John Crane celebrates 50 years of dry gas seal innovation

20 Jan John Crane celebrates 50 years of dry gas seal innovation

(Oilandgaspress) – John Crane, a global leader in flow-control technologies and an innovator in solutions for rotating equipment, and a business of Smiths Group plc, is marking 50 years since a breakthrough that revolutionised gas compression sealing. In 1976, the introduction of the Type 28 dry gas seal transformed compressor reliability and set a new global benchmark for sealing performance, safety and efficiency.

While pioneering work on non-contacting spiral-groove technology began in 1968, and the first commercially installation was achieved in 1975, it was the introduction of the Type 28 dry gas seal in 1976 that created a true turning point for the industry. Since then, dry gas seals have become essential components in centrifugal compressors across applications such as oil and gas, petrochemicals, power generation and, increasingly, hydrogen and carbon-capture applications.
Over the past five decades, continuous innovation has extended sealing performance into new pressures, temperatures and operating conditions. Advances have included bi-directional grooves, ultra-high-pressure capability up to 425 barg / 6164 psig, new materials such as Carbon LF™ and digital diagnostics made possible through John Crane Sense(R) Turbo, enabling real-time condition monitoring and predictive insights.
Sustainability has also become a defining element of sealing technology. Wet-to-dry gas seal retrofit programmes have delivered CO₂ reductions of around 278,000 tonnes per year in certain customer applications, while modern dry gas seals can reduce methane and fugitive emissions by up to 95% when replacing traditional oil-lubricated wet seals. The latest separation seal designs, such as the Type 93AX further reduces nitrogen consumption by up to 80% compared to traditional carbon ring assemblies, supporting operators’ energy efficiency goals.

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Oilandgaspress ,carbon-capture , Energy , Climate, Gas,Renewable, John Crane, Sustainability, Fuel, Hydrogen,