Magnetic Seal Support Assembly for Turbine Rotor Clearance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seal member support systems in gas turbine engines fail to effectively maintain a positive radial clearance between seal members and the rotor shaft under varying operating conditions, leading to potential rotor scrub and excessive wear during low delta pressure conditions and transients.
Innovation Solution
A seal member support system utilizing a tangential spring-based retraction mechanism that holds seal members in a retracted position radially away from the rotor shaft during low delta pressure conditions, allowing them to move inwardly to seal the radial gap as pressure increases, and return to the retracted position as pressure decreases, reducing rotor scrub and wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If seal members are held in a fixed position, then sealing is maintained under normal conditions, but rotor scrub and excessive wear occur during low delta pressure conditions and transients
Solution Approach 1:
The seal support assembly incorporates a spring mechanism that enables dynamic adjustment of seal member position. The spring allows the seal member to move radially outward during low delta pressure conditions to prevent rotor scrub, and radially inward during normal operation to maintain sealing effectiveness, thus resolving the contradiction between reliable sealing and preventing wear.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the radial position parameter of the seal member based on operating conditions. During low delta pressure conditions, the seal member position is adjusted outward to clear the rotor surface, preventing scrub and wear. During normal operation, the position is maintained inward to ensure proper sealing, thereby adapting to varying pressure conditions.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If seal members are allowed to move radially to adapt to pressure changes, then wear is reduced, but the mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The spring-based mechanism is self-regulating and automatically adjusts seal member position in response to pressure changes without requiring external control systems. The spring force naturally balances against pressure differential, enabling the seal to service itself by adapting position based on operating conditions, thus reducing wear while minimizing added 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
The system maintains a consistent radial clearance between seal members and the rotor shaft, minimizing wear and damage by adapting to pressure changes, thereby enhancing the durability and efficiency of the turbine engine.
Implementation Method 1
a spring arrangement extending between the carrier and a first seal segment of the plurality of seal segments to counter a pressure on an outer pressurization surface of a lip of the first seal segment
Data Source
AI summary
A turbine engine is provided. The gas turbine engine defines a radial direction and includes: a rotor; a stator comprising a carrier; a seal assembly disposed between the rotor and the stator, the seal assembly comprising a seal segment, the seal segment having a seal face configured to form a fluid bearing with the rotor; and a seal support assembly, the seal support assembly including a magnet assembly having a magnet coupled to the carrier or the seal segment for biasing the first seal segment along the radial direction.