Rotor seals (shaft seals) are used for sealing rotating parts, whether these are rotating shafts or rotating cases. They prevent particles of dust and dirt from entering the inside. The seals also ensure that no liquids, such as gear oil or gases, leak out. The most suitable rotor seal is determined by the amount of dirt, the space requirements or the speed of rotation.
Guide blades are components used in gas and steam turbines. They form the inside casing and are embedded in the bars of the outside casing. Their task is to guide the working substances onto the rotor blades. Guide blade (or guide vane) carrier seals have various different functions: They minimise the loss of cooling air between the guide blades and in the individual blade segments, to prevent these from overheating. The seal also absorbs the blade vibrations to enable the turbine to run constantly. Therefore, the guide vane carrier seals have to be resistant to high fluctuations in temperature and also be elastic.
Rotor blades in gas and steam turbines serve to couple the mechanical power transmission between the machine and gas or liquid. They are subjected to significant pressures, such as high operating temperatures and tension in radial direction, or even vibration loads. Seals help to achieve minimum flow loss and counteract cooling air leakage.
The gland seal, specifically a rotary seal, is dynamic. Historically, it is the oldest type of shaft seal. Gland seals dissipate frictional heat and protect a rotating shaft or a bar, which is moving backwards and forwards, against the entry of liquids or gases. Gland seals always have a certain amount of leakage. They are made up of the actual seal itself, the gland packing and the sleeve. The significant advantage of the gland seal is that the gland is sealed anew during operation.