Centrifugal Compressor Seal Assembly With Elastic Ring Clearance Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current seal assemblies in centrifugal compressors have limited sealing performance due to restricted size and material hardness constraints, leading to potential leaks and safety hazards when the sealing clearance cannot be reduced further.
Innovation Solution
A seal assembly with multiple sets of sealing sections, including sealing teeth on the impeller and a sealing ring on the housing with an elastic cushion, which increases the sealing area and reduces clearance to achieve improved sealing performance without causing abrasion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sealing clearance between the sealing tooth and the gimbal is reduced, then the sealing performance is improved, but severe abrasion or safety problems will be caused due to similar material hardness
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing ring is constructed as a composite structure with an elastic part (such as rubber or elastomer) combined with a rigid part (such as metal). This composite material design allows the elastic part to deform and fill the sealing clearance, achieving effective sealing without requiring the sealing tooth and gimbal to be in full contact, thereby avoiding severe abrasion while maintaining safety.
2Reliability
If the sealing surface between the gimbal and the sealing ring is increased by increasing the length of the gimbal along the axial direction, then the sealing performance is improved, but the assembly space is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic part of the sealing ring acts as a flexible element that can deform under pressure to create an effective seal. This flexible sealing mechanism achieves reliable sealing performance without requiring a long axial length of the gimbal, thus resolving the space constraint issue while maintaining effective sealing.
3Reliability
If the sealing clearance is reduced to improve sealing performance, then the sealing effect is enhanced, but the static clearance cannot be reduced further due to safety reasons
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing ring incorporates an elastic part that can dynamically deform under operating conditions. When the compressor operates and pressure differential exists across the seal, the elastic part compresses and deforms to fill the sealing clearance, creating an effective seal. This dynamic sealing mechanism eliminates the need for extremely small static clearance, thereby avoiding safety issues related to minimal clearance while achieving enhanced sealing performance during operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively enhances sealing performance by increasing the sealing area and reducing clearance to near zero, thereby improving the reliability and safety of the centrifugal compressor operation.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic part is provided on a contact surface of the sealing ring with the sealing tooth
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention provides a seal assembly for use in a centrifugal compressor and a centrifugal compressor having same. The centrifugal compressor comprises an impeller and a housing, wherein the impeller comprises a gimbal, provided on the back of the impeller, having an inner diameter and an outer diameter; and the seal assembly for use in a centrifugal compressor comprises a sealing section, the sealing section comprising a sealing tooth formed on the impeller and a sealing ring provided on the housing, wherein an elastic part is provided on a contact surface of the sealing ring with the sealing tooth. According to the seal assembly of the present invention, the sealing clearance between the sealing ring and the sealing tooth is effectively reduced by way of multiple sets of sealing sections and the elastic parts provided therebetween.