Optimization on shaft seals for a twin-screw steam compressor based on a novel uniform property region (UPR) model on discharge end-face

•A model on leakage prediction from screw compressor discharge end to shaft seals.•Effects of several main parameters in shaft seals were analyzed.•Several suggestions were given on optimizing the shaft seals.•Pressure on screw compressor discharge end-face should be calculated by UPR model.