Design Features and Performance Details of Brush Seals for Turbine Applications

Abstract

Adaptive and contacting seals such as brush seals have been successfully applied to turbomachinery for several years. In large steam turbine applications, however, various challenges still persist. Special focus is directed at the long-term performance and longevity of brushes on conventional spring-backed seal segments in steam turbines. This issue is particularly related to wear during startup conditions. This paper discusses the results of wear tests, derived from simulated transient turbine behavior, where the resultant seal leakage under steady state conditions is monitored. It is shown that the brush seal is significantly capable of adapting to varying operating conditions, but exhibits a degree of performance degradation during the initial startups. Together with previously reported mid-term wear data and an experience based long-term phenomenological approach a general model for brush seal performance degradation is developed. This model can be used for performance prediction and exerts influence on brush seal design.