Mechanical Seal Cooling with Eccentric Gap and Conveying Grooves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mechanical seal arrangements face challenges in achieving sufficient cooling performance, which can lead to overheating and reduced service life, despite the use of barrier fluid systems for heat dissipation.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical seal arrangement featuring a rotating conveying sleeve with multiple grooves and a stationary sliding ring with eccentric and widening recesses, allowing for enhanced fluid flow and cooling efficiency, combined with annular gaps for dual-sided cooling, and recesses for improved fluid inflow and outflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a conventional barrier fluid system is used for cooling the mechanical seal, then the seal can be cooled during operation, but the cooling performance is insufficient leading to overheating and reduced service life
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the cooling fluid path into multiple channels: a first cooling channel through the conveying sleeve, a second cooling channel through the stationary sliding ring, and a third cooling channel through the rotating sliding ring. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each cooling path and improves overall cooling efficiency by distributing the cooling fluid more effectively across different components.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements a nested structure where the conveying sleeve is received by the stationary sliding ring, and the rotating sliding ring is received by the conveying sleeve. The cooling channels are nested within these concentric components, with the cooling fluid flowing through multiple nested passages. This nested arrangement maximizes the use of limited space while providing multiple cooling paths, significantly improving cooling performance without increasing overall seal size.
2Speed
If the inner circumference of the stationary sliding ring is arranged concentrically to the conveying sleeve, then the structure is simple, but the conveying speed of the cooling fluid is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces asymmetry by arranging the inner circumference of the stationary sliding ring eccentrically to the outer circumference of the conveying sleeve, creating a non-uniform annular gap. This asymmetric gap configuration, combined with the asymmetric positioning of inlet and outlet openings, generates a pressure differential that drives faster cooling fluid conveyance through the gap, significantly improving conveying speed compared to a symmetric concentric arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a simple radial gap to a three-dimensional eccentric annular gap with varying width around the circumference. By positioning inlet and outlet openings at specific angular locations and creating an asymmetric gap profile, the design utilizes angular and radial dimensions together to optimize fluid flow path length and velocity, achieving higher conveying speeds without simply increasing gap width everywhere.
3Productivity
If the stationary sliding ring has a slot on the rear side without a widening recess, then the structure is simple, but the outflow of the conveyed fluid into the outlet is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The widening recess is positioned upstream of the outlet opening, preliminarily expanding the fluid passage before the fluid reaches the outlet. This preliminary expansion reduces flow resistance and prepares the cooling fluid for efficient discharge, improving outflow efficiency by anticipating and addressing flow constraints before they become bottlenecks at the outlet.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies local quality by adding the widening recess only at the specific location where fluid outflow is needed, rather than uniformly expanding the entire stationary sliding ring. This localized structural modification optimizes fluid discharge at the critical outlet region while maintaining the simplicity and strength of the rest of the component, achieving improved outflow efficiency with minimal increase in overall structural complexity.
4Temperature
If only single-sided cooling is provided for the stationary sliding ring, then the structure is simple, but the cooling effectiveness is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into multiple independent cooling channels: a first cooling channel through the conveying sleeve, a second cooling channel through the stationary sliding ring with annular gaps for dual-sided cooling, and a third cooling channel through the rotating sliding ring. This segmentation allows each component to be cooled independently and optimally, with the stationary sliding ring receiving cooling fluid from both its inner and outer circumferences, significantly improving overall cooling effectiveness.
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
Significantly improves cooling performance and wear resistance, enabling the mechanical seal arrangement to handle high temperatures without damage, with efficient fluid conveying and outflow, and allowing operation in both rotational directions.
Implementation Method 1
a rotating conveying sleeve which is joined to the first rotating sealing surface of the first mechanical seal and the second rotating sealing surface of the second mechanical seal. The conveying sleeve has a plurality of conveying grooves on the outer circumference so that cooling fluid is moved when rotating the conveying sleeve
Implementation Method 2
barrier fluid systems, in addition to lubrication, are also employed especially for heat dissipation at the mechanical seals. Cooling the mechanical seal is in particular used to prevent overheating during operation
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a mechanical seal arrangement comprising a first mechanical seal (2) having a first rotating sliding ring (22) and a first stationary sliding ring (21) defining a first sealing gap (20) therebetween, a second mechanical seal (3) having a second rotating sliding ring (22) and a second stationary sliding ring (32) defining a second sealing gap (30) therebetween, a housing (4) having an inlet (40) and an outlet (41) for a cooling liquid, a rotating conveying sleeve (5) joined to the first rotating sliding ring (22) and the second rotating sliding ring (32), the conveying sleeve (5) having a plurality of conveying grooves (50) on its outer circumference wherein the first stationary sliding ring (21) is arranged radially outside the conveying sleeve (5) and has an inner circumference (21a) which is arranged eccentrically with respect to an outer circumference (50a) of the conveying sleeve (5) so that a circumferential eccentric gap (6) is formed between the outer circumference (50a) of the conveying sleeve (5) and the inner circumference (21a) of the first stationary sliding ring (21) and wherein the first stationary sliding ring (21), on a rear side (21b) facing away from the first sealing gap (20), has a first slot (9) directed towards the outlet (41) and a first widening recess (11) on the inner circumference (21a), which recess opens into the first slot (9).