What Makes CobaSeal a Unique Coaxial Separation Seal?
CobaSeal differs from radial separation seals by combining reliable oil separation with exceptionally low gas consumption and crucially, significant operational safety advantages.
Invented by EagleBurgmann in 2010, CobaSeal delivers a secure barrier between oil and process gas while consuming significantly less nitrogen than comparable separation seal solutions. With over 15 years of field-proven performance, it ensures reliable operation across all compressor conditions – and protects dry gas seals against contamination-related failures.
Designed for easy retrofit into existing seal housings and shafts.
CobaSeal consumes less nitrogen than comparable separation seals, significantly reducing operating costs and environmental impact while improving efficiency.
The non-contacting sealing principle reliably prevents oil ingress into the seal and bearing area.
Compare separation seal concepts based on real nitrogen consumption values (Nl/min) under comparable operating conditions.
»In 2008, a customer asked for a separation seal that truly works — and that was the birth of CobaSeal.«
From Experience to Proven Performance
Reliable Coaxial Separation Seal Performance –
From Daily Operation to Emergency Conditions
As a coaxial separation seal, the CobaSeal performs a critical function during compressor operation. It primarily protects the Dry Gas Seal from the ingress of bearing oil. In the event of a Dry Gas Seal failure, the unique coaxial design of the CobaSeal provides an additional level of safety.
Should the Dry Gas Seal fail in an emergency, the robust construction and active differential pressure control prevent process gas from entering the bearing housing. In such cases, leakage is significantly lower than with other separation seals. For this reason, the CobaSeal is often used to enhance the safety of gas seals in single, double, and tandem configurations.
Backed by decades of field experience and pioneering separation seal expertise, CobaSeal is designed to perform reliably — including in applications with shaft diameters exceeding 360 mm.
CobaSeal Around the World
CobaSeal is in use across the globe — from refineries in the Middle East to chemical plants in Europe.
Rotate the globe to explore selected CobaSeal installations worldwide.
Engineering with Purpose.
CobaSeal reduces emissions, extends seal life and ensures zero media crossover — delivering sustainable efficiency through proven separation sealing. At the same time, it helps reduce operating costs.
Proven Impact at Scale
Proven performance across industries and applications worldwide.
- Up to 90% less leakage
- More than 1,500 seals in use worldwide
- 0 Nl/min gas loss when differential pressure controlled
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about CobaSeal, its application, operating principles and integration into compressor systems.
CobaSeal is a gas-lubricated separation seal designed to protect dry gas seals in turbo compressors and turbines from bearing oil contamination. It provides reliable oil sealing while operating in a fully non-contacting mode.
CobaSeal uses a gas-lubricated, non-contacting sealing principle with aerostatic and aerodynamic lift-off. This design ensures extremely low leakage, high robustness, and effective separation between bearing oil and vent or secondary vent.
Compared to conventional labyrinth or carbon ring seals, CobaSeal offers significantly lower leakage, no mechanical wear, and much higher resistance to oil contamination. This results in improved reliability and reduced operating costs.
Yes. CobaSeal is suitable for both new installations and retrofit applications. When used in a retrofit (e.g., replacing oil seals with a DGS), minor adaptations may be required, but no extensive compressor redesign is necessary. In many such applications, CobaSeal used together with a single DGS can fulfill the functions of both a separation seal and a backup seal. As a result, the existing ports in the compressor housing are sufficient, and all required supply and vent connections are already available.
The non-contacting design eliminates wear and ensures stable performance across all operating conditions, including start-up, shutdown, slow roll, and turning gear operation. This helps reduce unplanned downtime and increases availability.
CobaSeal requires significantly less sealing gas than conventional separation seals. In many applications, nitrogen consumption can be reduced by up to 90% compared to labyrinth seals, supporting more efficient and sustainable operation.
Yes. CobaSeal is highly insensitive to oil contamination and remains functional even during short-term interruptions of the sealing gas supply. Its robust design makes it suitable for demanding industrial environments.
CobaSeal is widely used in the oil and gas, petrochemical, refinery, LNG, hydrogen, and energy industries. It is also well suited for scaling emerging energy applications, such as ORC turbines and CCS compressors.
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