Fluid transfer seal assemblies, fluid transfer systems, and methods for transferring process fluid between stationary and rotating components using the same

A fluid transfer system comprising:

• a stationary component having an interior containing process fluid under pressure;
• a rotatable component in fluid flow communication with the interior of the stationary component via a fluid passageway, the rotatable component having a sealing surface along a portion thereof;
• and
• a fluid transfer seal assembly disposed between the stationary component and the rotatable component, the fluid transfer seal assembly comprising:
• a pair of face seal rings having a seal nose with a sealing face, a retainer that supports the seal nose and a retainer extension that extends from a first side of the retainer, the retainer including a groove defined on the first side, the pair of face seal rings each having at least one segment of the fluid passageway defined through the retainer extension and in fluid communication with the stationary component and the rotating component, and the sealing face configured to be disposed opposite of the sealing surface, one of the sealing face or the opposed sealing surface including a geometric feature for forming a hydrodynamic seal therebetween, and
• a pair of secondary seals each received in a respective one of the grooves, the pair of secondary seals each configured to be disposed between and contacting a respective one of the pair of face seal rings and the stationary component.

A method for transferring process fluid from a stationary component containing the process fluid under pressure to a rotating rotatable component via a fluid transfer seal assembly, the rotatable component having a sealing surface, the method comprising:

• disposing the fluid transfer seal assembly between the stationary component and the rotatable component such that the rotatable component is in fluid flow communication with the stationary component, the fluid transfer seal assembly comprising:
• a pair of face seal rings having a seal nose with a sealing face, a retainer that supports the seal nose and a retainer extension that extends from a first side of the retainer, the retainer including a groove defined on the first side, the pair of face seal rings each having at least one segment of a fluid passageway defined through the retainer extension, and the sealing face configured to be disposed opposite the sealing surface of the rotatable component for forming a gap therebetween, only one of the sealing face or the opposed sealing surface including a geometric feature for forming a hydrodynamic seal in the gap;
• a pair of secondary seals each received in a respective one of the grooves, the pair of secondary seals each disposed between and contacting a respective one of the pair of face seal rings and the stationary component;
• and
• causing the rotatable component to rotate, thereby transferring the process fluid from the stationary component to the rotating component through the fluid passageway and into the gap forming the hydrodynamic seal.