Ring with recirculating grooves for dry gas seal

A mating ring for use in a dry gas seal, the mating ring comprising:

• a face that defines an inner diameter and an outer diameter, wherein the face includes:
• a channel formed therein disposed between the inner diameter and the outer diameter;
• one or more inlet channels formed in the face that extend from the inner diameter to the channel in a clockwise direction;
• and
• one or more spiral grooves in fluid communication with the channel that extend from the channel toward the inner diameter in the clockwise direction.

A mechanical seal assembly adapted for arrangement around a rotating shaft, the seal assembly comprising:

• a primary ring and a mating ring, the primary ring being axially shiftable relative to the rotating shaft and the mating ring being axially fixable relative to the rotating shaft;
• and
• a biasing mechanism that urges the primary ring toward the mating ring;
• wherein the mating ring includes a face that defines an inner diameter and an outer diameter, wherein the face includes:
• a channel formed therein disposed between the inner diameter and the outer diameter;
• one or more inlet channels formed in the face that extend from the outer diameter to the channel in a counterclockwise direction;
• and
• one or more spiral grooves in fluid communication with the channel that extend from the channel toward the outer diameter in the counterclockwise direction.

A mating ring for use in a dry gas seal, the mating ring comprising:

• a face that defines an inner diameter and an outer diameter, wherein the face includes:
• a channel formed therein disposed between the inner diameter and the outer diameter;
• one or more inlet channels formed in the face that extend from the outer diameter to the channel in a counterclockwise direction;
• and
• one or more spiral grooves in fluid communication with the channel that extend from the channel toward the outer diameter in the counterclockwise direction.