Labyrinth seals

Labyrinth seals are a group of dynamic seals, more precisely radial seals. This kind of shaft seal functions contact-free, which offers numerous advantages and is often used in turbine construction.

We will show you how labyrinth seals can be used in a power plant, how they work and what benefits they bring.

Energy & emissions: Seals that help modernise turbines

Since a power station is a technical plant for generating electricity, increasing energy production is always the big goal. In addition to power generation, however, efforts are always Made to keep CO₂ emissions as low as possible, to extend the service life of the machine parts and to keep maintenance costs low.

These goals can be achieved by modernising various components of the power plant. An effective solution is the optimisation of the turbines. This is where PGS labyrinth seals come in.

Sealed ideally: Labyrinth seals for higher turbine efficiency

Due to their construction on both the fixed and rotating part of the turbine, labyrinth seals work without contact. They are designed for extreme operating conditions such as high rotational speeds, pressures and temperatures.

How labyrinth seals and caulking wires work

The sealing strips are attached as a pair to the stator, i.e. the housing, as well as to the rotating part, the rotor. This allows the narrow gap between the parts to be minimised and energy loss to be reduced. The labyrinth seals are pressed in and held by the caulking wires, which Scansonic PGS supplies individually to fit the respective sealing strips.

The alternating, staggered installation of the sealing strips results in a labyrinth that increases air resistance and thus seals the gap. This increased flow resistance prevents leakage or at least reduces it to a minimum.