Which gland seal component is made of grooves and ridges to create a tortuous path that restricts the passage of air or steam?

Which gland seal component is made of grooves and ridges to create a tortuous path that restricts the passage of air or steam?

• A. Lip seal
• B. Gland packing
• C. Mechanical seal
• D. Labyrinth

Answer: (D)

The main idea here is using a winding, tortuous path to block leakage rather than relying on a tight surface contact. A labyrinth seal is built with grooves and ridges that create many turns and narrow passages between the stationary housing and the rotating part. For air or steam to get through, it must navigate this complex path, which dramatically increases resistance and causes a pressure drop with very little actual flow. Because it relies on geometry rather than a tight contact, it can handle temperature differences and small misalignments without wearing a soft sealing surface. In contrast, lip seals seal by a flexible lip that directly contacts the shaft to wipe and close the gap, gland packing uses braided material packed around the shaft to fill gaps, and mechanical seals rely on mating surfaces pressed together with springs to maintain contact. Those methods depend on surface contact and compression rather than a deliberate labyrinth path.

The main idea here is using a winding, tortuous path to block leakage rather than relying on a tight surface contact. A labyrinth seal is built with grooves and ridges that create many turns and narrow passages between the stationary housing and the rotating part. For air or steam to get through, it must navigate this complex path, which dramatically increases resistance and causes a pressure drop with very little actual flow. Because it relies on geometry rather than a tight contact, it can handle temperature differences and small misalignments without wearing a soft sealing surface.

In contrast, lip seals seal by a flexible lip that directly contacts the shaft to wipe and close the gap, gland packing uses braided material packed around the shaft to fill gaps, and mechanical seals rely on mating surfaces pressed together with springs to maintain contact. Those methods depend on surface contact and compression rather than a deliberate labyrinth path.