Try the carbon sealing that is used on Jet turbine oil retention as used in the Pratt & Whitney TF30 aircraft engine. I am sure that there is a commercially equivalent now as it has been 40 years since I used to replace them in the airforce. The carbon seal works like the 'Iris' shutter in a camera and seals on the cylindrical outer face of the shaft as opposed to a face seal. The seal tensioning are by light springs around the outer edge of the carbon segments and the carbon is held within the steel cup of the seal assembly. There was 2 rows of 3 carbon curved segments that compensated for wear by closing down like the camera iris. The 2 rows were staggered to eliminate jointing between the segments being the weak point for leakage.

Hope this helps.

Thanks! With the lower temperatures and pressures of steam turbine exhaust, a brass iris-type seal would be sufficient, and with the built-in wear compensation and proper lubrication would last a long time.

I'm also looking for a seal like this, but for a different type of turbine. Union connectors, and lawn sprinklers leak, water pump barrings I have yet to try, but they'll be set to 50-80 psi the psi of the water. Barrings would be made for a certian range of psi I think. My input steam should be up to 350 psi. I've been looking up swivel connectors, shaft seals, and sprinklers. I think I'll check with a hydraulic's distributor, though hydraulics is 1000+ psi.

coal is 5 times cheaper then oil.

Check out the type of connections used on articulated steam locomoitves, especially the Fairlee and Garratt types.

I believe Tesla used graphite impregnated packing in a stuffing box.

Modern packing uses alumino-silicate or glass impregnated with graphite or PTFE.

I read somewhere that Tesla's turbine ran up to 34,000 rpm with this arrangement.