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Compressors place the highest demands on the sealing systems in use. Gear and screw compressors are used in cryogenic plant and air separation equipment, for CO2 compression, and for syntheses in the chemical and petrochemical industries, the oil and gas industries, as well as in power plant technology and in energy recovery. These complex processes, often consisting of multiple stages with strict requirements, present sealing technology with particular challenges. Espey® carbon floating ring seals from EagleBurgmann Espey are designed to meet these challenges, where pressures may rise to 250 bar and where the seals are exposed to toxic and aggressive media. Using a modular system, they are individually customized to the operating parameters of any particular application. The comprehensive range of types contributes to ensuring the reliability and functionality of industrial equipment.
Issue and challenge:
Urea is the most widely used nitrogen fertilizer agent in the world. Urea is manufactured in a synthesis tower at high pressure and high temperature through a process of high-pressure synthesis from liquid ammonia and a gas-water mixture with 88.7 % CO2. This gives rise to synthetic ammonium carbamide. Dehydrating while adding acid and heating, and further processing finally yield a white granulate – the fertilizer. The high pressures required by the process are generated in multi-stage radial integrally geared compressors. Each compressor stage requires a chamber seal with barrier gas and a leakage connection. For reasons of working safety, the highly compressed CO2 must never escape from the process area into the atmosphere.
Solution from EagleBurgmann Espey:
For the eight compressor stages, Espey developed the compact Espey® WKA802HD chamber seal with barrier gas and leakage connections, and with up to eight seal rings in up to three ring groups for pressures of up to 140 bar (2030.53 PSI), temperatures up to 225 °C (437 °F), and rotation speeds of up to about 40,000 rpm. Nitrogen is used as barrier gas. Each of the eight stages has a special version of the Espey® WKA802HD, with different lengths, and with different seal and external diameters. The one-piece bandaged carbon seal rings are axially sprung to help deal with vibrations during the startup and rundown phases of the geared compressor. The seal solution has a long service life, is maintenance-free, and is designed for dry running.
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