Hydraulic Face Seal Support for High-Pressure CO2 Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing face seal systems fail to effectively withstand very high pressure differentials required by supercritical CO2 working fluid systems, leading to degradation of mechanical spring-based support mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulically supported seal system utilizing a piston shaft and cylinder biased by hydraulic fluid within a housing, with a hydraulic circuit and controller to maintain seal face integrity and adjust sealing forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical spring-based support mechanisms are used to bias the seal, then the seal can maintain contact with the seal plate, but the mechanisms degrade over time and cannot withstand very high pressure differentials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical spring-based support mechanism with a hydraulic support system. A piston connected to a seal carrier is biased by hydraulic fluid pressure, substituting the degraded mechanical spring system with a hydraulic system capable of withstanding very high pressure differentials (1,000 psi) while maintaining reliable seal contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a hydraulic circuit that supplies hydraulic fluid to a cylinder, creating hydraulic pressure that acts on a piston. This piston then provides biasing force to the seal carrier, utilizing hydraulic principles to achieve the necessary sealing force under high pressure differentials without the degradation issues of mechanical springs.
2Strength
If hydraulic support system is implemented to withstand high pressure differentials, then pressure resistance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic circuit serves multiple functions: it provides biasing force to the seal, maintains seal contact under varying pressure conditions, and can be integrated with existing system hydraulics. The piston and seal carrier assembly combines sealing, support, and biasing functions in a single integrated mechanism, reducing overall system complexity despite the addition of hydraulic components.
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 system provides robust sealing capabilities under high pressure differentials, maintaining seal integrity and preventing cross-contamination between high-pressure CO2 and hydraulic fluid.
Implementation Method 1
the piston is hydraulically biased by a hydraulic fluid within the cylinder
Data Source
AI summary
A hydraulically supported seal including a seal plate operatively coupled with a seal, the seal being supported by a seal carrier within a housing; a piston having a piston shaft, the piston being in operative communication with the seal opposite the seal plate, the piston shaft being disposed through the housing through a piston receiver formed in the housing; a cylinder operatively coupled to the piston opposite the seal; and wherein the piston is hydraulically biased by a hydraulic fluid within the cylinder.