Mechanical Face Seal Cooling With Integrated Fluid Recirculation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mechanical seal arrangements used with hot media, such as in power plant applications, face temperature-mediated damage due to heat generation, which is exacerbated by the need for additional barrier fluid systems and increased energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical seal arrangement featuring a rotating and stationary slide ring with a recirculation conveyor that conveys fluid through a cooling device to cool the sealing gap, eliminating the need for a separate sealing circuit and additional cooling medium, thereby simplifying design and reducing energy requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a cooled sealing medium is fed to the slide rings to reduce temperature, then the temperature at the slide rings is reduced, but considerable constructive work incorporating an additional barrier fluid system is required
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the cooling medium circulation with the existing pump system. The pump housing serves dual purposes: pumping the hot media and circulating the cooling medium through integrated channels. This eliminates the need for separate barrier fluid systems and additional circulating pumps, reducing device complexity while maintaining effective cooling of the slide rings
Solution Approach 2:
The pump housing is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as the pump chamber for handling hot media and as the circulation system for cooling medium. The integrated design allows the same structural components to perform multiple functions: sealing, pumping, and cooling, thereby avoiding additional constructive work for separate cooling systems
2Temperature
If a separate sealing circuit with additional cooling medium is used, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption increases due to additional circulating pump
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines the cooling medium circulation function with the existing pump operation. The pump drives both the hot media through the pump and the cooling medium through the integrated cooling channels, eliminating the need for a separate circulating pump. This reduces energy consumption while maintaining effective cooling through the unified fluid dynamics system
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes the existing pump's mechanical energy to simultaneously drive both the process fluid and the cooling medium through integrated channels. The cooling system serves itself by leveraging the pump's existing operational energy, eliminating the need for additional energy-consuming circulating pumps while maintaining effective cooling
3Reliability
If conventional mechanical seal is used with hot media, then sealing function is provided, but temperature-mediated damage occurs to the slide rings
Solution Approach 1:
The invention integrates the cooling channel system directly into the pump housing structure, positioning cooling passages in direct thermal contact with the mechanical seal assembly. This merged design ensures continuous cooling of the slide rings during pump operation, preventing temperature-mediated damage while maintaining reliable sealing function through the same integrated structure
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
This solution provides improved cooling of the mechanical seal, extending the service life of the slide rings and reducing energy consumption, making it suitable for hot media applications without the need for additional cooling systems.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling device (20) is arranged for cooling the circulated fluid
Implementation Method 2
The recirculation rotor (8) is connected to a rotating component, for example a shaft or a sleeve mounted on the shaft
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a mechanical seal arrangement for sealing on a rotating component (21), comprising a slide ring seal (2) having a rotating slide ring (3) and a stationary slide ring (4), which define a sealing gap (5) between the sliding surfaces (3a, 4a) thereof, a recirculation conveyor (7) arranged adjacent to the rotating slide ring (3) wherein the recirculation conveyor (7) comprises a recirculation line (19) in which a cooling device (20) for cooling the recirculated fluid is arranged, a recirculation rotor (8) and a hollow cylindrical housing (9), wherein the recirculation line (19) leads to a cavity (6) in the region of the sealing gap (5) of the sliding ring seal (2), wherein the hollow cylindrical housing (9) comprises an inner shell surface (11) and an outer shell surface (12) and wherein a conveyor channel (10) is provided on the outer shell surface (12), which conveyor channel (10) is formed along the outer shell surface (12) from a start portion (13) to an end portion (14) wherein the start portion (13) of the conveyor channel (10) is separated from the end portion (14) by a separating web (15), wherein a plurality of feed openings (16) are provided in the hollow cylindrical housing (9), which open from the inner shell surface (11) into the conveyor channel (10), and wherein a single outlet opening (17) is provided at the end portion (14). (FIG. 1)