Compressor Rotor Sealing Sleeve Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Turbomachinery components, such as hirth couplings in centrifugal compressors, face durability issues due to exposure to varying forces and contaminants in process fluids, leading to potential corrosion and reduced performance over time.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of sealing structures, including sealing sleeves and seal members, is used to cover hirth couplings, preventing the ingress of process fluids and thereby protecting the components from contaminants and debris, ensuring consistent performance and durability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If hirth couplings are exposed to process fluids for operational functionality, then fluid compression capability is improved, but corrosion and contamination resistance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid compression capabilityVSAvoidcorrosion and contamination resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The rotor assembly is segmented into a process-exposed section (impeller bodies) and a protected section (hirth couplings), with sealing structures creating distinct zones. This allows the hirth couplings to remain functionally isolated from process fluids while the impeller bodies maintain fluid compression capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Sealing structures (sealing sleeves and seal members) act as intermediary barriers between the process fluids and hirth couplings. These seals prevent direct contact between corrosive fluids and the coupling surfaces, thereby protecting the hirth couplings while allowing the compressor to process various fluids.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If sealing structures are added to protect hirth couplings, then durability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovedurabilityVSAvoidsealing structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing structures utilize thin sealing members and sleeves that provide effective barrier protection without adding substantial structural complexity. The flexible seal members can deform to accommodate manufacturing tolerances and thermal expansion, maintaining sealing effectiveness while keeping the design relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing structures are nested within existing rotor assembly components. Sealing sleeves are positioned over rotor shafts, and seal members are installed in grooves on impeller bodies, utilizing existing spatial relationships to minimize additional complexity while providing comprehensive protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS11885340B2Compressor rotor structure

Publication Date: 2024.01.30 SIEMENS ENERGY GLOBAL GMBH & CO KG

AI summary

Compressor rotor structure for turbomachinery, such as a compressor, is provided. Disclosed embodiments can benefit from sealing sleeves that may be arranged to inhibit passage onto respective hirth couplings of process fluid being processed by the compressor. The sealing sleeves may be affixed to adjoining structures (e.g., adjoining impeller bodies) by way of a slip fit connection to one of the adjoining structures and an interference fit connection with respect to the other adjoining structure, which is conducive to a user-friendly assembly of the sealing sleeves with the adjoining structures.