Dual Sealing Ring Assembly for High-Pressure Piston Compressors
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing piston ring assemblies for compressors are not suitable for high-pressure differentials due to pronounced cold flow under load, leading to rapid wear and inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A piston ring assembly comprising two endless sealing rings and an elastic ring carrier, where the sealing rings are pressed against the cylinder wall in opposite directions, creating a stable sealing mechanism suitable for high-pressure applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single piston ring is used to seal the compression chamber, then the structure is simple, but the ring exhibits pronounced cold flow under load at high pressure differentials, resulting in rapid wear
Solution Approach 1:
The single piston ring is divided into two separate sealing rings (first and second sealing rings) that are arranged successively in the ring carrier. Each ring has its center spaced radially from the other, creating a segmented sealing system that distributes the sealing load and prevents cold flow deformation that would occur in a single ring under high pressure differentials.
2Reliability
If the sealing ring is pressed against the cylinder wall to seal, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but cold flow under load occurs at high pressure differentials, leading to rapid wear
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is segmented into two separate rings that share the sealing load. This segmentation prevents excessive pressure concentration on a single ring, eliminating cold flow deformation while maintaining effective sealing against the cylinder wall even at high pressure differentials up to 500 bar.
Solution Approach 2:
Each sealing ring is designed with specific local properties including radial spacing between centers, which creates optimal contact pressure distribution. The rings are positioned to seal dynamic pressure components locally, with their centers spaced radially to ensure even load distribution and prevent localized cold flow that would reduce service life.
3Stress or pressure
If a piston ring assembly is designed for high-pressure applications, then pressure capability is improved, but the ring structure becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The high-pressure sealing capability is achieved through segmentation into two rings with radially spaced centers, allowing the assembly to handle pressure differentials up to 500 bar. The segmentation distributes stress across multiple contact points, enabling high-pressure operation without requiring overly complex individual ring structures or additional sealing mechanisms.
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 piston ring assembly provides enhanced stability and durability, effectively sealing dynamic pressure components and reducing wear, making it suitable for pressures up to 500 bar, particularly for compressing hydrogen.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic ring carrier, wherein the first and the second sealing ring extend in a circumferential direction... the ring carrier as well as the first and the second sealing ring are designed to be mutually adapted in such a way that the first and the second sealing ring are arranged successively in the ring carrier
Implementation Method 2
the first and second endless sealing rings are additionally pressed in the opposite direction against the inner wall of the cylinder during the compression phase of the piston by the internal pressure rising in the compression chamber of the cylinder
Data Source
AI summary
The piston ring assembly having a first and a second endless sealing ring and an elastic ring carrier, the first and the second sealing ring extending in a circumferential direction (U) and each having an outer circumferential surface, the first sealing ring having a first center point (M1) with respect to its outer circumferential surface and the second sealing ring having a second center point (M2) with respect to its outer circumferential surface, the first and second sealing rings each having a longitudinal axis (L) running perpendicular to the circumferential direction (U), wherein the ring carrier runs in the circumferential direction (U), and wherein the ring carrier and the first and second sealing rings are designed to be mutually adapted in such a way that the first and second sealing rings are arranged one after the other in the ring carrier in the direction of the longitudinal axis (L), and in that their first and second centers (M1, M2) are arranged at a distance from one another radially with respect to the longitudinal axis (L), the sealing rings being pressed in opposite directions against the inner wall of a cylinder when the piston ring assembly is used in accordance with the invention.