Is there a mechanical seal on the compressor?
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Is there a mechanical seal on the compressor?
Yes, and it’s quite common. For example, mechanical seals are used in the crankcase of reciprocating compressors to maintain pressure.
Often, it depends on the medium and speed
Centrifugal and rotary positive-displacement compressors generally use mechanical seals
Yes, it depends on the compressor’s speed, flow rate, pressure, and so on
Oil-injected screw compressors generally use mechanical seals, while centrifugal compressors can in principle employ double-end mechanical seals as shaft end seals, but this has not been seen in practice.
Screws and crankshafts have mechanical seals, but large centrifugal compressors do not.
There are three large centrifugal compressors on site, using dry gas seals.
They were once used in old-style large centrifugal compressors, but the system configuration was complex; moreover, if sealing fluid entered the medium, it would contaminate it. Nowadays, for flammable and explosive media, dry gas seals are generally used for sealing, but their cost is also very high!
May I ask if the mechanical seal used in the crankcase can experience oil leakage for a few minutes when the machine has just been stopped?