manufactured

at our facility
Light weight floating seal
Available for Elliott YR
turbines (and many others)
Custom applications

CTS Brush Seal

Typical Carbon
Ring

Steel Cased
Brush Seal

Early non floating

Brush Seal

Brush Pack

CTS Brush Seals are lighter than traditional Brush

Seals. In addition you have the benefits of two
carbon rings and one Brush in each turbine slot.
Eliminates the problems caused by heavier Brush
Seals on turbines that cycle.

Carbon

Disrupter Seals

Designed &
Manufactured at our
facility
Superior design to
reduce moisture in
bearing housing
Cost effective

Support American owned small businesses!

Steam

Bearin
g
Turbine Case
Carbon
Seals

Steam

CTS Disrupter Seals deflect moisture

away from the bearing housing by
disrupting the steam that moves down
the shaft.

Compressor & Turbine Services.

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