Product category:
Seals
News Release from: James Walker and Co | Subject: Solosele KB Hydro
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 16 February 2006
Sealing blade roots on water turbines
Seal for blade roots of water turbines used in hydroelectric power generation comes in endless form to turbine manufacturers for OEM fitment and in split form for on-site joining when retrofitted.
Solosele KB Hydro has been developed by James Walker to solve sealing problems on the blade roots of Kaplan water turbines used in hydroelectric power generation Field trials on turbines around the world prove that it out-performs and operates significantly better than the multi-lip seals commonly used - especially on worn equipment
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 17 Jun 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
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It is supplied in endless form to turbine manufacturers for OEM fitment, and in split form for swift and simple on-site joining (OSJ) when retrofitted by turbine operators.
The OSJ option combines the performance of a fully moulded seal with the maintenance advantages of a split seal.
It can save days of unnecessary turbine downtime and labour costs as the seal is efficiently joined around the blade root without removing the blade.
The robust elastomeric lip seal is reinforced with an integral anti-extrusion element of rubber-proofed fabric.
The lip profile lets the seal work efficiently for many years on a blade root that rotates out-of-true or runs on worn bearings.
This construction gives low and high pressure sealing capability, especially with a double seal arrangement where negative and fluctuating pressure conditions are handled effectively.
The anti-extrusion element also prevents the seal from stretching and bunching as the blade root rotates, yet is sufficiently flexible for easy fitting.
Product Manager Mark Syer of James Walker said: "A typical blade root sealing arrangement has two Solosele KB Hydro seals fitted back-to-back in the housing".
"This keeps lubricant in the system and prevents the ingress of water and abrasive particles".
"Radial squeeze on the elastomeric body of the seal in its housing ensures that it works efficiently under stationary conditions and during turbine start-up".
The seal's short axial length saves housing space on new turbines.
On older equipment with deeper housings, the seals can be installed with spacer rings to move the lips onto unworn areas of the blade root for smoother and more efficient operation.
Solosele KB Hydro is precision moulded in nitrile elastomer in a range of sections and diameters to fit blade roots up to 1100mm diameter.
Seals above this size can be custom designed and manufactured. Request a free brochure from James Walker and Co ...
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