Inlet Guide Vane Sealing for Centrifugal Compressor Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
The sealing performance of the shaft portion in the movable vane of centrifugal compressors is compromised due to high pressure differences, leading to fluid leakage, which existing seal members fail to adequately address.
Innovation Solution
An inlet guide vane design featuring a seal portion with multiple bearing portions and seal members, including a first and second seal member with different seal structures, and a sealing fluid supply unit, along with a sensor to detect leaks and improve sealing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a seal member is provided to prevent fluid leakage through the clearance between the bearing and shaft portion, then sealing performance is improved, but the seal member is exposed to high pressure fluid and degrades over time, reducing long-term sealing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the sealing function into two separate components: the bearing portions (which handle the high-pressure fluid and support rotation) and the seal portions (which provide sealing but are protected from direct fluid exposure). This segmentation allows each component to optimize its function without being compromised by the other's operational conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing portions act as an intermediary barrier between the high-pressure fluid and the seal portions. The clearance between the bearing outer peripheral surfaces and the shaft portion allows only a minimal amount of fluid to reach the seal portions, effectively mediating and reducing the harmful fluid exposure to the seals.
2Reliability
If multiple seal members are used to improve sealing performance, then sealing reliability is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing system is segmented into multiple seal portions positioned at different locations along the insertion hole. Each seal portion can be independently designed and positioned to address specific sealing needs at different pressure zones, allowing for improved sealing performance through a structured, modular approach rather than a single complex seal.
Data Source
AI summary
An inlet guide vane includes: a movable vane that has a vane main body and a shaft portion disposed in an end portion of the vane main body; a frame that has an insertion hole into which the shaft portion is to be inserted; a plurality of bearing portions that are arranged inside the insertion hole at an interval in a direction of a central axis of the shaft portion and that support the shaft portion to be rotatable around the central axis with respect to the frame; and a seal portion that is located inside the insertion hole between the plurality of bearing portions in the direction of the central axis and that seals an area between the insertion hole and the shaft portion.