SEAL STEAM SYSTEM

         Seal steam system is used to prevent the leakage of the steam from the gland seals. Even though carbon-ring seals and labyrinth seals are installed to minimize the leakage the super heated steam is can leak through small pores present and as the steam is of very high temperature of more than 500 degrees, it is very dangerous to the people working around as the surrounding temperatures raises. If steam leakage takes place, a lot of steam is wasted and the performance of the system is degraded. The LPT (Low pressure turbine) is connected to the condenser where the vacuum is maintained.

           If leakage is present the vacuum will pull the outside air into the system which has different temperatures due to which deformations can take place in the metal areas, also if perfect sealing is not maintained the vacuum present inside will be reduced and if the vacuum is not present, the ability to pull the steam towards the condenser will not be done properly and the steam may get condensed in the LPT area which is not at all desirable which affects the plant performance. The vacuum maintenance is very much important which is why there will be a set point up to which vacuum to be maintained. This is why seal steam is very important in turbine which will seal the glands and avoid any steam leakage and protect the system. The excess seal steam which enters the system will taken care by the leak steam system which moves the excess steam out of system.