Where is the steam seal sleeve located on a steam turbine?

The turbine steam seal assembly acts as the "gatekeeper" of the steam system, firmly positioned at the critical interface between the rotor and the stator. Specifically:

High-Pressure End: Sits snugly against the inner wall of the cylinder, encircling the high-speed rotating rotor journal.

Low-Pressure End: Located within the annular cavity situated between the diaphragm and the impeller.

Key Characteristics: Composed of multiple sets of serrated metal rings, with a precise clearance of 0.2–0.5 mm maintained between the rings.

These seemingly simple metal rings are, in reality, sophisticated masters of sealing:

Labyrinth Effect: As steam repeatedly expands and undergoes pressure reduction within the serrated gaps, its flow velocity gradually attenuates.

Aerodynamic Sealing: The high-velocity steam generates a vortex barrier that effectively prevents leakage from the main flow.

Thermal Expansion Compensation: Constructed from specialized alloy materials, the assembly automatically adjusts the clearance dimensions in response to temperature fluctuations.