Non-Contacting Seal for Rotary Compressors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gaseous screw compressors face efficiency issues due to the mixing of lubricant and gas streams, leading to high-pressure mix presence at bearings, which requires complex lubricant feed line routing and shaft seals to prevent direct high-pressure gas flow into the compressor inlet, increasing manufacturing costs and wear.
Innovation Solution
A non-contacting seal arrangement using a smooth surface with groove-like features allows axial motion without constraint, simplifying machining and reducing costs, by utilizing a smooth surface and opposing grooved surface configuration that can be scaled and adapted for different designs, including stepped and tapered configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a shaft seal is used to block high-pressure gas-lubricant mix from entering the bearing, then the bearing is protected from high-pressure contamination, but the seal creates contact-based wear and increases manufacturing complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical contact-based shaft seal with a non-contacting magnetic coupling system. The magnetic coupling transfers torque from the drive shaft to the compressor screw shaft through magnetic fields without physical contact, eliminating wear and the need for complex sealing mechanisms while maintaining bearing protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a magnetic field as an intermediary between the drive shaft and compressor shaft, allowing torque transmission without direct mechanical contact. This magnetic intermediary eliminates the need for contact-based seals while maintaining system functionality.
2Loss of energy
If a shaft seal is used to prevent direct high-pressure gas flow into the compressor inlet, then compressor efficiency is maintained, but manufacturing costs and wear increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical contact-based sealing systems with a magnetic coupling system that inherently prevents high-pressure gas leakage without requiring complex sealing components, thereby maintaining compressor efficiency while simplifying manufacturing.
3Reliability
If contact-based sealing is used to block high-pressure mix, then sealing effectiveness is achieved, but wear increases and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical contact-based seals with a magnetic coupling system that achieves sealing effectiveness without physical contact, thereby eliminating wear and extending component life indefinitely without maintenance.
Data Source
AI summary
A rotary device has at least one seal arrangement between inner and outer components to constrain fluid flow there between. The seal arrangement has a smooth surface and an opposing surface with a plurality of grooves and lands along a length of the at least one seal with the lands are separated from the smooth surface by a predetermined gap. The grooves have a bottom surface substantially parallel to the smooth surface. The width of the lands is between about 125% to 145% of the width of the grooves. The groove depth is between about 30% to 50% of the width of the grooves. A corner radius between the bottom surface of the grooves and side walls of the grooves is between about 25% to 100% of the depth of the grooves.