Rotary lip seals help keep turbines running
A
James Walker and Co product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
May 9, 2005
Turbine shaft seals on a hydroelectric scheme at Villeneuve, France have been successfully converted to Walkersele rotary lip seals.
Turbine shaft seals on an EDF hydroelectric scheme at Villeneuve, France have been successfully converted to Walkersele rotary lip seals, using James Walker's patented Walkersele OSJ on-site joining technique.
The new sealing system is more efficient, has a longer working life and is easier to replace.
The bulb-type Alsthom 13MW turbine with 4.4m diameter blades works at an effective pressure head of 13m and river flow of 150m3/s.
Shaft sealing behind the turbine head originally used a balanced spring mechanical seal.
This was backed by a braided seal on the water side working in parallel with a similar seal to prevent oil leakage.
All three seals have been replaced with 780mm ID Walkerseles with a nitrile rubber lip and Aramid reinforced back.
These seals run on a special tungsten carbide-coated shaft sleeve - custom designed for the project - with two innermost seals positioned back-to-back to prevent oil leakage and water ingress at the generator.
Time saving seal installation The split-type sleeve was fitted and accurately balanced without dismantling the assembly.
Three Walkersele OSJ seals were then on-site joined around the shaft in just 2.5h by EDF project manager Frederic Cornaille and Pascal Mandou, Western Region Manager for James Walker France.
"The original sealing system was difficult to keep in good condition, especially in the highly corrosive and abrasive river water", explained Mandou.
"EDF wanted to reduce leakage and improve the working life of its seals".
"We designed a totally new system based on Walkerseles that will seal more efficiently, last longer, and be far easier to replace using our Walkersele OSJ technique".
The three Walkerseles have now run trouble-free at Villeneuve for over 15 months, with the second turbine expected to be converted in 2005.
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