Mechanical Seal Insert for Coolant Circulation and Heat Dissipation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mechanical seal arrangements face overheating issues due to sliding sealing surfaces, leading to reduced service life and heat resistance.
Innovation Solution
A guide device with an insert is used to circulate a cooling liquid through thermally stressed areas, assisted by centrifugal forces, and features compressible damping elements and latching lugs for easy assembly and vibration damping, utilizing silicon carbide and porous silicon carbide sliding materials with a water-glycol mixture for efficient cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sliding sealing surfaces are used in mechanical seal arrangements, then sealing function is achieved, but overheating occurs leading to reduced service life and heat resistance
Solution Approach 1:
A cooling insert is introduced as an intermediary component between the sliding sealing surfaces. This insert includes cooling channels that allow coolant to flow through, acting as a mediator to remove heat from the sealing surfaces without interfering with the sealing function. The insert has cooling surfaces that directly contact the sliding surfaces to facilitate heat transfer.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes hydraulic cooling by circulating coolant through channels in the cooling insert. The cooling liquid flows through the insert's internal passages and is pumped back, creating a continuous cooling cycle. This hydraulic system efficiently removes heat from the sealing surfaces, preventing overheating while maintaining reliable operation.
2Temperature
If cooling channels are integrated into sliding rings, then cooling effect is improved, but assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling function is segmented from the sliding rings and implemented as a separate, removable insert. This segmentation allows the cooling insert to be independently manufactured, tested, and assembled into the mechanical seal arrangement without modifying the sliding rings themselves. The insert can be easily removed and replaced, simplifying maintenance and assembly operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling insert serves as an intermediary component that bridges the cooling requirement and the existing sliding ring structure. Rather than modifying the sliding rings to include cooling channels, the insert is positioned between the sliding surfaces and provides the cooling function, thereby avoiding complex modifications to the original components.
3Ease of operation
If pre-assembled units with factory testing are used, then assembly ease is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical seal arrangement is divided into modular components, with the cooling insert as a self-contained unit that can be pre-assembled and factory-tested independently. This segmentation allows the insert to be manufactured and quality-checked separately, then easily installed on-site without requiring complex assembly procedures or specialized equipment.
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 provides high heat resistance and extended service life by effectively cooling the sealing surfaces, ensuring maximum tightness and protection against damage with low power consumption and preventing product deposits.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling liquid flowing in at an inner working surface of the insert and the cooling liquid flowing out at an outer working surface of the insert
Implementation Method 2
The cooling liquid is circulated by the cooling liquid flowing in at an inner working surface of the insert and the cooling liquid flowing out at an outer working surface of the insert
Implementation Method 3
This circulation is assisted by a pumping action created by the centrifugal forces of the rotating mating ring
Implementation Method 4
The insert has compressible damping elements, with a first damping element projecting outwards in the radial direction and a second damping element projecting inwards in the radial direction. This allows torque to be transmitted through vibration-damping formations, namely through the damper elements
Implementation Method 5
A first of two opposite sealing surfaces could have silicon carbide with a graphite filling as the sliding material, and a second sealing surface could have porous silicon carbide as the sliding material
Implementation Method 6
this pairing of the sliding materials offers the best possible protection of the sealing surfaces against damage in the event of insufficient lubrication
Data Source
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AI summary
The bearing ring sealing assembly has two bearing rings (1,2) and a counter ring (3). An insert (6) with an inner working surface (7) and an outer working surface (8) is arranged between the both bearing rings, which guides the coolant to sealing surfaces (4a,4b,5a,5b).