Multi-Plane Brush Seal Structure for Turbulent Pressure Gaps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing brush seals in turbine engines face challenges in maintaining an effective seal under high pressure differences and turbulent air environments, as bristles can flutter or deflect, compromising their sealing ability.
Innovation Solution
The brush seal design features a multi-plane configuration with bristles extending beyond the back plate tip, supported by a back plate that maintains them in contact along multiple lengthwise portions, and angled planes to distribute stress and prevent deflection, enhancing sealing performance in high-pressure and turbulent conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If brush seals are used to seal gaps between members, then fluid leakage is prevented, but bristles deflect under pressure difference reducing sealing ability
Solution Approach 1:
The brush seal transitions from a single-plane configuration to a multi-plane configuration, where bristles are arranged at different angles and positions relative to the sealing surface. This dimensional change allows the bristles to distribute the pressure load across multiple planes, preventing deflection in a single direction and maintaining sealing ability under high pressure differences.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the brush seal by varying the bristle angles, lengths, and distribution patterns across different planes. This parameter optimization allows the bristles to better accommodate pressure differences while maintaining contact with the sealing surface, thereby improving reliability under stress.
2Reliability
If bristles are positioned to seal across the gap, then sealing is effective, but turbulent air flow causes bristles to migrate out of position
Solution Approach 1:
By arranging bristles in multiple planes rather than a single plane, the seal creates a more robust barrier that turbulent air flow cannot easily disrupt. The multi-plane configuration ensures that even if some bristles are displaced by turbulence, others remain in position to maintain the seal.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-plane bristle arrangement anticipates the disruptive effect of turbulent air flow by pre-positioning bristles at various angles and depths. This preliminary configuration creates resistance to turbulence before it can cause significant bristle migration, thereby maintaining sealing effectiveness.
3Reliability
If bristles extend across the gap to seal, then sealing function is achieved, but bristles flutter under turbulent flow reducing seal performance
Solution Approach 1:
The multi-plane configuration stabilizes bristle positions by distributing them across different spatial planes. This dimensional distribution reduces the amplitude of fluttering motion caused by turbulent flow, as bristles in different planes experience different flow conditions and support each other's positional stability.
Data Source
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AI summary
A multi-plane annular brush seal (60) is provided. The brush seal (60) includes a plurality of bristles (66) attached to a front plate (64) and a back plate (68). The back plate (68) has a BP base end (88), a first BP inner side surface (92), a BP transition surface (94), a second BP inner side surface (96), and a BP tip end (90). The first BP inner side surface (92) extends from the BP base end (88) to the BP transition surface (94), and the second BP inner surface (96) extends from the BP transition surface (94) to the BP tip end (90). At any given circumferential position of the brush seal (60), the first BP inner side surface (92) extends substantially parallel to a first plane (104), and the second BP inner side surface (96) extends substantially parallel to a second plane (108). The first plane (104) is skewed from the second plane (108) by an obtuse angle (β).