Revolutionising compressor reliability: The Type 93AX coaxial separation seal that cuts nitrogen use by 80%

A breakthrough in mechanical seal technology for the energy sector

The Type 93AX coaxial separation seal is a next-generation, non-contacting axial seal developed for advanced compressor protection in the energy and process industries. Its primary technical advantage is a substantial reduction in nitrogen consumption—up to 80% less compared to conventional radial separation seals. This performance leap is achieved through a unique axial design and proprietary TriHex groove seal face technology, which forms a high-stiffness gas film with minimal separation gas usage, translating into both operational cost savings and a lower environmental footprint.

Why axial design matters

Traditional radial separation seals rely on design concepts that tend to increase gas consumption and are more prone to wear and oil ingress due to their radial flow paths. The axial layout of the Type 93AX allows gas to form and optimise an axial seal face along the axis of rotation, optimising the film formation at the seal face. This provides greater separation stiffness, ensures reliable exclusion of lube oil from the dry gas seal, and enables consistent, non-contacting operation—virtually eliminating wear.

Efficiency that powers sustainability

By slashing nitrogen requirements for separation by up to 80%, the Type 93AX sharply decreases the associated energy draw—whether that's the power needed for onsite N₂ generation or for gas delivery and handling infrastructure. As compressors and their auxiliary systems are major consumers of plant utilities, this efficiency directly contributes to operational sustainability. In addition, separation seals like the Type 93AX protect dry gas seals from oil ingress—a leading cause of seal failure and process upsets, which otherwise result in vented or flared hydrocarbons and increased site emissions, undercutting global decarbonisation goals.

Built for resilience and safety

Industrial compressors cannot afford seal-related failures, which often result in hazardous leaks, environmental incidents and very costly shutdowns. The Type 93AX is engineered for outstanding resilience, maintaining full non-contacting separation in normal operation and when the nitrogen supply fails, preventing oil contamination and enabling seamless system recovery. In the unlikely event of a dry gas seal failure, the Type 93AX remains a barrier, restricting process gas leakage, with tested vent pressures of up to 35 bar and integrity of up to 70 bar.

This robustness is essential to:

• Protect personnel from hazardous gas exposure or explosive mixtures
• Safeguard plant assets from damage, fire or explosions
• Ensure compliance with increasingly stringent industrial safety and emissions regulations

Versatility across critical applications

The mechanical seal's high-performance envelope—temperature tolerance from -25°C to 180°C, speeds up to 145 m/s, and pressure up to 70 bar—makes it a fit for the most critical rotating equipment in oil and gas, petrochemicals, LNG, power generation and the fast-growing hydrogen and CCUS markets. Its non-contacting, bi-directional design not only reduces wear and extends mean time between failures (MTBF) but also ensures reliability across a broad range of compressor setups.

A future-focused seal for safer, greener operations

John Crane's Type 93AX sets a new standard for separation seals, demonstrating how innovative coaxial design, ultra-low consumption and engineered robustness enhance compressor reliability while supporting decarbonisation and safety imperatives. This future-focused seal technology positions operators to reduce costs, prolong equipment life and maintain safe, responsible operation in the toughest service conditions.

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