YK and YT Centrifugal Compressor Shaft Seal e-Learning Course

Mechanical seals play an important role in industrial processes and can be found in many
commercial applications. Seals are used in the automotive, pharmaceutical, chemical, mining,
power generation, oil and gas, pulp and paper, food and beverage, water systems, and
refrigeration compression industries.
In this training, we will provide a comprehensive guide for the shaft seals used in the YORK opendrive YK and YT centrifugal chillers. You will learn about the benefits of the open-drive chiller
design, the development of the latest generation of YORK shaft seals, and some important seal
maintenance tips. In the last section, you will learn about shaft seal removal and installation
through a video assisted instructional format.
After completing this course you will be able to:
Describe the benefits of the YORK open-drive chillers.
Describe the issues that led to the development of the bellows type YK and YT shaft seal.
Identify the different versions of shaft seals utilized in recent designs of YORK single stage
centrifugal compressors.
Describe important procedures to be followed for proper seal maintenance.
And remove and install a shaft seal.
YORK is the only manufacturer providing open-drive chillers to the air-conditioning and
refrigeration market today. All other manufacturers provide hermetic-drive chillers, which enclose
the motor inside the chiller and surround the motor windings with refrigerant.
Open-drive chillers such as the YORK YK and YT offer several benefits over competitive
hermetic-drive designs. These benefits include:
Ease-of-use by allowing easier, less expensive chiller refrigerant conversions - The opendrive motor windings do not come in contact with the refrigerant, eliminating compatibility issues
when converting the chiller to alternative refrigerants. The hermetic motor windings, in contrast,
are surrounded by refrigerant, raising compatibility issues when converting to a new refrigerant.
Flexibility in drive types that includes electric, steam-turbine, and gas-engine applications
The hermetic design, in contrast, supports only an electric motor drive.
Lower energy costs by having air cooled motors - In an open-drive design, no chiller energy
is used to cool the motor. Hermetic motors, in contrast, must be cooled by the refrigerant in the
chiller.
Lower maintenance costs - Open-drive motors, if necessary, can be repaired at a local repair
facility. Hermetic motors, in contrast, must be returned to the motor manufacturer, increasing
costs and extending chiller downtime.
In addition, open-drive motor burnouts do not require system cleanup. Hermetic motor burnouts
however, foul the entire chiller system, incurring significant cleanup costs and downtime.

YK and YT Centrifugal Compressor Shaft Seal e-Learning Course

Although the open-drive compressor provides many benefits, the design is dependant upon the
crucial shaft seal component. Without superior shaft-seal technology, the industry would be left
with only hermetic-drive compressor designs and their inherent limitations.
Basically, the open-drive shaft seal is responsible for maintaining a seal between the refrigerant
inside of the open-drive compressor and the outside air. This seal prevents high-pressure chillers
like the YK from leaking refrigerant to the atmosphere and low-pressure chillers like the YT from
allowing air and moisture to mix with refrigerant inside the chiller. A good seal eliminates leaks in
either direction.
In the early 1990s, the discovery of potential CFC induced damage to the worlds ozone layer
brought governmental regulations and new non-CFC refrigerants to the industry. A new chiller
design, the high-pressure YK, was introduced by YORK to utilize two of these refrigerants, R-22
and R-134a. The field proven YT carbon shaft seal technology was utilized to design a new
double-faced seal for the YK chiller. Initial tests indicated the seal and lubricants worked well but
limitations in the seal design began to be recognized in the field.
These limitations included:
Carbon blistering or spalling of the seal faces due to heat and pressure.
Varnishing, or a breakdown of the lubricating oil on the seal face into a varnish-like residue.
Varnish build-up occurred when seal face temperatures became excessive.
Copper buildup on the seal faces. The chemical characteristics of the new lubricants freed copper
ions from the copper components in the system and the carbon seal faces became
electrostatically charged. This charge attracted the copper ions which were then deposited onto
the carbon seal face.
And finally, O-ring or elastomer deterioration and rupture.
The carbon seals dynamic O-ring moved with its mating component and was proven effective
with CFC refrigerants under the low-pressure conditions of the YT chiller. The new non-CFC
refrigerants and lubricants coupled with the high-pressure conditions of the YK chiller, caused the
O-ring to swell and occasionally shred.
In the mid 1990s, silicon carbide, an alternative material for carbon was designed into the next
generation of YK shaft seals. Silicon carbide had excellent tribological or friction and wear
properties, and worked well with lubricating fluids. The material was electrically inert and
nonconductive, reducing the possibility of attracting copper ions by becoming electrostatically
charged.
Silicon carbide had high thermal conductivity, allowing it to transfer heat away from the seal
surface efficiently. It was also quite dense with no porosity, thereby preventing absorption of
refrigerant and oil. This density eliminated the blistering or spalling effects seen in the carbon
seal.
An investigation into better O-ring materials led to a complete redesign of the entire YK seal
configuration. The dynamic sealing O-ring was replaced with a high-tech metal bellows design.
In the metal bellows design, a version of the seal utilized a static shaft sleeve O-ring to grip the
shaft while the metal bellows accommodated the axial movement of the seal. Another version of
the seal, designed for the larger models of the YK chiller, utilized a static shaft sleeve C-ring to
grip the shaft.
PTFE or Teflon C-rings were similar in application to O-rings and widely used by the aerospace
industries.

YK and YT Centrifugal Compressor Shaft Seal e-Learning Course

Utilizing C-rings in the new design had several benefits.
C-rings:
Were inert to oil and refrigerant absorption.
Had a high working temperature of 575 degrees Fahrenheit.
Had excellent mechanical properties and superior compatibility with new refrigerants and
lubricants.
While the old YK carbon seals had a number of parts to assemble in the field, the components of
the new YK shaft seals are pre-assembled in a single cartridge. This not only ensures proper
assembly, but also streamlines the replacement procedures in the field.
Beginning in 2001, YT compressor shaft seals were also redesigned to improve reliability. The
new YT shaft seal is much smaller in size to the YK, is not pre-assembled in a cartridge, and has
several parts which are to be assembled in the field. The low-pressure conditions of the YT
compressor, coupled with the non-CFC R123 refrigerant and a single seal face, did not
necessitate as many changes as were designed into the new YK seal.
For instance, the carbon seal face on the low-pressure YT had not experienced the varnishing,
blistering, and copper buildup issues that were present with the high-pressure YK. This lead to
the carbon seal face being retained in the new YT seal design.
The primary improvement to the YT seal, replaced the seal spring with a metal bellows. Because
of this modification, first-time replacements required a new cover plate to properly anchor the new
bellows part of the seal. The result of the YK and YT seal design modifications was a new
generation of more reliable shaft seals.
Like the first generation of seals, todays YK and YT seals are oil flooded wet seals. The seals
use oil from the compressor lubrication circuit to create and maintain a fluid film over the seal
face. The oil not only provides a barrier between the refrigerant and the outside air but also
lubricates and cools the face of the seal.
The shaft seal cavity is designed to maintain greater than a one-half chamber full of oil. The oil
drain out of the seal, vents internally and is located at the top of the chamber. During shutdown,
the location of the oil drain keeps the shaft seal oil flooded at all times. In addition, the newer YK
chiller models automatically activate the oil pump every twenty-four hours to further ensure that
the seal remains oil flooded.
Now that we have learned about the new generation of shaft seals, it is important to have a better
understanding of the operating differences between the YT and YK.
The YT is a low-pressure chiller that operates with the compressor suction in a vacuum. The
vacuum created is well below atmospheric pressure, with the shaft seal cavity operating in
approximately the same vacuum. As such, it is necessary to regulate the shaft seal cavity to a
pressure above atmospheric pressure in order to prevent leakage of air or moisture into the
compressor. Setting the shaft seal pressure to between 3 and 5 PSIG is critical to maintaining a
properly functioning seal. This is accomplished by utilizing the shaft seal pressure regulator
located on the face of the YT compressor.
If the seal pressure is set too low, air and other non-condensables could enter the chiller.
Conversely, if the seal pressure is set too high, the excessive pressure will cause the load on the
seal face to increase. The seal will subsequently overheat and possibly lead to seal failure.
In contrast, the YK is a high-pressure chiller that operates with the compressor suction at
pressures well above atmospheric pressure. The shaft seal cavity of the YK operates at a high
pressure which is approximately suction pressure plus net oil pressure or delta P. Since the YK
chiller operates at pressures above atmospheric pressure, a pressure regulator valve is not
required on the compressor.

YK and YT Centrifugal Compressor Shaft Seal e-Learning Course

Shaft seal oil loss is a concern of most customers as well as service personnel. Understanding
the shaft seal design can help ease most of these concerns and enable service personnel to
make informed decisions in the field.
The wet seal design of the YK and the YT compressor, surrounds the seal with oil and
maintains a film of oil over the seal surface. It is important to realize that oil loss is inherent in the
design and is expected to take place. The proper determination of when oil loss is acceptable and
when it has become excessive, is key to good seal maintenance.
Every seal has unique operating characteristics and will vary in what is considered to be normal
oil loss. One seal may regularly lose 100 milliliters of oil every 14 days while another may
regularly lose 250 milliliters in a 14 day period. Although the oil loss rates are very different, the
amount of oil loss is perfectly normal for each seal.
YORK recommends checking, measuring and recording the oil loss on a regular basis. For proper
measurement, contents of the oil catch bottle should be poured into a graduated beaker and
recorded by date. This measurement, over time, will establish the normal oil loss rate for the seal.
Any dramatic increase from the normal oil loss rate would be cause for further investigation.
When beginning an investigation into seal oil loss, it is important to know if the seal has been
recently installed. YORK has compiled data that statistically displays that a break-in period of
1000 operating hours should be observed for the YK compressor. The silicon carbide seal face
material is very hard and requires a longer break-in period than the old carbon seal. Should high
oil loss occur during the first 1000 hours of compressor operation, including oil loss amounts of
one full catch bottle or 750 milliliters in 14 days, it is recommended that monitoring continue until
after the break-in period.
Similarly, a break-in period of 300 operating hours should be observed for the YT compressor
shaft seal.
After the break-in period, if the oil loss rate remains higher than 250 milliliters in 14 days, the
cause of the oil loss should be investigated.
To begin the investigation, first review the chiller operating data to help identify possible areas of
concern. An improperly functioning oil cooler, high or low oil pressure, high oil supply
temperatures, as well as operating the compressor in non-design conditions such as surge, can
all affect seal oil loss.
Next, identify the leak path by following these steps:
If the YK compressor has a motor adapter or D flange, observe if there is an excessive amount of
oil inside the motor adapter or on the outside of the drain tube. This would indicate that the oil
loss is coming from either the shaft sleeve C-ring or O-ring, or possibly the shaft seal flange-tohousing O-ring. In most cases, the C-ring or O-ring requires replacement rather than replacing
the entire seal cartridge.
If excessive seal oil is not collecting inside the motor adapter, or it is a compressor model without
a motor adapter and has a dirty coupling guard or seal face, check these items:
Verify that the oil cooler is functioning properly.
Verify the proper operation of the AMOT valve, or with YK style F chillers, check the thermal
expansion valve. These valves control the operating oil temperature.

YK and YT Centrifugal Compressor Shaft Seal e-Learning Course

Verify the chiller is operating within design parameters. High head, light loads, and fouled
condenser tubes may result in compressor surge conditions, possibly contributing to oil loss.
Verify the oil supply temperature to the compressor is within a range of 100 degrees Fahrenheit
to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
As we have learned in the previous section, monitoring shaft seal oil loss is very helpful in
determining and maintaining good seal health. However, monitoring oil loss is only one dimension
of shaft seal failure prevention. Being knowledgeable about the most common causes of seal
failure can aid in determining proper preventative maintenance. The six most common causes of
seal failure are:
Consistently high oil supply temperatures over established oil temperature norms.
The presence of non-condensable contaminants in the system.
Surging or dramatic fluctuations of the pressure differential between the evaporator and
condenser.
Kinked oil lines.
Using oil other than YORK approved oil.
And using oil additives.
Now that you are aware of some common causes of seal failure, we will discuss how to
determine if a seal has, in fact, failed. First, if a seal is suspected to have failed, do not use a
refrigerant Leak Detector to verify failure. Leak Detectors are not reliable on YORK
compressors and will consistently indicate refrigerant leakage around any YORK shaft seal. The
wet seal technology exposes the oil to the refrigerant and minute quantities of the refrigerant
become absorbed into the oil. Subsequently, the oil loss through the seal will contain refrigerant
which can be identified by the Leak Detector.

An extreme loss of seal oil almost always follows a shaft seal failure. This is due to the inability of
the failed seal to contain the surrounding oil. We have learned however, that high oil loss does
not always precede seal failure and can normally take place during the seal break-in period. High
oil loss can also be a unique operating characteristic of some seals.
YORK has therefore provided a standard guideline for seal replacement based on seal oil loss.
After the shaft seal break-in period, an oil loss rate of 750 milliliters or more within 14 days is
considered the signal to schedule replacement of the seal.
Immediate replacement is rarely necessary and the chiller can operate satisfactorily until it is
convenient to replace the seal.
Please note that 750 milliliters is equivalent to filling the YORK supplied catch bottle.
When replacing YK shaft seals, it is important to know that several different designs of YK shaft
seals may be found in the field.
Original design compressors prior to May 1998 used a carbon shaft seal cartridge. May 1998 and
after, compressors were equipped with the new bellows type shaft seal cartridge.

YK and YT Centrifugal Compressor Shaft Seal e-Learning Course

The bellows type shaft seal has three separate cartridge types for different YK compressor
models.
The Type I bellows shaft seal, shown here, can be identified by a straight edge or slight v-cut at
the top of the seal cover plate and features an external oil supply inlet.
The Type II bellows shaft seal can be identified by a round cover plate and an external oil supply
inlet.
The Type III bellows shaft seal also has a round cover plate but does not have an external oil
supply inlet. The oil supply inlet is internal between the seal and the rotor support housing.
It is important that the proper seal type is selected for installation. When installing a seal, always
verify the seal product code on the seal cover plate and match to the recommended seal product
code for that compressor model.
Prior to removal of the shaft seal, two important procedures must be followed.
First, follow standard safety procedures and be sure to tag-out and lock-out the main breaker
before working on the chiller.
Second, before opening any part of the compressor, remove and secure the refrigerant. Verify the
compressor is pumped down to zero pressure by observing zero on the pressure gauge.
To gain access to the shaft seal, several steps must be followed. First, the compressor coupling
must be removed. Before proceeding, you must determine the proper model. There are two
models, the open-drive and close-coupled. Proceed once the proper model has been determined.
The differences in compressor coupling removal procedures for the two models are minor.
For open-drive models:
Remove the coupling guard.
For close-coupled models:
Remove the hex head cap screws that hold the sheet metal cover to the compressor motor
adapter and remove the cover.
Then remove the internal coupling guard.
Please note that the coupling guard is fastened to the compressor with four hex head cap screws.
Remove the bolts holding the coupling hubs to the coupling spool and the disc packs. Be sure to
note the arrangement of these parts for assembly later. Marking the position of the coupling hubs
and disc packs by taking a grease pencil and drawing a straight line across the assembly can be
very helpful.
Remove the coupling spool and disc packs.
Once the compressor coupling has been removed, the next step is to remove the compressor
coupling hub from the compressor shaft.
After the compressor coupling has been removed, the shaft seal can be accessed. The existence
of several versions of the YK shaft seal requires removal and installation instructions for each
version.
The following procedures apply to the removal of the obsolete YK carbon shaft seal:
Locate the oil supply and drain lines and remove them from the shaft seal cover plate.

YK and YT Centrifugal Compressor Shaft Seal e-Learning Course

Remove the eight hex cap screws holding the cover plate to the rotor support housing and
remove the plate. Please be aware that the stationary carbon seal will remain attached to the
cover plate as it is removed.
Locate the snap ring and remove.
Once the snap ring is removed, slide the sleeve off the shaft.
At this point, the carbon seal assembly can be removed from the cover plate as one unit, keeping
the assembly intact.
Locate two puller rods in your compressor tool kit. Note that the puller rods may be referred to
as guide pins.
Screw the puller rods into the tapped puller rod holes on either side of the seal collar.
Grab the puller rods and pull. The seal collar will slide off the shaft.
Note that if the seal collar does not move, locate the bar tool and two hex nuts in your
compressor tool kit. Push the bar tool ends over each puller rod and slide down to the shaft.
Place a hex nut onto each puller rod and rotate the hex nuts down to the bar tool and tighten.
Continue to tighten. The seal collar will slide off the shaft.
Now lets take a look at the removal of the YK bellows type shaft seal cartridge. For
demonstration purposes, removal procedures for the Type I bellows shaft seal will be discussed
in this section. Except for a few minor differences, the Type II and Type III models follow the
same procedures.
Locate the oil supply and drain lines and remove them from the shaft seal cover plate. Note that
the Type III YK shaft seal will not have an external oil supply line.
Locate the set screws and rotate the shaft so that a set screw is at the top 12 Oclock position,
and the bottom 6 Oclock position.
Loosen the two set screws approximately two turns and rotate the shaft so that the set screws
appear in the inner notches of the two retaining clips.
Remove the flathead screws that attach the retaining clips to the cover plate. Move the retaining
clips into the installation position and re-attach the clips with the flathead screws. Be sure the
clips are fully inserted into the collar grooves. The retaining clips protect the internal components
of the seal from harm and ensure proper positioning during installation and removal.
Loosen the four remaining set screws approximately two turns.
Now, remove the hex head screws found approximately in the 10 Oclock and 2 Oclock positions
on the seal cover plate. These hex head screws hold the shaft seal to the rotor support housing.
Note that the hex screw positions change slightly based on the bellows seal type.
Locate two 3/8 guide pins in the compressor tool kit and screw them into the empty hex head
screw holes.
Remove the remaining six hex head screws that hold the shaft seal to the rotor support housing.
Grab the seal cover flange-to-housing plate and carefully pull the seal assembly away from the
rotor support housing. The seal will slide out along the guide pins, preventing any damage to the
shaft or seal.
In most cases the shaft seal cover flange-to-housing O-ring adheres to the seal assembly and is
removed with the assembly. If the O-ring is still present in the rotor support housing, remove the
O-ring.
If the seal is not going to be immediately replaced, remove the two guide pins.
Finally, on the HA, HB, HC, HH, and HG style compressors, remove the C-ring and sleeve spacer
from the shaft.

YK and YT Centrifugal Compressor Shaft Seal e-Learning Course

For warranty credit, YORK requires that all failed YK shaft seal cartridges be returned with a
completed YK Shaft Seal Return Information Sheet. You may call YORK Product Technical
Support at 717-771-7810 to obtain a copy of the YK Shaft Seal Return Information Sheet.
Return to:
John Crane Corporation
Attn: YORK YK Shaft Seal Warranty
50 Sharpe Drive
Cranston, R.I. 02920
A copy of the YK Shaft Seal Return Information Sheet must also be faxed to YORK Product
Technical Support.
FAX to:
YORK
Product Technical Support
YK Shaft Seal Warranty
717-771-6844
For demonstration purposes, installation procedures for the Type I bellows shaft seal will be
discussed in this section. Except for the minor differences noted, the Type II and Type III models
follow the same procedures.
Inspect the shaft seal cavity and be sure it is absolutely clean. Clean the cavity only with an
approved safety solvent and blow it dry with compressed air. If compressed air is not available
and a cloth is used to dry the cavity, be sure to use a lint free cloth.
Inspect all wearing surfaces for uneven or excessive wear and replace parts if necessary. Worn
parts should be replaced with new parts that have been thoroughly examined for shipping
damage prior to installation.
Discard all old O-rings and replace with new O-rings.
Before assembling parts, all friction surfaces should be lightly coated with molybdenum disulfide
lubricant. Molybdenum disulfide lubricant is available from the YORK parts distribution center as
part number 364-21508. In addition, remember to thoroughly lubricate the shaft with fresh YORK
refrigerant oil prior to installing the seal.
Be careful not to allow molybdenum disulfide lubricant to come in contact with the seal faces.
Only YORK refrigerant oil should come in contact with the faces of the seal.
The HA, HB, HC, HH, and HG compressors have a cartridge with a separate C-ring and spacer.
On these compressors, slide the sleeve spacer all the way down the shaft. Lubricate the C-ring
with fresh YORK refrigerant oil and slide the C-ring onto the shaft with the open side facing the
compressor.
Older compressors used a snap ring to hold the carbon seal in place and have a snap ring
groove. If the shaft has this groove, be careful to avoid damage to the C-ring when sliding it over
the groove.

YK and YT Centrifugal Compressor Shaft Seal e-Learning Course

Please note that within three days of operation after seal replacement, oil spray observed inside
the motor adapter or on the outside of the drain tube could indicate that the C-ring was damaged
during installation.
If the shaft seal was just removed, the two guide pins will already be in place. If not, take two 3/8
guide pins and screw them into the approximate 10 Oclock and 2 Oclock hex bolt positions on
the rotor support housing. Note that the hex screw positions change slightly based on the bellows
seal type.
Now, install the shaft seal cover flange-to-housing O-ring in the rotor support housing. If a snap
ring groove is present on the shaft, avoid damaging the O-ring by preventing contact with the
groove.
Please note that if this is a Type III seal, the seal should be primed with YORK refrigerant oil now,
prior to sliding it into the rotor support housing.
With the oil drain positioned at the bottom of the seal cartridge, slide the cartridge onto the guide
pins and into the rotor support housing.
The seal cartridge is heavy and weighs approximately 35 pounds. Be careful not to drop the seal
as the internal components are fragile. Should the seal be dropped prior to installation, DO NOT
INSTALL the seal. Contact YORK product technical support for further instruction.
Now, secure the seal cartridge to the rotor support housing with the existing hex bolts.
Remove the guide pins and replace with the remaining two hex bolts.
Before tightening the shaft sleeve set screws, rotate the compressor shaft to ensure that the set
screws straddle the shaft keyway.
Now, tighten the four accessible set screws to the compressor shaft.
Remove the flathead screws that attach the retaining clips to the cover plate. Move the retaining
clips into the operating position and re-attach the clips with the flathead screws.
Tighten the two remaining set screws.
For the HA, HAH and HJ compressor models, use a torque wrench and tighten all six set screws
to 60 inch pounds. For all other models, internal operating conditions necessitate a higher torque
setting and require that the set screws be tightened to 96 inch pounds.
Observe the position of the retaining clips in relation to the collar grooves. These are the grooves
that the clips were locked into prior to their removal. Although the clips should presently be in the
operating position, and no longer inserted into these grooves, it is important that the clips still line
up with the collar grooves. This will indicate whether any movement of the seal has taken place
during the tightening of the set screws.
If the retaining clips do not line up with the collar grooves;
Loosen the six set screws again.
Remove the flathead screws and place the retaining clips back into the installation position. This
will reposition the seal cartridge along the shaft.
Now tighten the four accessible set screws.
Move the retaining clips back into the operating position on the seal cover plate.
Tighten the remaining two set screws and torque all six set screws to 96 inch pounds for most
models and 60 inch pounds for the HA, HAH and HJ compressor models.
Now observe for the second time whether the clips line up with the collar grooves. If not, repeat
these procedures until the grooves line up.

YK and YT Centrifugal Compressor Shaft Seal e-Learning Course

Be sure to prime the newly installed seal with YORK refrigerant oil prior to being attached to the
external oil supply. Directly add oil into the oil supply inlet. This will ensure oil being present in the
seal during startup.
Reconnect the oil drain line.
And re-install the compressor coupling.
Now, lets take a look at the YT shaft seal.
As with the YK, there are several versions available. The original equipment version utilizes a
helical spring to hold the seal face against the seal collar. The new bellows style seal replaces the
helical spring with a single bellows.
Prior to removal of the shaft seal, two important procedures must be followed:
First, follow standard safety procedures and be sure to tag-out and lock-out the main breaker
before working on the chiller.
Second, before opening any part of the compressor, remove and secure the refrigerant. Verify
that the compressor is pumped to zero pressure by observing zero on the pressure gauge.
To gain access to the shaft seal, the compressor coupling must be removed.
Remove the cap screws that hold the sheet metal cover to the compressor motor adapter and
remove the cover.
Now, remove the internal coupling guard.
Remove the bolts holding the coupling hubs to the coupling spool and the disc pack. Be sure to
note the arrangement of these parts for assembly later.
Remove the coupling spool and disc packs.
Now, remove the compressor coupling hub from the compressor shaft.
Once the compressor coupling has been removed, the shaft seal can be accessed. The following
procedures apply to the removal of the YT carbon shaft seal:
Locate the oil supply and drain lines and remove them from the shaft seal cover plate.
Now, remove the hex head screws found approximately in the 10 Oclock and 4 Oclock positions
on the seal cover plate. These hex head screws hold the shaft seal to the rotor support housing.
Locate two 3/8 guide pins in the compressor tool kit and screw them into the empty hex head
screw holes.
Remove the remaining two hex head screws that hold the shaft seal to the rotor support housing.
Grab the seal cover plate and carefully pull the seal assembly away from the rotor support
housing. The seal will slide along the guide pins, preventing any damage to the shaft or seal.
Be aware that the stationary portion of the YT carbon seal will remain attached to the cover plate
as it is removed.
Note that if the seal is expected to be re-installed, be sure not to touch the carbon seal surface.
Touching the carbon will deposit contaminants onto the carbon surface, possibly causing future
seal failure.
Locate two puller rods in your compressor tool kit. Note that the puller rods may be referred to
as guide pins.
Screw the puller rods into the tapped puller rod holes on either side of the seal collar.
Grab the puller rods and pull. The seal collar will slide off the shaft.
Note that if the seal collar does not move, locate the bar tool and two hex nuts in your
compressor tool kit. Push the bar tool ends over each puller rod and slide down to the shaft.

10

YK and YT Centrifugal Compressor Shaft Seal e-Learning Course

Place a hex nut onto each puller rod and rotate the hex nuts down to the bar tool and tighten.
Continue to tighten. The seal collar will slide off the shaft.
For demonstration purposes, installation of the bellows type shaft seal will be discussed in this
section.
Inspect the shaft seal cavity and be sure it is absolutely clean. Clean the cavity only with an
approved safety solvent and blow it dry with compressed air. If compressed air is not available
and a cloth is used to dry the cavity, a lint free cloth must be used.
Inspect all wearing surfaces for uneven or excessive wear and replace parts if necessary. Worn
parts should be replaced with new parts that have been thoroughly examined for shipping
damage prior to installation.
Discard all old O-rings and replace with new O-rings.
Before assembling parts, all friction surfaces should be lightly coated with molybdenum disulfide
lubricant. Molybdenum disulfide lubricant is available from the YORK parts distribution center as
part number 364-21508. In addition, remember to thoroughly lubricate the shaft with fresh YORK
refrigerant oil prior to installing the seal.
Be careful not to allow molybdenum disulfide lubricant to come in contact with the seal face. Only
YORK refrigerant oil should come in contact with the face of the seal.
At this point in the shaft seal installation process, it is recommended that a Vernier Caliper be
used to ensure the proper installation of the seal collar.
First, measure and record the distance from the lapped edge to the bottom of the seal collar.
Now measure and record the distance from the top of the seal cavity to the bottom.
Subtract the shaft seal collar measurement from the seal cavity measurement. This will determine
the ideal installation depth that the lapped edge of the seal collar should be within the cavity.
Screw the puller rods into the tapped puller rod holes on either side of the seal collar.
With the lapped surface facing out, slide the seal collar onto the compressor shaft and push it
completely into the seal cavity.
Remove the puller rods and take two depth measurements of the seal collar from the top of the
cavity to the lapped edge of the seal collar.
Compare these measurements to the ideal installation depth determined earlier. If the
measurements differ, the seal collar may not be evenly or completely seated into the cavity.
If it is determined that the seal collar is not seated correctly, re-seat the collar by evenly applying
pressure as it is pushed into the cavity.
Place the O-ring onto the plate end of the stationary bellows component of the seal.
Attach the bellows component to the cover plate with three screws, being careful not to touch
the carbon seal surface. Remember, touching the carbon will deposit contaminants onto the
carbon surface.
Note that if this is a replacement of a helical spring style seal, a new cover plate is required to
accommodate the new screw hole configuration of the bellows component.
Locate two 3/8 guide pins in the compressor tool kit and screw them into the 10 Oclock and 4
Oclock hole positions in the rotor support housing.
Slide the assembled seal cover plate onto the guide pins and carefully push the seal assembly
into the rotor support housing. The seal will slide along the guide pins, preventing any damage to
the shaft or seal.
Insert and tighten two cap screws into the empty hole positions on the cover plate.

11

YK and YT Centrifugal Compressor Shaft Seal e-Learning Course

Remove the guide pins.
Insert and tighten two cap screws into the remaining two holes on the cover plate.
Use a torque wrench and tighten all four cap screws on the cover plate.
Re-connect the oil drain and oil supply lines.
And re-install the compressor coupling.
After the refrigerant is restored to the chiller, locate the shaft seal pressure regulator and set to
approximately 3 to 5 PSIG.
Now lets see how much you have learned. Determine if the following statements are true or false
and then click on the appropriate response.
1) The shaft seal is responsible for maintaining a seal between the refrigerant inside the opendrive compressor and the outside air.
True: Correct response.
2) The YK and YT shaft seals are oil flooded and are designed to experience some minor oil
loss.
True: Correct response.
3) The bellows shaft seal break-in period for the YK chiller is 1,000 hours.
True: Correct response. The hard silicon carbide faces of the YK shaft seal require a break-in
period of 1,000 hours. You may move on to the next question.
4) The YT shaft seal cavity requires pressure of between 1 and 2 PSIG to maintain an oil film
across the seal face and prevent leakage of non-condensables into the compressor.
False: Correct response. The YT shaft seal cavity actually requires a pressure of between 3 5
PSIG to maintain a good seal.
Congratulations! You have completed the YK and YT centrifugal shaft seal e-Learning course. If
you would like to learn more, YORK offers other e-Learning courses about centrifugal chillers that
are available through the training and e-Learning center.

12