These seals are typically used in a harsh working environment such as oil exploration, extraction and refining, petrochemical industries, gas transmission and chemical processing.
The seal's film stiffness compensates for varying operations by adjusting gap and pressure to maintain stability.
The action of the gas flowing across the seal generates pressure that keeps a minute gap, therefore optimizing fluid film stiffness and providing protection against face contact.
[1] The use of these seals in centrifugal compressors has increased significantly in the last two decades because they eliminate contamination and do not use lubricating oil.
When the technology is aimed at correcting the problems with dry gas film environments by eliminating friction.