Floating Seal Assembly for Turbine Engine Rotor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional labyrinth seal assemblies in gas turbine engines face limitations in scalability and durability due to reliance on static components that wear down with rotor movement, leading to increased leakage and reduced efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A floating seal assembly with a seal body that pivots about a pivot connection, utilizing internal passages and fluid films to maintain equilibrium and reduce friction, allowing it to follow rotor movement while minimizing leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a static labyrinth seal assembly is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the seal wears down with rotor movement leading to increased leakage and reduced efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The seal assembly is transformed from a static structure to a dynamic one that can move with rotor displacement. The seal carrier is equipped with springs that allow the seal elements to float and adjust their position dynamically, maintaining sealing contact despite rotor movement and thermal expansion, thereby resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and sealing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal assembly uses the leakage flow itself to provide lubrication and cooling through internal passages, and the springs automatically adjust the seal position based on operating conditions. This self-regulating mechanism maintains sealing effectiveness without external control systems, improving reliability while keeping the structure relatively simple.
2Device complexity
If a static seal assembly is used, then the device complexity is low, but durability is reduced due to wear from rotor movement
Solution Approach 1:
The seal elements are designed to float on the rotor surface with minimal contact pressure, reducing wear. The dynamic adjustment capability allows the seal to adapt to rotor movement and thermal expansion, significantly extending service life while adding only moderate complexity through spring mechanisms and internal passages.
Solution Approach 2:
Internal passages are incorporated to channel leakage flow for lubrication and cooling of the seal elements. This hydraulic lubrication reduces friction and wear, extending durability while adding relatively simple fluid channels to the existing seal structure.
3Device complexity
If a static labyrinth seal is used, then the structure is simple, but leakage increases due to inability to follow rotor movement
Solution Approach 1:
The seal carrier with spring elements allows the seal to dynamically follow rotor displacement and thermal expansion. This dynamic capability maintains consistent sealing clearance, preventing leakage increase that would occur with a static seal, while adding only moderate structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal design allows parameters such as seal clearance and contact pressure to change dynamically in response to operating conditions. The springs adjust the seal position based on thermal expansion and rotor movement, maintaining optimal sealing parameters that prevent leakage while keeping the overall structure relatively simple.
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
Enhances sealing effectiveness and reduces wear, increasing the lifespan and efficiency of the turbine engine by maintaining sealing capabilities despite rotor movement.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing internal passages and fluid films to maintain equilibrium and reduce friction
Implementation Method 2
A floating seal assembly with a seal body that pivots about a pivot connection
Data Source
AI summary
A floating seal assembly for a turbine engine. The floating seal assembly has a carriage assembly, a seal body, a seal face, a pressurization cavity, and an internal passage. The carriage assembly defines a seal seat with a seal cavity. The seal body floats within the seal cavity. The seal face is located between the seal body and a first wall of the carriage assembly. The pressurization cavity is located along the seal face.