Patent ID: 9194424
Filing Date: 2015-11-24
Classification: F01D,F05D,F16C,F16J

Abstract:
1. A circumferential back-to-back seal assembly with bifurcated flow comprising: (a) an annular seal housing disposed between a pair of low pressure compartments, one said low pressure compartment includes a gas, another said low pressure compartment includes a lubricant, said annular seal housing has at least one inlet; (b) a first annular seal ring; (c) a second annular seal ring, said first annular seal ring and said second annular seal ring separately disposed within said annular seal housing, a high pressure gas communicable between said first annular seal ring and said second annular seal ring via said at least one inlet; (d) a rotatable runner, said first annular seal ring and said second annular seal ring disposed around said rotatable runner; and (e) a plurality of groove structures disposed along an outer circumferential surface of said rotatable runner, said high pressure gas communicable onto said groove structures, each said groove structure separates said high pressure gas so that a first portion of said high pressure gas is directed onto said first annular seal ring to form a first thin-film layer between said rotatable runner and said first annular seal