Abstract: A turbomachine and a method of operating the turbomachine are disclosed. The turbomachine includes a stator, a rotor including a rotor bearing face, and a face seal assembly including a first segmented seal ring and a second segmented seal ring. The first segmented seal ring includes a plurality of joints and a first flat-contact surface and the second segmented seal ring includes a plurality of segment ends and a second flat-contact surface. One of the first and second segmented seal rings includes a seal bearing face. The second segmented seal ring is coupled to the first segmented seal ring such that the second flat-contact surface is in contact with the first flat-contact surface. The plurality of segment ends is circumferentially offset from the plurality of joints. The first segmented seal ring is slidably coupled to the stator and defines a face seal clearance between the rotor and seal bearing faces.

Abstract: A turbomachine and a method of operating the turbomachine are disclosed. The turbomachine includes a stator, a rotor including a rotor bearing face, a face seal assembly, a first pressure cavity, and a second pressure cavity. The face seal assembly includes a seal ring including a seal bearing face, a first pressure cavity, and a plurality of isolated hydrostatic ports extending from the first pressure cavity to the seal bearing face. The face seal assembly is slidably coupled to the stator and defines a face seal clearance between the rotor and seal bearing faces. The second and third pressure cavities are defined by the stator, the rotor, and the face seal assembly. The third pressure cavity is disposed downstream of the second pressure cavity with reference to flow of a process fluid along the stator and rotor. The first pressure cavity is isolated from the second and third pressure cavities.

Abstract: A turbine operable with a first fluid and a second fluid is provided. The turbine includes a shaft and having a dry gas seal area, a balance area, and a shaft surface. The turbine also includes a stationary component coupled to a housing and having a first side and a second side and defining a channel in flow communication with the shaft surface. A heat exchange assembly is coupled to the housing and in flow communication with the shaft and the stationary component. The heat exchange assembly includes a first flow path coupled in flow communication with the dry gas seal area and the channel and configured to direct the first fluid along the first side. Heat exchange assembly also includes a second flow path coupled in flow communication with the balance area and channel and configured to direct the second fluid along the second side.

Abstract: A seal apparatus for a rotary machine, including a plurality of sealing assembly segments surrounding a rotor element which is mounted for rotation about a longitudinal axis and has an outer surface. Each of the segments includes a shoe with one or more labyrinth teeth facing the outer surface and a shoe plate disposed downstream of the one or more labyrinth seal teeth and configured to generate an aerodynamic force between the shoe plate and the outer surface of the rotor element. The shoe is further configured to be flexible in a radial-axial plane in response to fluid film forces generated by interaction of the sealing assembly segment and the rotor element, and an axially-oriented beam spring connects the shoe to a stationary seal body.

Abstract: A turbomachine and a method of operating the turbomachine are disclosed. The turbomachine includes a stator, a rotor including a rotor bearing face, a face seal assembly, a first pressure cavity, and a second pressure cavity. The face seal assembly includes a seal ring including a seal bearing face, a first pressure cavity, and a plurality of isolated hydrostatic ports extending from the first pressure cavity to the seal bearing face. The face seal assembly is slidably coupled to the stator and defines a face seal clearance between the rotor and seal bearing faces. The second and third pressure cavities are defined by the stator, the rotor, and the face seal assembly. The third pressure cavity is disposed downstream of the second pressure cavity with reference to flow of a process fluid along the stator and rotor. The first pressure cavity is isolated from the second and third pressure cavities.

Abstract: A turbomachine and a method of operating the turbomachine are disclosed. The turbomachine includes a stator, a rotor including a rotor bearing face, and a face seal assembly including a first segmented seal ring and a second segmented seal ring. The first segmented seal ring includes a plurality of joints and a first flat-contact surface and the second segmented seal ring includes a plurality of segment ends and a second flat-contact surface. One of the first and second segmented seal rings includes a seal bearing face. The second segmented seal ring is coupled to the first segmented seal ring such that the second flat-contact surface is in contact with the first flat-contact surface. The plurality of segment ends is circumferentially offset from the plurality of joints. The first segmented seal ring is slidably coupled to the stator and defines a face seal clearance between the rotor and seal bearing faces.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed toward a stator ring configured to be disposed about a rotor of a turbine, wherein the stator ring comprises a plurality of hydrodynamic pads extending from a sealing face of the stator ring, wherein each of the plurality of hydrodynamic pads is configured to hydrodynamically engage with a rotor ring.

Abstract: A seal ring assembly for use with a rotary machine that includes an axis of rotation includes a seal housing comprising a secondary sealing surface and a secondary seal assembly coupled to the seal housing. The secondary seal assembly includes a seal ring coupled to the seal housing, wherein the seal ring is configured to form a secondary seal with the secondary sealing surface. The secondary seal assembly also includes at least one protection ring positioned upstream from the seal ring. The secondary seal assembly is configured to be biased along the axis such that biasing the at least one protection ring facilitates removing debris from at least a portion of the secondary sealing surface over which the seal ring travels during biasing.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed toward a face seal including a stator ring configured to be disposed about a rotor of a turbine, wherein the stator ring includes a first ring segment and a second ring segment which are circumferentially split and configured to cooperatively form the stator ring, and bearing elements disposed between the first and second ring segments and configured to enable relative axial motion between the first and second ring segments at interfaces between the first and second ring segments. The stator ring further includes hydrodynamic surface features on surfaces of the first and second ring segments configured for facing the rotor, wherein the hydrodynamic surface features comprise Y-shaped grooves each comprising a stem portion extending from a middle region of stator ring and splitting into inner and outer branches extending towards inner and outer diameters of the stator ring and terminating prior to the inner and outer diameters.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed toward a face seal including a stator ring configured to be disposed about a rotor of a turbine, wherein stator ring comprises a first ring segment and a second ring segment configured to cooperatively form the stator ring, wherein the first and second ring segments are circumferentially split and have at least one bearing element disposed between the first and second ring segments, and wherein the at least one bearing element is configured to enable relative axial motion between the first and second ring segments at interfaces between the first and second ring segments.

Abstract: A seal apparatus for a rotary machine, including a plurality of sealing assembly segments surrounding a rotor element which is mounted for rotation about a longitudinal axis and has an outer surface. Each of the segments includes a shoe with one or more labyrinth teeth facing the outer surface and a shoe plate disposed downstream of the one or more labyrinth seal teeth and configured to generate an aerodynamic force between the shoe plate and the outer surface of the rotor element. The shoe is further configured to be flexible in a radial-axial plane in response to fluid film forces generated by interaction of the sealing assembly segment and the rotor element, and an axially-oriented beam spring connects the shoe to a stationary seal body.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic face seal ring for use in a rotary machine includes a support ring having at least two support ring segments and a radially-extending, first face. The support ring is configured to releasably couple to an inner surface of an outer casing of the rotary machine. The face seal ring also includes a sealing ring substantially concentric with the support ring. The sealing ring includes at least two sealing ring segments and a radially-extending, second face. The sealing ring is releasably coupled to the support ring such that the first face is mated against the second face.

Abstract: An aspirating face seal for use with a rotary machine includes a rotating seal ring including a radially outer surface that includes an oblique portion. A stationary seal ring is coupled proximate the rotating seal ring such that a first gap is defined therebetween. The stationary seal ring is movable along a centerline axis of the rotary machine between an open position and a sealed position, and includes an extension member that extends across the first gap. An auxiliary seal includes at least one seal tooth that includes a seal tooth tip. The at least one seal tooth extends radially inward from the extension member such that a second gap is defined between the seal tooth tip and the oblique portion.

Abstract: An aerodynamic seal assembly for a rotary machine includes multiple sealing device segments disposed circumferentially intermediate to a stationary housing and a rotor. Each of the segments includes a shoe plate with a forward-shoe section and an aft-shoe section having multiple labyrinth teeth therebetween facing the rotor. The sealing device segment also includes multiple flexures connected to the shoe plate and to a top interface element, wherein the multiple flexures are configured to allow the high pressure fluid to occupy a forward cavity and the low pressure fluid to occupy an aft cavity. Further, the sealing device segments include a secondary seal attached to the top interface element at one first end and positioned about the flexures and the shoe plate at one second end.

Abstract: A turbine operable with a first fluid and a second fluid is provided. The turbine includes a shaft and having a dry gas seal area, a balance area, and a shaft surface. The turbine also includes a stationary component coupled to a housing and having a first side and a second side and defining a channel in flow communication with the shaft surface. A heat exchange assembly is coupled to the housing and in flow communication with the shaft and the stationary component. The heat exchange assembly includes a first flow path coupled in flow communication with the dry gas seal area and the channel and configured to direct the first fluid along the first side. Heat exchange assembly also includes a second flow path coupled in flow communication with the balance area and channel and configured to direct the second fluid along the second side.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a cage and a main plug disposed in the cage. The main plug is movable between a main plug closed position and a main plug open position. A seal assembly disposed on the main plug, the seal assembly having a seal that is configured to contact the cage when the main plug is in the main plug closed position, and configured to reduce contact with the cage when a pressure differential across the seal is reduced. The apparatus includes a pressure balancing assembly movable between a closed position, an overtravel position and an open position. The pressure balancing assembly is configured to balance the pressure differential across the seal when in the overtravel and open position.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed toward a stator ring configured to be disposed about a rotor of a turbine, wherein the stator ring comprises a plurality of hydrodynamic pads extending from a sealing face of the stator ring, wherein each of the plurality of hydrodynamic pads is configured to hydrodynamically engage with a rotor ring.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed toward a face seal including a stator ring configured to be disposed about a rotor of a turbine, wherein stator ring comprises a first ring segment and a second ring segment configured to cooperatively form the stator ring, wherein the first and second ring segments are circumferentially split and have at least one bearing element disposed between the first and second ring segments, and wherein the at least one bearing element is configured to enable relative axial motion between the first and second ring segments at interfaces between the first and second ring segments

Abstract: A seal assembly for a rotary machine is provided. The seal assembly includes multiple sealing device segments disposed circumferentially intermediate to a stationary housing and a rotor. Each of the sealing device segments includes a stator interface element, a shoe plate having an extended portion having one or more labyrinth teeth facing the rotor and a load bearing portion, wherein the shoe plate is configured to generate an aerodynamic force between the shoe plate and the rotor. The sealing device segment further includes a secondary seal configured to be in contact with the stator interface element at a radially outer end and configured to be in contact with an elevated nose section of the extended portion of the shoe plate on a radially inner end; and multiple flexible elements attached to the shoe plate and to the stator interface element.

Abstract: A self-cleaning hydrodynamic face seal for use with a rotary machine is provided. The hydrodynamic face seal includes a seal ring having a radially-extending seal face. In addition, the hydrodynamic face seal includes at least one brush coupled to the seal ring. The at least one brush includes a plurality of flexible elements extending away from the radially-extending seal face of the face seal ring.