Forced Oscillation Radial Seal for Regenerative Air Preheater Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Regenerative air preheaters in industrial boilers suffer from radial leaks due to traditional seals, which increase power consumption and limit boiler generation capacity, as these seals are prone to deformation and high movement resistance.
Innovation Solution
A forced oscillation radial seal is introduced, comprising a base with a pivot system, a rigid sealing sheet, and counterweights, which ensures constant contact with the polished surface and oscillates to maintain sealing even with plate deformations, using springs to assist in this movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If traditional radial seals are used, then the structure is simple, but the seal effectiveness deteriorates due to deformation and high movement resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is transformed from a static structure to a dynamic one by introducing a pivot system that allows the seal to oscillate between two positions. This dynamic capability enables the seal to adapt to plate deformations and maintain continuous contact with the sealing surface, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and seal effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal incorporates an oscillation mechanism that creates controlled mechanical movement through the pivot system. This vibration/oscillation ensures the seal maintains contact with the sealing surface despite thermal expansion or deformation, improving reliability while adding only moderate complexity through the pivot and counterweight mechanism.
2Adaptability or versatility
If flexible seal materials are used, then the seal can adapt to deformations, but the movement resistance increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of relying on flexible materials that create high friction, the invention uses a rigid seal with a pivot system that enables controlled oscillation. This dynamic approach provides adaptability to deformations through movement rather than material flexibility, significantly reducing movement resistance and energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The counterweight system balances the seal's movement forces, reducing the net resistance during oscillation. By using counterweights to offset gravitational and frictional forces, the seal can adapt to deformations with minimal energy input, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and energy use.
3Device complexity
If the seal remains stationary, then the structure is simple, but the seal contact is lost under thermal expansion
Solution Approach 1:
The seal transitions from a stationary to a dynamic system with a pivot mechanism that allows oscillation. This enables the seal to maintain contact stability under thermal expansion by actively adjusting its position, accepting increased structural complexity as the trade-off for maintaining stable contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal employs periodic oscillation through the pivot system to maintain continuous contact with the sealing surface. This periodic movement compensates for thermal expansion and deformation, ensuring stable seal contact while requiring a more complex mechanism compared to a stationary seal.
4Productivity
If air leaks are high, then the boiler capacity is limited, but increasing fan power to compensate increases energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the harmful effect of thermal expansion and plate deformation into a beneficial oscillating motion that maintains seal contact. By utilizing the very movements that previously caused leakage problems, the system maintains sealing effectiveness without requiring additional energy input, thus protecting boiler capacity without increasing fan power consumption.
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 forced oscillation seal effectively eliminates radial leaks, maintaining contact with the sealing surface under both cold and hot conditions, thereby reducing fuel consumption and increasing boiler efficiency by preventing air leakage.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of springs in contact with the rigid sealing sheet and the base along the axis of the pivot system that cooperate with the counterweights to force the seal to oscillate
Implementation Method 2
a counterweight attached to the rigid sealing sheet so that the rigid sealing sheet reassumes a vertical position after forming a seal with a sealing surface
Data Source
AI summary
A forced oscillation radial seal is described for regenerative air preheaters which contain rotatable radial plates having upper and lower edges. The forced oscillation seal includes a base with a first portion attached to a lateral face of the plates adjacent the upper and lower edges, and a second free portion, with a pivot system having an axis attached to the second free portion, and a rigid sealing sheet with a first free portion, second portion, and central portion, the sealing sheet attached at its central portion to the pivot system. The forced oscillation seal includes a counterweight attached to the sealing sheet so the sealing sheet reassumes a vertical position after forming a seal with a sealing surface, and a plurality of springs in contact with the sealing sheet and base along the axis of the pivot system, which cooperate with the counterweights to force the seal to oscillate.