Pressure-Activated Seal Cap for Gas Turbine Engine Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional seals in gas turbine engines, especially in high-temperature environments, tend to break down over time due to temperature limits and high stress, leading to loss of sealing capability and increased maintenance costs.
Innovation Solution
A pressure-activated seal system comprising a seal cap and a seal ridge, where a fluid conduit channels a seal activating fluid to move the seal cap between a retracted and a sealing position, reducing stress on the seal and improving its durability in high-temperature conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional seals are used in high-temperature environments, then sealing capability is initially effective, but the seals break down over time due to temperature limits and high stress
Solution Approach 1:
The seal cap is designed to be movable between retracted and sealing positions, allowing it to dynamically adapt to thermal expansion and pressure changes. This dynamic capability prevents stress accumulation that would otherwise lead to seal breakdown in high-temperature environments.
Solution Approach 2:
A fluid conduit channels seal-activating fluid to the seal cap, using pneumatic pressure to actuate the seal cap between positions. This pneumatic actuation mechanism allows the seal to respond to operating conditions without mechanical stress from manual adjustment or rigid positioning.
2Reliability
If high-stress seals are used to ensure sealing capability, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but seal breakdown is exacerbated due to the stress
Solution Approach 1:
The movable seal cap design allows the seal to transition between engaged and disengaged states, preventing continuous high-stress contact. This dynamic positioning maintains sealing effectiveness when needed while reducing stress accumulation that leads to breakdown.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal cap position is changed based on operating parameters such as temperature and pressure. By adjusting the seal engagement parameter dynamically rather than maintaining constant high-stress contact, the system achieves effective sealing without exacerbating seal breakdown.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If a pressure-activated movable seal cap is used, then stress on the seal is reduced and durability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seal cap is automatically actuated by pneumatic pressure from the fluid conduit without requiring external control mechanisms. The system self-regulates the seal position based on pressure differential, eliminating the need for complex control systems while maintaining improved durability.
Solution Approach 2:
A simple fluid conduit provides pneumatic actuation for the seal cap, using the existing pressure environment to drive the sealing mechanism. This pneumatic approach is simpler than mechanical actuation systems while achieving the same durability benefits through reduced stress on the seal.
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 system provides a cost-effective, low-stress seal that enhances the operational lifetime of components, reducing maintenance and replacement costs by maintaining effective sealing in high-temperature environments with minimal stress on the seal.
Implementation Method 1
a force imparted by a flow of the seal activating fluid is configured to move the seal cap from the first, retracted position and to the second, sealing position
Data Source
AI summary
A sealing system for sealing a gap between two adjacent components includes a first component including a sealing face, a second component, and a seal cap. The second component includes a seal ridge extending from a surface of the second component towards the sealing face, and a fluid conduit extending through the second component and the seal ridge, the fluid conduit configured to channel a seal activating fluid from a fluid source. The seal cap is configured to matingly engage the seal ridge, and includes an end wall positionable between the sealing face and the seal ridge, and a pair of seal legs extending from the end wall towards the surface of the second component.