Multi-Axial Brush Seal for Gas Turbine Leakage

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conformal seals in gas turbine engines face performance loss due to high temperatures and wear, leading to leakage issues.

Innovation Solution

A multi-axial brush seal assembly is designed with brushes supported between plates, featuring angled bristles to provide sealing across multiple positions and accommodate thermal expansion, using a fabrication process that includes welding and machining to secure the bristlepacks and plates, ensuring effective sealing against high-temperature exhaust gases.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conformal seals are used in gas turbine engines, then sealing against exhaust gas flow is achieved, but performance loss occurs due to high temperatures and wear

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing performanceVSAvoidsealing face temperature

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The seal design transitions from conformal metal-to-metal contact to brush seal contact, fundamentally changing the sealing mechanism parameters. The brush seal uses flexible bristles that can withstand high temperatures while maintaining sealing effectiveness, eliminating the thermal degradation issues of conformal seals

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The brush seal assembly combines multiple materials including metal plates, flexible bristles, and retaining structures to create a composite sealing system that can operate in high-temperature environments while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If conformal seals are used in gas turbine engines, then sealing against exhaust gas flow is achieved, but leakage increases due to wear and expansion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing performanceVSAvoidgas leakage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The brush seal employs dynamically flexible bristles that can adapt to thermal expansion and wear conditions. Unlike rigid conformal seals, the flexible bristles maintain continuous contact with the sealing surface despite dimensional changes, preventing gas leakage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The brush seal design allows the bristles to self-adjust to sealing surface variations and wear patterns, maintaining effective sealing without external adjustment mechanisms or intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If multi-axial brush seal assembly is used, then sealing performance is enhanced and operational life is extended, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing performanceVSAvoidseal assembly structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The seal assembly is divided into modular components including multiple brush packs, plates, and retaining structures. This segmentation allows for simplified manufacturing, assembly, and maintenance while achieving enhanced sealing performance through the coordinated action of discrete elements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10208674B2Multi-axial brush seal

Publication Date: 2019.02.19 RTX CORP

AI summary

A seal assembly, includes a first brush supported between first and second plates, a second brush supported on the first and second plates transverse to the first brush seal, and a third plate attached to the second brush.