Hydrodynamic Mating Ring Impeller Groove Inlet
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hydrodynamic groove seals face challenges in maintaining a stable fluid film at low speeds and altitudes, leading to increased heat generation and wear due to reduced fluid density and pressure, resulting in inadequate sealing performance.
Innovation Solution
A hydrodynamic mating ring with impeller portions and inlet conduits is designed to enhance fluid pressure, volume, and flow rate into the grooves, maintaining a stable fluid film between the rotating and stationary rings through fluid communication and energy transfer from rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional hydrodynamic groove seals are used, then sealing performance is adequate at high speeds and pressures, but fluid film stability deteriorates at low speeds and altitudes due to reduced fluid density and pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet conduit pre-supplies fluid to the groove inlet region before the groove can draw fluid from the ambient environment alone. This preliminary fluid delivery ensures sufficient fluid is available to maintain film stability even when ambient fluid density and pressure are low, directly resolving the contradiction between reliable sealing and fluid film stability at altitude.
Solution Approach 2:
The inlet conduit acts as an intermediary mechanism between the ambient fluid environment and the hydrodynamic groove. It mediates the fluid supply process by actively transporting fluid to the groove inlet, compensating for insufficient ambient fluid availability at low density conditions and maintaining stable fluid film formation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional hydrodynamic groove seals operate at low speeds and altitudes, then fluid density and pressure decrease, but heat generation and wear increase due to intermittent contact and high shear
Solution Approach 1:
By pre-supplying fluid through the inlet conduit before contact occurs, the system ensures continuous fluid film presence even at low speeds. This prevents intermittent contact between sealing surfaces, eliminating the high shear and wear that would otherwise occur during transient conditions and reducing heat generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The impeller portion of the mating ring self-supplies fluid to the groove inlet region using its own rotational motion. This self-service mechanism ensures continuous fluid delivery without external assistance, maintaining fluid film stability and preventing contact-related heat and wear across the full operational range.
3Speed
If the mating ring rotates at low speeds, then fluid density decreases, but the ability for sufficient fluid to enter the grooves is diminished, resulting in thin hydrodynamic fluid films
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet conduit delivers fluid to the groove inlet region in advance, compensating for the reduced fluid intake capability at low rotational speeds. This preliminary fluid delivery ensures sufficient fluid volume is available in the grooves to maintain adequate hydrodynamic film thickness even when the mating ring rotates slowly.
Solution Approach 2:
The inlet conduit utilizes hydraulic principles to actively transport fluid against the reduced pressure gradient that exists at low speeds. By creating a dedicated fluid delivery path, the system overcomes the diminished natural convection and pressure-driven flow that occur when rotational speed is low, ensuring sufficient fluid volume reaches the grooves.
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 effectively maintains a stable fluid film at low pressures and speeds, reducing wear and heat generation, and ensuring reliable sealing performance even in challenging environmental conditions.
Implementation Method 1
an impeller portion and an inlet conduit that may be configured to provide fluid communication between the hydrodynamic groove and the impeller portion
Implementation Method 2
The grooves, which may be spiral in shape, may be grooved toward a low pressure side of the second ring. The grooves may have a dam section where the groove ends. A sealing, effect around the dead ended grooves can provide a compression of a working fluid, such as gas, resulting in a pressure increase in the groove region.
Implementation Method 3
The mating ring may include a buffer that may be disposed beneath the sealing face and may be in fluid communication with the impeller portion and/or the inlet conduit.
Data Source
AI summary
A hydrodynamic mating ring of the present disclosure may include a sealing face, a hydrodynamic groove disposed in the sealing face, an impeller portion, and an inlet conduit configured to provide fluid communication between the hydrodynamic groove and the impeller portion. A method of sealing may include providing a mating ring having a sealing face, a plurality of hydrodynamic grooves disposed in the sealing face, a plurality of impeller portions, and a plurality of inlet conduits configured to provide fluid communication between respective ones of the plurality of hydrodynamic grooves and the plurality of impeller portions. The method may include rotating the mating ring, and increasing at least one of a pressure, a volume, and a flow rate of fluid to the hydrodynamic grooves via the plurality of impeller portions drawing said fluid into the plurality of inlet conduits.