Abstract: A non-contacting seal is provided, including a first sealing face formed on an end of a primary ring and a second sealing face formed on an end of a mating ring. Grooves may be formed in at least one of the first and second sealing faces, such that the grooves extend from one edge of the respective sealing face to an intermediate radius of the respective sealing face. At least one groove may include an entrance edge along the one edge of the respective sealing face and a dam wall opposite the entrance edge. The at least one groove may also include two symmetric side walls extending from the entrance edge to the dam wall. The two symmetric side walls may include a first convex curve extending from the entrance edge to a transition point and a second concave curve extending from the transition point to the dam wall.

Abstract: A sealing assembly for extending around a rotating shaft for preventing the transmission of fluids along the shaft, in which a sealing element is biased towards the rotary sealing part; and a pusher sleeve extends between the sealing element and a housing.

Abstract: To avoid formation of condensate or freezing in the tandem gas seals (12, 13) of a gas compressor (1), such as for use in the compression of production of natural gas, when the compressor is temporarily stopped for maintenance or repair of the compressor or instrumentation, the settle out pressure (SOP) in the high pressure gas discharge line (7) from the compressor (1), arising from equalising the inlet and outlet gas pressures, is directed to cause gas to flow through a branch line (25) to the outboard gas seal (13), the gas being heated by an electrical heating coil (28) and its pressure being reduced in a controlled manner. In this way, the gas is prevented from entering its liquid-vapor phase, so that no condensate can form in the inboard and outboard gas seals (12, 13).

Abstract: A shaft seal in which a rotary dealing part is mounted coaxially with a sealing element and forms therewith a primary seal between opposed faces of the sealing element and the rotary sealing part to substantially prevent fluid flow across the primary seal from a high pressure radial side to a low-pressure radial side. Secondary and tertiary seals are also provided between the high-pressure and low-pressure radial sides; and between an auxiliary sleeve and the seal housing, respectively.

Abstract: A shaft seal is disclosed comprising a sealing element (2), a rotary sealing part (4) mounted coaxially with the sealing element and forming therewith a contactless primary seal between opposed faces of the sealing element (2) and rotary sealing part (4) to substantially prevent fluid flow across the primary seal from a high-pressure radial side to a low-pressure radial side, a seal housing (8), a pusher sleeve (9) disposed, between the seal housing and the sealing element, coaxially with and in contact with the sealing element (2), biasing means (10) urging the pusher sleeve (9) away from the seal housing (8) and against the sealing element (2) to urge the sealing element axially towards the rotary sealing member (14), and a first sealing member (12) disposed about the pusher sleeve (9) and located, in a channel (14), in communication with the high-pressure radial side to provide a secondary seal for the pusher sleeve (9) between the high-pressure and low-pressure radial sides.

Abstract: A shaft seal comprising a sealing element (2), rotary sealing part (4) mounted coaxially with the sealing element and forming therewith a contactless primary seal between opposed faces of the sealing element (2) and rotary sealing part (4) to substantially prevent fluid flow across the primary seal from a high pressure radial side to a low-pressure radial side, a seal housing (8), an annular pusher disc (9) disposed about a forwardly extending sleeve portion (8a) of the seal housing and coaxially with the sealing element (2), biasing means (10) acting on the pusher disc (9) to urge the sealing element axially towards the rotary sealing part (4), and a first sealing member (12″) disposed between the pusher disc (9) and the forwardly extending sleeve portion (8a) in communication with the high-pressure radial side to provide a secondary seal between the high-pressure and low-pressure radial sides.