| dc.description.abstract | Many pieces of rotating equipment experience oil leaks. Any
piece of equipment with oil fed bearings, such as turbines, motors,
gearboxes, and compressors, are susceptible to oil leaks from the
bearing case seals. Usually these seals are of the labyrinth type and
their designs have remained unchanged for years. Examination of
this seal, the bearing case design, and the lube system can point to
possible causes for leaks. Once it has been determined that system
and installation problems have been addressed, it is time to
evaluate the seal design. This paper presents an introduction to the
causes of oil leaks and some items to consider with the lube
system. Seal installation is covered, along with possible
intermediate fixes and other topics. A more thorough discussion of
the labyrinth oil seal is then included, covering existing design
deficiencies and optimized seal design parameters. Case histories
are presented, illustrating the points covered. | en |
