An update on aircraft oil bearing chamber sealing

On board aircraft, the common use of engine compressor, pressurised air to seal the oil bearing chamber and as a source for the cabin bleed-air supply provides a mechanism for low-level oil leakage in routine engine operations. This is of great concern and was discussed previously in this newsletter in a feature entitled ‘Oil bearing seals and aircraft cabin air contamination’ ( Sealing Technology April 2016, pages 7–10). Further to this article, Dr Susan Michaelis has now been awarded an MSc for her extensive work in researching the issue of oil leakage past seals in aircraft gas turbine engines. [1] An update on this research and associated initiatives is provided by this article.