Mid-Turbine Frame Piston Seal Ring Oxide Glazing for Low Friction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Piston seal rings in gas turbine engines experience progressive wear and degradation due to high operation temperatures and vibratory motion, leading to significant friction and wear issues.
Innovation Solution
Surface modification of piston seal rings and interfacing components using laser glazing or flame-induced oxidation treatments to form a glaze layer of oxide particles, reducing friction and enhancing wear resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional piston seal rings are used without surface modification, then the structure is simple and manufacturing is easy, but the components experience progressive wear and degradation due to high temperatures and vibratory motion
Solution Approach 1:
A glaze layer of oxide particles is fabricated on the piston seal ring surface through surface treatment (laser glazing or flame-induced oxidation) before the component enters service. This preliminary formation of the protective glaze layer ensures low friction and high wear resistance are achieved from the start of operation, preventing progressive wear and degradation that would otherwise occur in conventional seal rings.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If surface modification treatments are applied to form glaze layer, then friction is reduced and wear resistance is improved, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The surface properties of the piston seal ring are modified by changing the physical and chemical parameters of the surface layer through laser glazing or flame-induced oxidation. This creates a glaze layer with different friction characteristics than the base material, achieving low friction and high wear resistance without altering the bulk properties or requiring complex assembly procedures.
3Temperature
If conventional coatings are applied to piston seal rings, then some wear protection is achieved, but the coatings degrade significantly under high operation temperatures up to 1600°F
Solution Approach 1:
The high operating temperature environment, which normally causes conventional coatings to degrade, is utilized to form a protective glaze layer of oxide particles on the piston seal ring surface. The heat from operation itself (or controlled thermal treatment) facilitates the creation of this temperature-resistant glaze layer that thrives in the high-temperature environment rather than degrading, converting the harmful thermal exposure into a beneficial protective mechanism.
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 glaze layer of oxide particles provides low friction and improved wear resistance across a wide range of temperatures, extending the life and reliability of engine components.
Implementation Method 1
Surface modification of piston seal rings and interfacing components using laser glazing or flame-induced oxidation treatments to form a glaze layer of oxide particles
Implementation Method 2
Surface modification of piston seal rings and interfacing components using laser glazing or flame-induced oxidation treatments to form a glaze layer of oxide particles
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides assemblies, systems and methods for surface modification of piston seal rings and interfacing components. More particularly, the present disclosure provides assemblies, systems and methods for surface modification of mid-turbine frame (MTF) piston seal rings and interfacing components in gas turbine engines to achieve low and/or reduced friction, and/or high and/or improved wear resistance.