Leakage flow minimization system for a turbine engine

Abstract

A sealing system is applied to the interface between a stator and a rotor in a turbine engine to minimize fluid leakage across the interface. One interface can be defined between portions of neighboring rotor disks and a stator. The sealing system includes one or more rows of flow guides, such as airfoils, provided on the rotor disk near the upstream end of the interface. These flow guides can impart tangential velocity on the leakage flow. One or more undulating seal structures can be connected to the stator downstream of the flow guides. These undulating seals can have a periodic waveform conformation. The undulating seals can create unsteadiness in the flow and recirculation of the leakage flow, which causes losses. The sealing system can also include other types of seals, such as labyrinth seals and brush seals, to further create a tortuous path for any leakage flow.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The invention relates in general to turbine engines and, more particularly, to a system for minimizing leakage flow in a turbine engine.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]FIG. 1 shows a cross-section through a portion of a turbine engine 10. The turbine engine 10 can generally include a compressor section 12, a combustor section 14 and a turbine section 16. A centrally disposed rotor 18 can extend through the three sections.[0003]The turbine section 16 can include alternating rows of stationary vanes 20 and rotating blades 22. Each row of blades can include a plurality of airfoils 22 attached to a disk 24 provided on the rotor 18. The rotor 18 can include a plurality of axially-spaced disks 24. The blades 22 can extend radially outward from the disks 24.[0004]Each row of vanes can be formed by attaching a plurality of airfoils 20 to the stationary support structure in the turbine section 16. For instance, the airfoils 20 can be hosted by a vane carrier 26 t...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0017]The system can further include a first undulating seal operatively connected to seal housing and extending radially inward from the seal housing. The first undulating seal can extend circumferentially about the seal housing so as to circumferentially surround at least a portion of the axially downstream extending protrusion. The first undulating seal can be located axially downstream of the plurality of flow guides. Thus, the first undulating seal can create imbalances and recirculation in the leakage flow across the interface. The first undulating seal can have a substantially periodic waveform conformation.

Problems solved by technology

The undulating seal can create imbalances and recirculation in the leakage flow.

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