Balance piston seal centering

Patent · 03 July 2018

OSTI ID:1461507

Peer, David J.; Wiederien, Richard J.; Brown, Paul Morrison; Sorokes, James M.; Kuzdzal, Mark J.

A balance piston seal assembly for a balance piston of a compressor is provided. The balance piston seal assembly may include a balance piston seal, a stationary support, and a gripping assembly disposed between the balance piston seal and the stationary support. The balance piston seal may be configured to be disposed about the balance piston such that an inner radial surface of the balance piston seal and an outer radial surface of the balance piston define a radial clearance therebetween. The stationary support may be configured to be coupled or integral with a casing of the compressor. The gripping assembly may be configured to secure the balance piston seal with the stationary support and to maintain concentricity between the balance piston seal and the balance piston during thermal radial expansion of the balance piston seal relative to the balance piston.

• Research Organization: National Energy Technology Laboratory, Pittsburgh, PA, and Morgantown, WV (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: FE0000493
• Assignee: Dresser-Rand Company (Olean, NY)
• Patent Number(s): 10,012,234
• Application Number: 15/075,400
• OSTI ID: 1461507
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English