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Open-Drive Compressor Shaft Seal Leakage — Oil and Refrigerant Loss

Likely causes

Seal lip wear/hardening or face-pressure spring weakening — sealing force reduced

Check: Weekly test: hold tissue under seal face 1 min — oil stain = imminent replacement. Shaft surface roughness: maintain Ra ≤ 0.4μm (polish before seal replacement if scratched). Measure refrigerant acidity (TAN): >0.1 mgKOH/g accelerates seal degradation

What to do: Soak new seal in refrigeration oil 5 min before installation → seal run-in: low-speed 15-min idle → normal operation if no leak. Verify shaft run-out ≤ 0.05mm after replacement. If TAN >0.1, replace all refrigerant and oil

Shaft misalignment after seal replacement — recurrence of uneven wear

Check: Measure shaft run-out with dial gauge after seal replacement (allowable ≤ 0.05mm). If seal replacement repeats 3+ times, suspect shaft wear or bearing failure

What to do: If run-out exceeds 0.05mm, replace or polish shaft → inspect and replace bearings at the same time

Field tip

Seal replacement cost < full refrigerant recharge cost. Monthly inspection for early detection is most economical. Check oil traces around seal with finger directly — always power off first.

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