Hydrostatic Sealing Ring Layout for Low-Friction Leakage Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sealing solutions for rotary vane machines face challenges with high friction, unpredictable leakage rates, and wear due to unevenly distributed radial pressure forces and eccentric motion, which are not adequately addressed by prior art solutions.
Innovation Solution
A sealing arrangement utilizing hydrostatic bearing pads with a piston arrangement and a sealing bearing ring, where pressurized lubrication fluid is supplied through a fluid supply line and piston channels, with flow restrictors to control the sealing gap distance and maintain a predictable leakage rate, reducing friction and wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hydrostatic sealing with lubricant film is used to achieve low leakage, then leakage rate is reduced, but friction force increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing surface is divided into multiple hydrostatic bearing pads instead of using a single continuous seal. Each pad is supplied with pressurized lubrication fluid through separate channels, creating multiple localized hydrostatic films that collectively seal the interface while distributing the friction load across several smaller contact zones.
Solution Approach 2:
Pressurized lubrication fluid is supplied through hydraulic channels to each bearing pad, creating hydrostatic pressure that maintains a lubricant film between the sealing surfaces. This hydraulic approach replaces traditional mechanical contact sealing, significantly reducing friction while maintaining low leakage through controlled fluid pressure.
2Reliability
If seal is pressed towards sealing surface with high force to maintain film pressure, then sealing effectiveness improves, but power consumption due to friction increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of mechanically pressing the seal against the surface (which creates high friction), the invention uses hydrostatic pressure from supplied lubrication fluid to maintain the sealing film. The pressurized fluid automatically generates the necessary film pressure to prevent leakage without requiring additional mechanical forcing, thereby eliminating the trade-off between sealing effectiveness and power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydrostatic bearing pads are self-actuating through the supplied pressurized lubrication fluid. The fluid pressure automatically adjusts to maintain the sealing film and compensate for variations in operating conditions, eliminating the need for external mechanical forcing mechanisms and reducing overall system energy consumption.
3Reliability
If tight gap is used in labyrinth seal to reduce leakage, then sealing performance improves, but friction and wear increase due to eccentric motion and uneven pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the tight-gap labyrinth seal with hydrostatic bearing pads that use pressurized lubrication fluid to maintain a controlled film gap. This hydraulic approach eliminates the need for extremely tight mechanical gaps, reducing wear from eccentric motion and uneven pressure while maintaining effective sealing through fluid pressure support.
Solution Approach 2:
A lubrication fluid film acts as an intermediary between the sealing surfaces, replacing direct solid-to-solid contact. This fluid mediator absorbs the effects of eccentric motion and uneven pressure distribution, preventing wear while maintaining sealing effectiveness through controlled film thickness and pressure.
4Reliability
If mechanical seal is used to seal rotating interface, then sealing is achieved, but friction and wear are high under varying pressure conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces mechanical contact seals with hydrostatic bearing pads that use pressurized lubrication fluid to create a non-contact sealing interface. The hydraulic film separates the rotating and stationary surfaces, eliminating mechanical friction and wear while maintaining sealing capability through fluid pressure control that adapts to varying operating pressures.
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 solution provides a balanced seal with low friction and predictable leakage, unaffected by eccentric motion and uneven pressure distribution, maintaining a controlled gap distance and minimizing wear on the seal and sealing surface.
Implementation Method 1
a sealing arrangement utilizing hydrostatic bearing pads with a piston arrangement and a sealing bearing ring, where pressurized lubrication fluid is supplied through a fluid supply line and piston channels
Implementation Method 2
Flow restriction of the piston fluid channels at least in part is provided by flow restrictors
Data Source
AI summary
A sealing arrangement between a rotating plane surface on a rotor and a machine housing prevents flow of process fluid between an internal volume and an external volume of the machine housing. The sealing arrangement includes a piston arrangement, and a sealing bearing ring between the piston arrangement and the rotating plane surface. A fluid supply line supplies pressurized lubrication fluid through the machine housing to a piston cavity, wherein the piston arrangement further includes piston fluid channels and the bearing sealing ring includes lubrication conduits through the bearing sealing ring, corresponding with the piston fluid channels. The pressurized lubrication fluid is arranged for moving the piston arrangement against the sealing bearing ring and thus moving the sealing bearing ring against the sealing surface thus forming a sealing arrangement.