Floating Seal Assembly for Cryogenic Particle Feeder Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems face challenges in maintaining effective sealing between areas of different pressures during the transfer of cryogenic particles into a transport fluid, leading to parasitic losses and inadequate sealing pressures, which result in increased power consumption and wear.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus employs a lower seal/piston assembly with a floating mechanism and an annular pressure chamber to align and limit the sealing pressure, reducing the surface area affected by the transport fluid pressure, thereby minimizing parasitic drag and maintaining adequate sealing across a range of pressures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If seals are urged against the rotor surface to maintain pressure differential, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but parasitic drag and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is designed to float and dynamically adjust its position relative to the rotor surface based on pressure differential, rather than being constantly urged against it. This dynamic positioning maintains sealing effectiveness when needed while minimizing contact and parasitic drag during normal operation, thereby reducing power consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The seal utilizes the pressure differential itself to float into the sealing position, eliminating the need for external urging mechanisms. The system self-regulates the seal position based on operating conditions, maintaining reliability without continuous mechanical force application that would increase energy consumption
2Reliability
If seals are urged against the rotor surface to maintain pressure differential, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but wear increases
Solution Approach 1:
The floating seal dynamically positions itself to contact the rotor surface only when pressure differential requires sealing, rather than maintaining constant contact. This reduces cumulative wear on the seal material, extending its operational life while maintaining sealing effectiveness when needed
3Stress or pressure
If large surface area is exposed to transport fluid pressure, then sealing pressure is increased, but parasitic drag increases
Solution Approach 1:
The annular pressure chamber confines transport fluid pressure to a localized area beneath the seal, rather than exposing the entire seal surface to pressure. This localized pressure application generates adequate sealing pressure at the seal-rotor interface without subjecting the full seal surface area to high pressure, thereby minimizing parasitic drag
4Reliability
If constant sealing pressure is maintained across wide pressure range, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seal assembly automatically adapts to varying transport fluid pressures through the floating mechanism and annular pressure chamber, maintaining adequate sealing pressure across a wide operating range without requiring external control systems. The system self-regulates based on operating conditions, achieving reliability without increased device complexity
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 configuration achieves controlled and adequate sealing pressure over a wide range of transport fluid operating pressures, reducing the torque required to rotate the rotor, minimizing wear, and allowing the use of smaller motors while preventing leakage.
Implementation Method 1
movement of the lower seal into alignment with the rotor may be achieved by the static pressure of the flow
Implementation Method 2
a lower seal/piston assembly with a floating mechanism and an annular pressure chamber to align and limit the sealing pressure
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus is described which introduces cryogenic particles received from a source of particles, having a first pressure, into a moving transport fluid, having a second pressure, for ultimate delivery to a workpiece or target as particles entrained in a transport fluid flow which seals between the source of particles and the transport fluid flow.