Mechanical sealing system and method for rotary machines

摘要

A rotary machine (10) includes a machine rotor (12), a machine stator (14), and a fluid seal (16) disposed between the machine rotor (12) and the machine stator (14). The fluid seal (16) includes a fluid seal stator (18), a fluid seal rotor (20), and an active gap control mechanism (44) coupled to the fluid seal stator (18). The fluid seal (16) is configured to control a gap (22) between the fluid seal stator (18) and the fluid seal rotor (20).