Offset Seal Support Structure for Gas Turbine Seal Vibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine engine components experience vibrations during high-speed operation, which reduce efficiency and cause wear, necessitating a solution to minimize and dampen these vibrations for effective sealing.
Innovation Solution
A seal support structure with a shoulder that offsets the engine support from the seal support, incorporating dampening materials and configurations such as bends, shell structures, and spring dampers to absorb and reduce radial and shoe/beam vibrations, constructed as a single element with flanges to retain a circumferential seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high-speed operation is maintained for engine efficiency, then productivity increases, but vibration increases causing wear and reduced reliability
Solution Approach 1:
A seal support structure with dampening features is introduced as an intermediary element between the circumferential seal and the engine support structure. This intermediary structure absorbs and dampens vibrations before they reach the seal, preventing vibration transmission while allowing the engine to operate at high speeds for improved productivity
2Manufacturing precision
If rigid support structure is used for seal retention, then manufacturing precision is improved, but vibration transmission increases reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure parameters are changed by incorporating dampening features such as bends, offset shoulders, and dampening materials into the seal support structure. These parameter changes allow the structure to provide precise seal retention while simultaneously absorbing vibrations, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing precision and vibration dampening
3Reliability
If offset shoulder design is implemented for vibration dampening, then reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functions are merged into a single seal support structure component. The structure combines seal retention, vibration dampening, and positioning functions into one integrated part with offset shoulders and dampening features, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining improved reliability through vibration dampening
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 effectively dampens vibrations, enhancing the sealing efficiency and reducing wear on gas turbine engine components by isolating the circumferential seal from engine vibrations, thereby improving the engine's operational stability and longevity.
Implementation Method 1
the seal support structure is configured to dampen vibration to the circumferential seal
Implementation Method 2
at least one of the engine support, seal support and shoulder are configured to dampen radial vibration of the circumferential seal
Implementation Method 3
at least one of the engine support, seal support and shoulder are configured to dampen shoe and beam vibration of the circumferential seal
Data Source
AI summary
A seal support structure is provided for a circumferential seal. In one embodiment, the seal support structure includes an engine support structure, a seal support, and a shoulder joining the engine support and seal support. The shoulder offsets the engine support from the seal support, and the shoulder and the seal support structure are configured to dampen vibration for the circumferential seal. The seal support structure may employ one or more dampening elements or materials to interoperate with a seal support structure to dampen vibration to a seal system.