Bearing Housing Labyrinth Seal

[FAIZANYOUSUF]

I want to have advise from experts that can gland packing be used in labyrinth passage of labyrinth seal? Gland packing application is mostly used, according to my knowledge, in a condition where either both parts between which sealing is required is stationary or where one part is rotating and other is stationary. In case of latter, minimum allowable gland leakage is permissible whereas the same situation lies in labyrinth seal having gland as a seal element but here leakage cant be permitted? Please elaborate
thanks

 

[JJPellin]

I am not sure I understand the question. So, I will restate the question that I am planning to address. Can braided packing be used to seal a bearing housing in place of the original labyrinth seal? Yes it can, but it is undesirable for a number of reasons. We have a number of old Coppus turbines that use braided packing as the seal for the bearing housings. These are vertical shaft machines with grease lubricated ball bearings. The downside to the use of packing include a certain amount of horsepower drag from the friction of the packing on the rotating shaft. There is also the issue of wear into the shaft or sleeve. I cannot imagine when it would be preferred to use packing rather than a bearing isolator. These are readily available and relatively inexpensive.

Johnny Pellin