Mark Edward Burnett

Improved Steam Turbine Leakage Control With A Brush Seal Design.

Brush seal designs offer improved leakage control over conventional labyrinth seals by applying a compliant bristle with very tight clearance over the rotating shaft. Originally developed for the aircraft engine industry, brush seals have also been applied in land-based gas turbines. More recently, brush seals have been applied in steam turbines. The steam turbine environment adds some unique design considerations that must be addressed to assure a robust and effective brush seal design, and to minimize the impact on the steam turbine as a system. This paper discusses the performance benefits of the brush seal and the design considerations important to a robust design in a steam turbine. The paper also addresses the system characteristics important to 33 IMPROVED STEAM TURBINE LEAKAGE CONTROL WITH A BRUSH SEAL DESIGN