Method and devices for discharging contaminants out of a seal chamber

• Main Author: RAMMY A. SHELLEF
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; Hebrew
• Published: 29.02.2016

A method and an ejection device are provided for discharging contaminants (CNT) out of a seal chamber (28) of a rotating-fluid machine driving a main flow (MFF) of contaminated fluid. The ejection device incorporates an obstacle (46) for arresting a portion of the flow in the seal chamber (28) to stagnation pressure, whereby a zone of fluid at stagnation pressure (ZPS) is created. A discharge passage (48) is disposed in the seal chamber (28) adjacent to a region of concentration of contaminants (CNT) and in the zone of stagnation pressure (ZPS) created by the obstacle (46), whereby contaminants are pumped out via the discharge passage into the main driven flow (MFF). The discharge passage (48) is disposed upstream of the obstacle (46) and provides fluid communication between the seal chamber (28) and a process side of the machine. The method and the ejection device are operative with a machine driving fluid in clockwise direction (CW), in counterclockwise direction (CCW), and in both clockwise and counterclockwise direction.