PTFE labyrinth seal with extremely long service life

Radiamatic RCD Seals Main Gear in Wind Turbines

The main gearbox is the heart of every wind turbine. FTL Technology’s PTFE labyrinth seal Radiamatic RCD, was specially developed for this application, and is a highly efficient solution that offers the prospect of an extended service life. The outstanding advantages of this seal for gearbox and wind turbine manufacturers and wind farm operators include:

• a consistently reliable sealing function,
• an extended service life,
• cost savings, as a result of shaft surfaces and housings that are less expensive to manufacture.

The Radiamatic RCD is designed to seal splash lubrication in high-quality components, in the field of power transmission engineering and has been used with great success in ship diesel engines for example, since 2004. RCD stands for Reject, Collect, and Drain: the three key principles of function in what are known as liquid-collecting labyrinth seals.

The seal comprises two parts and features a rotating inner ring and a stationary outer ring. The inner ring is split and is kept in place on the shaft by springs. The outer ring sits securely in the housing bore.

The main components of the seal are made from PTFE, which means that they are chemically resistant to additive oils, ozone resistant, and slow to age—all of which are appropriate for wind turbine gears. This, in conjunction with the non-contact operation of this sealing solution in wind turbine gears, means that the service life of these seals is expected to last significantly longer than currently utilized seals.

Reduced costs from the prototype to the series

We do not use any moulds in the manufacture of the Radiamatic RCD. This is a significant cost advantage for the manufacturers of gearboxes and wind turbines and allows for prompt manufacture of specific sizes whilst also keeping prototype delivery times to a minimum.