Side Channel Compressor Seal Assembly for Stable Impeller Gap Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Side channel compressors experience efficiency reduction due to leakage currents, which are exacerbated by wear and unsatisfactory sealing effects over the service life, particularly under varying operating conditions.
Innovation Solution
A sealing device is employed that is pressed radially outward to compensate for volume changes and securely held against axial migration, utilizing a Teflon-based sealing strip or ribbon with an elastic or foamed structure, supported by a holding device to maintain a consistent seal across all operating states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If seal assemblies are used to avoid leakage current, then sealing effect is improved, but wear occurs over service life leading to efficiency reduction
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing device utilizes elastic deformation characteristics to adapt to volume changes and thermal expansions during operation. By selecting materials with appropriate elastic properties, the seal maintains effective contact pressure and sealing performance throughout its service life, resolving the contradiction between initial sealing effect and long-term durability.
2Loss of energy
If seal assemblies are used to prevent leakage, then leakage current is reduced, but sealing effect becomes unsatisfactory under varying operating conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing device is designed to dynamically adapt to changing operating conditions through elastic deformation. As volume changes and temperature fluctuations occur during operation, the elastic material automatically adjusts its shape and contact pressure to maintain effective sealing, ensuring consistent performance across all operating states without compromising adaptability.
3Reliability
If sealing device is pressed radially outward to compensate volume changes, then sealing consistency is improved, but axial migration may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing device is functionally segmented into radial and axial components. The radial pressing force provides sealing consistency by compensating for volume changes, while the axial positioning is handled by the holding device structure. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its specific function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The holding device acts as an intermediary between the radially pressed sealing device and the housing. It translates and distributes the radial sealing force while simultaneously providing axial constraint, mediating between the conflicting requirements of radial sealing pressure and axial position stability.
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 solution effectively minimizes leakage currents and wear, maintaining high efficiency levels by ensuring a consistent sealing effect despite temperature fluctuations and deformations, thus preventing axial migration and ensuring reliable operation.
Implementation Method 1
The at least one sealing device is itself elastic or resilient. It is therefore advantageously able to be forced, in particular pressed, radially outward.
Implementation Method 2
changes in volume which occur during the operation of the side channel compressor, in particular owing to temperature fluctuations, can be reliably compensated
Data Source
AI summary
A side channel compressor for compressing a gas includes a housing and at least one impeller arranged in the housing and configured to be driven in rotation about a central axis. In addition, the side channel compressor includes at least one seal assembly arranged in the housing and including at least one sealing device configured to seal at least one gap between the housing and the at least one impeller and be forced radially outward with respect to the central axis in order to keep the at least one gap small. The at least one seal assembly also includes at least one sealing-device-holding device configured to hold the at least one sealing device in an axially secured fashion with respect to the central axis and which includes at least one main holding body.