Magnetic Turbomachine Seal Links for Thermal Expansion Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sealing assemblies in gas turbines face durability issues due to high temperatures and thermal expansion, leading to misalignment and decoupling, which reduces their lifespan and effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A sealing arrangement using magnetically coupled seal links with flexible metal cloth elements, embedded magnets, and ball socket joints that allow for thermal expansion and movement, ensuring alignment and maintaining a tight seal between the aft frame and the stage one nozzle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional sealing assemblies are used to seal between the aft frame and turbine nozzle, then sealing function is achieved, but the assembly suffers from limited durability and misalignment due to thermal expansion and vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing assembly incorporates a resilient seal member that can dynamically adapt to thermal expansion and vibrational movements. The seal member is designed to flex and deform elastically, allowing it to maintain sealing contact despite relative movements between the aft frame and turbine nozzle components during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal member material properties are selected to change with temperature, maintaining appropriate elasticity and sealing force across the operating temperature range. The resilient nature of the seal member allows it to accommodate parameter changes in dimensional stability between connected components.
2Stability of the object's composition
If rigid sealing assemblies are used to maintain alignment, then structural stability is achieved, but thermal expansion causes misalignment and decoupling
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing assembly uses a resilient seal member that functions as a flexible element between rigid components. This flexible seal absorbs dimensional changes and misalignments caused by thermal expansion, preventing stress concentration and decoupling while maintaining the sealing function.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient seal member acts as a cushioning element that anticipates and absorbs the effects of thermal expansion and vibrational movements before they can cause misalignment or decoupling. The elastic deformation of the seal member prevents harmful stress transmission between components.
3Temperature
If high temperature resistant materials are used in the sealing assembly, then temperature resistance is improved, but the assembly becomes more complex and harder to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The seal member is designed to operate within a specific temperature range where it maintains appropriate elastic properties. Rather than using exotic high-temperature materials throughout the entire assembly, the design accepts that the seal member will be exposed to elevated temperatures but selects materials that retain sufficient resilience in this range, balancing performance and manufacturability.
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 enhances the durability and alignment of the sealing assembly, prolonging its life and maintaining high operational efficiency by withstanding thermal expansion and vibrations, ensuring complete sealing and efficient energy transfer.
Implementation Method 1
A sealing arrangement using magnetically coupled seal links with flexible metal cloth elements, embedded magnets, and ball socket joints
Data Source
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AI summary
Sealing arrangements (201) and turbomachines are provided. A sealing arrangement (201) for a turbomachine includes a transition duct (44) having an upstream end (46) and a downstream end (48). The transition duct (44) includes an aft frame (100) that circumferentially surrounds the downstream end (48) of the transition duct (44). A stage one nozzle (700) spaced apart from the aft frame (100) and defining a gap (202) therebetween. A sealing assembly (400) extends across the gap (202). The sealing assembly (400) includes a first seal link (602) magnetically coupled to the aft frame (100). The sealing assembly (400) further includes a second seal link (604) magnetically coupled to the first seal link (602) and the stage one nozzle (700).