The seal in a compressor is necessary to prevent which leaks?

The seal in a compressor is necessary to prevent which leaks?

• A. Refrigerant from leaking out at the rotating shaft
• B. Air from leaking out at the rotating shaft
• C. Oil from leaking out at the rotating shaft
• D. Refrigerant and Oil from the rotating shaft

Answer: (D)

The main idea is that the shaft seal around a compressor is there to keep both fluids that move through the machine from leaking past the rotating shaft. Lubricating oil must stay inside to keep bearings and components properly lubricated, while refrigerant must stay within the compressor and the cycle. If the seal isn’t doing its job, oil can leak along the shaft into other areas or into the refrigerant circuit, and refrigerant can escape as well. Air isn’t the working fluid in this system, so the critical leaks are the combination of refrigerant and oil leaking from the rotating shaft.

The main idea is that the shaft seal around a compressor is there to keep both fluids that move through the machine from leaking past the rotating shaft. Lubricating oil must stay inside to keep bearings and components properly lubricated, while refrigerant must stay within the compressor and the cycle. If the seal isn’t doing its job, oil can leak along the shaft into other areas or into the refrigerant circuit, and refrigerant can escape as well. Air isn’t the working fluid in this system, so the critical leaks are the combination of refrigerant and oil leaking from the rotating shaft.