Arced Arc Segment Seal Slots for Gas Turbine Leakage Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas turbine engines face challenges in effectively sealing the gaps between blades, leading to gas flow escape and reduced efficiency, particularly due to the limitations of conventional feather seals and slot designs which often result in rough surfaces and inadequate sealing performance.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates arc segments with specific slot portions and feather seals featuring convex and concave arced edges, which are complementary in shape, allowing for a labyrinth seal configuration that is symmetric and excludes straight edges, enhancing the sealing performance by using a grinding method to produce smooth, semi-circular slot portions that retain the feather seal effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional feather seals and slot designs are used, then the structure is simple, but the sealing performance is inadequate due to rough surfaces and gas flow escape
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by replacing conventional straight-edged slot designs with arced, semi-circular slot portions. The convex arced edge of the feather seal complements the concave arced back wall of the slot, creating a curved sealing interface that eliminates sharp corners and produces smoother surfaces. This curvature-based design reduces gas flow escape and improves sealing performance without requiring additional retention features.
2Reliability
If conventional slot designs are used, then manufacturing is easier, but the seal slot cannot effectively retain the feather seal, requiring additional retention features
Solution Approach 1:
The arced slot portions with concave back walls create a geometric configuration that naturally retains the feather seal through complementary convex edges. The curved geometry provides mechanical interlocking without requiring additional retention features such as clips, fasteners, or complex assembly steps, thereby simplifying the overall device while improving seal retention reliability.
3Reliability
If straight-edged slot portions are used, then the manufacturing process is simpler, but the sealing surface is rough and allows gas flow escape
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs arced slot portions with semi-circular geometries that can be manufactured using standardized grinding methods. The convex arced edge of the feather seal and the concave arced back wall of the slot create smooth, continuous sealing surfaces that eliminate gas flow escape paths. This curved design achieves superior sealing effectiveness while remaining compatible with conventional manufacturing processes.
Data Source
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AI summary
A gas turbine engine (20) includes first and second arc segments (66) that each have leading and trailing sides (66a, 66b) and first and second circumferential sides (66c, 66d). The first circumferential side (66c) includes a first slot portion (70) and the second circumferential side (66d) includes a second slot portion (72). The first and second slot portions (70, 72) are in registration and together define a seal slot. At least the first slot portion (70) has a first concave arced back wall (70a). A feather seal (74) is entrapped in the seal slot and includes first and second feather seal circumferential sides (74a, 74b). At least the first feather seal circumferential side (74a) has a first convex arced edge (76) that is adjacent the first concave arced back wall (70c) of the first slot portion (70).