Aerospace technology applied to oil seals for hydrogen-cooled generators

This paper presents an advanced seal assembly for hydrogen-cooled generators. This new technology helps to reduce oil and hydrogen consumption, improve seal life, and upgrade existing seal technology. These seals have performed well in extensive laboratory testing with full-sized test rigs, and initial applications to in-service turbine generators have been successful. The new seal technology (marketed as Performance Plustrade system) can eliminate the high leakage rates, thus eliminating the need for the large pumps and oil/hydrogen separators