Guide Vane Sealing Assembly Using Pressurized Fluid Barriers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional guide vane assemblies in gas turbine engines face issues with costly, inefficient, and prone-to-wear mechanical seals that lead to increased maintenance costs and reduced efficiency due to fluid leakage and mechanical contact, which are unsuitable for high-temperature applications.
Innovation Solution
A non-contacting, non-wearing sealing assembly using pressurized fluid to seal the clearance between a plate and guide vane, eliminating mechanical contact and wear, and incorporating a metallic plate and manifold with minimal moving parts to withstand high temperatures and reduce leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional mechanical seals are used to seal the clearance around the guide vane, then sealing function is provided, but the seals are prone to wear and tear, leading to increased maintenance costs and reduced reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional mechanical seal system with a fluid-based sealing system. Pressurized fluid is introduced through flow tubes to the sealing surface, creating a fluid barrier that prevents leakage without mechanical contact. This substitution eliminates wear and tear associated with mechanical seals while maintaining effective sealing, directly resolving the contradiction between sealing performance and service life.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs pneumatic sealing by introducing pressurized fluid through a network of flow tubes to the sealing clearance between the guide vane and plate. The pressurized fluid creates a pressure barrier that prevents leakage, providing reliable sealing without mechanical contact. This approach ensures both effective sealing performance and extended service life by eliminating mechanical wear.
2Reliability
If mechanical seals with moving parts are used, then sealing function is achieved, but friction and wear occur, increasing maintenance requirements and reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates mechanical seals with moving parts by substituting them with a fluid-based sealing system. Pressurized fluid is delivered through flow tubes to create a sealing barrier, achieving effective sealing without any mechanical contact or moving parts. This reduces device complexity while maintaining sealing effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the mechanical seal components with moving parts from the guide vane assembly. By eliminating these components entirely and replacing them with a fluid-based sealing approach, the system achieves sealing functionality with reduced complexity and no friction-related maintenance.
3Reliability
If conventional carbon seals are used to prevent fluid leakage, then sealing is provided, but the seals are prone to wear and may negatively impact system force margins
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical carbon seals with a fluid-based sealing system. Pressurized fluid is introduced through flow tubes to create a sealing barrier that prevents leakage without mechanical contact. This eliminates the friction forces that would otherwise oppose guide vane actuation, preserving full actuation force margins while maintaining effective leakage prevention.
4Reliability
If mechanical seals are used in high temperature applications, then sealing function is provided, but the seal materials may not be suitable for high temperature operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces temperature-sensitive mechanical seals with a fluid-based sealing system. Pressurized fluid is delivered through heat-resistant flow tubes to the sealing surface, creating a thermal barrier that prevents leakage without requiring temperature-resistant seal materials. This allows the system to operate at high temperatures while maintaining sealing performance.
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 sealing assembly enhances efficiency and reduces maintenance costs by preventing fluid leakage, maintaining smooth operation, and increasing the life cycle of guide vane assemblies, while being suitable for various guide vane systems in compressors and turbines.
Implementation Method 1
The sealing assembly uses the pressurized fluid to seal the clearance between the plate and the guide vane
Data Source
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AI summary
A guide vane assembly (202) includes a guide vane (204) and a sealing assembly (224) slidable along a span (220) of the guide vane (204) relative to the guide vane (204) and extending along a chordal axis (C1) and the span (220) of the guide vane (204). The sealing assembly (224) includes a plate (226) configured to be disposed around at least a portion of an external surface (222) of the guide vane (204). The sealing assembly (224) further includes a manifold (232) coupled to the plate (226) and configured to receive pressurized fluid therein. The manifold (232) is disposed around the plate (226). The sealing assembly (224) further includes a plurality of flow tubes (234, 235) extending between the manifold (232) and the plate (226). Each of the plurality of flow tubes (234, 235) are configured to receive the pressurized fluid from the manifold (232).