A magnetic seal system adapted for use within a support structure mounted around a rotatable shaft. The magnetic seal system includes two annular seal assemblies configured to be surrounding the shaft to rotate therewith and be axially displaceable along the shaft. Each annular seal assembly includes an annular member adjacent to an annular seal. The magnetic seal system also includes an annular magnet configured to be sealingly connected to the support structure and surrounding the shaft The magnet being disposed between the two annular seals in a non-contacting relationship with the shaft and biasing the two annular members along the shaft towards the magnet, wherein adjacent contacting surfaces between each of the two annular seals and the magnet biasingly mate to form sealing interfaces.

A magnetic seal system adapted for use between a support structure and a rotatable shaft. The seal system includes a rotating annular seal assembly surrounding the shaft and rotating therewith, which includes an annular seal, and a non-rotating biasing assembly sealingly mounted to the support structure around the shaft and axially engaging the annular seal assembly. The biasing assembly includes an annular magnet unit axially displaceable relative to the shaft and supported surrounding the shaft. The annular magnet unit exerting an attracting force on the annular seal assembly to biasingly displace the annular magnet unit towards the annular seal. A bias member unit is also provided for non-magnetically biasing the annular magnet unit axially relative to the shaft towards the annular seal. Adjacent contacting surfaces between the annular seal and the annular magnet unit biasingly contact one another to form a sealing interface therebetween.

A seal system may include a static housing, a carbon seal positioned in the static housing, a runner having a sealing surface aligned with the carbon seal, a number of electromagnets positioned in the static housing, and a controller circuitry. The controller circuitry may control a variable flow of electric current to control an electromagnetic field respectively generated by each of the electromagnets. The controller circuitry may variably apply the electromagnetic field to move at least one of the carbon seal or the runner and correspondingly adjust an applied force loading of an interface of the carbon seal and the sealing surface of the runner.

A magnetic seal assembly comprises a metallic annular wear seal. A magnetic seal has a magnetic annular body adjacent to and attracting the wear seal into contact against a contact face thereof. A retainer ring is connected to a surface to the magnetic seal, the retainer ring having a coefficient of thermal expansion different than a coefficient of thermal expansion of the annular body, the coefficient of thermal expansion of the retainer ring selected to constrain a thermal expansion of the annular body. A method for controlling a thermal expansion of a magnetic seal assembly is also provided.

A system and method for monitoring a dry gas seal positionable between a stationary housing and a rotatable shaft. A plurality of sense elements may rotate in response to the rotation of the rotatable shaft and a speed sensor may sense the speed of the rotatable shaft at speeds below one thousand rotations per minute based on sensing the plurality of sense elements. A processor may receive output signals from the speed sensor and may establish a position of the dry gas seal or an operating condition of the dry gas seal based on the signal from the speed sensor.

A system and method for monitoring a dry gas seal positionable between a stationary housing and a rotatable shaft. A plurality of sense elements may rotate in response to the rotation of the rotatable shaft and a speed sensor may sense the speed of the rotatable shaft at speeds below one thousand rotations per minute based on sensing the plurality of sense elements. An acoustic emissions sensor may sense when a first seal face and a second seal face forming a seal interface of the dry gas seal are in an operational condition relative to one another. A processor may receive output signals from the speed sensor and the acoustic emissions sensor, and may establish an operating condition of the dry gas seal based on the signal from the speed sensor when the first seal face and the second seal face reach the operational condition relative to one another.

A seal system may include a static housing, a carbon seal positioned in the static housing, a runner having a sealing surface aligned with the carbon seal, a number of electromagnets positioned in the static housing, and a controller circuitry. The controller circuitry may control a variable flow of electric current to control an electromagnetic field respectively generated by each of the electromagnets. The controller circuitry may variably apply the electromagnetic field to move at least one of the carbon seal or the runner and correspondingly adjust an applied force loading of an interface of the carbon seal and the sealing surface of the runner.

The rotary face seal with magnet loading replaces known spring mechanisms with magnetic technology that provides a consistent load with minimal variation, which is not affected by natural frequency and material fatigue due to cyclic loading. This improves seal performance and service life. The tubular magnetic ring is advantageous because it replaces existing seals within stationary cartridge with a puller type magnetic assembly design that results with the stationary cartridges being an exact exchange. The use of magnetic technology attached to the outside diameter of the rotating mating ring, which is attached to the shaft, that does not produce eddy currents because it is of a single pole configuration. The single pole magnetic assembly design is achieved by either axial or radial magnet orientation, such as in the form of a tubular magnetic band locating in a circumferential notch in the rotating mating ring.

A system and method for monitoring a dry gas seal positionable between a stationary housing and a rotatable shaft. A plurality of sense elements may rotate in response to the rotation of the rotatable shaft and a speed sensor may sense the speed of the rotatable shaft at speeds below one thousand rotations per minute based on sensing the plurality of sense elements. An acoustic emissions sensor may sense when a first seal face and a second seal face forming a seal interface of the dry gas seal are in an operational condition relative to one another. A processor may receive output signals from the speed sensor and the acoustic emissions sensor, and may establish an operating condition of the dry gas seal based on the signal from the speed sensor when the first seal face and the second seal face reach the operational condition relative to one another.

A system and method for monitoring a dry gas seal positionable between a stationary housing and a rotatable shaft. A plurality of sense elements may rotate in response to the rotation of the rotatable shaft and a speed sensor may sense the speed of the rotatable shaft at speeds below one thousand rotations per minute based on sensing the plurality of sense elements. An acoustic emissions sensor may sense when a first seal face and a second seal face forming a seal interface of the dry gas seal are in an operational condition relative to one another. A processor may receive output signals from the speed sensor and the acoustic emissions sensor, and may establish an operating condition of the dry gas seal based on the signal from the speed sensor when the first seal face and the second seal face reach the operational condition relative to one another.