Dependence of Gas Transportation in Radial Lip Seals on Oil and Gas

Experimental studies are made on transportation of gas across radial shaft seals. Gas flow rates are determined with gas chromatography. Gas is pumped in, while gas also leaks at about half of the pump rate. The flow rates increase with shaft speed and oil viscosity, though paraffinic mineral oils allow more gas to move than polyalphaolefin of the same viscosity. The rate also depends on gas. These suggest that gas is conveyed by hydrodynamic flow of oil at the seal lip.