Hydrogen Seals

Hydrogen seals are an integral part of cooling the generator and an extremely important link in the safe operation of your equipment. Modern high voltage generators operate with the generator full of nearly 100% pressurized hydrogen. Without oxygen, the hydrogen is not flammable, but with oxygen hydrogen is highly explosive. So it is critical to keep the hydrogen inside the stator and the atmosphere out.

To maintain this balance around a rotating shaft, hydrogen seals form a very small gap between the shaft and a set of spring loaded floating rings. The floating rings are in a casing that is filled with pressurized oil that forces itself between the rings and the shaft, forming a seal to keep the hydrogen in and the atmosphere out.

Proper operation of the seals is dependant on maintaining very close tolerances in the rings and casing. Needless to say, failure of this delicate balance of fits and gaps could be disastrous through the mixing of air and hydrogen inside or outside of the generator.

We inspect hydrogen seals to verify that they are in accordance with OEM design principles. REGENCO has the ability to remedy any deficiencies found. If necessary, replacement seals can be manufactured.