Description
Custom hydro turbine inflatable maintenance seal rings, known as rubber inflatable seal, for hydropower station maintenance, repair and replacement projects. The air band is specified around a stationary turbine shaft or sleeve and its retaining groove. Send the assembly drawing, old seal photographs, shaft diameter and air connection details so Moliseal can review a replacement configuration for your unit.
During an approved maintenance sequence with the turbine shaft stationary, controlled air input expands the retained seal toward the shaft or sleeve to form the temporary maintenance sealing interface.
Before shaft rotation resumes, the seal must be vented and its retracted clearance confirmed according to the turbine maker and plant procedures. Inflation pressure, water-side conditions and control interlocks are defined by the installed assembly.
Replacement of an existing turbine-shaft maintenance air band during a hydropower plant outage.
Repair or refurbishment projects involving the existing main-shaft seal assembly and its maintenance sealing interface.
Custom spare air bands reviewed for the specific turbine unit, housing drawing and site maintenance procedure.
Frequently asked questions
What is a turbine maintenance air band?
In this application, it is the inflatable maintenance seal around a water turbine shaft or sleeve. It is specified for temporary sealing with the shaft stationary during the plant maintenance sequence.
Can Moliseal quote a replacement for an existing air band?
Send the original assembly drawing or a sample, photographs of the old seal, shaft or sleeve diameter, groove dimensions, joint details and air inlet position. The replacement configuration is reviewed against those details before quotation.
Can the maintenance seal stay inflated while the shaft rotates?
The maintenance air band is used with the shaft stationary. Venting, full retraction, running clearance and restart interlocks must follow the turbine maker and plant procedures.
Can the working seal be repaired without dewatering the turbine?
Some turbine seal assemblies use an inflatable maintenance seal for this purpose. Whether it is permitted on your unit depends on the complete assembly, water-side conditions, isolation arrangements and the plant-approved maintenance procedure. Supply those requirements for review.
Which pressure and material should be specified?
Use the original equipment drawing and plant requirements as the starting point. Include the required air supply, water-side pressure, temperature, water quality and any oil exposure so the seal profile and material can be evaluated for that duty.
Is a complete turbine shaft seal assembly included?
The RFQ here concerns the replacement inflatable air band. Housing parts, rotating working seals, valves and control equipment are separate items unless expressly included in the quotation.
