Front-Loaded Rotor Blade Seal for Turbomachine Leakage Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In turbomachines, such as gas turbines, there is a challenge in sealing the gaps between adjacent rotor blades to prevent fluid leaks during assembly, which affects the efficiency and reliability of the system.
Innovation Solution
A front-loaded seal system is introduced, where a flexible seal is inserted between the adjacent airfoil shanks after they are positioned in the ring, utilizing a seal channel with a front opening and a terminal opening, and retention features like lips, hooks, or tabs to securely retain the seal, ensuring a tight seal without obstructing the flow path.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional sealing methods (aft radial seal perpendicular to axial direction) are used, then assembly is straightforward, but sealing effectiveness is insufficient and fluid leakage remains high
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is pre-installed into the seal channel on the first rotor blade before assembly, with the retention feature positioned to engage with the second rotor blade. This preliminary positioning ensures proper seal alignment and eliminates the need for complex post-assembly sealing operations, resolving the contradiction between sealing effectiveness and installation complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing system is divided into distinct functional components: a flexible seal element, a seal channel with specific geometry, and retention features (lips, hooks, or tabs). This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently for its specific function while simplifying the overall assembly process
2Manufacturing precision
If seal is installed after rotor blades are positioned in the ring, then seal alignment is improved, but assembly time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is pre-installed into the seal channel on the first rotor blade before the blades are positioned in the ring. The retention feature is designed to automatically engage with the second rotor blade's corresponding structure, ensuring precise alignment without requiring additional alignment operations after assembly, thus maintaining both precision and productivity
3Ease of manufacture
If seal channel is designed with front opening and terminal opening, then seal installation is simplified, but seal retention becomes more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The retention feature is pre-configured on the seal or in the seal channel to automatically engage with the rotor blade structure during assembly. This preliminary configuration ensures that once the seal is installed through the front opening, it is automatically secured by the retention mechanism, resolving the contradiction between installation ease and retention reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The retention feature acts as an intermediary mechanism between the seal and the rotor blade structure. It provides a reliable connection point that secures the seal in place while allowing for straightforward installation through the front and terminal openings of the seal channel
Data Source
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AI summary
This disclosure provides systems and methods for sealing flow path components, such as turbomachine airfoils 100, with a front-leaded seal. A seal channel 170 is defined between a portion of the suction side surface 118 of a first flow path component and a portion of the pressure side 116 of a second flow path component. A seal is retained within the seal channel formed by the pressure side portion and the suction side portion and the seal channel defines a forward opening 152 through which the seal is inserted during installation.