Gland Sealing System

Gland seal systems very important to main and auxiliary turbines. Turbine shafts must exit their casings in order to couple up or connect with the unit that the turbines drive (reduction gears, pumps, etc.) The main and auxiliary gland seal systems enable the turbine to be sealed where the shaft exits the casing; in effect keeping "air out and steam in." The purpose of gland seal system is to prevent the leakage of air from the atmosphere into turbine casings and prevent the escape of steam from turbine casings into the atmosphere. The gland sealing system provides low pressure steam to the turbine gland in the final sets of labyrinth packing. This assists the labyrinth packing in sealing the turbine to prevent the entrance of air into the turbine, which would reduce or destroy the vacuum in the associated condenser. Excess pressure (excess gland seal) is removed by the gland seal unloader. Since there are times when steam escapes from the seals, a gland exhaust system is provided.