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Labyrinth Compressor

The document discusses labyrinth compressors, which use labyrinth seals between the piston and cylinder wall to compress gases without contact. Labyrinth seals create a tortuous path through numerous tiny throttling points that transform pressure into kinetic energy, preventing gas leakage. Labyrinth compressors are well-suited for compressing clean, dry gases as they generate no friction heat or particles. The pistons move within the cylinders without touching via the labyrinth effect of multiple seals, providing maintenance-free compression of various gases.

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307 views

Labyrinth Compressor

The document discusses labyrinth compressors, which use labyrinth seals between the piston and cylinder wall to compress gases without contact. Labyrinth seals create a tortuous path through numerous tiny throttling points that transform pressure into kinetic energy, preventing gas leakage. Labyrinth compressors are well-suited for compressing clean, dry gases as they generate no friction heat or particles. The pistons move within the cylinders without touching via the labyrinth effect of multiple seals, providing maintenance-free compression of various gases.

Uploaded by

sandesh
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Leak test of Recip.

Compressor Distance Piece

LABYRINTH RECIPROCATING COMPRESSOR


INTRODCUTION

History:
 First introduced by M/s Burckhardt Compression in 1935

What is unique about Labyrinth compressor?


It is vertical inline compressor in which piston does not come in contact with cylinder and has following
two unique features:

Labyrinth Sealing – for Contactless, Oil-free Compression


 The unique technology is applied between the piston and the cylinder wall and between the piston rod
gland and the piston rod. The labyrinth sealing effect is created by numerous tiny throttling points. At
each of these throttling points, pressure energy is transformed into kinetic energy as a result of the flow
restriction. The process continues at each throttling point/volume chamber combination along the
piston and piston rod gland until the required reduction in pressure is attained. A small clearance
volume is maintained between the adjoining surfaces. The low level amount of gas passing through the
sealing system is recovered internally.

Separation of Sealing and Guiding Elements – for Lowest Wear and Lowest Maintenance
 The strict separation of the lubricated guiding elements in the crank gear from the contactless sealing
elements of the piston and piston rod is essential for the functionality and efficiency of the compressor.
The oil scraper rings, located close to the guide bearing, ensure the most efficient removal of oil from
the piston rod. Lubricating oil is prevented from entering the compression room.

What is labyrinth seal:


 A labyrinth seal is a type of mechanical seal that provides a tortuous path to help prevent leakage. An
example of such a seal is sometimes found within an axle's bearing to help prevent the leakage of the oil
lubricating the bearing.

How does labyrinth seal works:


 A labyrinth seal may be composed of many grooves that press tightly inside another axle, or inside a
hole, so that the fluid has to pass through a long and difficult path to escape. Sometimes screw
threads exist on the outer and inner portion. These interlock, to produce the long characteristic path
which slows leakage. For labyrinth seals on a rotating shaft, a very small clearance must exist between
the tips of the labyrinth threads and the running surface. The "teeth" of the labyrinth seal may be on the
rotating shaft (Teeth On Rotor - TOR) or on the stator (TOS), or both, in an interlocking configuration.

Application of labyrinth seal:


1) Labyrinth seals on rotating shafts provide non-contact sealing action by controlling the passage of fluid
through a variety of chambers by centrifugal motion, as well as by the formation of controlled fluid
vortices. At higher speeds, centrifugal motion forces the liquid towards the outside and therefore away
from any passages. Similarly, if the labyrinth chambers are correctly designed, any liquid that has
escaped the main chamber becomes entrapped in a labyrinth chamber, where it is forced into a vortex-
like motion. This acts to prevent its escape, and also acts to repel any other fluid. Because these
labyrinth seals are non-contact, they do not wear out.
2) Many gas turbine engines, having high rotational speeds, use labyrinth seals due to their lack of friction
and long life. Because liquid-filled labyrinth seals still generate heat due to the viscosity of the seal oil,
and because seal oil can contaminate the process fluids, modern high-performance gas turbines use dry
gas seals which use spring-loaded rings with an inert gas in between the faces of the rings to provide the
seal. This creates even lower friction and provides a liquid-free seal.[2] However, such engines often
have detectable oil leakage into the compression chamber.[3] Indeed, many gas turbine engine seals
leak by design.[4]
3) Labyrinth seals are also found on pistons, which use them to store oil and seal against high pressure
during compression and power strokes, as well as on other non-rotating shafts. In these applications, it
is the long and difficult path and the formation of controlled fluid vortices plus some limited contact-
sealing action that creates the seal.

Cross sectional View

How labyrinth pistion looks and works:

Labyrinth Effect:
 Labyrinth Piston is an assemblage type piston on which periphery many Labyrinths are treated, and
keeps airtight condition by Labyrinth Effect.
 The piston is designed in the most suited Labyrinth shape and reciprocates keeping the minimum gas
between cylinder and piston.
 Labyrinth Piston Type Compressor is designed to be airtight construction with Labyrinth effect and the
gas with normal specifications can be compressed at completely dried condition.
 Therefore, this type compressor is most suited for handling such gases as complete dried gases (N2 etc.),
combustible gases liable to be ignited by heat created by friction (O2 etc.) and other gases (recycled
gases at the poly-olefin plant) liable to be mixed with mist, dust and etc.

Features of Labyrinth Piston type compressor:


 [Oil free]
Labyrinth piston type compressor is complete oil free type, which is most suited for handling clean gases
and complete dried gases. General oil free type compressors with PTFE made piston rings create small
particles in gas stream due to friction between piston rings and cylinder wall. Oil free type compressor
with Labyrinth Piston creates no such small particles

 [No heat created by friction]


Labyrinth piston type compressor is most suited for handling combustible gases (O2 etc.) liable to be
ignited by heat created by friction. Numerous JSW Labyrinth Piston Type compressors displayed
excellent performances with high safety appraisal in the fields of air separation plant in all over the
world.

 [No effect by small objects]


Labyrinth piston type compressor is most suited for handling recycled gases at the Poly-olefin plant
liable to be mixed with mist, dust and etc. Small powders and catalysts in recycled gases go through
between piston and cylinder. Therefore, piston has no abnormal friction.

 [Maintenance-free]
Labyrinth piston type compressor is most suited for a continuous long time operation. Labyrinth piston
has a long lifetime, and its maintenance cost is low compared with piston ring that must be replaced
periodically due to continuous wear. 

 Therefore, JSW Labyrinth Piston Type Compressor is applied to the various fields of industries. 
- Petrochemical industries, Chemical industries, Oil refinery, Air separation plant, Synthetic gases,
Liquefied gases tank yard 
- Iron and steel industries, Fertilizer industries, Food industries

Application of labyrinth compressor:


Following gases can be compressed using Labyrinth compressor-
 -Ammonia-Argon-Carbon dioxide- Carbon monoxide- Chlorine- Dust laden gases- Hydrocarbon gases-
LPG BOG, LNG BOG- Mixed gases- Nitrogen- Oxygen- Process air- Refrigerants- VCM (Vinyl Chloride
Monomer)

Advantages of using labyrinth compressor:

 Less wear and tear


 Longer life
 Low Maintenance
 Quick Start
 No preheating or pre cooling of compressor is required.

Concluded.

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