Locally Compliant Hydrodynamic Face Seal for Turbine Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional face seals in turbomachines are difficult to assemble and prone to large face deformations, leading to premature wear and performance degradation due to leakage issues.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a face seal system with a split-ring configuration and locally compliant hydrodynamic pads that engage with a rotor ring, allowing for low-friction relative movement and individual biasing to maintain a uniform sealing interface, reducing leakage and preventing cocking or direct contact between the primary and mating rings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional face seals are used, then the sealing function is provided, but the assembly difficulty increases and face deformation occurs leading to premature wear
Solution Approach 1:
The face seal is divided into multiple independently compliant segments or pads that can move relative to each other. Each segment is biased by its own spring mechanism, allowing them to independently conform to the mating surface without requiring precise alignment during assembly, thus resolving the contradiction between sealing reliability and assembly ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal segments are designed to be dynamically compliant rather than rigid, with each segment capable of independent movement and adjustment. This dynamic compliance allows the segments to automatically adapt to surface variations and maintain sealing contact without complex assembly procedures, addressing both reliability and ease of operation.
2Device complexity
If traditional rigid face seals are used, then the structure is simple, but large face deformation occurs causing leakage and performance degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid seal face is segmented into multiple independent compliant pads, each capable of local deformation without affecting the entire seal structure. This segmentation maintains relatively simple overall structure while preventing large-scale face deformation that would cause leakage and performance degradation.
Solution Approach 2:
Each seal segment is equipped with its own spring biasing mechanism, providing localized compliance and force application. This local quality approach ensures that each segment can independently maintain optimal contact pressure and conform to surface variations, preventing the large face deformation seen in rigid seals while keeping the overall structure relatively simple.
3Reliability
If compliant segments are added to the face seal, then face deformation is reduced and sealing performance improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is divided into multiple segments with individual spring mechanisms, where each segment independently provides compliance and sealing force. This segmentation achieves consistent sealing performance across the entire face while keeping each individual component relatively simple, balancing reliability improvement with manageable device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Each compliant segment is equipped with its own spring biasing mechanism that automatically adjusts and maintains optimal contact pressure without external control or adjustment. This self-service capability ensures consistent sealing performance while avoiding the need for complex external control systems, thereby improving reliability without proportionally increasing device complexity.
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
This configuration enhances the sealing performance and longevity of the face seal by reducing leakage, minimizing mechanical degradation, and allowing for easier assembly in larger turbines, while maintaining a consistent small gap to prevent contact and maintain efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a face seal disposed about the rotor. The face seal includes a rotor ring coupled to the rotor and a stator ring coupled to the stationary housing, wherein the stator ring comprises a plurality of hydrodynamic pads extending from a sealing face of the stator ring to the rotor ring
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed toward a stator ring configured to be disposed about a rotor of a turbine, wherein the stator ring comprises a plurality of hydrodynamic pads extending from a sealing face of the stator ring, wherein each of the plurality of hydrodynamic pads is configured to hydrodynamically engage with a rotor ring.