Steam Turbine Sealing Solution Reduces Repair Frequency

Sept. 23, 2013
Brush serves as the primary shaft seal while a carbon element provides face sealing in the turbineʼs casing.

The Inpro/Seal Sentinel floating brush seal (FBS) was developed as a drop-in replacement to carbon rings. The Sentinel FBS utilizes brush seal technology. Its design includes densely packed and flexible metallic bristles that “bend” with changing clearances between rotating and stationary surfaces. The brush serves as the primary shaft seal while a carbon element provides face sealing in the turbineʼs casing.

This technology offers an extra layer of protection that slows down the natural wear of downstream carbon rings and provides predictable leakage over an extended operating life. Its plug-and-play split design is a direct replacement of a carbon ring without necessitating rotor removal or costly  casing modifications.