Within the oil and gas industry, the rotating shafts of equipment—such as pumps, motors, compressors, gearboxes and turbines—perform an essential function in both upstream and downstream applications. This rotating equipment ensures process flow and the safety of employees and the surrounding community. Bearings are critical to the reliability of rotating equipment. If they fail, the equipment has to be repaired or replaced. Because they support the shaft, bearings are prone to wear and damage. Lubrication starvation and contamination are the principal factors that cause premature bearing failure, so systems have been developed to prevent these issues. Methods for sealing the gap between a rotating shaft and the stationary bore have evolved with advances in lubrication and lubrication delivery systems. Selecting the right seal for a lubrication system will yield the best bearing protection. Lip seals and labyrinth seals, also known as bearing isolators, are the most common solutions. Lip seals are unidirectional contact type seals. Their geometry is important for maintaining an optimal radial load on the shaft to develop a meniscus of oil on which the lip can ride, which reduces friction and wear on the shaft and lip (see Figure 1). Depending on the direction of the installed seal, it will either prevent egress of lubrication or ingress of contamination (see Figure 2).
Lip and labyrinth seals provide protection in harsh oil and gas applications.
08/22/2014
Figure 1. Formation of meniscus of oil under the lip (Article graphics courtesy of Garlock Sealing Technologies.)
Figure 2. Direction determines lubricant retention or contaminant exclusion
Bearing isolators are non-contact seals that provide bidirectional sealing capability. Their construction includes two components that rotate independently of each other. The stator remains with the bore, and the rotor rotates with the shaft. Between the stator and rotor is the labyrinth—a small, contorted pathway that prevents the egress of lubrication and ingress of contaminants at the same time (see Figure 3).
Figure 3. Components of a bearing isolator with the labyrinth pathway highlighted in yellow
Figure 4. Custom bearing isolator with purge stream
Operating temperature is an important consideration when selecting lip seal material. Because grease does not dissipate heat as well as oil, adding another 100 degrees Fahrenheit to the operating temperature is recommended to ensure that the material can withstand the heat.
Bearing isolators are also suitable for use with grease lubrication. They can retain grease within the bearing chamber even during purging. Because of the consistency of grease, the level of lubrication is not a concern. Bearing isolators are customizable. If the equipment does not have a grease discharge port or if the port is obstructed, a special bearing isolator can be designed to purge the grease through the isolator itself (see Figure 4).
Figure 5. Hybrid bearing isolator with contact points within the labyrinth to retain oil mist or a full head of lubrication in flooded condition
Lip seals are not recommended because the mist may not be conducive to the formation of an oil meniscus under the lip, resulting in friction and heat that will groove the shaft and damage the seal. Specifically, API 610, 11th Edition, Paragraph 6.10.2.6 states that lip-type seals shall not be used with oil mist systems or any other type lubrication system in API pumps.
The same paragraph stipulates that labyrinth- or magnetic-type end shields should be used. Magnetic-type seals work like face-type mechanical seals. Two smooth faces, lapped within two light bands are mated. Force is applied across the faces either by springs or magnets. The face material could be bronze, carbon or ceramic depending on the application temperature, since the seal generates
additional heat as the two faces rub against one another.
Labyrinth seals, such as bearing isolators, could be used, but without modification or additional features, they cannot hold back the pressurized oil mist. One way to combat this is the addition of a mechanism to block the pathway to the environment. This could be an O-ring, felt or a molded polytetrafluoroethylene ring in different cross-sections. These rings are strategically placed along the labyrinth and typically have frictional contact with either the isolator or the shaft.
Recent advances in bearing isolators include the ability to be used in submerged or flooded conditions. These hybrid bearing isolators combine the benefits of a non-contact, labyrinth-type seal and a contact-type seal to hold a full head of lubrication (see Figure 5). This makes them suitable for use in oil mist applications to prevent the mist from migrating into the atmosphere. Operators should note that these hybrid bearing isolators could be made of steel, which is a sparking material.